The Hard Shoulder

Off The Ball’s John Duggan joined Ciara and Shane on The Hard Shoulder to review the week in sport and look ahead to the week’s action…

‘After years of record budget surpluses, life is still getting harder for ordinary people. We need a new approach’. That’s the slogan from the Social Democrat’s Alternative Budget. Joining Ciara to discuss it is the party’s Spokesperson for Finance, Cian O’Callaghan.

Oat milk, saunas, bathrobes - have we all just got a little bit fancy? Bernard O’Shea wrote today in the Examiner about the things his culchie soul absolutely abhors like skiing and bathrobes. So we’re asking today: what screams “notions” to you? Joining Shane to discuss is culchie representative, dairy farmer and TikToker Fin Walsh and townie representative and Columnist with the Irish Examiner,...

Speaking in an interview with Fox News, Taoiseach Micheál Martin rejected the notion that Ireland is “overrun” with immigrants. The Taoiseach also addressed the possibility of crime statistics being published, which include nationality, something he said he is “not opposed to”. For more on this, Ciara is joined by John Lannon, CEO of Doras.

20 years ago this week, Professor Patrick Geoghegan presented the first ever Talking History show on Newstalk. And 20 years later he has the honour of being the longest running presenter of the same show on the station… He joins Shane to talk about the big anniversary!

The Universal Social Charge was introduced as an emergency measure in 2011, but workers still pay it on every payslip today. With the budget just around the corner, is it time we scrap USC? Joining Ciara to discuss is Managing Director at Alpha Wealth, Nicholas Charalambous and Managing Editor of The Irish Times, Cliff Taylor…

According to a new report from the Irish Medical Journal, the prescription rate of ADHD medication to over-16s in Ireland has increased by 211% over the past 10 years. So, why are we seeing this rise? Joining Shane to discuss is GP and owner of ADHDdoc, Dr Sarah Carty...

Life can be full of confusing things, but no need to worry! Every Wednesday, Simon Tierney will be showing you ‘How to do Stuff’ - bringing his best tips for those things you might not think about. This week, Simon joins Ciara and Shane to discuss how you can avoid pushy parenting!

Executives from the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) appeared before an Oireachtas committee this afternoon, amid the ongoing fallout over the Republic of Ireland’s controversial Nations League games against Israel. Joining Ciara to discuss this Joanna Byrne, Sinn Féin TD for Louth and member of the Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport.

For this week’s Tech Takeover, Jess Kelly, Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent, joins Shane to discuss Lidl’s launch of their own mobile network ‘Lidl Connect’ - and why it actually could be good value for your money…

Off The Ball’s John Duggan joined Ciara and Shane on The Hard Shoulder to review the week in sport and look ahead to the week’s action…

Almost two-in-five men under the age of 25 believe rape victims are partly responsible if they were taking drugs or drinking alcohol, according to new research from the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC). One in five also believe there are “a lot” of false rape allegations made in Ireland. For more on this, Ciara is by Eoghan Cleary, education expert in sexual exploitation research policy group and...

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that one of the pilots of a flydubai plane bound for Tel Aviv had planned to crash it and kill its mostly Israeli passengers… Joining Shane with the latest updates on this is Dominic Waghorn, International Affairs Editor with Sky News.

“Anytime I google something, I tend to add ‘Reddit’ to the end of my query. Why? Because it’s guaranteed to find me an answer. There is nothing in all-human experience that the fine people of forum website Reddit have not encountered before.” So writes Journalist at The Irish Independent, Saoirse Hanley, who joins Ciara to discuss.

Earlier today, Irish men’s Football Manager Heimir Hallgrimson confirmed that Sunday’s fixture with Israel will go ahead saying: "The FAI has said we are playing both games and we will fulfill that. That was our intention when we came into this camp.” I am joined now by Former Minister for Justice, Equality & Defence, Alan Shatter. Alan, you were in Hungary for the game last Sunday, what was y...

More than 100,000 public sector workers have begun a work-to-rule strike. Nurses, civil servants and special needs assistants are among those taking part in the action over delays in agreeing a new public sector pay deal. For more on this, Ciara is joined by Niall Shanahan, Media Relations Director for Fórsa.

The locations of seven proposed new early learning and childcare projects were announced today by Minister Norma Foley. Across the seven proposed locations there is potential to provide around 600 places to support the Department of Children, Disability and Equality’s policy of improving access to high-quality, affordable early learning and childcare. Joining Shane to discuss is Minister for Child...

The Ultimate Guide: New accommodation stock 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 his ultimate guide to new accommodation stock in Ireland!

Newstalk reporter Henry McKean reports from Drumcree as the standoff continues,

 Just 14 out of 57 driving test centres countrywide are reaching the 10-week national average waiting time target, down from 24 at the start of the month, that’s according to latest available figures compiled by the road safety campaign group Parc from the RSA website.   Jim Cleary, success 4 U driving in Limerick and Ger Hyland, Driver, Operator and President of the Irish Road Haul...

Larry Donnelly, Law lecturer at University of Galway and Columnist at The Journal joins Ciara to place his favourite book on the Hard Shoulder Bookshelf!

A €150,000 boost is heading to three west Waterford GAA clubs, courtesy of Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan. The couple, who bought Strancally Castle in August, have chosen Shamrocks GAA in Knockanore, Tallow GAA and Lismore GAA as the recipients of their first Irish philanthropic donation since moving into the area. Emer Barry, Lismore GAA Secretary spoke to Shane on the show. 

Yesterday, tragic news came out of Banagher County Offaly as it was confirmed that two people died in a workplace incident Father and daughter Mihai Chinez and Denisa Chinez died after an incident at Banagher Precast Concrete.   Local Independent Councillor John Leahy has said it is an “unimaginably difficult time” for the community and spoke to Shane on The Hard Shoulder.

 Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Simon Harris, Stormont First Minister Michelle O'Neill and Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald are to hold talks at Government Buildings this evening to discuss the ongoing situation at the Garvaghy Road in Co Armagh. Allison Morris, Belfast Telegraph Crime Correspondent brought us the latest.  One man who will publish a book this week, titled ‘‘Be...

Newstalk Reporter, Sarah Madden reports on what is it like to be gay and catholic.