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The Hard Shoulder

Newstalk
Ireland
World Cup
Newstalk
Dublin, Ireland
Dublin
European Union
Pogues
Data Centers
Shopping Psychology
Israel
Ukraine
Electric Picnic
Donald Trump
Irish Music
Small Talk
Northern Ireland
Europe By Rail
Inheritance Tax
Road Safety
Legal Aid

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 entertainment

Listen to Newstalk at newstalk.com/listenlive | Download the GoLoud app now, the new home for Newstalk

PublishesDailyEpisodes7993Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

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Latest Episodes

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 and Shane to discuss h... more

We often hear about how acne can trouble teenagers and young people, but developing acne as an adult is more common than you might think. In fact, it can affect up to a fifth of adult men and 35% of adult women.

Joining Ciara to discuss how best to ... more

Over the last day the fighting between Iran and the US has reached its highest peak since July with both sides heavily striking.

Iran has accused the US of hitting a wedding party with one of these strikes, calling it a 'war crime' and retaliating w... more

Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee has said she believes that "in the future we will have a border poll" at the 2nd day of EU Defence Ministers meeting at Druid's Glen in County Wicklow.

Joining Shane to discuss this is Bertie Ahern, former ... more

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Seán Canney
Minister with Responsibility for Road Safety
Government of Ireland
Episode: How can we make Irish roads safer?
Nina Carberry
MEP, former Irish Grand National winning jockey
Unspecified in transcript
Episode: Sport with John Duggan: Day 2 of the Women’s Irish Open
Arthur James O'Dea
Author
The Stable
Episode: Sport with John Duggan: Day 2 of the Women’s Irish Open
Rory Galvin
Newstalk team member
Newstalk
Episode: Top Gear officially set to return - are you excited?
Eoghan O'Sullivan
Partner at Powderly Solicitors
Powderly Solicitors
Episode: Criminal Defence Solicitors decide to continue withdrawal of services
Michael Finucane
Solicitor, Michael Finucane Solicitors
Michael Finucane Solicitors
Episode: Criminal Defence Solicitors decide to continue withdrawal of services
Micheal Healy Rae
Independent TD for Kerry
Kerry
Episode: How should households prepare for floods?
Malcolm Noone
Senator and Green Party spokesperson on agriculture, food, the marine heritage and nature
Green Party
Episode: How should households prepare for floods?
Édaein O'Connell
Freelance journalist who wrote the piece discussed
The Irish Independent
Episode: Are you able to save for a rainy day?

Hosts

Ciara Kelly
Host of The Hard Shoulder; Newstalk (Ireland) contributor and main presenter.
Shane Colman
Co-host of The Hard Shoulder; regular presenter.

Reviews

3.7 out of 5 stars from 231 ratings
  • Desperate interviewing

    Any chance Shane Colman could take a pause and let the interviewee speak? God that man loves the sound of his own voice.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    YerOne73
    Australia5 months ago
  • Stop shouting

    In all the Newstalk podcasts I have to turn up volume to hear guests and turn it down to hear presenter . Also you do not know more than your guest and stop talking across them and trying to be funny …grow up !

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    nxxxtt
    Irelanda year ago
  • No Barrel Left Unscraped

    Friday’s show is always underwhelming.

    Maybe time for a new producer and someone to replace the bumpkin.

    Need to do something. The rest of the week is not much better these days. Disappointed!

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Mac an tSionnaigh
    United Statesa year ago
  • Deeee seeeevning

    It’s “this evening” - awful show with terrible overuse of THEEEEEEE before everything. Note to presenter: reading a quotations book and spouting random clever references does not make you clever.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Johanes989
    Irelanda year ago
  • Cringe

    This guy is so disingenuous. The posh accent is actually cringe

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    El Sham
    Ireland2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The host lineup draws strong guests from politics, media, and policy, which helps credibility but triggers criticism when conversations become heated.
Audience notes the show delivers timely takes on national issues with clear, practical takeaways for listeners.
Listeners appreciate the hosts' energy and engagement with guests, but some feel pacing and consistency could improve.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#118
Ireland/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#22
Ireland/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Cian O'Callaghan on Social Democrats’ energy solutions proposal
Q: What are the big changes you would implement to affect positive change for people during the energy crisis?
A targeted 400 euro energy credit for households under 70,000 euro income, and a long-term strategy to invest in solar, expand solar grants, include solar in the Warmer Homes scheme, and upgrade the grid to permanently lower bills.
Andy Burnham rules out United Ireland referendum
Q: Before I let you go, Stephen, I just wouldn't mind asking your view on the threats being made against Britain. Is it by Russia and by Vladimir Putin?
Pound notes that the UK is part of a broader Western stance against Russia, highlights historical attacks and recent aggression, and suggests a coordinated European response including defense and deterrence rather than concessions to aggression.
Andy Burnham rules out United Ireland referendum
Q: I suppose your reaction, first of all, to Andy Burnham.
Stephen Pound argues that Burnham is conflating Ireland's situation with Brexit-era dynamics, emphasizes that Northern Ireland's realities differ from Scotland and Wales, and stresses that the Good Friday Agreement anchors the view that any united Ireland would occur by consent, not unilateral moves.
Fear is the main reason taxi drivers avoid nights - what can be done?
Q: Is there enough taxi supply, and how should rural areas be prioritized?
They argue there is more taxi supply overall but that rural areas need targeted support and schemes like Hackney licenses to direct drivers to where they're most needed.
Fear is the main reason taxi drivers avoid nights - what can be done?
Q: Your reaction to what's come out today?
The guest and hosts express that the survey validates long-standing concerns about safety and planning, while urging better collaboration with police and event organizers to ensure reliable night transportation.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Hard Shoulder

What is The Hard Shoulder about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The program frames itself as a drive-time talk show that blends news, politics, business, and culture with lively hosts and a steady stream of guests from journalism, politics, academia, and industry. Episodes frequently tackle current affairs in Ireland and beyond, with thoughtful debates, expert commentary, and practical how-tos across technology, health, and policy. Notable strengths include a fast-paced interview style, a broad guest roster that spans policy wonks to industry leaders, and a willingness to engage controversial topics. Potential listeners can expect energetic banter, accessible explanations of complex issues, and regular sponsor mentions tied to timely themes and local context.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Hard Shoulder?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Hard Shoulder. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Hard Shoulder and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Hard Shoulder get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Hard Shoulder?

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How many subscribers and views does The Hard Shoulder have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Hard Shoulder has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Hard Shoulder?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Hard Shoulder:

1. The Pat Kenny Show
2. Today with David McCullagh
3. The Claire Byrne Show
4. The Last Word with Matt Cooper
5. Brendan O'Connor

How many episodes of The Hard Shoulder are there?

The Hard Shoulder launched 10 years ago and published 7993 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Hard Shoulder?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Hard Shoulder?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Hard Shoulder from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Hard Shoulder?

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What guests have appeared on The Hard Shoulder?

Recent guests on The Hard Shoulder include:

1. Seán Canney
2. Nina Carberry
3. Arthur James O'Dea
4. Rory Galvin
5. Eoghan O'Sullivan
6. Michael Finucane
7. Micheal Healy Rae
8. Malcolm Noone

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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