The Hard Shoulder

For this week’s Tech Takeover, Jess Kelly, Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent, joins Shane to explain Prompt Cowboy. Generative AI tools are now being used by many to increase our productivity. But sometimes are prompts can be poor, leading to poor results. Prompt Cowboy is a website that helps us create prompts for generative AI that are clearer and more precise, meaning the results we get from AI is often better.

Images of the proposed pedestrianisation of College Green and Dame Street were unveiled by Dublin city Council today, with the plan expected to cost 80 million.Frank McDonald  Author and former environment editor, joined Shane to argue that some aspects of the plan are flawed

The HSE is set to clinically review 62 children who underwent orthopedic surgery as a ‘precautionary measure.’  The move follows an independent report into the service in 2023, commissioned after high rates of post-operative complications and infections came to light.   Many parents of children that underwent orthopedic surgeries are still waiting to hear whether their child is one of the 62 under review.   Shane was joined by by Una Keightley who is one such parent, and co-lead of the Spina Bifida Paediatric Advocacy Group to react to the news.

Sinn Féin’s two MEPs have voted against a €90 billion European Union loan to Ukraine when the before the European Parliament today.  The party has said it supports the provision of humanitarian aid but says the proposed loan is ‘primarily for military expenditure’.  Joining Shean to discuss was Regina Doherty,   Irish Fine Gael MEP and Micheal Mc Namara,   Independent MEP for Ireland South

The “beep test”, a standard aerobic fitness measure used for prospective firefighters and Gardaí for the last 40 years, has been all over the news in the past few days.This is after Cork Fire Brigade was ordered to pay €8,000 in compensation to a part-time firefighter aged in her 40s, after a tribunal found the test discriminates against women and advantages younger candidates But how good a measure of your true fitness, is it?Shane travelled to Dublin City Centre, where I met with Personal Trainer John Belton to take the test and find out. To further discuss the ‘Beep Test’ Shane was joined by Former Garda inspector in north central Dublin, Former Deputy-Secretary of the AGSI and current Risk, Security & Event Manager of Ashtree Risk Group, Tony Gallagher

Following yesterdays shooting in at a school in Tumbler Ridge Canada, as the small community tries to come to terms with this Shane was joined by Trent Ernst, Local Tumbler Ridge journalist to reflect on the tragic events.

A protest against the Residential Tenancies Bill will take place today at 5.30pm outside the Dáil.  The bill would allow small landlords to reset rents to market rates between tenancies and will introduce six-year tenancies, amongst other changes.  People Before Profit called the protest, as TD Richard Boyd Barrett accused the Government of “dancing to the tune” of corporate landlords “profiteering” from the “housing crisis misery”.Shane was joined by Helen who is a staff member and regional organizer at the Community Action Tenants Union and tenant and by Michael Houghton, Columnist with the Irish Independent, host of the Irish Fire podcast and private landlord to debate the incoming measures

The trial of an American man who killed his father at the five-star Ballyfin Demesne hotel in Portlaoise 12th November 2024, during a psychotic episode told gardaí that he told his father he would always love him as he took his last breath.He has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.Joining Shane was Frank Graney, Newstalk’s courts correspondent.  

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 Shane to give the ultimate guide to Madrid in Spain !

The Dublin Airport cap is set to be lifted by the government. But are government plans foregoing climate policy to achieve economic growth ? Shane was joined by the President of the ICMSA, Denis Drennan, who questioned whether this move is a counter to the ambitions set out in the Climate Action Plan

Within the last week, have you done one or more of the following? Cleaned your house. Cooked in a non-stick pan. Worn make-up. Drunk tap water. Bought a takeaway coffee. Charged your phone.Chances are you’ve done most, if not all of them, without a second thought.And what you probably don’t realise is that every single one has put you in contact with a strain of dangerous ‘forever chemicals’.Joining Shane to  discuss was Microbiologist and Food Scientist, Anna Burn

Social Democrat TD for Dublin Central joined Shane to place his favourite book on The Hard Shoulder Bookshelf!

A survey in the UK edition of The Times suggests that one in four workers would run out of money in a month if they lost their job Essentially suggesting our rainy-day savings are dangerously low, putting many at risk if they suddenly became unemployed.  To discuss all things savings, Shane was joined by Paul Merriman, CEO of Fairstone and Founder of Askpaul.

Joining Shane was Darragh O’Brien, Minister for Transport, Climate, Energy and the Environment on the Government's plans to scrap the contentious 32 million annual passenger cap at Dublin Airport following approval by Cabinet today.

At the turn of the century, there were 522 active nightclubs across the country; as of our last count, there are only 83.There has been much debate recently whether we should try and revive the humble nightclub, or whether they have become a vestigial organ in Irish society =Joining Shane to discuss this is Lifestyle columnist with the Irish Examiner and Trinity student, Jane Cowen, Journalist at DMG media, Becca Fisher and CEO of Temple Bar and Spokesperson for Dublin Business Alliance, Martin Harte

Today is safter internet day and according to Cyber Safe Kids, more than half of children are at risk from online contact with strangers. In this major study, over 3,300 children and 1,700 parents were surveyed nationwide. And 25% of parents say they “do not understand” the games & apps their child uses. Henry McKean had a conversation with 6th class in The Harold School in Glasthule, Dublin, about online safety. He sent us this report.Also joining Shane to chat through this year's aim of making young kids ‘AI aware’ is Dónal Mulligan from DCU School of Communications and host of ‘Enough about AI’ podcast

France is set to send letters toa ll 29-year-old citizens, as a reminder to ‘have a baby while you can.’  The move is part of the government’s 16-point plan to increase fertility rates. The letter will be sent to men and women and will remind them  that fertility is a shared responsibility between both sexes.    So, should the Irish government follow suit? Are we doing enough to incentivise having children here?  Joining Shane was David Quinn, head of the Iona Institute and Newstalk's Own Hugh Keenan

She is well known for her role as the iconic Rovers Return landlady Liz McDonald, and now, has joined the cast of Fair City as Lilly, the long-lost mother of Gwen Connolly Shane was joined by Beverely to talk about starting in Fair City, having been known for so long from Coronation street.

Shane was joined by pulitizer winning Photographer, Deanne Fitzmaurice on the launch of her book of photographs, ‘On Dublin: Reflections on the Irish Capital’ in conjunction with The Little Museum of Dublin.   Shane also spoke to her work as a war photographer, and of course the powerful portrayal of Saleh, a young Iraqi war victim was the Pulitzer Prize winning photography in 2005.

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:...