The Hard Shoulder

This week, Ciara and Shane were joined by the presenter of Weekend Breakfast on Today FM, Alison Curtis and Saoirse Hanley, Columnist with the Irish Independent, to look back on the week that was, but with a few twists…

The crew of the Artemis II are due to splash down after their historic lunar flyby.Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen are set to splash down in the Pacific off San Diego at 1.07am GMT, after voyaging further from Earth than anyone before…So, what does it feel like to re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere and splash down?Colonel Chris Hadfield, former Astronaut and best-selling author, joins Ciara to discuss!

Water cremation, also known as resomation, may be the future of cremation, while also being better for the environment. But, how does the process work?Joining Shane and Ciara to discuss is Elizabeth Oakes, Founder of Pure Reflections, a resomarium based in Navan, County Meath.

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 rest of the week's action…

Despite the hopes of those involved in the blockades, no protest leaders were invited to talks today between the IFA, the Hauliers Association and Taoiseach Michael Martin and Tanaiste Simon Harris.James Geoghegan, Spokesperson for the Fuels Protest, joins Ciara to discuss.

As blockades continue around the country and people have begun panic buying petrol, concerns have been raised about what these protests will mean for Ireland’s fuel supplies…Joining Shane to discuss is CEO of Fuels for Ireland, Kevin McPartlan.

Today, Newbridge Silverware have closed their factory doors, bringing to an end 92 years of making silver-plated cutlery.Have we stopped investing in fine silverware, and if so: why?Tara O’Connor from the Design Table joins Ciara and Shane to discuss.

Earlier today, Shane was joined by Taoiseach Michéal Martin to discuss the current state of the fuel protests, what could come from the meetings happening, and when we could return to a sense of normalcy…

David O’Callaghan from the Here and Back Again podcast and Dee Reddy, Podcaster and Cultural Commentator joined Ciara and Shane on The Hard Shoulder to review the latest TV and movie releases…

Whether it’s a light bulb moment in the shower, to a eureka moment on the loo, why do we do our best thinking in the bathroom?Brendan Kelly, Professor of Psychiatry, Trinity College Dublin joins Ciara and Shane to discuss!

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 rest of the week's action…

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae joins Shane to discuss the current situation with the national fuel protest…

Protesters are continuing to block fuel sites this afternoon in Cork, Limerick and Galway as fuel price protests are on day three.Ciara and Shane are joined by Newstalk Reporters across the country to hear the situation on the ground, and are joined to discuss by Vincent Jennings, CEO of the Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association and Richard O’Donoghue is an Independent Ireland TD for Limerick County.

A campaign calling for postnatal care to be extended for up to a year for new mothers, with a focus on regular check-ups, mental health screenings and access to physical recovery services.Maternal health advocate and Founder of the ‘Year of Care Campaign, Aolish Gormley, joins Ciara to discuss…

The Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD, and the CEO of the HSE, Anne O’Connor, have called for all approaches to medical facilities to be kept clear for emergency service access, for medical appointments and to ensure staff can get to work and treat their patients.The Minister joins Ciara to discuss…

Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform & Digitalisation, Jack Chambers, joins Ciara and Shane to discuss today’s national fuel protest, as well as whether or not we should introduce nuclear energy production to the country.

The Artemis II astronauts are returning home after conducting a historic lunar fly-by, which took them further from Earth than any humans have ever been.For more on what’s to come, Shane is joined by Space Commentator, Leo Enright…Image: NASA

The Cabinet is actively discussing a potential review of our country’s ban on nuclear power, according to reporting by the Business Post. A number of Senior Ministers, including Jack Chambers and James Lawless, have expressed their openness for the ban to be reviewed. Denis Duff is a Chartered Engineer and Co-Founder of 18 for 0, and joins Ciara to discuss.

Kanye West, also known as Ye’s permission to travel to the UK this summer has been blocked by the government. The artist was set to travel to the UK to headline the Wireless festival in London. He has been heavily criticised in ⁠the past for antisemitic remarks and celebrating Nazism…For more on this, Ciara is joined by Vincent McAviney, London-based Journalist.

If you are a coffee drinker, you may always be seeking to recreate that perfect cup of coffee just like the one you get from your favourite café. But, how should you go about doing it, and what actually goes into creating the perfect cup of coffee?James McCormack is CEO of the Dublin Barista School, and joins Shane and Ciara to discuss.

The country is continuing to experience a national gridlock due to a national fuel protest taking place today over spiraling diesel, petrol and home heating oil prices due to the war on Iran…Currently, O’Connell Street in Dublin is closed due to protesting vehicles parked there, blocking main routes for commuters and public transport.For the Government reaction to this, Ciara is joined by Naoise Ó Cearúil, Fianna Fail TD for Kildare North.

“A whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again”.Those were the words earlier today of the sitting US President Donald Trump on Truth Social as he threatened significant attacks on Iran tonight should a ceasefire deal not be reached. The President has set a deadline of 8pm eastern time in the US, 1am here, for that deal before attacks would start, which would see every bridge and power plant in the country rendered inoperable just four hours later…Steven Erlanger is the Chief Diplomatic Correspondent in Europe for the New York Times, and joins Shane to discuss.Image: Reuters

Parents around the world are worried about their kids' screentime, and for some, they feel they have the solution: the landline.Many of our kids won’t know what a landline is if they saw one, but is it time to reintroduce this old technology?Esther McCarthy is Weekend Columnist with the Irish Examiner, and joins Ciara and Shane to discuss.

Frontline Garda numbers have fallen by nearly 600 and one in 10 stations are now left unmanned.For more on this, Shane is joined by Stephen Moore, Founder of Out of Blue Training & Matt Carthy, Sinn Fein’s Spokesperson on Justice.

The National Botanic Gardens, in Kilmacurragh Co Wicklow have erected a sign warning dog owners to change their behavior or dogs will be banned in the gardens.The sign explains that due to the ongoing problems with dogs off leads and dog waste that dogs may be banned within the next year. Should more public spaces be dog-free?Joining Ciara to discuss this is Columnist and Broadcaster, Brenda Power.

The country is experiencing a national gridlock due to a national fuel protest taking place today over spiraling diesel, petrol and home heating oil prices due to the war on Iran.Trucks and tractors are continuing to arrive in Dublin city centre after taking off from sites around the country, parking on O’Connell Street.Joining Shane to discuss and give the latest updates is Blake Boland from Dublin Bus Ellen Butler, Newstalk Reporter and James Geoghan, Spokesperson for the Fuels Protest.

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