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The Hard Shoulder

Newstalk
Ireland
World Cup
Dublin
Donald Trump
Dublin, Ireland
United States
European Union
Newstalk
Labour Party
Pogues
Transition Year
Shopping Psychology
Israel
Keir Starmer
Chicago
Irish Music
Northern Ireland
Critical Infrastructure Bill
Small Talk
Europe By Rail

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes7810Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

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Artwork for The Hard Shoulder

Latest Episodes

The Government has approved draft legislation making continuous professional development a legal requirement for Dentists, while granting the Dental Council new powers to sanction those who fail to maintain their skills.

Joining Shane to discuss thi... more

In the UK, restaurants, theatres and pubs are coming together to ban the use of Meta's "spy glasses" from their premises over privacy concerns.

Many wouldn't know someone was wearing them, let alone filing or taking pictures covertly.

Should we int... more

Off The Ball’s Mick McCarthy joined Shane on The Hard Shoulder to review the week in sport and look ahead to the weekend action…

The value of personal loans for weddings, home upgrades and EVs exceeded €3 billion over a 12-month period for the first time. That’s according to new figures from Banking and Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI).

But why are we taking out loans at su... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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Contact Information
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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Barra Roantree
Director of the Masters in Economic Policy at Trinity College Dublin
Trinity College Dublin
Episode: Microsoft paid more tax in Ireland than the US in past financial year
Sandra Green
Respiratory registrar in Beaumont Hospital
Beaumont Hospital
Episode: Should you ditch your gas cooker if you have asthma?
Maura Derivan
Member of the Tipperary Solicitors' Bar Association and former president of the Law Society
Tipperary Solicitors' Bar Association
Episode: Tipperary only has one solicitor taking free legal aid cases - flat rate fee dispute
Kathleen Curran
Seven-time All-Ireland winner and former Kerry captain (1989)
Kerry ladies football
Episode: Looking ahead to the All-Ireland ladies football final
Darragh McDonagh
Freelance journalist
Freelance journalist
Episode: Irish soldier fighting for Ukraine imprisoned in Russian penal colony
Kieran Cunningham
Sports writer discussing UEFA/FIFA developments
Irish Times (sportswriter)
Episode: European nations agree to boycott World Cup in event of private sale
Emmet Malone
Work correspondent and assistant news editor at The Irish Times
The Irish Times
Episode: Is Marlay Park’s ha-ha wall repair a waste of resources?
Oisín O'Connor
Green Party councillor in Glenn Cullen
Green Party
Episode: Is Marlay Park’s ha-ha wall repair a waste of resources?
Stephen Collins
Political columnist with The Irish Times
The Irish Times
Episode: What is the most important quality of a politician?

Hosts

Ciara Kelly
Host of The Hard Shoulder, Newstalk
Shane Colman
Co-host of The Hard Shoulder

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
    Ireland10 months 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.

Listeners crave blunt, energetic discussion and strong host presence.
Fans appreciate the show's willingness to tackle housing, transport, and policy with on-the-ground insight.
Some listeners feel the hosting can overly steer conversations, though guests often provide counterpoints.
Critics note volume and pacing issues but praise timely topics and guest variety.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#158
Ireland/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#48
Ireland/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why do we love to gossip?
Q: Professor Brendan Kelly of Trinity College Dublin, why do we love to gossip?
Brendan explains that gossip serves as a mechanism for bonding, information sharing, and maintaining group norms, with its impact seen across ages and genders; it can be both neutral and negative, and has evolutionary roots in social cohesion.
US launches new wave of strikes on Iran - latest updates
Q: What does Trump's rhetoric indicate about the US approach to negotiations with Iran?
Zurcher noted that Trump has sometimes claimed progress or close proximity to a deal, but Iran has repeatedly denied such progress, illustrating a mismatch between US political messaging and actual negotiation dynamics.
US launches new wave of strikes on Iran - latest updates
Q: Are we looking at a serious resumption of the war in Iran with these heavy wave of strikes from the US?
Anthony Zurcher suggested the strikes are framed by the US as a proportional, one-off response to Iranian missile strikes, not a full-scale resumption of warfare, though escalation risks remain if Iran retaliates or regional actors widen the conflict.
Microsoft paid more tax in Ireland than the US in past financial year
Q: Is this money in jeopardy due to political or policy changes, and could publicity affect revenues?
Barra suggests that the outcome depends on US actions and how tax systems are structured, but acknowledges that scrutiny could make the issue more prominent and influence discussions about future tax reforms, potentially impacting revenue streams.
Microsoft paid more tax in Ireland than the US in past financial year
Q: Barra, the significance of this story in your view?
Barra Roantree explains that Ireland's corporation tax take has grown significantly and that Microsoft's per-person tax burden underscores how profits are parked in Ireland. This could influence both domestic budgeting and international perceptions, particularly if US policy shifts.

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?

Grounded, opinion-forward discussions cover politics, current affairs, society, culture, and urban policy with a focus on Ireland. Episodes frequently feature live updates, panel debates, and long-form interviews with politicians, journalists, academics, and notable figures, producing a candid, sometimes confrontational, but always topical conversation. Notable strengths include a steady host dynamic, timely coverage of breaking events, and a willingness to tackle evidence-based policy debates, housing, transport, and social issues. The show's format tends to blend sharp analysis with accessible storytelling, making it suitable for listeners who want clear opinions, real-world context, and practical takeaways for public discourse, sponsorsh... more

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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 Last Word with Matt Cooper
4. The Claire Byrne Show
5. Brendan O'Connor

How many episodes of The Hard Shoulder are there?

The Hard Shoulder launched 10 years ago and published 7810 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Hard Shoulder?

Recent guests on The Hard Shoulder include:

1. Barra Roantree
2. Sandra Green
3. Maura Derivan
4. Kathleen Curran
5. Darragh McDonagh
6. Kieran Cunningham
7. Emmet Malone
8. Oisín O'Connor

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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