The Hard Shoulder

Gardaí searching for the remains of Deirdre Jacob and Jo Jo Dullard, who were abducted and murdered in the 1990s, have returned to a site in Co Wicklow where excavations were carried out in an operation earlier this year.  Fr Willie Purcell, who is the Parish priest of Clara in Kilkenny, and also a close friend of Jo Jo Dullard’s family. He Spoke to Ciara and Shane.

Faster action is needed, as water quality shows little overall improvement in 2025, that’s according to the latest report from the Environmental Protection Agency.   Joining Shane and Ciara was the President of the Irish Farmers’ Association, Francie Gorman to react to the findings of the report.

For this week’s Tech Takeover, Jess Kelly, Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent, joins Ciara and Shane to discuss the follow-up to the Social Network, The Social Reckoning.  Aaron Sorkin’s latest cinematic take on Facebook’s fortunes

Irish guidelines on what constitutes low-risk alcohol consumption may need to be reconsidered based on latest research, according to a new report from the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA). HIQA’s Deputy Director of Health Technology Assessment, Michelle O’Neil l and Frank Murray Chair of The Alcohol Health Alliance Ireland and Liver specialist, joined Shane and Ciara to discuss the...

It causes divide among housemates, family members and spouses – from bananas & condiments to chocolate.   But what should  be stored in the fridge and what is okay to pop into the cupboard?   Joining Shane and Ciara was  Dr Primrose Freestone, Associate Professor in Clinical Microbiology in University of Leicester 

The 2026 World Cup has picked up where the 2022 edition finished, with the two most impressive performances in the competition so far coming from the finalists four years ago, France and Argentina. Shane and Ciara were joined by Off The Ball Football Correspondent Ben Symes to discuss what is in store for us today!

Dublin City Council has suggested limiting access to the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) to people with are registered with a domestic waste collection company contract as a means of dealing with “opportunistic” bin scavenging. The Council also suggest that with the DRS, there  had been “no significant difference” in total street sweepings collected in the city. Janet Horner is a Councilor for Du...

Every week for The Ultimate Guide on The Hard Shoulder, Fionn Davenport takes a closer look at some of the fantastic destinations to visit around the world. This week, Fionn joined Ciara and Shane to give the ultimate guide to Lyon in France!

Final legal arguments in the Jeffrey Donaldson trial began today.    The prosecution has said both women buried memories of being abused and developed coping mechanisms to allow them to get on with their lives, during her closing speech to the jury.   While the defence told the jury, the case comes down to the word of both complainants against the...

The service, designed to give patients faster access to treatment while easing pressure on GP surgeries and hospitals using community pharmacists are now able to assess patients and prescribe certain prescription only medicines for a range of common conditions.   Despite this, almost half of people don’t know about the scheme.    Community pha...

Australia's weather bureau has warned that an El Niño weather pattern has formed in the tropical Pacific and could intensify to become one of the strongest in seven decades.   Forecasters expect the stronger weather event to bring excessive rains to the Americas and hot, dry conditions in Asia where crop planting is already being disrupted, raising concerns about food supplies...

The trial of Riad Bouchaker, who has pleaded not guilty to eight charges, including the attempted murder of three school children, continued today in Dublin    Frank Greaney, Newstalk Courts Correspondent and host of the Podcast All Rise joined Ciara and Shane for the latest updates.  

The removal of the Dublin Airport passenger cap has been approved today, which will allow the Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien to change or scrap the controversial restriction over the number of passengers passing through the airport.  The current cap limits the number of people who can travel through Dublin Airport to 32 million a year.  It is expected to become law before summer...

“Women don’t understand the real reason men talk about football. Nothing can fill an awkward silence quite like talking about VAR or that ludicrous display last night”, so says Michael Deacon who was writing in The Telegraph last week.    With The World Cup now in full swing what is it about football that is the common ground for men to talk about? &nbs...

The Taoiseach and Tánaiste are to both vote in favour of a Sinn Féin Bill being proposed which would see the removal of the mandatory three-day wait period for women seeking abortion in early stages of pregnancy    Sinn Fein’s bill is to come before the Dáil tomorrow     This comes after Social...

France has been upping fines for men going shirtless in public, but how does this translate to Irish spaces?  Around 20 towns are clamping down on locals and tourists from baring their chests in city centres. The glamorous resort of Deauville has hiked up its token fine of £15 (€17) to a heftier £130 (€150).      Editor of Cork Beo, Joe O’Shea joined Ciara and Sh...

Residents in the Dublin 6 area have objected to a proposed tennis dome at the Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club, describing it as a “colossal glowing orb” saying it will lower the value of their homes.    Architect and former president of the royal institute of Ireland and chair of the Dublin democratic planning alliance Robin Mandal joined Shane and Ciara to dis...

This weekend was an outright attack on the system for those with hayfever. It was the perfect storm for hayfever, with summer sunshine and a light breeze shifting pollen in the bucketloads around the place. Joining Ciara to discuss why some are so-badly affected and how to alleviate the symptoms, is Dr Iseult Sheehan, Clinical Director of Allergy Ireland.

Many of us have reassured ourselves with the ‘five second rule’ before... But, is it true that you actually have five seconds grace after you drop food on the floor? Joining Ciara to discuss this is Amalia Scannell, Microbiologist and Food Biotechnologist in the UCD Institute of Food and Health.

For this week’s Kids Clinic, Shane is joined by Clinical Psychologist Tara Logan Buckley to discuss how to deal with your children if they have maybe been overindulged recently, and need a reset on their expectations.

A new search of open land is underway in connection with the investigation into the disappearance of Jo Jo Dullard and Deridre Jacob, who went missing in the 1990s. Newstalk Reporter Jessica Woodlock is at the site in County Wicklow, and joins Shane to give the latest updates.

A new Luas timetable with increased services and an extension of the Dart line to Drogheda are expected to be included in a new action plan aimed at tackling traffic congestion in the Greater Dublin Area. But, does it go far enough? Joining Ciara to discuss is Brian Caulfield, Professor in the School of Engineering at Trinity College Dublin and Micheal Pidgeon, Dublin City Green Party Councillor.

What is it about reality TV? Some of us can’t stand it, and others just can't look away. Do you judge people for watching it, or is it a guilty pleasure you will continue to defend? Joining Shane to discuss the ups and downs of the genre is Olivia Fahy, Entertainment Journalist from ‘Press Play With Olivia’ and Dr Malie Coyne, Clinical Psychologist and author.

The US and Iran are set to sign a peace deal on Friday as Israel vows to stay in Lebanon. For more on this, Ciara is joined by Mark Weiss, Israel Correspondent with The Irish Times. Image: Reuters

The World Cup is in full swing over in the US, Mexico and Canada. Joining Shane to recount a weekend full of drama and what we can expect for later today is David Sneyd, Football Journalist at the 42.ie . Image: @FIFAWorldCup on X