The Hard Shoulder
Newstalk
The Hard Shoulder Podcast with Ciara Kelly and Shane Colman is your essential drivetime companion—bringing fresh perspective and energy to your drive home. 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
Nov 28, 2025 • 7min
Sport with Eoin Sheahan
Off The Ball's Eoin Sheahan joined Ciara Doherty on The Hard Shoulder to review the week in sport and look ahead to the weekend action.
Nov 28, 2025 • 11min
Why has debate around the tricolour become toxic?
Dublin City Council has decided not to remove Irish tricolour flags hung in some parts of the city, saying today that doing so would carry risks and be counterproductive.But, how did we get to this place where the Irish flag is the subject of such controversy?Former Lord Mayor and current Green Party Councillor Hazel Chu and Irish Times journalist and Historian Ronan McGreevy join Ciara Doherty to discuss.
Nov 28, 2025 • 13min
Reviewing the Government’s first year after the General Election
It has now been one year since the General Election, and it feels an appropriate time to look back over the past 12 months and see how they fared out. To chat about some of the key political highlights over that period, Ciara Doherty is joined by Journalist, Broadcaster and Commentator, Alison O’Connor, and Political Reporter with The Irish Examiner, Tadgh McNally.
Nov 28, 2025 • 6min
Do you really know what’s in your pre-made latté?
Following the latest moves in the UK to impose a sugar tax on milk-based products, it’s got us wondering, do you really know what’s in some of the drinks that we’re having?Joining Ciara Doherty to discuss is Dietician and Physiologist, Orla Walsh.
Nov 28, 2025 • 7min
What’s next for Enoch Burke?
The High Court has ruled that teacher Enoch Burke's salary should be paid directly to the school where he used to work until money he owes to them in damages for trespassing is paid off.Shane Phelan is Legal Affairs Editor with the Irish Independent, and joins Ciara to give the latest updates.
Nov 28, 2025 • 8min
Government launch recruitment campaign for Education Therapy Service
A recruitment campaign for Therapists to the new Education Therapy Service has been launched today by the Government.Joining Ciara Doherty to discuss is Minister for Disability, and Fine Gael TD for Dublin Mid-West, Emer Higgins.
Nov 28, 2025 • 7min
Why do we reward ourselves with a takeaway?
Troy Parrott has revealed that after his heroic hattrick that carried Ireland to the World Cup playoffs, he treated himself to some KFC. It begs the question: is it okay to reward achievement with a takeaway?Garron Noone, Comedian and Musician and Broadcaster Meghann Scully joins Ciara Doherty to discuss.
Nov 27, 2025 • 16min
Movies and TV: Zootropolis 2, Christy, Stranger Things
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…
Nov 27, 2025 • 12min
Newsmakers: Trump’s Tariffs
The Hard Shoulder is looking back on 2025’s biggest moments in the news, and who were at the heart of it.Just a day after April Fools Day came Liberation Day, when US President Donald Trump produced a cardboard cutout of countries to face impending tariffs on exports. Ireland came under the EU umbrella, and we were starting down the barrel of 20% tariffs…Joining Ciara Doherty to look back is the Positive Economist and Presenter of Newstalk’s Taking Stock, Susan Hayes Culleton.Image: Reuters
Nov 27, 2025 • 15min
The Thursday Interview: Sabina Brennan
Neuroscientist and Psychologist, Sabina Brennan joins Ciara Doherty for this week’s Thursday Interview!
