The Hard Shoulder

A recent discussion circulating online has sparked a divide in opinions on whether bringing your iced coffee to a job interview is simply unprofessional, or is it simply an indication of changing workplace norms? For more on this, Shane is joined by Caroline Reidy, head of NFP HR Solutions.

For this week’s Kids Clinic, Ciara was joined by Laura Downing AKA the ‘Fabulous Pharmacist’ & podcaster to discuss one of those conversations that can make parents feel a little awkward: talking to their children about sex.

The Minister for Housing James Browne has directed officials to examine online bidding portals. The worry is that these bidding portals mimic gambling products, and in doing so, drive up house prices. So, are these bidding sites leading to the gamification of the housing market? Colin O'Gara is Professor of Psychiatry at UCD, and he joins Ciara to discuss.

From the friends who loves to bring up their child's grades and achievements only to show they have exceeded your child's, to the family member who insists on reminding you their summer holiday was bigger and better than yours, you may feel the friction and even a bit of resentment in your relationship if you feel you are constantly being one-upped, but how should you appropriately address that it...

Football Association of Ireland President Paul Cooke has defended the handling of the build-up to Ireland’s Nations League clash with Israel in Hungary yesterday, following a 3-0 win for Heimir Hallgrímsson’s side. Joining Shane to discuss this is David Sneyd, Football Journalist at the 42.ie who was in Debrecen, Hungary, for the game...

Patient advocacy groups have criticised the proposed commission of investigation into the care received by children with scoliosis and spina bifida, describing it as “extraordinarily narrow”. This comes after the Government agreed last year to hold a statutory inquiry into spina bifida and scoliosis services following a number of controversies at the children’s hospital group, including unauthoris...

Has Northern Ireland gone back 30 years? With the contentious Garvaghy Road once again in the news for all the wrong reasons - yesterday and today thousands of protesters have blocked the street in an attempt to stop the Orange Order parade down it… Henry McKean is there, and joins Shane to report on what’s happening.

Newstalk reporter Henry McKean reports from Grafton Street as U2 perform a surprise gig after Mount Temple concert.

Alisa Kovalenko a former captive and survivor of conflict-related sexual violence during her captivity in 2014 in the Donbas region of Ukraine, who also fought on the front lines in the conflict joined Ciara on the show.  Alisa is in Dublin in collaboration with the Irish Consortium on Gender Based Violence - an Irish-based alliance of international humanitarian and human rights organisations...

The Parades Commission of Northern Ireland has allowed the Orange Order parade at Drumcree to proceed in a limited capacity for the first time in 28 years. DUP MP Carla Lockhart and Eoin Tennyson, Deputy Leader of the Alliance party joined Shane on the show to discuss.

A rally is taking place tonight ahead of Ireland’s UEFA Nations League fixtures against Israel, with organisers calling on Irish players not to play the matches. The event is being organised by SIPTU and Trade Union Friends of Palestine. Mick Lynch, trade unionist and former General Secretary of the UK’s National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers, who will be speaking at tonight’s...

 I find it depressing when I hear teenage acne stories from Ireland today about how long it takes to see a consultant dermatologist and how extortionate is if you go for private care. So writes, Mary McCarthy, columnist with the Irish Independent who joined us on the show to discuss.  

The Orange Order’s Drumcree parade is to be permitted to proceed along the Garvaghy Road for the first time in almost 30 years. The Parades Commission placed a number of restrictions on the procession, including an 8am start time and limiting the number of participants to 35 people.   Alison Morris, Crime Correspondent with the Belfast Telegraph and Claire Hanna, Leader of the SDLP &...

 From October 1st, Eir will begin to turn off the 3G network it operates around the country. Donegal is first on the list, with the rest of the country following, and it plans to have the entire process completed within weeks. Irish Times Technology Correspondent Ciara O’Brien joined Shane Coleman on the show to discuss.

A new survey from Halfords has found that 82% of learner drivers have experienced road rage directed at them in the last year. The survey also found that almost half of all drivers surveyed have experienced dangerous tailgating.  Brenda Bolger, a driving instructor with Bolger’s Driving School joined us on the show to discuss.

Sarina Bellissimo, Broadcaster and Presenter of the Bellissimo Files Podcast and Andy McCarroll, host of the ‘Xtravision’ podcast joined Ciara and Shane to review the latest TV and movie releases…

Do you remember when the internet felt like a shared playground? Back when strangers around the world connected over the colour of a dress? An age before toxic algorithms… Well, joining Ciara is Entrepreneur and Journalist Mark Little, who in his new book ‘The Last Good Day on the Internet’ explores a time when the web was a place of community, curiosity and potential. Until it wasn't...

Help with the cost of energy and home heating is the top priority for voters in next month’s budget. Pat Leahy, Political Editor of The Irish Times joins Shane to discuss the Irish Times poll revealing what voters want to see in Budget 2027.

All day today, as part of Newstalk's ‘One Day, Many Voices’ series, we’ve been hearing from people across our communities and talking about identity, accessibility, belonging and inclusion. And when it comes to inclusion, sport can play a huge role. Navan O’Mahony’s is home to the only adult Peil for All team in Meath, giving adults with intellectual and physical disabilities the opportunity to pl...

Simon Vigar, one of British television’s longest-serving Royal Correspondents joins Ciara to discuss his new book ‘The Four Wives of Windsor: Rivalries, Influence and the Real Power Behind the Crown’.

France has rushed out emergency meas­ures to tackle a loom­ing fuel crisis, with diesel prices at record highs and forecourts run­ning dry. The cash-strapped French gov­ern­ment announced €450 million of handouts and subsidies to house­holds and busi­nesses to deal with what Roland Les­cure, the Fin­ance Min­is­ter, called “a very dif­fi­cult and unwanted situ­ation”. Joining Ciara to discuss this...

Spoilers ahead for the finale of The Traitors Ireland season two! Ciara is joined by the two runner-ups and final traitors of this season, Carla and Pauric, to discuss the result and their experience on the show!

For this week’s Tech Takeover, Jess Kelly, Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent, joins Ciara to discuss why a technology upgrade is causing the children’s emergency department in Tallaght Hospital to close for four days.

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

TikTok has told the Oireachtas Media committee that it removed 1,600 dangerous driving videos in the wake of the M9 crash. Joining Ciara to discuss is Chair of the Media Committee and Labour Party TD, Alan Kelly.