Rephonic
Artwork for The BelTel
Northern Ireland
Noah Donohoe
Belfast
IRA
Sinn Féin
PSNI
Good Friday Agreement
Natalie Mcnally
Stephen Mccullagh
Jeffrey Donaldson
Stormont
Anglo-Irish Agreement
The Troubles
Ulster Unionist Party
Unionism
DJ Carey
Ian Paisley
DUP
Bloody Sunday
Ireland

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

Jeffrey Donaldson was an “unmitigated liar” and was living a double life while working in Westminster – according to former DUP MLA Jim Wells. In the days following Jeffrey Donaldson’s guilty verdict for child sex offences, more information has arise... more

Assembly Speaker Edwin Poots has performed a massive U-turn on a strange decision which has caused unusual controversy around Stormont. Last month, Mr Poots blocked MLAs from discussing a proposal which survivors of abuse wanted to become law.

The e... more

Throughout the trial of Jeffrey Donaldson, his work for what he called “the local MP” was referenced in court. That MP was Enoch Powell – one of the most controversial British politicians of the 20th century. Donaldson served as Powell’s election age... more

Jeffrey Donaldson has begun his new life in Maghaberry Prison. Donaldson and his wife, Eleanor, are set to be stripped of their honours. The former MP and DUP leader, Jeffrey Donaldson was found guilty of 18 child sex offences on Monday - including o... more

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Recent Guests

Claire Sugden
Independent MLA, former Justice Minister
Northern Ireland Assembly
Episode: "I’m not a soft unionist” says independent MLA Claire Sugden
Constable George
Police constable involved in the inquest testimony
Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI)
Episode: Noah Donohoe Inquest: Searching culvert “not a priority”
Andrew Madden
Belfast Telegraph reporter
Belfast Telegraph
Episode: Dig begins for disappeared victim 29-year-old Seamus Maguire
Christopher Woodhouse
Specialist courts reporter
The Bel Tel
Episode: Donaldson trial to begin: Attorney General warns public of contempt laws
Ed Burke
Author of Ulster's Lost Counties, Loyalism and Paramilitarism since 1920
Author/Historian
Episode: Ulster's Lost Counties: Ed Burke on Loyalism and Paramilitarism in Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal
David Graham
Former DUP councillor, former advisor to Education Minister Peter Weir; political commentator; formerly worked for Linfield and Rangers
DUP, political commentator
Episode: David Graham: When my kids are 40 there won’t have been border poll, but unionism needs a reset
Suzanne Breen
Political editor at The Belfast Telegraph
The Belfast Telegraph
Episode: Suzanne Breen on the ‘DUP Civil War’ - five years on
Jonathan McKee
Director, Department for Infrastructure
Department for Infrastructure
Episode: Noah Donohoe Inquest: ‘I’ve f***ked it’ - Stormont employee’s panic over unlocked hatch
Brenda Campbell
Counsel for the coroner's inquest
KSC / Coroner's Court
Episode: Noah Donohoe Inquest: ‘I’ve f***ked it’ - Stormont employee’s panic over unlocked hatch

Host

Ciarán Dunbar
Host of The BelTel

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 331 ratings
  • 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 Kingdom4 months ago
  • Noah Inquest

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jerimiah1983
    United Kingdom4 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 States6 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 Kingdom6 months ago
  • Superficial

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

    You travel hopefully but arrive with nothing. Disappointing!

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Mac an tSionnaigh
    United States10 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Strong investigative journalism style is a draw for professionals seeking nuanced NI coverage.
Some listeners note biases or pacing; others appreciate critical, evidence-based reporting.
Civic and policy-focused discussion is praised for depth and quality of guests.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Suzanne Breen on the UUP: Beattie and Burrows battle it out
Q: Suzanne Breen, has it ever been this bad in the UUP or is this just normal for the party?
She summarizes the situation as unusually severe, driven by resignations, disciplinary actions, and a toxic atmosphere that has escalated beyond typical partisan tensions.
Dig begins for disappeared victim 29-year-old Seamus Maguire
Q: What area is being searched and what allows them to zero in on a burial site?
The search is focused near Achegalan/Derry Clown, outside Lurgan, near Loch Neagh, and the commission uses information from sources connected to Republican paramilitaries to guide searches, including aerial and radar methods when a burial site is suspected.
Dig begins for disappeared victim 29-year-old Seamus Maguire
Q: When do we believe he was murdered and secretly buried?
Scholarly and investigative notes suggest he was killed and buried around 1976 after earlier uncertainty about whether he disappeared in 1973 or 1974, with later confirmation tying it to a burial site in the Achegalan area.
Dig begins for disappeared victim 29-year-old Seamus Maguire
Q: Seamus Maguire, who was Seamus Maguire?
He was a young man from Achengallen near Lurgan who is believed to have been abducted and secretly buried by Republican paramilitaries about 50 years ago, with details coming to light as investigators tracked the case.
Bonus: Olympic Swimmer Conor Ferguson: How to How to turn setbacks into business lessons | In Good Company
Q: Who is the customer for Athlete Hub and how will buying work?
High-performance sports teams are the customers; teams invest in data-driven infrastructure, while individual athletes are end users. The model focuses on centralizing multiple staff roles online to support decision-making for large rosters.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Professions
Age Range
Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About The BelTel

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

A rigorous current-events show rooted in Northern Ireland affairs, politics, law, and history. Episodes frequently feature deep-dive conversations with journalists, legal experts, and researchers, unpacking high-profile inquiries, inquests, and long-running legacy issues. The program tends to ground its discussions in documented events, public records, and archival material, often linking contemporary developments to historical context. It stands out for investigative-like reporting, strong host interviewing, and guests who illuminate complex governance, security, and societal dynamics in the region, making it helpful for listeners who want clarity on nuanced NI topics.

Potential listeners who follow political accountability, legal proceed... more

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How many listeners does The BelTel get?

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To see how many followers or subscribers The BelTel has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The BelTel?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The BelTel:

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

How many episodes of The BelTel are there?

The BelTel launched 4 years ago and published 812 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The BelTel?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The BelTel from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on The BelTel?

Recent guests on The BelTel include:

1. Claire Sugden
2. Constable George
3. Andrew Madden
4. Christopher Woodhouse
5. Ed Burke
6. David Graham
7. Suzanne Breen
8. Jonathan McKee

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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