The Hard Shoulder

The Lions Tour begins tomorrow, and this summer’s squad includes a record 15 Irish players. They face Argentina first before heading to Australia for the main tour. Former Lion and Irish international Gordon D’Arcy joins Anton Savage to give a Dummy’s Guide to the Lions Tour. What is it, why does it take place, and more importantly, should you watch it?

Ciara Doherty, Broadcaster and Presenter of Newstalk's newest podcast, ‘The Newstalk Daily’, which launches June 23rd, joins guest host Anton Savage for this week’s Thursday Interview!

Fighting between Israel and Iran enters a seventh day. A hospital in southern Israel was hit in an Iranian missile strike, while the IDF bombed a nuclear reactor southwest of Tehran. Is there a way out of this, or through this? John Simpson is the BBC’s World Affairs Editor, and joins guest host Anton Savage to discuss. Image: Reuters

Today, the 19th of June, is a federal holiday in the United States. Otherwise known as Juneteenth, the national holiday was established to commemorate the ending of slavery in the United States. To talk further on this, guest host Anton Savage is joined by Author, Playwright and Columnist Bonnie Greer.

Sky Ireland have warned users of TV 'dodgy boxes' that they may face consequences, as together with the Data Protection Commission, Sky look to clamp down on users of the illegal streaming service. Up to this point, it was generally the providers who were targeted. There are said to be up to 400,000 users who illegally stream TV shows, sports and movies in Ireland. Rob Hartnett is Founder and CEO...

Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) was in front of The Oireachtas Health Committee earlier today, and was answering questions over governance and culture issues. Seán Defoe, Newstalk’s Political Correspondent was there, and joins Anton Savage to give the latest.

Lord Henry Mountcharles, the man who brought rock music to Slane Castle, has died at the age of 74. Known for hosting legendary concerts in the heart of Meath, he leaves behind a legacy that shaped live music in Ireland. To help remember the man and his contributions to Irish music, guest host Anton Savage is joined by Dave Fanning, RTÉ Broadcaster and Billy McGuinness from Aslan. Image: RTÉ

Enda Brady, presenter with TRT World, and Dik Barton, COO of Armatrex and former VP of Operations with RMS Titanic, join The Hard Shoulder to reflect on the implosion of the Titan submersible two years on — and how the tragedy changed deep-sea exploration. Listen here

Anthony Zurcher, BBC’s North America Correspondent, joins The Hard Shoulder to explain how US foreign policy under President Trump is influencing growing tensions with Iran. Listen here

Gerard Howlin, public affairs consultant and Irish Times columnist, and Fionnan Sheehan, Ireland Editor at the Irish Independent, join The Hard Shoulder to discuss the absence of declared candidates for Ireland’s 2025 presidential election. Get all the discussion here.

Dave Hanratty, host of the ‘No More Encore’ podcast, and NewsTalk Tech Correspondent Jess Kelly join The Hard Shoulder to explain why getting concert tickets feels harder than ever — and what fans can do to beat the bots. Listen here

Jess Kelly, NewsTalk's Tech correspondent joins The Hard Shoulder to give all the best tips for kids, adults and everything in between this Summer. Listen here.

Josh Crosbie, Newstalk reporter, brings public reaction to rising tensions in the Middle East and asks whether people are following the news — or becoming desensitised to the conflict. Listen here

Ruth Scott, radio presenter and humanist celebrant, Cathal O’Sullivan from 98FM, and Alice Leahy of the Alice Leahy Trust join Kieran to discuss how they'd react if they won €250 million, whether they’d go public, and what they’d spend it on. Listen here

Emily Keegan, Newstalk reporter, joins The Hard Shoulder with the latest from court after the case involving Kneecap's Liam Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh -- aka Mo Chara -- is adjourned. Listen here for all the latest.

Dr Brendan O’Shea, Assistant Adjuvant Professor in General Practice at Trinity College and Kildare-based GP, and Evelyn Mahon, Professor Emeritus at Trinity College Dublin, join The Hard Shoulder to explain why Ireland will need at least 1,200 more GPs by 2040 — and what that shortfall means for healthcare access. Listen here.

NewsTalk's Henry McKean joins The Hard Shoulder with reaction from the public after one Irish person scooped a €250 million Euromillions jackpot — the biggest in the country's history. Listen here

Ann Russell, cleaning expert and TikTok creator, joins The Hard Shoulder alongside Irish Independent columnist Mary McCarthy to debate which household chores people dread most, and why some of us are wired to hate them more than others. Listen here

Sarah Madden, Newstalk reporter, joins The Hard Shoulder to share her report on commuter experiences of antisocial behaviour, including drug use and inappropriate conduct on Irish trains. Meghann Scully, broadcaster, and Jason Cullen of the Dublin Commuter Coalition also join to react. Listen here

From today, when a person dies, they will automatically be assumed to be an organ donor unless they have indicated an objection during their lifetime. It is hoped that this new opt-out system will reduce waiting lists and encourage more people to become organ donors. Our reporter, Josh Crosbie has been hearing from donor families and recipients about the changes.

People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy, who was detained twice in Egypt while participating in the Global March to Gaza, has returned to Ireland. He joins Kieran to discuss his experience.

It’s time now for this week’s edition of the Hard Shoulder Bookshelf.  Each week we ask the great and the good of Ireland to come in and to place their favourite read upon the Bookshelf.  Last week, former People Before Profit TD Brid Smith place To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee on the bookshelf and this week is the turn of Neven Maguire, TV Chef & owner of MacNean House & Res...

The consumer watchdog has written to schools, urging them to consider generic uniform options to help reduce back-to-school costs for families.      It follows a survey by the CCPC showing that 75 percent of primary and post-primary schools require at least one uniform item to be purchased from a designated retailer       Joining Kieran to discuss this...

Kieran is in Ireland's National Heritage Park, located just outside of Wexford Town, to travel back in time and walk through Ireland's past in what is one of Ireland's outdoor museums. Joining him to give the tour is Liam Dwyer CEO at National Heritage Park! Image: Discover Ireland

Wexford has produced plenty of GAA legends. So, what do the Gaelic Games mean for them? Joining Kieran to discuss is four-time All-Ireland winner and All-Star, Ursula Jacob, 1996 All-Ireland winning manager, Liam Griffin and former Wexford Captain, Diarmuid Lyng.