The Hard Shoulder

Every week for The Ultimate Guide on The Hard Shoulder, Fionn Davenport takes a closer look at some of the fantastic destinations to visit around the world.

This week, Fionn joined Jonathan Healy to give the ultimate guide on Cape Town in South Africa!

A new campaign by the Data Protection Commission is warn­ing people against the dangers of ‘shar­ent­ing’, sharing images or videos of your child online. It has gained a mil­lion likes and has hit global headlines, and fea­tures a young girl being recog­nised by strangers in a shop­ping centre after she fea­tured in her par­ents’ social media posts.

Joining Jonathan Healy to discuss is former Miss World and mum of three, Rosanna Davison.

Dr Peter Boylan, former Master of National Maternity Hospital and Chairman of Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and author of ‘In the Shadow of the Eighth’ joins Jonathan Healy to place his favourite book on The Hard Shoulder Bookshelf!

A new plan to improve the assessment of needs process was discussed today in Cabinet.

It comes as autism campaigner Cara Darmody starts another 50-hour campout outside Leinster House.

Waiting lists for assessments of needs have long surpassed times set out in the guidelines, which state the assessment must be carried out within six months…

Joining Jonathan Healy to discuss is Minister of State for Disability and Fine Gael TD for Dublin Mid West Emer Higgins, who brought forward this plan.

Each year, millions of online orders get lost due to incorrect delivery information. After customers receive a refund, undelivered packages were previously destroyed. During Covid, some Frenchmen came up with an idea to save the parcels, and sell them as mystery blind boxes!

Henry McKean has been looking into this phenomenon, and joins Jonathan Healy to discuss…

It’s that time of year now where people start treating themselves to a Christmas sandwich, and one has caught attention at a Harrod’s in London, that’s costing £29! Seeing as there are many different ways to make this particular sandwich, what are the ingredients for a perfect one?

To discuss, Jonathan Healy is joined by 98fm Producer and Sunday Times Restaurant Critic, Russell Alford.

Image: Tesco Recipes

Comedian Al Murray is coming to Vicar Street next year for his ‘All You Need is Guv’ tour!

He joins Jonathan Healy to chat ahead of the gigs…

The Oireachtas Committee on Remote Working will be meeting tomorrow to discuss the future of the Right to Request Remote Working Legislation. This follows the public consultation held by the Government to get views on how the legislation is working.

To discuss all this, Jonathan Healy is joined by Co-Founder of Grow Remote, Tracy Keogh and Sinn Féin TD and Spokesperson for Enterprise, Tourism & Employment, Rose Conway Walsh.

For this week’s Kids Health Check, Jonathan Healy is joined by Sleep Expert Lucy Woolfe to discuss how to handle the amount of sleep your children might be getting with all the excitement around Christmas.

With just over two weeks until Christmas, many people around the country are preparing to host. But is it ever okay to ask your guests to chip in, and if so, where is the unspoken line?

Joining Jonathan Healy to discuss is Mary McCarty, Columnist with the Irish Independent and Michelle Harding, Etiquette Coach and Founder of School of Life Ireland.

It was revealed on Friday that Netflix, already the world's biggest streaming service by market share, had agreed to buy Warner Bros Discovery's TV, film studios and HBO Max streaming division. But, why has there been some push back in Hollywood to the move? And why has US President Donald Trump said that there could be a problem over the deal?

Joining Jonathan Healy to discuss is US-based Entertainment & Business Correspondent for Reuters, Dawn Chmielewski.

A fire at a house in Co Offaly in which two people died was “designed to kill inhabitants” - this is according to the Justice Minister, Jim O’Callaghan.

A murder investigation has been launched after the deaths of a woman and a child at a house on Castleview Park in Edenderry at around 7:45pm on Saturday.

Joining Jonathan Healy to give the latest updates is Dublin Reporter from the Press Association, Grainne Ni Aodh, and to discuss gang violence, Paul Williams, Crime Journalist with the Irish Independent.

The nominees for the Golden Globes have been announced, with the event taking place on January 11th in Los Angeles. How did Ireland fare, and what kind of winners should we expect?

Joining Jonathan Healy to discuss is Entertainment Journalist Brian Lloyd.

Trevor Deely was last seen 25 years ago today, walking home from a Christmas party in Dublin city centre. Answers are still being sought by his family, who believe there is more information about that night still out there…

To discuss, Jonathan Healy is joined by Trevor’s brother, Mark Deely.

Women should be offered smaller portions than men at restaurants, that’s according to the head of the Government’s obesity programme in the UK…

On Lunchtime Live, Professor Naveed Sattar said that menus should be adapted to include smaller versions of meals that contain fewer calories as a way of tackling obesity rates. Is that a sensible approach?

Joining Jonathan Healy to discuss is Ballymaloe Cookery School Founder, Darina Allen.

An emergency meeting of the Oireachtas National Security Committee will be held this week to examine the sighting of drones near the flight path of Ukrainian President Voldomyr Zelenskyy when he visited Dublin last week.

Gardaí are investigating reports that an Irish navy ship spotted up to five drones operating near the flight path of the Ukrainian President's plane last Monday…

Independent Senator Gerard Craughwell and Mark Price from the Irish Anti-War Movement join Jonathan Healy to discuss.

This week, Jonathan Healy was joined by Eimear Hallihan from Red FM and Joe O’Shea, Editor of CorkBeo.ie to look back on the week that was, but with a few twists…

Comedian Russell Howard joins Jonathan Healy to talk about his upcoming tour: ‘Don’t Tell The Algorithm’!

Quiet quitting, or in other words - doing the bare minimum required of a job or task and putting in no more time, effort or enthusiasm than absolutely necessary, is all the rage in 2025.

But, should we quietly quit at Christmas time?

Should we just take a massive step back and enjoy the festivities for what they are?

Joining Jonathan Healy to discuss this is Irish Times Columnist and Host of the Conversations with Parents podcast, Jen Hogan, as well as Aideen Finnegan, Presenter of the Early Edition podcast from The Irish Times.<...

The deadline for the Children’s Hospital has now been broken for a 16th time…

Will it ever be finished?

Paul Davis is a Lecturer in Public Procurement in DCU, and joins Jonathan Healy to discuss.

Off The Ball's Eoin Sheahan joined Jonathan Healy on The Hard Shoulder to review the week in sport and look ahead to the weekend action.

Image: Sky Sports

Taxi Drivers Ireland have announced a suspension of their 6-day national shutdown protest “pending the outcome of a meeting at Government Buildings scheduled for next week”.

The protest comes at one of the busiest times of the year for drivers and users as we approach the Christmas period.

Joining Jonathan Healy to discuss this is Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Sean Canney, as well as taxi drivers.

The Grinch has stolen Christmas on tonight's Late Late Toy Show. But what are the big toys this Christmas? Henry McKean went backstage and met Patrick Kielty and visited the toy shop Nimble Fingers where it all started 50 years ago today…

Ireland has signed a formal agreement with Australia social media regulators to study its social media ban for under 16s. This comes after a recent study by the RCSI found that body dissatisfaction and sexting are strongly associated with poorer mental health and increased risk of self-harm among Irish teenagers.

Joining Jonathan Healy to discuss is Irish Independent’s Tech Editor, Adrian Weckler.

Chef Louise Lennox and Mairead Carty are both parents in Greystones whose children are still awaiting school places, despite repeated calls for a change to the system, which they say is simply not working...  

They join Jonathan Healy to discuss their situation.

Shifting demographics and mass migration to the eastern seaboard of the island represents an “existential threat” to the GAA.

That’s the warning from National Demographics Committee chairman Benny Hurl who painted a concerning picture at the launch of the GAA’s report on the issue.

With 78% of GAA clubs located in areas with “declining populations” this complex issue may spell trouble for the future of our national sports.

Joining Jonathan Healy to discuss this is Jamesie O’Connor, former All Ireland winner with Clare and former GAA President, Nickey Brennan.

Sarina Bellissimo, Broadcaster and Presenter of the Bellissimo Files Podcast and David O’Callaghan from the Here and Back Again podcast joined Ciara Doherty on The Hard Shoulder to review the latest TV and movie releases…

Ballet Dancer and Teacher, Monica Loughman, joins Ciara Doherty for this week’s Thursday Interview!

Israel will officially be allowed to participate in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest. RTÉ has reaffirmed that they will not be taking part over Israel's participation.

Joining Ciara Doherty to discuss the latest updates is Kirsty Blake Knox from the Irish Independent.

The Hard Shoulder is looking back on 2025’s biggest moments in the news, and who were at the heart of it.

The situation in Gaza and all of Palestine has continued to dominate the headlines this year. How have things changed, and what does the future look like?

Joining Ciara Doherty to discuss is Reham Mahdi Al Jarrah, Christian Aid Ireland’s Local Partner in Gaza, Women’s Affairs Centre.

You may have noticed those around you getting sick this winter season – maybe you have been sick yourself?

So, what are your rights, especially as we’re being hit hard by the flu season?

Caroline Reidy is Managing Director of The Hr Suite, and joins Ciara to discuss.

Israel's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest is being debated at a two-day meeting of member broadcasters in Geneva, which started today.

Eurovision could vote on Israel’s involvement as more countries threaten to boycott next year’s event in Austria.

It’s crunch time for the Eurovision Song Contest - can it survive?

Joining Ciara to discuss is Zoe Lawlor, Chair of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Frank Dermody, President of Ireland’s Eurovision Fan Club.

One of the biggest questions facing people today is what to do with your spare time, and how to make the most of it. Some influencers online urge people to wake up extra early and get to work either exercising, or on some side hustle to monetise their free time. But is this sustainable, or does it only lead to burnout?

Joining Ciara to discuss is Health Scientist and Sleep Expert, Tom Coleman.

According to a recent Red C poll commissioned for Mayo Social by Sage Advocacy, only one in 12 people want to live in a nursing home when they’re older, while over 90% of people said housing with support for older people is urgently needed.

To chat more about this, Ciara is joined by Head of Advocacy and Public Affairs with Age Action, Camille Loftus, and Mayo Social Supporter and former Sage Advocacy CEO, Mervyn Taylor.

Google has revealed the top things Irish people have searched this year, from Storm Éowyn to ‘67’, what do our searches indicate about who we are as a nation?

Joining Ciara to discuss is Olytico’s Stephen O’Leary.

The Department of Education was before the Oireachtas Education Committee today in relation to the teacher recruitment crisis in Irish schools.

To chat more about what was discussed, Ciara is joined by Cathaoirleach of the committee, Fianna Fáil Deputy Cathal Crowe, and Director of The National Association of Principals and Deputies, Paul Crone.

The Government has launched the Accelerating Infrastructure Taskforce report.

The plan, which will include 30 actions to aid, speeding up, and delivering critical infrastructure, is part of the Government’s attempt to keep pace with the demands of economic and population growth in Ireland.

Joining Ciara Doherty to discuss this is Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Jack Chambers.

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 to pass wind, discreetly!

For this week’s Tech Takeover, Jess Kelly, Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent joins Ciara Doherty to discuss how artists are expressing serious concerns about AI music - and what the issue exactly is...

Ahead of his upcoming show 'The Son of a Carpenter' at the 3Arena on Sunday, December 14th, Comedian, actor and Writer, Jim Jefferies, joins Ciara to discuss!