The Hard Shoulder

For this week’s Kids Health Check, Ciara Doherty is joined by Dr Elaine McCarthy, Senior Child and Educational Psychologist, to discuss what to do if your child has an emotional outburst after getting home from school…

Doctors have described the number of children presenting with brain injuries due to e-scooter accidents as “alarming”.There are ongoing calls for better implementation of regulations around the use of e-scooters and one of those looking for more restrictions is Dublin City Councillor for the South Inner-City Danny Byrne. He joins Ciara Doherty to discuss.

Tomorrow, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky will make his first official visit to the state alongside his wife and first lady Olena.Elsewhere, protests are due to take place this evening over the controversy surrounding proposals to rename Herzog Park.Joining Ciara to discuss all is Christina Finn, Political Editor with the journal.ie and Donnacha O'Beachain, Professor of Politics at DCU.

The Hard Shoulder is looking back on 2025’s biggest moments in the news, and who were at the heart of it.On the 10th of September this year, the American conservative media personality Charlie Kirk was shot in the neck while addressing a crowd on the campus of Utah Valley University…Joining Ciara Doherty to look back is Eva Terry, a Reporter with Deseret News, who was in the crowd covering Charlie Kirk’s visit to Utah, and witnessed his killing.

The Government has announced a new plan to combat declining spend by visitors.Peter Burke is Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, and joins Ciara Doherty to discuss.

A number of acts, including some headliners, have been announced for next year's Electric Picnic. It’s already sent social media into a frenzy, with Irish band Fontaines DC revealed as the headline for the Sunday night.To chat about the lineup, Ciara is joined by the Deputy Editor of Hot-Press Magazine, Stuart Clark, and from The Point of Everything podcast and the Irish Examiner, Eoghan O’Sullivan.

Diesel prices are up 4 cent a litre, and petrol up 2 cent in the last month according to the AA’s latest national fuel survey…So, with the increases are they ways you can get more bang for your buck and reduce your fuel usage?Joining Ciara Doherty to discuss is Geraldine Herbert, Motoring Editor and Columnist with the Sunday Independent.

This week, Ciara Doherty was joined by the presenter of Weekend Breakfast on Today FM, Alison Curtis and Off the Ball’s Ger Gilroy to look back on the week that was, but with a few twists…

When it comes to different policies affecting the agricultural sector, there is a lot of uncertainty, especially for those living in urban areas.Agri Aware are trying to bridge that gap, and one thing they do is run education and awareness programs in schools.Newstalk Reporter Josh Crosbie has been meeting students in Dublin to get their understanding, and sends in this report.

Aisling Larkin, Mindful Eating Coach and TV Chef joins Ciara Doherty to discuss revitalising the humble sausage roll!