Wonders of the World on The Hard Shoulder

Our summer series “Wonders of the World” continues with one of Europe's most iconic landmarks “The Leaning Tower of Pisa". Architectural Historian Danielle O’Donovan joins Shane Beatty to discuss the story of the misshapen tower. Listen and subscribe to The Hard Shoulder on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify. Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App. You

This week, Danielle O'Donovan told the story behind Big Ben, Westminster and the Houses of Parliament from the mid-nineteenth century, when a political hot potato was tossed between the two sides of the house as they seek an architect for their new parliament. Listen and subscribe to The Hard Shoulder on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify. Download, listen and subscribe on

Continuing our summer series “Wonders of the World” it was time, this week, to look at the Crown of Palaces, the Taj Mahal. This iconic building is situated on the south bank of the Yamuna river in the Indian City of Agra. Danielle O’Donovan is Programme Manager at the Nano Nagle Place in Cork City, and returned to the show to tell Ivan all about it. Why was it built? Who was

Throughout the summer, we are looking at some of the iconic landmarks around the globe in “Wonders of the World." This week, Ivan went to the Big Apple and a building that is infamous across the world. Architectural Historian Danielle O’Donovan joined Ivan again to tell him the story of “The Empire State building”.

It’s the structure most iconic of it’s country, identifiable of its city across the globe. However, the history of The Eiffel Tower is not as uncomplicated as its contemporary popularity would imply. To give Ivan the true tale of Paris’ Iron Lady, and to kick off our new Friday Landmark Series, was Architectural Historian Danielle O’Donovan.