The Hard Shoulder

Ireland, credited with natural “storytelling charm,” ranked third funniest in a survey of 6,000 people across 30 countries.The Czech Republic ranked first and Portugal ranked second. Comedian and actress Faye Shortt spoke with Anton to see if this list is really accurate.

Uisce Eireann has warned that water supply is critically low and that there is absolutely zero capacity for more water in Dublin.Demand on Monday breached capacity for the first time, highlighting that the services unsuitable without further investment in infrastructure. Maria O’Dwyer, Infrastructure Delivery Director with Uisce Éireann, spoke with Anton to outline Ireland’s water capacity challenges.Listen here.

Michael Horan, policy and regulation manager with Insurance Ireland, joins The Hard Shoulder to explain why motor insurance premiums are up over 8% year-on-year, and whether real reform is on the way.Listen here for more.

A potential upgrade to the electricity grid could cost anywhere up to 19 billion euro according to an investment plan published by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities.But will that mean anything for your bills?Muireann Lynch is Senior Research Officer for the ESRI, and she spoke with Anton earlier.Listen here.

Ollwyn Moran, neurodevelopmental therapist and founder of Cognikids, and Richard Hogan, psychotherapist and columnist with the Irish Examiner, join The Hard Shoulder to discuss a new study suggesting children show signs of addictive behaviour on TikTok after just 35 minutes of use.Listen here

Fine Gael’s Ray McAdam has been elected as the new Lord Mayor of Dublin. His term will focus on ‘celebrating Dubin’ in which he hopes to champion the city’s people and potential.  Lord Mayor of Dublin Councillor Ray McAdam spoke with Anton earlier to address his plans for the capital.Listen here.

Newstalk's own, Simon Tierney joins The Hard Shoulder for this week’s “How To Do Stuff” segment.This week, Simon digs into the science, myths, and questionable parenting methods that have given way to some of sport's greatest performers.Listen here

Dr Aileen McGloin, Director of Nutrition at safefood, joins The Hard Shoulder to explore whether soaring food prices are leading consumers to rely more on cheap, highly processed products.Listen here

Ria Czerniak-LeBov is an artist, writer, musician and the granddaughter of a Holocaust escapee. She is one of many Jewish people who are speaking out against Zionism and Israel’s continued attack on Gaza. Listen here for all this brilliant conversation.

Carlow Weather’s Alan O’Reilly joins Anton to talk weather – both here at home and abroad. The heatwave across the UK and Europe continues, but will that heat and sun ever reach this island?Listen here.

Jess Kelly, Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent, joins Anton to talk about the growing reach (and perhaps overreach) of artificial intelligence.Get all the latest tech news and tips, listen here.

Fr Bryan Shortall joins The Hard Shoulder to pay tribute to the late Fr Kevin Crowley, the beloved founder of the Capuchin Day Centre, who passed away this week at the age of 90.Listen here

Feljin Jose, Green Party TD and transport spokesperson, Lynn Boylan, Sinn Féin MEP for Dublin, and Brian Caulfield, Professor of Transportation at Trinity College Dublin, join The Hard Shoulder to debate the government's new Luas expansion plan.Although the plans are welcomed, the wait for another 25 years has many people questioning if they'll even live to see its opening.Listen here for all the debate.

Tánaiste Simon Harris has been telling a trade forum that US tariffs of 10% on exports from Ireland will be the "new normal" but that efforts are continuing to agree 'zero-for-zero' taxes in some key areas.  The meeting takes place a week before the scheduled lifting of a pause on higher tariffs by the US president Donald Trump. Peter Burke is the Minister for Enterprise and Fine Gael TD for Longford-Westmeath, and he joined Anton earlier on The Hard Shoulder.Listen here.

Harriet Alexander, a US-based journalist, joins The Hard Shoulder to unpack the court verdict involving Sean “Diddy” Combs, who was found guilty of only one of the charges he was brought to court over.Arguably, it carried the lightest sentence of all his charges.Listen here

Frank Greaney, NewsTalk’s Courts Correspondent, joins Anton to deliver the latest on two of Ireland’s highest-profile court stories — the legal proceedings involving DJ Carey and the most recent developments in the Conor McGregor case.DJ Carey today pleaded guilty to 10 of the 21 charges he was facing linked to defrauding people out of money. Listen here for all the latest.

From shoppers and a farmer to a retailer and fishmonger, NewsTalk's Josh Crosbie hti the streets to ask whether high grocery prices are here to stay, and how inflation is changing how people shop.Listen here for Josh's full report.

Families are paying thousands of euro more for their groceries.Many consumers will have noticed their weekly shopping bills go up and there’s a warning these will rise even further.Newstalk reporter, Josh Crosbie has been meeting with farmers and shoppers about these costs.

Denmark are to introduce protections giving individuals automatic copyright over their own likeness in effort to tackle AI and deepfakes. But, will it actually do much about the rise of this phenomenon? Eoin O’Dell is an Associate Professor of Law in Trinity College Dublin and he joined Anton to discuss earlier.Listen here.

"Meno-washing" - what is it and how can you best sound out the products that you should buy into?   Loretta Dignam, CEO and Founder of the Menopause Hub spoke with Anton to discuss.Listen here.

US President Donald Trump threatened to deport Elon Musk to South Africa when their spat reignited after the tech billionaire increased his attack on the 'Big, Beautiful Bill' and vowed to launch a new political party if the bill gets passed. For the latest, Anton is joined by US based journalist, Harriet Alexander  

Amidst a 10-year plan to rejuvenate Dublin’s City Centre and the increase in visibility and frequency of Garda patrols, has the North inner city benefitted at all? Gary Gannon, Social Democrats TD for Dublin Central joins Anton to discuss. Listen here.

Mentalist Keith Barry joins the show to share what he’s been reading and why certain books resonate with him.As a mentalist, expect to hear books that strengthen the mind, empower the person, and maybe even a little bit of witchcraft.Listen here.

Disability rights campaigner, Cara Darmody, joins Anton to discuss her successful meeting with HSE Chief Executive Bernard Gloster.Listen here.

Anton hosts a debate between Pearse Doherty, Sinn Féin’s Finance Spokesperson, and Fine Gael TD for Dublin Bay South, James Geoghegan over the government’s controvsersial plans to redevelop the GPO in Dublin city centre.Listen here.

 As the birthrates across the world continue to fall, how can we tackle the issue. Is the solution economic incentives or do we need a cultural shift in attitudes?   Broadcaster Wendy Grace and Irish Examiner columnist Jane Cowen explore why many young people are rethinking whether to have children.Listen here.

Seamus Mulconry from the Catholic Primary School Management Association and Áine Lynch of the National Parents Council join Anton Savage to discuss the imposition of 'voluntary contributions' to public schools as they cope with rising prices.We also hear from parents affected by these new costs.Listen here.

NewsTalk Courts Correspondent, Frank Greaney, gives the latest update on the Conor McGregor appeal.McGregor at the last minute withdrew ‘fresh evidence’ from Nikita Hand’s neighbours over alleged row with her ex-partnerListen here.

Paul Gallagher, owner of the Asics store on O’Connell Street, joins Anton Savage to talk about crime in Dublin city centre. Paul's store was broken into on Monday night, adding another blow to the city centre street.Josh Crosbie also reports with vox-pops from shoppers on if they feel safe in Dublin.Listen here.

Colin Baker ('The Gadget Guy') and cyclist Imogen Ní Choitir join The Hard Shoulder to discuss road safety for vulnerable users and whether changes in infrastructure could prevent further fatalities.Especially with new vehicles entering the road, pedestrians and cyclist continue the calls for better cycling infrastructure.Listen here.

Tom Dunne, Newstalk presenter and frontman of Something Happens, joins The Hard Shoulder to tell the story of Thin Lizzy.From their origins to their legacy in music, and why Phil Lynott’s voice still echoes across generations.Listen here

James Fernandez McCabe, of Irish descent, is due to play Wimbledon tomorrow.  His father, Patrick McCabe emigrated from Walkinstown to Sydney in the 1980s.  There, he taught his son to play tennis through youtube videos, launching his career which has now brought them to the prestigious tournament.   Patrick and James join The Hard Shoulder now to share their story. 

Eamon Ryan, former Green Party leader, joins Jonathan Healy to discuss Ireland’s missed climate goals, accountability in government, and what he believes needs to happen next to start hitting those climate goals.Listen here.

Amanullah de Sondy, former umpire and UCC academic, joins The Hard Shoulder to discuss the life and times of a tennis umpire,Listen here to hear about the abolishment of line judges, the prospects for this year and the changes in refereeing the game.

Parenting coach Aoife Lee from ParentSupport.ie joins Jonathan for this week's Kids Clnic.This week, it's sharing tips on maintaining structure for children over the school holidays — and how to avoid chaos without killing the fun.Listen here

Joe Lynam, Newstalk Business Editor, and reporter Jess Woodlock join The Hard Shoulder to explain why nearly 200 staff are facing compulsory redundancies at Intel Ireland.Although a huge hit for the Irish economy, it may describe more accurately the state of affairs within Intel and an apparent failure to adapt to newer technologies.Listen here

Peter Cardwell, TalkTV presenter, and human rights campaigner Colm O’Gorman join The Hard Shoulder to react to the BBC’s decision not to cut away from Bob Vylan’s Glastonbury performance, which contained comments the broadcaster later called “utterly unacceptable.”Vylan is now being investigated by UK Police.But Jonathan asks the question; has this distracted us from what's really happening in Gaza?Listen here.

Barry Kenny, Head of Corporate Communications for Iarnród Éireann and Rosslare Europort, and Eoghan Corry, travel journalist and editor of TravelExtra, join Jonathan Healy to discuss the rather suprising news of Stenaline withdrawing its Rosslare to Cherbourg ferry service from the end of September this year.Listen here for all the latest.

Colm Burke, Fine Gael TD for Cork North Central, joins The Hard Shoulder after being appointed as the first-ever official spokesperson for Cork. He explains the purpose of the new role and how he aims to address some of Cork's biggest concerns in city and county.Listen here.

Ana Rosa Butler, Spain-based writer, and Paola Arriaza Flynn, Vatican correspondent for EWTN Media, join Jonathan to describe life in parts of Europe experiencing extreme temperatures and how different regions are adapting to the latest brutal heatwave.Temperatures in Spain have even reached as high as 46 degrees celsius.Listen here.

NewsTalk's own Josh Crosbie brings reactions from drivers in Cork, while Meghan Scully, freelance journalist and broadcaster, and Shane O’Donoghue, editor of CompleteCar.ie, join The Hard Shoulder to discuss why seatbelt compliance is still an issue, how it seems to have risen again and why it varies by county.Listen here

Alison Curtis, presenter of Weekend Breakfast on Today FM, and Ger Gilroy from Off The Ball join Anton for the weekly Winners and Sinners.From How to Train your Dragon to all the concerts taking over Dublin parks. Listen here for all the Winners and Sinners action.

Adam Long, board director of the National LGBT Federation, joins The Hard Shoulder to reflect on Pride Week in Ireland, its relevance in 2025, and the dangers of Pride becoming tokenistic as commercial involvement grows.Listen here

Luca De Marzio, owner of Rosa Madre Italian restaurant in Dublin, joins The Hard Shoulder with his essential tips on what tools home cooks actually need — and which kitchen gadgets are more hype than help.Listen here.

Most primary schools break up today and summer is finally here. Henry McKean visited the boys from O’Connell Primary School in Dublin 1 and sent us this Summer Kidstalk. Get all the sounds of the last day of school, here.

Clare Daly, former MEP, joins The Hard Shoulder to share her strong opposition to Ireland’s involvement in the EU’s new €150 billion defence initiative.The bill looks to be a step in the direction away from Irish neutrality and something sure to come under much criticism in the Dáil.Listen here

To celebrate Lidl’s 25 years in Ireland, The Hard Shoulder hears from Newstalk reporter Sarah Madden, who asked shoppers about their weirdest and most wonderful middle aisle purchases. Conor Pope, consumer affairs correspondent with The Irish Times, and Hazel Chu, Green Party councillor, join to talk about how discount stores have changed the Irish retail landscape.Listen here

Mary McCarthy, columnist with the Irish Independent, joins The Hard Shoulder to discuss the rising trend of nicotine pouch use among young people. As these puches have seen such an explosion in popularity in the past few years, Mary is here to discuss why the rise in use by young people is quite disturbing.Listen here

Maria Walsh, Fine Gael MEP for Midlands North West, joins The Hard Shoulder from Hungary to explain why she’s travelling to attend Budapest’s now-banned Pride parade and what the law says about public LGBTQ+ expression in Viktor Orbán’s Hungary.Listen here

Grace Boland, Fine Gael TD for Dublin Fingal West, Sinead Ryan, consumer journalist and presenter of The Home Show, and Graeme McQueen, Media Relations Manager with the DAA, join Anton Savage for Kieran to explore why Ireland is lagging behind on contactless payments across buses, trains and the Luas — and what’s being done to change it.Listen here