Highlights From The Hard Shoulder

It’s time now Our Ultimate Guide and as ever, our travel guide Fionn Davenport, Travel journalist and Lonely Planet author, joins me now in studio...Fionn joined Ciara and Shane to discuss Easter holidays and what to do with the kids in and around Dublin

Former BBC broadcaster Huw Edwards has said the upcoming Channel 5 drama about his downfall is "hardly likely to convey the reality of what happened".The two-part drama, Power: The Downfall Of Huw Edwards, which starts on tonight on Channel 5  Olivia Fahey, Entertainment Journalist & Creator of Press Play joined Ciara and Shane to discuss the drama.  

The Government will create an additional 42,000 beds for students over the next 9 years.Under the new “National Student Accommodation Strategy 2026 – 2035", the Government will use public-private partnerships and spare bedrooms in private homes to create the additional bedsThe Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science is James Lawless, and he joined Shane and Ciara to discuss this aswell the Government's response to the rising cost of Fuel as a result of the Iran war.

Author Cathy Kelly discusses her new book The Island Retreat and places her favourite books on The Hard Shoulder’s Bookshelf !

On Thursday Evening Ireland will play Czechia in the crucial World Cup playoff game. Many Thousands of Irish are expected in the Czech capital, Prague, despite very few tickets for the game being available. Henry McKean headed to Dublin Airport, where he caught up with the Irish who are making the journey to support the boys in green.

Former President of Ireland and member of The Elders,Joined Ciara and Shane to discuss the ongoing conflict between Iran and the United States and Israel. She spoke about how the international community can react to the crisis and how, in her view, the war is an illegal breach of international law, and the impact the energy crisis brought by the war is having, not just here but also in poor countries.

Petrol and diesel prices are set to fall at midnight tonight as a result of a package of measures introduced by government, but when it comes to grocery prices, can we expect them to rise in the next few weeks? Oliver Browne is a lecturer in accounting in Cork University Business School in UCC and joined Shane and Ciara to explan

Former Garda Superintendent Denis Whelan spoke to the Irish Independent about issues he observed in An Garda Síochána and said that “an environment has been created where gardaí are working with one arm tied behind their back”Whelan stressed that he has nothing personal against former commissioner Drew Harris but he said Harris’ seven-year term had a negative impact on policing in this country.  Joining Shane and Ciara discuss is General Secretary of the Garda Representative Association Ronan Slevin  

All across movies, books and television, we see the importance of and love in female friendships. These friendships are absolutely central in most women’s lives but they also change drastically over time. It’s very different making and maintaining friendships in school or college to as an adult once work and families start becoming busier.  Joining Shane and Ciara to discuss the wonderful, stressful and occasionally embarrassing things about female friendships is Features Writer with the Irish Independent, Saoirse Hanley and Lifestyle Editor at the Irish Examiner Esther McCarthy  

As the weather starts to improve, Dublin City's most popular social locations Drury Street, is already seeing a big increase in the number of people drinking publicly on the street throughout the week, but especially on the weekend. With Public Drinking an offence under local laws, more should be done to combat those engaging in this behaviour. Or does it encourage a vibrant atmosphere in the city ? Joining Shane and Ciara was Mannix Flynn Independent Councillor Dublin City Council  

A pilot and co-pilot have been killed after an Air Canada passenger plane carrying 76 people collided with a fire engine on a runway at LaGuardia Airport in New York.Harriet Alexander, Senior Features Writer for the Daily Mail based in New York joins Shane to discuss.Image: Reuters

The Construction Industry Federation has warned that the continuing rise in fuel prices could translate to increased construction costs in the coming months. It is yet another sector that is seeing price rises as a result of the war in Iran, with many raw materials in the industry produced from fuel intensive processes.Andrew Brownlee is the CEO of the Construction Industry Federation, and joins Ciara to discuss.

This weekend, the clocks will spring forward one hour leading to the bi-annual question: should we still be doing it? And why on earth do we do it in the first place? Sean Kelly, Fine Gael MEP for Ireland South joins Shane to discuss…

For this week’s Kids Clinic, Ciara and Shane are joined by Teresa Foley, Paediatric Occupational Therapist to discuss the important developmental milestones your child should have, beyond the basics of walking and talking.

Gardaí are looking to question a number of men and women in connection with a savage attack on a young mother, in Co Tipperary, last Saturday.For more on this, Ciara is joined by David Raleigh, Freelance Journalist…

U.S. President Donald Trump has backpedalled on his threat to strike Iranian energy infrastructure. In early morning U.S. time in an all-caps post the President said the U.S. has had very good and productive conversations with Iran over resolving the conflict. He had previously set a deadline of just before midnight Irish time for the country to reopen the Strait of Hormuz before he would begin strikes…Sean Bell, former Fighter Pilot, Military Analyst, and Co-Host of ‘The Red Matrix’ podcast joins Shane to discuss.Image: Reuters

How much would you be willing to pay for a 99 ice cream? With the weather improving, people have noticed one costing as much as €4.50!Josh Crosbie has been investigating the prices of these sweet treats, and joins to discuss.

A leaders meeting is taking place this evening so senior Government figures can sign off on measures to alleviate some of the rising energy and fuel costs as a result of the war in the Middle East.Measures on the table today reportedly include a tax rebate scheme for hauliers, a double fuel allowance payment and a reduction in excise duty to cut fuel prices at the pumps.Joining Shane to discuss these measures and the impact they could have on the economy is Political Correspondent at the Irish Examiner, Louise Burne and Economist Austin Hughes.

Posh parents are spoiling the Hot School Meals scheme for the plain people of Ireland…So wrote Fionnán Sheahan in today’s Irish Independent, but is this the case?Shane Loftus, Principal of Our Lady Immaculate School in Darndale joins Shane to discuss…

This week, Ciara and Shane were joined by the presenter of Weekend Breakfast on Today FM, Alison Curtis and Off the Ball’s Ger Gilroy to look back on the week that was, but with a few twists…