Rephonic
Artwork for The BelTel
Noah Donohoe
Northern Ireland
Belfast
Jeffrey Donaldson
PSNI
IRA
Natalie Mcnally
Stephen Mccullagh
Sinn Féin
Good Friday Agreement
Stormont
DJ Carey
DUP
Enniskillen Bombing
Northwood Road
White Date
Unionism
Stephen Gault
David O'dornan
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.

PublishesDailyEpisodes871Founded4 years ago
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Artwork for The BelTel

Latest Episodes

The parading crisis in Portadown seems over on the ground, but it is very much alive in the courts, on the airwaves, and in politics.

The Northern Ireland Secretary of State Chris Bryant stepped in on Friday to ban the Portadown Orange lodge from m... more

The St Andrews Agreement was signed twenty years ago on 13 October 2006.

Officially. it just amended the Belfast / Good Friday Agreement, but it did bring about some profound changes in Northern Ireland’s politics.

It saw the DUP and Ian Paisley si... more

Northern Ireland’s Agriculture and Environment Minister Andrew Muir interviewed by Belfast Telegraph Northern Ireland Editor Sam McBride, discussing how what he says has been a ‘catastrophic’ agricultural policy went disastrously wrong in the race fo... more

In recent weeks, the 2020 French hack into the secret gangster phone network Encrochat has continued to see Northern Ireland drug dealers sent to Maghaberry.

Multiple prison sentences have been handed down to some significant figures from Northern I... more

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Recent Guests

Siobhán Fenton
Former Sinn Féin staffer and journalist
Sinn Féin
Episode: Siobhán Fenton: Former insider on Sinn Féin' ideological conundrums
Fred Kelly
Free Church writer with the Daily Mail
Daily Mail
Episode: ‘We’ll forget her soon enough’ - Earl Spencer’s explosive claims about Princess Diana and King Charles
Billy Graham
Former Belfast Telegraph general news reporter, later political editor for Irish News
The Belfast Telegraph / Irish News
Episode: The Belfast Telegraph Bomb: The day the IRA attacked the newsroom
Alf McCreary
Editorial and features writer with the Telegraph for 14 years at the time of the bombing
The Belfast Telegraph
Episode: The Belfast Telegraph Bomb: The day the IRA attacked the newsroom
Fiona Donohoe
Mother of Noah Donohoe, referenced in statements
Family of Noah Donohoe
Episode: Noah Donohoe: Fiona Donohoe says PSNI and DfI "sought to blame Noah", as jury finds police didn’t contribute to teen’s death
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

Host

Ciarán Dunbar
Host of The BelTel

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 354 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 Kingdom3 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 Kingdom7 months ago
  • Noah Inquest

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jerimiah1983
    United Kingdom8 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 States10 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 Kingdom10 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
#212
United States/News/Daily News
Spotify
#42
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#20
United Kingdom/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#88
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#130
Canada/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#58
Australia/News/Daily News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The mistake that left ‘Slab' Murphy with a big bill and a massive problem
Q: What did the Q-files add to the understanding of the case?
They provided new, corroborated context showing UK government doc references, the level of media preparation, and the strategic shift from settlement to courtroom confrontation, clarifying why the Sunday Times pursued the case so aggressively.
Siobhán Fenton: Former insider on Sinn Féin' ideological conundrums
Q: Why did you decide to join Sinn Féin and work in their Dublin press office at that pivotal time for the party?
The main appeal was to contribute to feminist policy and to help Sinn Féin prepare for government, leveraging a chance to influence how the party would govern and address key social issues.
‘We’ll forget her soon enough’ - Earl Spencer’s explosive claims about Princess Diana and King Charles
Q: Fred, you cover this stuff all the time, so you should have a good read on public opinion around this. Where do you think the public will land on this?
Fred observes that public opinion is divided but remains broadly supportive of the monarchy as an institution, while recognizing the royal family's ongoing efforts to modernize and navigate controversy.
‘We’ll forget her soon enough’ - Earl Spencer’s explosive claims about Princess Diana and King Charles
Q: Talk to us about that, Fred.
Fred notes that the Earl Spencer's revelations have been widely publicized, with the book tour amplifying attention and public interest, while acknowledging the breadth of coverage and the mixed public reaction.
The Belfast Telegraph Bomb: The day the IRA attacked the newsroom
Q: Could you describe the Belfast Telegraph newsroom as it was in 1976?
It was a large, bustling evening newspaper operation with multiple editions, a big staff, and a fast-paced workflow that relied on a tight, collaborative rhythm among reporters, sub-editors, and copy desks.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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?

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. Red Lines
2. The State of Us
3. The Indo Daily
4. The Troubles Podcast
5. Best of Nolan

How many episodes of The BelTel are there?

The BelTel launched 4 years ago and published 871 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. Siobhán Fenton
2. Fred Kelly
3. Billy Graham
4. Alf McCreary
5. Fiona Donohoe
6. Norman Hamilton
7. Father Aidan Troy
8. Olivia Peden

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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