The Hard Shoulder

Alisa Kovalenko a former captive and survivor of conflict-related sexual violence during her captivity in 2014 in the Donbas region of Ukraine, who also fought on the front lines in the conflict joined Ciara on the show.

 Alisa is in Dublin in collaboration with the Irish Consortium on Gender Based Violence - an Irish-based alliance of international humanitarian and human rights organisations, working alongside Irish Aid and the Irish Defence Forces. 

The Parades Commission of Northern Ireland has allowed the Orange Order parade at Drumcree to proceed in a limited capacity for the first time in 28 years. DUP MP Carla Lockhart and Eoin Tennyson, Deputy Leader of the Alliance party joined Shane on the show to discuss.

A rally is taking place tonight ahead of Ireland’s UEFA Nations League fixtures against Israel, with organisers calling on Irish players not to play the matches. The event is being organised by SIPTU and Trade Union Friends of Palestine.

Mick Lynch, trade unionist and former General Secretary of the UK’s National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers, who will be speaking at tonight’s rally joined Shane on the show.

 I find it depressing when I hear teenage acne stories from Ireland today about how long it takes to see a consultant dermatologist and how extortionate is if you go for private care. So writes, Mary McCarthy, columnist with the Irish Independent who joined us on the show to discuss.

The Orange Order’s Drumcree parade is to be permitted to proceed along the Garvaghy Road for the first time in almost 30 years. The Parades Commission placed a number of restrictions on the procession, including an 8am start time and limiting the number of participants to 35 people. 

 Alison Morris, Crime Correspondent with the Belfast Telegraph and Claire Hanna, Leader of the SDLP & MP for Belfast South and Mid-Down joined Ciara on the show to discuss.

 From October 1st, Eir will begin to turn off the 3G network it operates around the country. Donegal is first on the list, with the rest of the country following, and it plans to have the entire process completed within weeks. Irish Times Technology Correspondent Ciara O’Brien joined Shane Coleman on the show to discuss.

A new survey from Halfords has found that 82% of learner drivers have experienced road rage directed at them in the last year. The survey also found that almost half of all drivers surveyed have experienced dangerous tailgating. 

Brenda Bolger, a driving instructor with Bolger’s Driving School joined us on the show to discuss.

Sarina Bellissimo, Broadcaster and Presenter of the Bellissimo Files Podcast and Andy McCarroll, host of the ‘Xtravision’ podcast joined Ciara and Shane to review the latest TV and movie releases…

Do you remember when the internet felt like a shared playground? Back when strangers around the world connected over the colour of a dress? An age before toxic algorithms…

Well, joining Ciara is Entrepreneur and Journalist Mark Little, who in his new book ‘The Last Good Day on the Internet’ explores a time when the web was a place of community, curiosity and potential. Until it wasn't...

Help with the cost of energy and home heating is the top priority for voters in next month’s budget. Pat Leahy, Political Editor of The Irish Times joins Shane to discuss the Irish Times poll revealing what voters want to see in Budget 2027.