• Belfast: Bloody Friday – What impact did the IRA’s Blitz have?
    Dec 23 2024

    The 21st of July 1972 was the most prolific day of IRA bombings during the Troubles. Nine people were killed and 130 injured as a blitz of 22 bombs detonated throughout Belfast in under two hours. That day has since become known as Bloody Friday. Why did it happen, how did it happen? Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Malachi O’Doherty, Niamh Campbell and Aaron Edwards.


    This episode was originally published in July 2022.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    25 mins
  • Sam McBride: The IRA’s Northern Bank Robbery and how it almost shattered the peace process
    Dec 20 2024

    The infamous Northern Bank heist shook the peace process to its core with suspicion immediately falling on the Provisional IRA. The Northern Bank was forced to replace millions of pounds of notes soon after the huge crime but most of the money was never found. It was far from the ‘victimless’ crime some portrayed it as it left innocent people deeply traumatised. Why did the IRA emerge from the shadows to carry out this robbery and why did they do it?


    Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Belfast Telegraph editor Sam McBride.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    45 mins
  • BelTel Football: NI star Gareth McAuley reveals all about his incredible career
    Dec 19 2024
    The BelTel Football panel discuss Linfield star Joel Cooper’s shock Coleraine switch, Larne’s managerial crisis as Nathan Rooney steps down and Northern Ireland legend Gareth McAuley reflects on his incredible career.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    51 mins
  • ‘Say Nothing’: The ‘Disappeared’ of Andersonstown
    Dec 17 2024
    Sunday World Assistant Editor Gerry Millar spent the early years of his career investigating the mystery of those who were ‘disappeared’ by the IRA, having known one of them John McClory, who was murdered alongside Brian McKinney. He joins Ciarán Dunbar to share how he was amongst the first journalists to compile a list of the ‘Disappeared’ and how their disappearances affected his local community in Andersonstown.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    29 mins
  • 40 years of Band Aid: Christmas, charity and controversy
    Dec 16 2024

    When the BBC aired journalist Michael Buerk's harrowing reports of Ethiopian famine in 1984, few could have imagined the surprising and enduring legacy they would inspire. Among those watching was Irish musician Bob Geldof who became determined to help the only way he knew how. How did Band Aid's iconic Christmas single come about and are it’s charitable lyrics now outdated?

    Ellen Coyne is joined by John Meagher.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    36 mins
  • Left, right, populism and woke – why are the working classes not voting socialist?
    Dec 15 2024


    We use them every day, but do the terms left and right really describe our politics today. What is ‘woke’ and why do people hate it? And socialists struggle with the working class as much as for it, why is that?


    David McCann from Ulster University and Michael Pierse from Queen’s University Belfast join Ciarán Dunbar to take a deep dive into today’s political trends.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    28 mins
  • Don Anderson: The NI journalist who escaped fall of Saigon as airport burned tells the story of reporting Vietnam
    Dec 13 2024

    Don Anderson was one of the BBC’s TV reporters in Saigon during the final days of the Vietnam War. He joins Ciarán Dunbar to tell his incredible story of his time in Vietnam, including accidentally finding himself in a minefield, his near-death experiences on the front line, and the fall of Saigon in April 1975.



    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    27 mins
  • ‘Peace’ game is up for UVF chief Winston “Winkie” Irvine as he finally admits gun charges
    Dec 11 2024

    UVF chief Winston “Winkie” Irvine is facing jail time after pleading guilty to firearms charges. It means the well-known loyalist Irvine’s dual-career has a tax-funded community worker and paramilitary is well and truly over.

    Who’s Winkie Irvine? How did he get caught? What does this mean for his role in loyalist transitioning?

    Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Allison Morris.



    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    23 mins