The Hard Shoulder

Nial Ring, Former Lord Mayor of Dublin and City Councillor joined Shane ahead of a meeting calling for ‘immediate’ action on pedestrian street safety in Dublin city centre following last week's fatal Dublin bus crash.

A new trend of asking ChatGPT to make a caricature based on you has gone viral, but the more sinister side of things is that it is based on the data AI has on you. How worried should we be?  Joining Shane to explain was Ciara O'Brien, Irish Times business and technology journalist.  

Calls have intensified for the British Prime Minister, Kier Starmer to resign amid the fallout from the revelations contained in the Epstein files. With the Leader of the Scottish labour party Anas Sarwar, calling for him to step down.Kier Starmer apologized for believing Peter Mandelson’s “lies” and his decision to appoint him to the role of Britain’s ambassador to the US,Joining Shane with the latest news from the Epstein Files and the fallout it having in British Politics was  London based Journalist, Vincent McAviney

From fillings to falling out, what can we do to improve our children’s dental hygiene?Well, to discuss this, Shane was joined  chair of the gp committee of the Irish dental association, and a dentist at kiwi dental in Carlow, Caroline Roberts

A survey has revealed that grocery prices have risen nearly 7% since this time last year, the fastest climbing rate in almost two years.  The data from Worldpanel by Numerator found that inflation rose to 6.8% in the last 12 weeks to the end of last month, from a rate of 6.25 the month before.  Consumer Affairs Correspondent for the Irish Times Conor Pope and Damian O’Reilly, Lecturer in Retail Management at Technological University Dublin joined Shane to discuss

As day three of the Winter Olympics is well underway and Shane was joined by Barry Kenny, Head of Communications with Irish Rail to give us an insight for all the events that we can look forward to in the week ahead.

Ghislaine Maxwell, a longtime associate of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, is appearing virtually today from prison via videolink before the US Congress in an Epstein probe.Joining Shane with the latest was David Smith, Washington Bureau chief of The Guardian and Yasmine Meyer, Lawyer representing Epstein victims.

The highly prestigious Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland Awards are being hosted in Dublin today for the first time since they began in 1974.A ceremony of this magnitude of course brings with it a lot of excitement Joining Shane to discuss this further is JP McMahon, Chef, author and restaurateur, and Dr Mairtin Mac Con Iomaire, Chef, lecturer and the first person in Ireland to get a PHD in food history

Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien has announced that the Dublin Airport passenger cap’s abolition will go to cabinet tomorrow.  The controversial cap currently sits at 32 million passengers, but the proposed bill will allow for amendment or removal, and block planning authorities from reimposing it.What should be considered in this move?  Joining Shane was Resident of St Margarets and member of the Ward Resident’s Association Niamh Mar, and Michael Magnier, National President of the Irish Hotels Federation to discuss.  

This week  Shane was joined by the presenter of Weekend Breakfast on Alison Curtis Presenter, TodayFM and Ger Gilroy  Off The Ball  

It’s time to talk everything sport and an exciting weekend as the League of Ireland is backStephen Doyle from Off the Ball joined Shane to preview the first games and the season ahead.

The world of Peppa Pig is tackling an important issue... Peppa Pig’s younger brother George will be revealed to be moderately deaf and fitted with a hearing aid in a new storyline set to tackle childhood hearing loss. Joining Shane to discuss the importance of representation in Children’s TV shows is Danielle Mc Laughlin, Director of Advocacy and Communications at CHIME, Ireland’s National Charity for Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Lisa O'Sullivan Shaw  known as ‘Modern Irish Mom,’ on Instagram  

It’s Opening Ceremony Day in Italy for the Winter Olympic games. Over the next two weeks we will be treated to skiers careering down the slopes at motorway speed, the smooth elegance of figure skating and the carnage of short track speed skating. We heard yesterday from the Team Ireland camp…but who are the other international stars we need to look out for? Sinéad O’Carroll, Editor of The Journal joined Shane to  look ahead to the Winter Games

The European Commission has accused TikTok of creating an "addictive design" in its app which could harm the physical and mental wellbeing of minors and vulnerable adults.  Joining Shane was Ollwyn Moran, Neuro Development Therapist & Founder of Cogni Kids

President Donald Trump has shared a video depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes in a late-night Truth Social posting spree which has sparked outrage in the US   Shane was  joined by Anthony Zurcher   BBC North America correspondent &   James Carville, US political consultant, author and commentator  

A new survey shows that one in seven homes have fallen into arrears on their electricity billsThe State’s Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) has found that almost 300 thousand homes were behind with their electricity bills at the end September. This is all while energy costs in Ireland continue to be one of the highest in Europe  Joining Shane  Pearse Doherty, Sinn Fein TD for Donegal and spokesperson on Finance

Super Bowl Sunday will see The New England Patriots take on the Seatle Seahawks, with Bad Bunny taking on the iconic half time show  For more on this Shane were joined by Susan Culleton Hayes, Host of Taking Stock and The Positive Economist & Ali Ryan, Founder and CEO of @goss.ie

Joining Shane   on what can we expect for the rest of the day and into the weekend, was Alan O’Reilly from Carlow Weather. Also joining the programme was Josh Crosbie  Newstalk Reporter who has been asking people if our weather warning system is up to par

Last week we spoke to Sheila Gilheaney, CEO of Alcohol Alliance Ireland following a report published on youth drinking take a listen...Following that discussion psychotherapist, Michelle Whelan Kennedy got in touch with the show saying she felt that the argument on raising prices or increasing tax on alcohol is overly simplistic.  “As a therapist and also as a mother, I see how raising the cost of alcohol has...forced drinking heavily before going out because it’s unaffordable when people go out.”She joined Shane to explain her argument

Sarina Bellissimo, Broadcaster and Presenter of the Bellissimo Files Podcast and John Fardy Presenter of Screentime joined Ciara and Shane to review the latest TV and movie releases…

A group of Labour TDs are calling for the Government to introduce paid miscarriage leave and paid leave for those going through IVF treatment. It is estimated that miscarriage affects thousands of women in Ireland every year, with The Miscarriage Association estimating that one in every five pregnancy ends in miscarriage. Shane and Ciara joined Labour Spokesperson for Health Marie Sherlock and Roisin Moriarty, Volunteer and Secretary with The Miscarriage Association.

Now it’s the first Thursday night start to the Six Nations with Ireland at the Stade de France to take on a heavily favoured French side. Luke Fitzgerald, former Irish international joined Shane and Ciara to discuss how he is  feeling about Ireland’s prospects?

Former Rugby Union Referee Nigel Owens, joins Ciara and Shane for this week’s Thursday Interview!

One person has died and three others have been injured after a bus drove down a pedestrianised street in Dublin city this afternoon. Joining us with the latest from the scene was Keith Kelly Journalist at the Irish Independent and David Hall CEO of Lifeline Ambulance Service

The chair of Bord Bia Larry Murrin has told the Oireachtas Agriculture Committee today that he has ‘never been conflicted’ in his role as chair of the organisation.Francie Gorman, President of the Irish Farmers Association joined Shane and Ciara to give his reaction to the Committee meeting and to respond to critism over the associations ongoing protest outside the buildings of Bord Bia.

It is exactly 10 years ago today, when one of the most horrific gangland attacks took place in this country. The Regency Shooting marked a significant turning point in the Hutch-Kinahan feud. . Our reporter, Josh Crosbie has been examining the social impact the feud has on communities affected by gangland activity. And he joined Shane and Ciara to discuss

It is exactly 10 years ago today, when one of the most horrific gangland attacks took place in this country. The Regency Shooting marked a significant turning point in the Hutch-Kinahan feud. . Our reporter, Josh Crosbie has been examining the social impact the feud has on communities affected by gangland activity. And he joined Shane and Ciara to discuss

Kemi Badenoch has asked Labour MPs to join her in a no confidence vote against Keir Starmer, as Downing Street comes under pressure to reveal how Mandelson was vetted for the post of US ambassador. Lucy Fisher, Chief Political Commentator with Times Radio joined Shane and Ciara to discuss.

A Status Orange rain warning is currently in effect for Dublin, Wicklow, Waterford and Louth and a Yellow warning in effect for nine other counties. Joining Shane Ciara for the latest on it was  Meteorologist Matthew Martin at Met Éireann.

One person has died and three others have been injured after a bus drove down a pedestrianised street in Dublin city this afternoon. Joining us with the latest from the scene was Emily Keegan Newstalk Reporter and to react to the tragedy was Ray McAdam Lord Mayor of Dublin and FG councillor for North Inner City

The Muppets make their grand return to tv today, with a star studded cast including Sabrina carpenter and a special show on Disney+.  It's a classic of American kids television, but Irish Telly has some classics of it’s own.  Where are the realtaí of Irish children's tv now and how has home grown programming shaped the people we are today? Newstalk's Sarah Madden reports:... 

Ciara and Shane were joined, as always at this time on a Wednesday by Simon Tierney, who tells us how to do stuff...the stuff you do every day but may not be great at or need advice on...

Tomorrow marks 10 years since the Regency Hotel shooting. Ciara and Shane were joined by Paul Williams, Author & Crime Journalist, to take us back to this seminal event in the history of organised crime in Ireland...

The muppets make their grand return to tv today, with a star studded cast including Sabrina carpenter and a special show on Disney+.It's a classic of American kids television, but Irish Telly has some classics of it’s own.Where are the realtaí of Irish children's tv now and how has home grown programming shaped the people we are today?Newstalk's Sarah Madden reports:

Inquests into the deaths of five babies murdered by Lucy Letby have opened today, following the release of a new documentary by Netflix, which features unseen police footage. David Conn, Investigations Correspondent with The Guardian who was at the inquest joined Shane and Ciara with the latest on the case and why some believe her conviction should be overturned.

Ciara and Shane were joined by Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent and Presenter of Tech Talk Jess Kelly for Tech Takeover.

Rain warnings for eleven counties will come into effect tomorrow with a status orange alert for Wicklow and Waterford. For the latest on these warnings, Shane and Ciara were joined by Cathal Nolan, of the weather channel.

Almost three thousand adults are on waiting lists to see an HSE psychologist, and nearly half of those are waiting more than a year. And when it comes to CAMHS, over four thousand children and adolescents are on waiting lists to access their services. Those are just two statistics to tell the story of the many problems in our mental health services. Mary Butler is the Minister of State for Mental Health. She joined Shane and Ciara to discuss how the government plans to address shortcomings in the provision of mental health services.

A new study from the University of Edinburgh has found that people from the North West of Ireland have the highest risk of developing haemochromatosis. The disease, also known as the ‘Celtic curse’, is an inherited condition that causes an iron build-up in the body. But why is the condition so common here and what symptoms should you be aware of? Professor John Ryan is a consultant hepatologist at Beaumont Hospital and joined Shane and Ciara

The Oireachtas Media Committee met today to discuss the regulation of online platforms, with senior staff from Meta, Google and TikTok. Social media platform X has refused the invitation . It comes for Age verification for social media to go before Cabinet Sinead Gibney is Social Democrats TD for Dublin Rathdown, and member of the Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport.She joined Ciara and Shane to discuss what issues were raised at the Media Committee today.

Minister for Education Hildegarde Naughton will bring to Cabinet proposals for statutory charter to strengthen accountability in schools.  Under this proposal parents will be told by schools the amount of money generated from these voluntary contributions and how exactly it is being spent by the school.To discuss this further Shane and Ciara were joined by Seamus Mulconroy, General Secretary of Catholic Primary School Management Association.    

The cabinet have agreed a complete ban on scramblers in public places. This is after the death of 16-year-old Grace Lynch in Finglas recently. The Minister for Transport, Darragh O’Brien, said the legislation will be in place in a matter of weeks. Saying we owe it to Grace and her family. But how widespread are Scramblers in communities in Dublin and how difficult will it be to enforce? Henry McKean joined Shane and Ciara.

‘AI-assisted mammograms result in fewer aggressive and advanced breast cancer’, according to a new study which used AI in 200,000 breast exams from various institutions in more than 10 countries.  Joining Shane and Ciara was Suzanne Little, Professor in the School of Computing at Dublin City University.

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, as part of his 12 best cities in the world, Fionn joined Ciara and Shane to give the ultimate guide to Hanoi in Vietnam

Chef  Kevin Dundon joined Shane and Ciara  to place his favourite book on The Hard Shoulder Bookshelf!

In the UK, Peter Mandelson has resigned from the House of Lords over the latest revelations about his relationship with  Jeffrey Epstein, while in the US, Former US president Bill Clinton and former Secretary State Hillary Clinton will testify in a congressional investigation  Joining Shane and Ciara was Terry Sheridan, News Director at WSHU radio  

Josh Crosbie, Newstalk reporter, joined Ciara and Shane from Kilkenny as in the wake of Storm Chandra, the town deals with the damage caused by excessive rain fall. He spoke to families and business effected by the flooding and what they would like to see happen in the future to protect their community from flooding.

“One thing the Government could do in 2026 that would improve the lives of young people would be to introduce driving lessons in secondary schools.” That’s a suggestion from the Letters page in The Irish Times over the weekend.  But how would that work? Should it be rolled out at the government level, and would driving schools be willing to partake in these modules?  Joining Shane and Ciara was Jim Carey, Success 4 You driving school and Michael Finn, Principal of Gorey Community School, who have trailed a driving program with their TY students.  

A new initiative by a south London pub aims to not only get people making real-life connections but also to practice their small talk skills.  The idea for these live events sparked from the development of the app called ‘The death of small talk’, which gives its users prompts of interesting questions to ask when in a social setting like a first date.  Joining Shane and Ciara was Glenn Edwards, founder of the Death of Small Talk app and Sam Chambers,   Early app founder and host of the app's live events.  

The National Emergency Coordination Group has warned that the risk of flooding across the east and southeast regions is "very high" in the coming days as further heavy rain is forecast.Ciara and Shane were joined by Rebecca Cantwell, Meteorologist with Met Eireann for the latest on the weather