The Hard Shoulder
Newstalk
The Hard Shoulder on Newstalk. Join us every weekday afternoon from 4-7pm for a round-up of the day’s events, interviews with the people at the centre of the stories – and a bit of craic along the way. CONVERSATION THAT COUNTS | Ireland’s national independent talk station for news, sport, analysis and entertainmentListen to Newstalk at http://newstalk.com/listenlive | Download the GoLoud app now, the new home for Newstalk
Episodes
Mentioned books
Oct 30, 2025 • 13min
Dermot Bannon on health scare and dealing with the winter cold
Architect and host of ‘Room to Improve’, Dermot Bannon, joins Ciara Doherty to discuss his recent health scare, the return of his show and his partnership with WillowWarm!
Oct 30, 2025 • 12min
Should a Garda station be set up in Citywest?
The Department of Justice is considering handing over land to An Garda Siochána to be used for a new Garda station at Citywest, which comes in the wake of the scenes in Saggart last week.To discuss this in more detail, Ciara Doherty is joined by Independent Cllr for Tallaght-Central, Mick Duff, and former Garda Inspector and Risk Security and Event Manager of Ashtree Risk Group, Tony Gallagher.
Oct 30, 2025 • 9min
Over 55,000 Irish people refuse to be an organ donor - why?
New figures have shown that over 55,000 Irish people registered their objection to be considered an organ donor once they die.To chat through these numbers and the significance of them, Ciara Doherty is joined by Colin White, National Advocacy and Projects Manager of the Irish Kidney Association, and Adrian Cummins, who is currently on a waiting list for a transplant.
Oct 30, 2025 • 12min
How to do Stuff: Learning to love cats
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 Ciara to discuss how you can learn to love cats!
Oct 29, 2025 • 14min
British Ambassador to Ireland Kara Owen on her new role
Ciara Doherty’s guest has taken up a new role in Ireland but is no stranger to Dublin or indeed Ireland, having lived here before.Kara Owen is the new British Ambassador to Ireland, and took over the reins in September from Paul Johnston.She joins Ciara in the studio to discuss the new role.
Oct 29, 2025 • 10min
Breaking down Lily Allen’s breakup album
You may have already heard, but Lily Allen’s newest album, ‘West End Girl’, has been stealing all the headlines. And this is because in her songs, she details, with complete openness, the decline of her marriage with actor David Harbour.To dive into this, Ciara Doherty is joined by Pop Culture Journalist and Broadcaster, Jenn Gannon, and Journalist with The Irish Independent, Saoirse Hanley.
Oct 29, 2025 • 11min
Tech Takeover: Amazon job cuts
For this week’s Tech Takeover, Jess Kelly, Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent joins Ciara Doherty to discuss Amazon’s plan to cut 14,000 jobs globally, and how AI seems to be the driving reason behind this.
Oct 29, 2025 • 16min
Tolls to see another price hike
Toll prices are set to rise from January first next year with all vehicles travelling on the M50, except for those without a tag or registered account, rising by 10 cent.Joining Ciara Doherty to discuss this is Sean O’ Neill, Director of Corporate Communications for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), Neil Ring, former Lord Mayor of Dublin and City Councillor and Ger Hyland, from the Irish Road Hauliers Association.
Oct 29, 2025 • 8min
Does The Traitors prove appointment TV’s value today?
Celebrity Traitors continues tonight on BBC, with an average of 14 million people tuning in for every episode live.In a world where you can watch what you want, when you want, on demand, the format seems to be proving that appointment television is alive and well!Olivia Fahy, Editor of Geek Ireland is obsessed with the show, and joins Ciara Doherty to discuss.
Oct 29, 2025 • 11min
Fastway goes into receivership - what now?
300 jobs are under threat as Fastway today announced it has gone into receivership. The company handles roughly 20 million deliveries in Ireland each year, so what does that mean for the consumer?Joining Ciara to discuss is Conor Pope, Consumer Affairs Correspondent with The Irish Times.
