Rephonic
Artwork for The BelTel
Noah Donohoe
Jeffrey Donaldson
Northern Ireland
Belfast
PSNI
Natalie Mcnally
Stephen Mccullagh
IRA
Sinn Féin
DUP
Orange Order
DJ Carey
Stormont
Enniskillen Bombing
Garvaghy Road
Northwood Road
White Date
Stephen Gault
David O'dornan
Nazi Tinder

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.

PublishesDailyEpisodes887Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Daily NewsNews

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The BelTel

Latest Episodes

After weeks of hints and speculation Carla Lockhart has finally quit the DUP. In a letter penned entitled ‘A renewed vision for unionism’, the Upper Bann MP said she wanted to “be a politician whose word means something”.

Gavin Robinson says the on... more

When Richard Moore was 10 years old a British Army captain shot him in the face with a rubber bullet.

The Derry School boy lost his sight completely in an instant but twenty years ago Richard met Charles, the soldier who shot him, and forgave him. ... more

Islandmagee is a quiet civil parish on the east coast of Northern Ireland.

But in 1711, a newcomer to the area begins to have fits, regurgitates pins and buttons, and suddenly dies.

In the weeks following her death, eight woman and one man are fo... more

On the 30th of October 30, 1976, two Belfast Telegraph delivery men Charles Corbett and John Maguire were shot dead in north Belfast.

John Maguire's ten-year-old son witnessed his father's murder. The boy himself was wounded in the leg.

The men w... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Red Lines
Red LinesBBC Radio Ulster
The State of Us
The State of UsBBC Sounds
The Indo Daily
The Indo DailyIrish Independent

Recent Guests

Allison Morris
Northern Ireland journalist covering politics and legal affairs.
Belfast Telegraph
Episode: Judge dismisses Orange Order challenge but warns against "joy in the outcome"
Andrew Madden
Belfast Telegraph reporter covering Stormont.
Belfast Telegraph
Episode: Is Carla Lockhart going to leave the DUP?
Claire Dickson
Belfast Telegraph reporter covering Northern Ireland politics.
Belfast Telegraph
Episode: Is Carla Lockhart going to leave the DUP?
Jon Tonge
Political scientist and author of The Democratic Unionist Party From Protest to Power.
Episode: Is Carla Lockhart going to leave the DUP?
Sam McBride
Belfast Telegraph journalist who reported on Donaldson's overseas work.
Belfast Telegraph
Episode: Jeffrey Donaldson: Dark questions over ex-DUP leader’s curious African shadow career
Damon Quinn
Comedian and member of the Hole in the Wall Gang
Hole in the Wall Gang
Episode: Give My Head Peace: Comedies axed as BBC makes deep cuts
Michael McDowell
Comedian and member of the Hole in the Wall Gang
Hole in the Wall Gang
Episode: Give My Head Peace: Comedies axed as BBC makes deep cuts
Tim McGarry
Comedian and member of the Hole in the Wall Gang
Hole in the Wall Gang
Episode: Give My Head Peace: Comedies axed as BBC makes deep cuts
Seán McCárthaigh
Court reporter covering Ammi Burke's case
Episode: Ammi Burke: Solicitor's legal showdown with her former employer

Host

Ciarán Dunbar
Host of The BelTel

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 360 ratings
  • A Welsh Unionist’s perspective

    I expected the voice of liberal unionism when I started to listen to this podcast but a bit too green for my liking at times. I shall continue to listen though.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Iorwerth Llwyd
    United Kingdom5 days ago
  • 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 Kingdom8 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

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
#234
United States/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#23
United Kingdom/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#101
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#189
Canada/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#111
Australia/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#200
Italy/News/Daily News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Jeffrey Donaldson: Former MP being investigated over alleged Westminster rape
Q: He will be questioned by the Met Police. Will he be flown to London or will they come to here? How will that work?
Morris says Met officers could interview him in prison, but the allegation's London jurisdiction may mean he is taken to London. She notes that arranging prison transport would be logistically difficult.
Jeffrey Donaldson: Former MP being investigated over alleged Westminster rape
Q: Jeffrey Donaldson's under investigation, we understand for further rape allegation. This is while serving as an MP and this is in, allegedly in his Westminster office. There were inklings of this before, but now the story is firmed up.
Morris says a woman contacted her after Donaldson's trial, described a sexual assault during a Westminster tour, and later gave an Achieving Best Evidence interview to the PSNI. The PSNI referred the allegation to the Metropolitan Police because the alleged incident took place in London.
Jeffrey Donaldson: Dark questions over ex-DUP leader’s curious African shadow career
Q: Was he going to these developing countries and in any of them, or in all of them, or in some of them, abusing children or abusing other people, or behaving inappropriately in other ways?
McBride says the question is reasonable but unanswered. He asked three government departments whether they had evidence of inappropriate conduct or had investigated, and says none indicated that they had investigated or alerted host countries.
Jeffrey Donaldson: Dark questions over ex-DUP leader’s curious African shadow career
Q: What have you discovered?
McBride says documents show Donaldson received personal payments for work on behalf of British government departments, including Ministry of Defence assignments in conflict-affected countries. The records describe him as a significant asset, but much of the material is censored or incomplete.
Is Carla Lockhart going to leave the DUP?
Q: Are we at the end of the peace process?
Tonge says the peace will endure, noting that violence remains at a low level and that recent Drumcree tensions have stayed peaceful. He acknowledges that armed groups have not disappeared, while Dunbar and Madden distinguish ongoing political instability from a return to violence.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
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

Where can I find podcast stats for The BelTel?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The BelTel. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The BelTel and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The BelTel get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The BelTel, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The BelTel?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The BelTel, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The BelTel have?

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. Red Lines
2. The State of Us
3. The Indo Daily
4. The Troubles Podcast
5. Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning

How many episodes of The BelTel are there?

The BelTel launched 5 years ago and published 887 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.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The BelTel?

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

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The BelTel?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The BelTel. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The BelTel?

Recent guests on The BelTel include:

1. Allison Morris
2. Andrew Madden
3. Claire Dickson
4. Jon Tonge
5. Sam McBride
6. Damon Quinn
7. Michael McDowell
8. Tim McGarry

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days