Rephonic
Artwork for The BelTel
Noah Donohoe
Northern Ireland
Belfast
Jeffrey Donaldson
PSNI
IRA
Natalie Mcnally
Stephen Mccullagh
Sinn Féin
Stormont
Good Friday Agreement
Anglo-Irish Agreement
DJ Carey
Unionism
DUP
Jeffrey Epstein
Enniskillen Bombing
Ian Paisley
Ireland
Northwood Road

The BelTel brings you some of Northern Ireland's top journalists, Allison Morris, Sam McBride and Suzanne Breen to name but a few, giving you the inside stories behind what is in the news. Presented by Ciarán Dunbar, the Bel Tel investigates, debates and informs every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

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

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Artwork for The BelTel

Latest Episodes

Johnny Adair, commonly referred to as ‘Mad dog Adair’, was one the most well-known terror bosses of the Troubles. He said his war was aimed at the IRA, but innocent Catholics were more often than not his real victims.

His C Company of the west Belf... more

William McGrath, was an influential loyalist, founder of the paramilitary group Tara, and a hardline evangelical Protestant.

He was also a notorious predatory paedophile who rape dozens of young boys.

Widely known as the ‘Beast of Kincora’ McGr... more

On September the 15th, 1976, the Belfast Telegraph offices in Belfast centre was bombed by the Provisional IRA. Journalists were clattering at their typewriters when the second evacuation warning of the day went out on the Tannoy. Following the evacu... more

The jury in the inquest into the death of Noah Donohoe has found that the teenager died on the night of his disappearance, meaning that the PSNI’s response to his disappearance did not contribute to his death.

However, the jury did find that poli... 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

Norman Hamilton
Presbyterian minister involved in mediation
Presbyterian Church
Episode: Holy Cross: Clerics Fr Troy and Rev Hamilton on the protest and resolving it
Father Aidan Troy
Catholic priest involved in Holy Cross negotiations
Catholic Church
Episode: Holy Cross: Clerics Fr Troy and Rev Hamilton on the protest and resolving it
Olivia Peden
Belfast Telegraph journalist
The BelTel
Episode: Holy Cross 25-years-on: Allison Morris on what she saw, and the loyalist point of view
Norman Baxter
Detective Chief Inspector at the time of the Sullivan case
Police
Episode: David Sullivan: The mystery of the headless alleged paedophile’s murder
Gladys Ganiel
Professor of Christianity and Peacebuilding
Academic researcher on religion and conflict
Episode: God, Religion, the Troubles, and Christian Peacebuilding
James Durney
Author of Jailbreak Great Irish Republican Escapes
Episode: The IRA’s infamous escape from Belfast’s prison ship, the HMS Maidstone
Mervyn Jess
Former BBC journalist who wrote about the Drumcree/Drum Cree dispute
Former BBC journalist / Author on the Orange Order
Episode: Drumcree: The crisis over an Orange parade which brought NI to the brink
Malachi O'Doherty
Journalist who grew up in West Belfast and discusses the Maura Lyons story
Journalist
Episode: Maura Lyons: The Rev Ian Paisley and the 15-year-old 'abducted' from west Belfast
Billy Hutchinson
Former leader of the Progressive Unionist Party and ex-UVF prisoner
Progressive Unionist Party / UVF
Episode: ‘Peace at last’: The 1994 Loyalist Ceasefires

Host

Ciarán Dunbar
Host of The BelTel

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 351 ratings
  • One of my favourite podcasts

    Easily digestible news and information. I love that it is often topical presenting current news stories but also the more historical episodes. Allison Morris is just fab when she’s on!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    A Toland
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Rather death centric

    A good podcast when I do listen, which is typically for insight regarding northern Irish history and culture that’s hard to get anywhere else. Especially recently though, the majority of episodes are meticulously reporting on deaths and murders past and present — much like a lot of other NI media — for which I turn straight off.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Mach3turbo
    United Kingdom6 months ago
  • Noah Inquest

    Liam Tunney is hurling a blinder in his reporting. The show is generally excellent!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jerimiah1983
    United Kingdom7 months ago
  • Superficial

    Plenty of chat but very little information. Also-the headlines can be misleading.

    You travel hopefully but arrive with nothing. Disappointing!

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Mac an tSionnaigh
    United States9 months ago
  • Never miss an episode

    I love listening to the podcast everyday. Nice mix of topics and stories.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Séamus Magee
    United Kingdom9 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Balanced reporting with deep-dive historical context.
Insightful interviews with trusted NI journalists and historians.
A few critics feel some bias or brevity on shorter episodes; longer formats are preferred by some listeners.
Consistently strong guests and rigorous discussion on complex NI topics.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#190
United States/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#23
United Kingdom/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#118
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#178
Canada/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#59
Australia/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#182
Germany/News/Daily News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

God, Religion, the Troubles, and Christian Peacebuilding
Q: The role of religion in the conflict is clearly up for debate.
The guest explains that religion was not the sole driver of the Troubles, but religious identities and structures profoundly shaped social organization, identities, and conflict dynamics, while also serving as a resource for peacebuilding through interchurch cooperation and pastoral care.
‘Peace at last’: The 1994 Loyalist Ceasefires
Q: How did loyalists move toward a ceasefire in 1994 despite skepticism?
Historian Aaron Edwards and others explain that planning had been underway for years, with intermediaries and parallel talks among loyalist groups, and that the move was less reactive and more the result of long-running, coordinated efforts within Loyalist leadership and political wings.
Jon Burrows and the UUP in a fix as Mike Nesbitt resigns
Q: Final question, Suzanne.
Suzanne Breen confirms Nesbitt was the most popular minister and frames the resignation as a significant moment for the executive, while cautioning that the party must stabilize quickly and choose a capable Health Minister to maintain credibility.
Culture war rages in the wake of Prof Jason Arday resignation
Q: Who is Jason Arday, and why has his story become news?
Kurtis Reid outlines Arday's background as a young, celebrated Cambridge professor whose personal backstory and subsequent plagiarism allegations triggered a major media and public discussion.
The Derry murder of Paul McCauley: ‘It was like a black cloud of grief over this city’
Q: Can you walk me through what happened that night on the 15th of July and into the early hours of the 16th?
The attack involved as many as 15 men who burst into the garden during a barbecue and violently attacked Paul and two friends, resulting in catastrophic injuries for Paul and leaving the friends severely injured but later surviving.

Audience Metrics

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions About The BelTel

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

This show centers on Northern Ireland's current affairs and historical context, featuring top political reporters, editors, and researchers who dissect breaking news, political developments, and long-running conflicts. Episodes frequently blend investigative journalism with expert analysis from journalists, historians, and regional commentators, often recounting significant events, court cases, ceasefire milestones, and cultural phenomena to illuminate how the news landscape evolves. A notable strength is the mix of on-the-ground reporting, archival insights, and nuanced debate from guests with deep local knowledge, making it a go-to for listeners seeking both contemporaneous updates and historical perspective. Prospective listeners may app... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The BelTel?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The BelTel:

1. The State of Us
2. The Indo Daily
3. Crime World
4. Best of Nolan
5. Shattered Lives

How many episodes of The BelTel are there?

The BelTel launched 4 years ago and published 856 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 BelTel?

Recent guests on The BelTel include:

1. Norman Hamilton
2. Father Aidan Troy
3. Olivia Peden
4. Norman Baxter
5. Gladys Ganiel
6. James Durney
7. Mervyn Jess
8. Malachi O'Doherty

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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