The Hard Shoulder

Epizódy

• Winners and Sinners 17.07.2026 28min

  This week, Ciara was joined by Off The Ball's Ger Gilroy and Broadcaster Meghann Scully to look back on the week that was, but with a few twists...
• What is the impact of delaying public health laws? 17.07.2026 11min

  Unfortunately, many laws to reduce public harm gather dust after drafting, delayed for years before being finally tabled for debate by elected representatives.With only 14 bills enacted in the first year of this Government, such a low legislative output impacts on public health protection.Delays in enacting legislation have real-world consequences as a known hazard continues unchecked, damaging people’s lives and consuming precious health resources, so writes Dr Suzanne Crowe, Consultant in Paediatric Intensive Care, in the Irish Independent.She joins Ciara to discuss.
• Why do we listen to the same music over and over? - Henry McKean Reports 17.07.2026 8min

  According to a new survey, 65% of us listen to the same songs on loop. Why do we do it, and are you open to new music? Henry McKean met music lovers and experts, and sent in this report.
• Sport with John Duggan: World Cup Final 17.07.2026 7min

  Off The Ball’s John Duggan joined Ciara on The Hard Shoulder to review the week in sport and look ahead to the weekend action…
• Remembering Brenda Fricker 17.07.2026 32min

  Oscar-winning Irish actor Brenda Fricker, who starred in ‘My Left Foot’ and ‘Home Alone 2: Lost in New York’, has passed away at the age of 81…Joining Ciara to look back on her life and career is John Fardy, Presenter of Screentime on Newstalk, and later filmmaker Tadgh O’Sullivan, Director of the Dublin International Film Festival Grainne Humphries and Virginia Gilbert, Writer & Filmmaker.
• What security features are missing from the Government Digital Wallet? 17.07.2026 8min

  Ireland’s new Government Digital Wallet, set to become “mandatory but not compulsory” for national identity documents on Irish citizens’ smartphones by the end of the year, is being built without extra security controls that could deter thieves and fraudsters…Joining Ciara to discuss this is Kevin Curran, Professor of Cyber Security at Ulster University.
• Should you pick a staycation this year? 17.07.2026 7min

  A recent study found that almost four in ten Irish people are choosing Ireland for their main holiday this year rather than going abroad.More than 8 in 10 people planning summer holidays are concerned about flight disruptions and cancellations, the research also shows.So, should we go back to the good old days of staycations down the country?Joining me now is Esther McCarthy, Columnist with The Irish Examiner and Mia Sherwood Scully, Freelance Journalist.
• Andy Burnham officially becomes new Labour Party leader 17.07.2026 7min

  Andy Burnham has become the UK’s new Labour leader, and will take over from Keir Starmer as Prime Minister on Monday.For more on this, Ciara is joined by Stephen Pound, former Labour MP for Ealing North and former Northern Ireland Shadow Minister.
• Looking towards the All-Ireland Hurling final 17.07.2026 8min

  The 2026 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship comes to an end this weekend when Galway and Limerick meet in the decider at Croke Park.Joining Ciara to look ahead to the big game is former Limerick Hurler Ollie Moran and former Galway hurler and All Ireland winning captain in 2017 David Burke.
• Movies and TV: The Odyssey, The Hawk, Heartstopper Forever 16.07.2026 15min

  John Fardy, Presenter of Screentime on Newstalk and Sarina Bellissimo, Broadcaster and Presenter of the Bellissimo Files podcast joined Ciara on The Hard Shoulder to review the latest TV and movie releases…
• Sport with John Duggan: It’s not coming home for England 16.07.2026 6min

  Off The Ball’s John Duggan joined Ciara on The Hard Shoulder to review the week in sport and look ahead to the week’s action…
• Why does other people’s food taste better? 16.07.2026 11min

  We've all done it. You order a meal you're genuinely excited about, only to find yourself eyeing someone else's plate five minutes later.So, why does other people's food taste better?Joining Ciara to discuss is Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin, Brendan Kelly.
• What you need to know about plug-in solar panels 16.07.2026 6min

  Plug-in solar panels offer people without roof access a low-cost way of generating renewable electricity that can feed directly into their household, but how much will they cost and how much electricity do they generate?Joining Ciara to discuss this is Dr Paul Deane, Senior Lecturer in Clean Energy Futures at University College Cork.
• Government agrees to set up Commission of Investigation on Michael Shine 16.07.2026 6min

  The Government has agreed to set up a Commission of Investigation into the activities of prolific paedophile Michael Shine.Shine was a surgeon at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda for over four decades, and he also had a private practice.He was convicted in 2017 and 2019 of abuse of a number of boys. Now, more than 400 victims and survivors have been identified.Joining Ciara for more on this is Fianna Fáil Senator in Louth, Alison Comyn…
• Aer Lingus set to cut up to 500 jobs 16.07.2026 8min

  Aer Lingus has said that up 500 jobs could be cut at the airline due to a planned 6% reduction in its flight capacity.Under the cost-cutting plan, 290 roles are under threat in head office functions, along with 140 cabin roles and 70 pilot positions…Joining Ciara to discuss this is Eoghan Corry, Travel and Aviation Journalist.
• Debunking male infertility misinformation 16.07.2026 7min

  Male fertility experts around the world are reporting an increase in the number of men requesting semen analysis and expressing concerns about their future fertility, leading to an industry of influencers and products emerging in response capitalising on this anxiety. Videos online are circulating with influencers saying they are using ice or red light therapy on their testicles. Why? To 'spermaxx'…Joining Ciara with the correct advice is Helena Tubridy, Fertility Coach and author of ‘Still Trying to Conceive’.
• Should retailers take responsibility for how e-scooters are sold? 16.07.2026 9min

  Retailers must take responsibility for how e-scooters are marketed and sold, according to Fine Gael TD for Tipperary South and Chair of the Oireachtas Transport Committee, Michael Murphy.His comments come as Children’s Health Ireland reports a 50% rise in children and young people admitted to hospital with traumatic brain injuries linked to e-scooter incidents…Deputy Michael Murphy joins Ciara to discuss.
• Are destination weddings ruining your savings? 16.07.2026 9min

  We’ve hit peak wedding season and, if you’re in your late 20s or 30s, you’re probably receiving multiple invitations every summer for friends’ destination weddings.But, spending your hard-earned cash attending a friend’s destination wedding if you don’t have a deposit for a home, or if it requires you getting into debt, smacks of financial self-sabotage, so writes Gabrielle Monaghan in today's Irish Independent.Joining Ciara to discuss this further is Money Journalist for the Irish Independent Gabrielle Monaghan, and Sara Kennedy, Wedding Expert and owner of The Aisle wedding blog.
• Do we have a cultural public toilet problem? 16.07.2026 16min

  Writing in The Irish Examiner today, writer Marc De Faoite, who is living in France, highlights the difference of Ireland's attitudes to public toilets in comparison to France. "Ireland is still making grown adults say the equivalent of an “bhfuil cead agam dul go dtí an leithreas?”, he says, which he states comes from the lingering legacy of Catholic-era attitudes.Marc joins Ciara to discuss, as well Victoria Spillane, Interim Chief Operations Officer at Crohn’s and Colitis Ireland.
• What Enoch Burke teaches us about the Irish justice system 15.07.2026 7min

  An interesting piece in Yesterday’s Irish Times by Breda O’Brien detailed what the Enoch Burke saga has taught us about the Irish justice system, ultimately raising the question what is the purpose of imprisonment? Is it retributive, rehabilitative, or restorative?Joining Shane to discuss this is Breda O’Brien, Contributor to The Irish Times.