The Hard Shoulder

Singer Flo McSweeney, joined Ciara Doherty to discuss some of her favourite books....

Ciara Doherty was joined by  Holocaust Survivor, Stephen Kapos and by Jonathan Folwer, from UNWRA, to discuss the ongoing situation in Gaza

As the Justice Minister, Jim O Callaghan, gets approval for Jennie’s Law, which seeks the establishment of a Domestic Violence Register. Ciara Doherty is joined by  Dr Caroline Forde, member of the Domestic Violence Advocacy Service, and by David Hall Former CEO of Sonas Domestic Abuse Charity for reaction.

Since Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, there have been many calls for support and aid. The latest comes from Irish citizen and Ukraine native, Luba Healy, who is set to journey to the region later this year. Ciara Doherty spoke to Luba on the Hard Shoulder about her journey.

As a man is charged with sexual assault of 10 year old girl, Ciara Doherty is joined by Conor Lally, Crime and Security Editor for The Irish Times with the latest update.  

Following the launch of new bus connects services in recent days across Dublin, several commuters in the Finglas area feel the issues they are facing are more than just teething problems with the routes, urging the NTA to review the rollout immediately.  Ciara Doherty was joined by Brian Caulfield,  Professor of Engineering at Trinity College Dublin and by Finglas resident Cathy Benvin,  to discuss the issue.

With Halloween next week, you may have heard of an increase in fireworks and bangers in your area, but how do you ensure your pets are protected during these weeks?Ciara Doherty was joined by Pete Wedderburn to discuss this.

Reports are suggesting that police are facing a race against time to recover priceless objects stolen by thieves in a heist at the Louvre museum in Paris.The world-famous museum was forced to close yesterday, and remained closed today after thieves accessed a gallery containing the French Crown Jewels at around 9.30am local time.CBS Correspondent for Paris, Elaine Cobbe, joins Ciara Doherty with the latest.Obviously, this isn’t the first famous heist – there have been plenty of famous ones through the years. Irish Times Journalist and Historian Ronan McGreevy also joins to discuss some of them with Ciara.

The European Union Court of Justice ruled last week that pets can be considered as baggage. This was in response to a case where an airline lost a dog, and paid out €5,000 in compensation to the owner.To discuss this, Ciara is joined by Co-Founder of My Lovely Horse Rescue, Martina Hickey and Eoghan Corry, Travel and Aviation Journalist at TravelExtra.ie.

For this week’s Kids Health Check, Ciara Doherty is joined by Aoife Lee, Parenting Coach at ParentSupport.ie, to discuss how you can handle bedtime anxiety with your children.

Yesterday evening, Fine Gael posted a video on its X account where it questions Catherine Connolly’s previous career as a Barrister. Titled ‘Catherine Connolly’s hypocrisy’, the video shows some of Connolly’s Dáil dealings when working on housing and the banks in a legal capacity.Many in opposition have criticised this type of video and type of politics…Joining Ciara Doherty to discuss is Louse Burne, Political Correspondent with the Irish Examiner, and later to give his reaction, Barry Ward, Fine Gael TD for Dún Laoghaire.

Figures from TUSLA show that it inquired into less than one-in-five referrals it received about child welfare issues in parts of Dublin earlier this year.What does this say about the system? And, what needs to change?Joining Ciara Doherty to discuss is Jennifer Whitmore, Social Democrats TD for Wicklow and Caoilfhionn Gallagher, Special Rapporteur on Child Protection.

Penguin and Club bars can no longer be described as chocolate biscuits as they contain more types of oils than cocoa. So, what is really chocolate? And how can people know if what they’re buying isn’t actually chocolate?Joining Ciara Doherty to discuss is Chocolate Expert, Shobitha Ramadasan.

Breege Quinn, the mother of Paul Quinn, a 21-year-old man who was murdered in County Monaghan, is appealing for “justice” on the 18th anniversary of his death…She joins Ciara Doherty to discuss.

Co-Creator and star of the hit Netflix TV series ‘Adolescence’, Stephen Graham, has launched a new project asking fathers to write letters to their sons about what it means to be a man, to form a book about masculinity. Due to technology, Stephen Graham says “There is arguably an even bigger disconnect between fathers and sons than ever before.”Joining Ciara Doherty to discuss this is Comedian and Father, Joe McGucken and Comedian and Father, Steve Cummins.

This week, Jonathan Healy was joined by the presenter of Weekend Breakfast on Today FM, Alison Curtis and Saoirse Hanley, Feature Writer with the Irish Independent to look back on the week that was, but with a few twists…

While the show is broadcasting from Croke Park, it would be remiss for Jonathan not to visit their GAA Museum!He’s joined by Tour Guide Gerry McGarry to get the VIP treatment and see what’s on show!

Aisling Larkin, Mindful Eating Coach and TV Chef joins Jonathan Healy to discuss how you can mix up the classic roast dinner!

Off The Ball's Eoin Sheahan joined Jonathan Healy on The Hard Shoulder to review the week in sport and look ahead to the weekend action. Bernard Jackman, former Leinster and Ireland international also joins to discuss the upcoming Leinster and Munster match.

The Hard Shoulder is broadcasting from Croke Park, and while we are looking ahead to tomorrow’s Leinster vs Munster game this weekend, we also should discuss Ireland’s historic Six Nations win over England in 2007!Joining Jonathan Healy to discuss is Shane Byrne, former Ireland Player and Ryle Nugent, who was Commentator on the day...

Jonathan Healy is joined in Croke Park by the most capped player in Ireland’s Women’s Rugby History, a Hall of Famer, and currently the Head of Women’s strategy with the IRFU, Lynne Cantwell to discuss her current role and more.

We talk a lot in this country about the culture around underage drinking in this country, as kids become teenagers, invites to house parties become more common. These parties often have a drinking element, either with or without the parents’ knowledge…But, do they put parents in an awkward position, and is underage drinking a bit of an inevitably in our culture?Joining Jonathan Healy from Croke Park is Columnist with Irish Independent and Columnist, Mary McCarthy and Columnist with the Irish Examiner, Jane Cowan.

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

Claims have been made against Prince Andrew in a posthumous memoir of sex-trafficking victim Virginia Giuffre.Giuffre wrote that, on Epstein’s Island, the Prince believed having sex with her “was his birthright”...Mark Paul, London Correspondent for the Irish Times joins Ciara Doherty to discuss.

The Arts Council currently does not recognise Comedy as an artform, which means comedians receive no funding as result. However, the Comedy Amendment Bill is going to the Dáil on October 23rd to try and change this.Comedian Ailish McCarthy has been campaigning on this issue for many years, and joins Ciara Doherty to discuss.

Former Ireland International and two-time Six Nations winner Fiona Hayes joins Ciara Doherty for this week’s Thursday Interview!

Over the last few weeks, several Irish citizens have been detained in Israel after the flotilla they were on was intercepted on their way to deliver aid in Gaza.One of those was Irish author and activist Naoise Dolan who was aboard one of the Thousands Madleens vessels.She joins Ciara Doherty to discuss her experience on the Flotilla, her detainment by Israel and the current peace deal in place.

With many homes having their Halloween decorations up and festivities ready to get underway, we’re going to look at the connection between Halloween and Ireland.To discuss, Ciara Doherty is joined by Brinsley McNamara of Weird Ireland.

Speaking today, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the EU will look to relax state-aid rules to increase the supply of affordable housing.In her speech, she highlighted the number of EU countries experiencing housing crises, and said they will begin working on the first ever European Affordable Housing Plan.But, how would a plan like this be implemented across such different countries with such different issues?Joining Ciara Doherty to discuss is Senior Housing Lecturer at Technological University Dublin, Lorcan Sirr.

Henry's Front Bench is back! Henry McKean meets the Presidential election candidates on a park bench and tries to get to know them behind the politics.Today, Henry meets independent candidate Catherine Connolly, and sends in this report…

There has been a lot of talk over the proposed speed reduction in urban areas from 50km/hr down to 30km/hr. What was originally going to be a directive from the government implemented nationwide, now looks to be left to each county and city council to decide upon.To discuss this, Ciara Doherty is joined by Fine Gael Cllr for Galway City Council, Shane Forde, and Labour Cllr for Cork City Council, Peter Horgan.

Life can be full of confusing things, but no need to worry! Every Wednesday, Simon Tierney will be showing you ‘How to do Stuff’ - bringing his best tips for those things you might not think about.This week, Simon joins Jonathan to discuss how you can quit smoking!

Henry's Front Bench is back! Henry McKean meets the Presidential election candidates on a park bench and tries to get to know them behind the politics.Today, Henry meets Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys, and sends in this report…

Israel says one of four bodies handed over by Hamas overnight "does not match any of the hostages". Hamas was required to return all 48 remaining hostages as part of the first phase of the Gaza peace plan.For more on this and the opening of the Rafah crossing, Jonathan is joined by Bel Trew, Chief International Correspondent with Independent.

For this week’s Tech Takeover, Jess Kelly, Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent joins Jonathan to discuss how OpenAI, the parent company of ChatGPT, will be relaxing restrictions on its AI chatbot, allowing adult users to engage in more graphic or erotic feautres…

From sleeping with your pets in the bed, to having your shoes on the coffee table and generally leaving your phone on any surface in between: what causes the most household germs?Joining Jonathan to discuss is Dr Primrose Freestone, Associate Professor of Clinical Microbiology at the University of Leicester.

A public consultation on the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services has been launched by the Mental Health Commission.The move is an effort to implement "robust, evidence-based standards" for service users within the system.John Joe McGinley, parent and Founder of autismdad.ie joins Jonathan to discuss his experience with two sons who have been in the CAMHS system.

You may have seen a recent trend circulating online, of people sending their parents AI generated images which make it look like there is an unknown person in their house, to get their reaction. While this is a seemingly harmless joke, it’s one of many instances of AI generated deepfakes circulating online.So, how can you tell an AI deepfake from a real image?Joining Jonatahn to discuss is Professor Barry O’Sullivan of the School of Computer Science & IT at University College Cork.

The Dáil today voted a motion of confidence for Simon Harris.The motion was put forward by the Government after Aontú said yesterday they would be bringing a motion of no confidence against the Tánaiste over his failure to deliver promises for scoliosis care during his time as Minister for Health.Joining Jonathan with the latest is Political Correspondent with the Irish Examiner, Louise Burne.

Bucket lists - are they something we still use to measure our success and to monitor the goals we unattainable things we are still reaching for, or have we scrapped them for a more day to day mindset?Joining Jonathan Healy to discuss is Joe O’Shea, Editor of Cork Beo and Stephaine Regan, Clinical Psychologist.

This morning, the Oireachtas Transport Committee met to discuss the provision of buses in rural areas.Representatives from Bus Éireann and the National Transport Authority appeared before the committee to discuss the biggest challenges facing public transport on these rural routes.Joining Jonathan Healy to discuss is Sinn Féin TD for Kerry Pa Daly and the National Transport Authority’s Director of Public Transport, Jeremy Ryan.Image: TFI Local Link Cavan Monaghan

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, Fionn joined Jonathan Healy to give his recommendations for Halloween festivals in Ireland!

Irish Olympic Swimmer Shane Ryan has announced he will take part in the controversial Enhances Games which next year will permit competitors to use performance enhancing drugs, like steroids, to gain advantage.Since his announcement, the Irish sporting world has criticised the decision including Swim Ireland who said they’re “disappointed” by the three-time Olympian’s decision.Joining Jonathan Healy to discuss is Chief Sport Writer at the Irish Daily Star Kieran Cunningham and David Nolan, who is an Assistant Professor of Sport and Exercise Science at DCU.

Aontú Leader Peadar Tóibín joins Jonathan Healy to place his favourite book on The Hard Shoulder Bookshelf!

The ceasefire in Gaza is under strain today, as Israeli Defence Force members have shot multiple civilians dead in Northern Gaza.Shows of intra-Palestinian violence also reign as Hamas have carried out public executions of suspected collaborators.So, will the ceasefire hold?Paul Kearns, Freelance Journalist in Tel Aviv joins Jonathan Healy to discuss.

Protein is not just a macronutrient, but now a buzz word in diet and health culture. You will have seen many foods focusing on being ‘high protein’ or ‘protein enhanced’. Is it simply the latest diet trend, or should you be stocking up on your protein powder?Joining Jonathan Healy to discuss is Shelly Gray, Today FM Presenter and Registered Dietitian.

Defective concrete blocks have resulted in many homeowners being forced out of their homes as it crumbles around them. The issue has persisted for a number of years, with many still fighting for appropriate support.Jonathan is joined by a homeowner impacted by defective concrete blocks, Marti McElhinney, and TD for the 100% Redress Party, Charles Ward to discuss.

Limerick City and County Councils are set to list all pet-friendly businesses and establishments.Which begs the question, should more spaces be dog-friendly, and is there a point in which we should draw the line on this?Freelance Journalist Andrea Smith joins Jonathan Healy to discuss.

Many of the big energy providers have hiked their prices in recent months. With many people already squeezed by the cost of living, some have suggested that a price cap should be implemented to stop what they see as price gouging… but would a price cap be a feasible or effective solution?Joining Jonathan Healy to discuss is Economist and former Political Analyst David Higgins and Sinn Féin MEP, Lynn Boylan.

Fianna Fáil Cllr Audrey Buckley has said that hospital staff and Gardaí need to take greater action in incidents of suspected spiking, following an incident involving a family member of the local politician.But, what are the protocols currently in place if a person presents to an emergency department?Joining guest host Jonathan Healy to discuss is Dr Chris Luke, Consultant in Emergency Medicine and Columnist with the Irish Medical Times and Faye Ní Dhomhnaill, Vice President for Campaigns - Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn.