Podcasts about United Ireland

This week's Inside Politics podcast with Hugh Linehan explores what a united Ireland would actually involve, Irish Times columnist Fintan O'Toole and Belfast Telegraph journalist Sam McBride have written a new book that addresses the case both for and against Irish unity.The structure of the book is unusual. Each journalist writes two long chapters: one arguing for unity, and one arguing against. O'Toole says the aim is to “give people a sense of what a decent argument looks like”. Too often, he suggests, the subject becomes a referendum about identity rather than a discussion of consequences. McBride agrees, saying most people “don't get beyond the binary of are you for or against it” even though “none of us know what it would mean”.Practical questions run through the book: healthcare integration, welfare harmonisation, education, taxation and policing. McBride stresses the range of possible constitutional models. Northern Ireland could remain semi-autonomous within a united Ireland; or the island could adopt a more federal structure. “We don't even know the most basic elements of this,” he says.Their conclusion is that everyone on the island will soon need to make an informed choice. And that requires informed understanding, not simplistic assumptions.For and Against a United Ireland is published by the Royal Irish Academy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The conversation around a united Ireland is an increasingly noisy one, with passionate arguments found on both sides of the debate. Now, two journalists – Sam McBride of the Belfast Telegraph and Fintan O'Toole of the Irish Times – have come together for a new book entitled For and Against a United Ireland. On this episode of The Indo Daily brought to you by our sister podcast The BelTel, both men engage in a lengthy discussion on the pros and cons of unification. Host: Ciarán Dunbar, Guests: Sam McBride and Fintan O'Toole See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rear Admiral Chris Parry, former NATO

United Ireland would pose threat to Britain from Russia, that's according to Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry former NATO commander who joined on Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

United Ireland would pose threat to Britain from Russia, that's according to Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry former NATO commander who joined on Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

Adh Mór CatherineThe Presidential election is on Friday. Many of you reading this column or listening to it on social media platforms, will not have a vote. But some of you will. So, I am asking you to cast your first preference for Catherine Connolly and to encourage everyone else to do the same. The last week has seen a significant increase in negative campaigning against Catherine by Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil and by the establishment media.Why has Catherine Connolly, who most of the media ignored during her time as a TD, become the bête noire of the establishment? Is it because she has unashamedly challenged Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil on their appalling record in government – on health, on homelessness, on the cost-of-living crisis, and on carers? Is it because of her fluency in the Irish language? Is it because she has defended neutrality and condemned genocide against the Palestinian people? Is it because of her support for a United Ireland.Hiding the TruthLast Sunday was the anniversary of the imposition on 19 October 1988 of the broadcasting ban by British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.  Prior to that    censorship in one form or another had operated in the North and in Britain, and also in the 26 counties. The rational for this had long been the desire of the two governments to deny citizens their right to information. In this way it was easier to promote the establishment's narrative.In Ireland the British media strategy had its roots in Britain's colonial experience. But it was especially influenced by the writings in the late 1960s of General Frank Kitson who believed that all governmental structures; the judiciary, the law, the police and the media, must be part of a co-ordinated strategy to defeat ‘the enemy' while suppressing citizens and their rights.Legacy Bill deeply flawedPresented by the Irish and British governments as the resolution to the long running legacy issue the ‘Northern Ireland Troubles Bill' is anything but that. Once again the British government, with the support of the Irish government, is introducing a legal structure that provides the British state with the means to deny the truth to families.Under draft legislation, drawn from the two governments Framework Agreement, the British Secretary of State will have the power to withhold information from families and inquests; from the information retrieval body, the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (CRIR), and from the new Legacy Commission. In addition, agencies like MI5 will have the power to vet all reports. The British Secretary of State will also be able to make various regulations and guidance, including the power to make an award to cover legal representation/expenses etc. for participation in inquisitorial proceedings.Comhghairdeas Naomh EoinWell done to Naomh Eoin's Senior hurlers. Crowned Antrim Champions on Sunday after six semi-final defeats in seven years and after a dogged battle with Loughgiel the Johnnies are hurling Kings of the county. Well done to all the hurlers, the Management and support staff, the Club Committee and every one in Saint Johns.  

On Thursday, Matt spoke to journalists Fintan O'Toole & Sam McBride about the release of their new book “For and Against a United Ireland”.If it came to pass, what would a united Ireland look like? How much of a role would history and religion play for a generation of people who grew up after the Good Friday Agreement came into effect?Hit the ‘Play' button on this page to hear what Fintan & Sam had to say.

The prospect of a United Ireland is becoming an increasingly regular point of discussion, with the concessions that must be made for a new Ireland being central to this.One such concession being dual citizenship on the island, as protected under the Good Friday Agreement for those of Northern Irish birth.If this right is afforded to those born in the six counties, should it also be granted to those born in the remaining twenty-six?Paul Gosling, author of ‘A New Ireland: A Five Year Review' and Emma De Souza, Writer and Political Commentator join Ciara Doherty to discuss.

William is joined by the Ulster Unionist MLA Jon Burrows and the SDLP's Matthew O'Toole.

'Many people in the south have no northern friends'Some clinging to the NHS... but people live longer under Republic's systemHow can you argue for and against anything at the same time?The ‘conversation' on a united Ireland is now constant, whether it's wanted or not. Despite unionists and others saying campaigning for a border poll is not appropriate, nationalists continue to push for it. Sam McBride and Fintan O'Toole are amongst the island of Ireland's best-known journalists. They have written a new book entitled ‘For and against a united Ireland', in which they both write a chapter making the case for and against unity. They joined Ciarán Dunbar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ian Paisley Jr says he might be open to persuasive arguments over a United Ireland. The DUP says it is not interested in engaging or being persuaded on ‘the so called merits' of a United Ireland.On Free State today, we ask what does this tell us about the worthy concept of reconciliation and is it now effectively a unionist veto on a United Ireland? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Carruthers speaks to Fintan O'Toole and Sam McBride about their new book debating for and against a united Ireland.

Victim of rapist, now on the run, asks why his image was not released sooner by PSNI.

Jerry got the views of Sinn Féin councillor Deirdre Ferris and of Malachi O’Doherty, author, broadcaster and Belfast Telegraph columnist.

A Clare TD claims a United Ireland would reunite families and allow displaced Shannon residents to reconnect with their ancestral home. The Taoiseach has poured cold water on suggestions a poll on Irish unity will be held before 2030, saying more time is needed to prepare and to unite people across the island. The Good Friday Agreement states that a border poll should be called by the Northern Ireland secretary when they believe there is evidence that public opinion in the six counties has shifted in favour of change. Shannon Sinn Féin TD Donna McGettigan has been telling Clare FM's Seán Lyons she's observed appetite for reunification in her hometown and throughout the county.

With the Aer Lingus College Football Classic last month and Ireland's first NFL game at the end of this one, Neale Richmond kicks off the episode with a timely gridiron tale.“I'm not just a very old and average rugby player, but I'm the only member of the Irish Parliament who's played American football. I was a defensive tackle for the Dublin Rebels and proud holder of a Shamrock Bull medal from 2016,” says the Fine Gael TD for the Dublin Rathdown constituency and Ireland's Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora.The sport-mad Minister shares examples of the ways these imported American events boost Ireland's economy and provide an ideal platform to advance his ministerial goals of fostering stronger international relations, diaspora engagement, and economic growth.He tells of growing up in a Protestant family with Ulster-Scots roots, right down to his Orange Order grandfather, which hasn't blunted his fatherly pride in his son's embrace of Gaelic Football and the Irish language or his own commitment to a united Ireland.“I'm a passionate United Irelander. I want our country to be united as an independent republic, as part of the European Union. I think that it's in the interest of the over 7.2 million people of all backgrounds that live on this island,” he says, adding, “but one thing I'm really very clear about is that United Ireland will be different. It'll be a new Ireland; it won't be like the republic that I proudly live in today.”He highlights the significance of Ireland's international aid programs particularly in Africa, the evolution of Ireland's diaspora, and the necessity of supporting Irish citizens abroad, including the extension of voting rights for the diaspora in presidential elections.He wraps with an unorthodox “Seamus Plug” for the United Nations, saying that despite its problems, the UN provides a critical forum for international dialogue and that the work of its agencies for Human Rights, Refugees, Family Planning for Women, and its World Food Program all remain vital.Join us!Links:Fine Gael WebpageInstagramFacebookX LinkedInEpisode Details: Season 7, Episode 27; Total Episode Count: 130

Ireland and Britain's relationship is as intertwined as it has so often been violent and traumatic. In these Divided Isles, the award-winning author and journalist Philip Stephens charts the dramatic century since the political leaders David Lloyd George, Michael Collins, Winston Churchill and Éamonn De Valera alongside those of millions of Irish emigrants. With the complicated relationship between Ireland and Britain, could it ever end up with a United Ireland? All to discuss with Philip Stephens - Writer, Historian and Author of 'In These Divided Isles'.

Various listeners are concerned about the efficiency of the BreastCheck screening programme.Marie and Fiona tell us about their respective lives in the Navy and engineering. Callers share their opinions on whether or not a united Ireland is a good idea.

Nathan Murphy joins Eoin Sheahan as the worldwide football scene gets going again, as Crystal Palace beat Liverpool in the Community Shield, there's a huge week ahead for League of Ireland sides in Europe, and the Premier League kicks back up again this Friday.Football on Off The Ball w/ William Hill. Please Gamble Responsibly. 18+.To become a member and access our exclusive content simply click: here:http://offtheball.com/join

Is Northern Ireland really a financial burden on the UK? Should we believe the headlines claiming the Irish Republic is a thriving economic alternative? In this Made to Parade bonus episode, Prof Colin Coulter from Maynooth University challenges those assumptions.We explore the growing media narrative around a united Ireland referendum and break down the economic myths often used to promote Irish unification. Professor Coulter reveals how the Republic of Ireland may look wealthy on paper — but behind the GDP headlines lies a very different reality.

TV presenter Richard Madeley described NI as 'close to a basket case' from an economic standpoint - does he have a point? Does it reduce the likelihood of a United Ireland? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

No Economic Block on Irish UnityIn recent years there have been encouraging signs of growing support for Irish unity in successive electoral results, demographic changes, contributions from civic society, in opinion polling and in public commentary. Unsurprisingly, any debate on unity quickly focuses on practical issues like the economic viability of a united Ireland as well as on the future of a health and care system, governance structures, education, the environment and other matters.Sinn Féin's Commission on the Future of Ireland recently held a successful conference examining the issue of health in a new Ireland and the party produced a widely welcomed health and care document looking to a future all-island model. It is available at  https://sinnfein.ie/the-case-for-an-irish-national-health-and-care-service/And now we have the report by Professor John Doyle of Dublin City University – ‘The Projected Public Finances of the Early Years of a United Ireland, and the Northern Ireland Subvention.' The report is the product of joint research by Dublin City University and Ulster University's Economic Policy Centre. It succeeds in cutting through much of the jargon associated with economics to present a cogent explanation of the economic benefits of a united Ireland.The Future of the GPOMicheál Martin's ten-year plan for the GPO site in Dublin is shameful. His effort to sell the plan as a flagship project for Dublin City Centre, that will protect the historic and cultural significance of the GPO, was described by the Irish Times as “vague and ill-defined.” Mary Lou McDonald and others have been much more vocal and direct in their condemnation of the government's plans. Martin's proposal, for example, that the upper floors of the GPO will be turned into office space, makes no sense when much of the available office space in central Dublin is currently unused and vacant.The reality is that the GPO holds a special place in the nation's soul. It may have been a Post Office for all of its two hundred years but it is more than just another of those Dublin buildings that reflect the capitals colonial past. It is acknowledged by generations of Irish people as the birthplace of the Republic, as envisaged in the Proclamation. For over one hundred years it has symbolised the hopes, aspirations and vision of that historic document and of the courage of the men and women who risked everything in April 1916.World Premier in Galway of ‘A Ballymurphy Man'This weekend I will be in Galway for the 37th annual international Galway Film Fleadh/Festival. The Fleadh runs for a week every July.  This year it's between 8 July and 13 July. It was established in 1989 as a place for Irish filmmakers to exhibit their work to their peers.  This year it will host World, International and Irish Premieres in the Town Hall Theatre and Pálás Cinema.It will feature 31 World Premieres, 11 International/European Premieres and 46 Irish Premieres from 44 countries, featuring 96 feature films in totalJoin the campaign to “Save the GPO”. Sign the petition which calls for the development of a 1916 Cultural Quarter in the area around the GPO, O'Connell Street and Moore Street and the implementation of the Moore Street Preservation Trust plan. We must fight to save the GPO together.Sign the petition here:

A united Ireland would cost €3 billion in the first year, but any financial burdens would disappear within a decade – so says a report published by Dublin City University and Ulster University. To discuss further with Ciara was John Fitzgerald, Adjunct Professor in Economics at Trinity College Dublin.

A united Ireland would cost €3 billion in the first year, but any financial burdens would disappear within a decade – so says a report published by Dublin City University and Ulster University. To discuss further with Ciara was John Fitzgerald, Adjunct Professor in Economics at Trinity College Dublin.

Also - Translink ban Smartpass use if you plan to travel on special services to The Open

For this episode I'm joined by a man well known ex-loyalist paramilitary and one-time leader of the Lower Shankill Road's infamous UDA (Ulster Defence Association), Johnny Adair.Johnny speaks about his growing up in Belfast during some of it's most turbulent and violent times, his lifelong friend with UDA k*ller Sam McCrory and he came to join, and later lead the Lower Shankill Road's UDA C- Company. We discussed his days as an active paramilitary, his many near brushes with death and how he viewed his opposition, the Provisional IRA and the INLA/IPLO. I asked Johnny his thoughts on C-Company's victims and whether he has any regrets looking back. We spoke about the RUC's many attempts to both jail him, which they eventually would, and to recruit him as an informant. Johnny shares his surprising thoughts on the republican hunger strikers who died in 1981, whether he himself would have been willing to do the same if called upon and what life is like for him now, living away from the city that he once saw himself a defender of.PLEASE HELP OUT THE SHOW IF YOU CAN SPARE IT.. THANK YOUhttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/goodlistenerpodcast CONTACT THE SHOW: thegoodlistenerpodcast@gmail.comTIMESTAMPS00:00 Intro 1:5 Thoughts on Kneecap member's charges? 9:45 United Ireland ?15:30 If Johnny went back to the Shankill 20:21 Growing Up 29:40 Sam “SKELLY” McCrory 37:45 Training (Brian Nelson, Ken Barrett 55:20 Did C- Company do “spur-of-the-moment-k*lls” ?1:06:40 DID C-COMP EVER EVEN INJURE OR K*LL ANY IRA MEN?1:25:00 INLA1:26:40 “House-takeovers” by UDA C-comp 1:30:45 John McMichael k*lling by the IRA 1:33:15 IRA ALMOST K*LL JOHNNY ADAIR 1:49:00 SHANKILL ROAD FISH SHOP B*MB1:53:00 Dr*g-dealing & Extortion ?1:55:10 GETTING CAUGHT & JAILED 1:59:40 Special Branch's attempts to recruit Johnny as an informant 2:12:00 PRISON 2:16:10 Johnny's respect for the IRA Hunger Strikers2:26:15 Loyalist Feud 2:31:05 Relationship w/ Skelly and Regrets/Remorse?

A little later this evening, Alison Spittle will be doing some devious debating and answering the question… what would a United Ireland look like if it really did happen?Others taking part in this mischief will be comedians from North and South of the border and one from across the Irish sea for good measure including Neil Delamere, Oliver Callan, Ashley Storrie and John Meagher.Together, the panel will be asking all the questions you want answered from flags and road signs to anthems and crisps; and putting together a fantasy football league of how they see it all playing out.Alison joins Kieran to discuss.

This episode of the Irish Stew Podcast  features a discussion with documentary filmmaker Alan Gilsenan  and journalist John Walsh about their film 'The Irish Question.' The film delves into the recent history of Ireland, the partition between North and South, and contemplates the concept of a United Ireland in the post-Brexit era. The conversation highlights the impact of Brexit, economic and cultural complexities, and the fragile peace established by the Good Friday Agreement. The episode also touches on the importance of Truth and Reconciliation as a foundational step towards any potential unification. Recorded at the Capital Irish Film Festival in association with Solas Nua, this discussion pays homage to diverse Irish identities and urges a deeper conversation on Ireland's future.LinksThe Irish Question (Trailer)Alan Gilsenan - DirectorWebsite: Yellow AsylumWikipediaTwitter / XJohn Walsh - WriterLinkedInBlueSkySolas NuaWebsiteEpisode Details: Season 7, Episode 16; Total Episode Count: 119

The political landscape across the island of Ireland has been changing over the past decade. Demographic changes, Brexit, polling data, and the realignment of traditional politics in the Oireachtas all point to the need to prepare for the increasing inevitability of substantial constitutional change in the future. Dialogue around the potential for a United Ireland has become more prevalent, particularly in Northern Ireland. In his address to the IIEA, Senator Conor Murphy discusses how this now requires more structured formal planning involving the Irish Government to ensure the necessary preparations are in place for a smooth transition in the event of constitutional change. Speaker bio: Conor Murphy was appointed as Sinn Féin Leader of the Seanad in February 2025. In 1998, after serving as a Newry and Mourne councillor for eight years, he was elected to the Assembly where he chaired the Assembly Committee, was the Party Chief Whip, and also held the position of Group Leader of the Sinn Féin MLAs. In 2005, Senator Murphy became the first Irish Republican to be elected as MP for Newry and Armagh, he then retained the seat in 2010. In 2007, Conor was appointed the Minister for Regional Development, a position that he held until 2011. In 2012, as part of Sinn Féin's commitment to ending double-jobbing, he left the Assembly to concentrate on his role as an MP.

How much focus does the government really have on the question of Irish Unity? Our reporter Peter O'Connell gauged opinion in Banbridge, Armagh, Warrenpoint and Newry. Then, we discuss the topic with Deirdre Heenan, Professor of Social Policy at Ulster University, and Mark Hennessy, Britain Editor for The Irish Times.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin says that he is “not planning” for a 2030 border poll. He's currently promoting his Shared Island Initiative – which some unionists fear is a trojan horse for Irish unity but others are comfortable with. Republicans have always been distrustful of the Fianna Fáil leader. Sam McBride recently sat down with the Taoiseach, producing an interview that has sparked debate, satisfaction, and anger - has Micheal Martin really ruled out unity?He joins Ciarán Dunbar to interpret what the Taoiseach thinks of a united Ireland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Support for Irish unity has grown significantly in the past three years in Northern Ireland, though a clear majority remains in favour of remaining part of the United Kingdom, according to the latest opinion poll for The Irish Times and the ARINS Project.On today's Inside Politics podcast Hugh Linehan is joined by political editor Pat Leahy and Brendan O'Leary from the University of Pennsylvania to discuss the latest findings from the project, a study that explores attitudes to a possible future united Ireland.They discuss recent trends in public opinion regarding Irish reunification, the demographic shifts influencing the movement, and the prospects for planning and compromise in the face of potential unity.The conversation also covers the varying attitudes between the North and the Republic on issues like preparedness for a future United Ireland and whether NATO and Commonwealth membership should be adopted in the event of reunification. The North and South series is a collaboration between The Irish Times and ARINS (Analysing and Researching Ireland North and South), a joint research project of the Royal Irish Academy (RIA) and the Keough-Naughton Centre for Irish Studies at the University of Notre Dame. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Would you support a United Ireland? Shane and Ciara discussed this morning.

Unionists fiercely resist calls for a border poll for on a United Ireland, but that was not always the case. David Trimble campaigned for a poll in 2002 – secret files reveal he was dismissed. Newly released Dublin files reveal former taoiseach John Bruton was suspicious not only of Sinn Féin and the SDLP, but even his own Department of Foreign Affairs. Other files reveal a young John F Kennedy was happy enough with partition of Ireland and how Roger Casement was a source of controversy long after his execution. Ralph Reigel from the Irish Independent joins Ciarán Dunbar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

That’s the view of Sinn Féin Ireland South MEP, Kathleen Funcheon, who spoke to Jerry.

In this interview we talk to C. Crowle about the recently republished and expanded edition of Attack International's text The Spirit of Freedom: Anticolonial War & Uneasy Peace in Ireland. The new edition includes the original unabridged 1989 text by Attack International and some great supplementary material compiled by Crowle. The book is a concise and powerful text on the national liberation struggle in Ireland from the perspective of radicals in the UK. It's a text that challenges us to think critically about how people in an imperial center practice solidarity with the masses under the yoke of colonialism. We discuss different facets of the Irish context, including the revitalization of the armed movement in Ireland in the 1960's, the prisoner hunger strikes, and some of the different strands of Irish Nationalism and Ulster Unionism. We also talk about Attack International's critical analysis of the shortcomings, and problems with the anti-imperialist solidarity movement in Great Britain during the period of Irish armed struggle. This episode was recorded back on November 7th 2023 so while we discuss western liberalism, media and the western left with regards to Palestine, many of the questions we raised but didn't fully flesh out are topics we've covered more deeply since then. Having said that, one cannot help but ponder the resonances between the failures of the British left in supporting Irish liberation to the failures of the western left to materially impact the genocide on Palestinians & to support the Palestinian liberation struggle. We close by talking about the very real prospects for a United Ireland, what that might mean, and some of Crowle assessments of Irish Republicanism today. Kersplebedeb published this book, and their online bookstore is leftwingbooks.net. They are based in Canada, and are having a sale of 25% off during the Canada Post strike, because shipments will be delayed (solidarity to the striking postal workers). I highly encourage people to check out their catalogue, and in addition to The Spirit of Freedom, I will include some books I love from them in the show description.  We have a current discount for new patrons, you can get 20% off your first month if you sign up for a monthly membership, or off your first year if you sign up for a yearly membership by using the code A7E32 when you sign up on patreon.com/millennialsarekillingcapitalism. You also can now give a membership to our patreon as a gift if you know someone who would enjoy that this holiday season. We'll include a link for that in the show description as well  Our George Jackson Blood In My Eye study group will be available for patrons who support the show at any level. We are going to meet to discuss the book weekly on Thursday nights at 7:30 PM Eastern Time starting December 12th. Comrades from the George Jackson Organizing School will also join us for these discussions.  Links: The Spirit of Freedom: Anticolonial War & Uneasy Peace in Ireland Leftwingbooks.net Give the gift of a patreon subscription Use promo code A7E32 to get 20% off the first month (if you sign up for a monthly subscription) or year (if you sign up for yearly) at https://www.patreon.com/millennialsarekillingcapitalism Other conversations we've had on Ireland: Ireland, Colonialism and the Unfinished Revolution with Robbie McVeigh and Bill Rolston (Jared also references this book multiple times in the conversation) The Lost & Early Writings of James Connolly 1889-1898 with Conor McCabe Irish Women's Prison Writing: Mother Ireland's Rebels, 1960's-2010's with Red Washburn Books Casey references:  Three Way Fight Book  Confronting Fascism - Discussion Documents for a Militant Movement - A few book recommendations from Leftwingbooks/Kersplebedeb (there are many more, but these are just a few we love): On Necrocapitalism Riding the Wave - Torkil Lauesen A Soldier's Story - Kuwasi Balagoon Lumpen: The Autobiography of Ed Mead Stand Up, Struggle Forward - Sanyika Shakur Night Vision - Butch Lee & Red Rover Conversations we've held on Palestine that flesh out some of the points raised: The Question of Hamas and the Left by Abdaljawad Omar Western Theory and the Demonization of the Palestinian Resistance with Max Ajl Palestine & The Problem of Narrative with The Good Shepherd Collective Time for Autonomous Action for Palestine with Within Our Lifetime

What is Mary Lou McDonald's vision for a United Ireland? On the second part of a Free State Special, Mary Lou McDonald talks about the Ireland she believes in and the 32 county country she imagines.With half a million new voters added to the register this year, McDonald outlines how she wants to change Ireland. She explains what led Sinn Fein to alter their policy on immigration and why the far right protestors were not disenchanted Sinn Fein voters. Mary Lou also talks about her difficult relationship with her father and what she said to him before he died earlier this year.Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG.For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new report by the ESRI on the Drivers of Income Inequality in the North and South has found some interesting economic details. One stat that came out from the report was that 80% of northern households receive more in benefits then they pay out in tax compared with around 60% here in the south.Joining Kieran to talk more about the implications of the report on a potential united Ireland is John Fitzgerald, Adjunct Professor in Economics at Trinity College Dublin and Research Affiliate at the ESRI.

"All trends point towards Irish unification in the next few decades". The words of Leo Varadkar who has called for all parties running for election to include a call for a United Ireland in their manifestos. We get reaction with Amanda Ferguson Belfast based Journalist and also Gary Murphy Professor of Politics, Dublin City University.

Pádraic FiaccThe first book I wrote was Falls Memories.  Brandon Books led by the late Steve Mac Donagh was my publisher. I asked Steve if we could  include drawings by Michael McKernon. I didn't know Michael but I was familiar with his fine line drawings.  Steve indulged me, Michael obliged and Falls Memories was produced, enhanced by his artistry. That was decades ago. In 1990.Can We Afford A United Ireland?I have written before about the work of Sinn Féins  Commission on the Future of Ireland and how it is giving voice to citizens' views on our future and in particular on the potential for constitutional change. I have attended most of the Commission's events. They are all about citizens having their say and usually consist of an independent panel of speakers engaging with an audience. They are also moderated by an independent chairperson. So while Sinn Féin organises these initiatives once the opening formalities are over the party takes a back seat. We are there to listen. Gaels Against Genocide in Gaza.Saturday was a busy day. Tons of Gaelic games on the go. Fitting it all in is a problem. But Gaels Against Genocide in Gaza certainly rose to the challenge. Their demonstration from Belfast's Writers Square to the City Hall was mighty. Great speakers, including Antrim hurling star Neil McManus and a massive crowd from all over the island. In county and club colours. Children  and older Gaels.  Young mothers with their babies. Family groups. Clubs from everywhere. Glen Philips was an excellent Fear an Tí.If the people of the 

As discussions continue apace about the prospect of a United Ireland, are there economic lessons to be learnt from the reunification of Germany in the early 1990s? Seán's guest lived and worked near Leipzig during that transition over thirty years ago. Cormac Lucey, Economic columnist with the Sunday Times and Independent Candidate in the local elections, joins Seán to discuss.

When it comes to a united Ireland, economists might know the price of everything and the value of nothing. Except they're not even sure of the price. On Free State, Dion and Joe consider the report which said a united Ireland could cost €20 million a year for 20 years and look at all it didn't say.Are these numbers being used to scare voters in the south by an establishment which fears becoming irrelevant in a united Ireland? Or do they show the need for a conversation that everyone can be part of? One commentator said Simon Harris knows where Fine Gael's erogenous zones are and Joe and Dion wonder exactly what they could be and they also have news about some very special episodesFree State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG.For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ireland's new Taoiseach Simon Harris says he belongs to a generation more familiar with Berlin and Paris than Belfast or Derry. To the Irish citizens of Belfast and Derry, it may have been a surprise but not a shock to hear the Taoiseach speak of them as if they were a strange and distant people. Or maybe they'll be relieved he didn't say Londonderry.On Free State today, Joe and Dion talk about a united Ireland. Ireland is the only country with a constitutional aspiration for unity so why do the government parties find it so hard to talk about?As Fine Gael lionise Margaret Thatcher, is it any wonder they continue to view the north in a negative way. Joe and Dion argue about the recent report into the cost of unity and if there is a significance that one of the authors of the report is the son of Garret FitzGerald.Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG.For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new study suggests that it could be a at least 6 billion pounds a year.

John Fitzgerald, co-Chair of the Institute of International and European Affairs Economists and Research Affiliate at the ESRI, on new research showing that reunification would cost the Government around €20 billion with little chance of a return for at least 20 to 25 years.

The island of Ireland is divided into the Northern part, which is part of the UK and the independent Republic of Ireland to the south. But a political party is poised to take power in both places and it has pledged to make the border disappear.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Steering Committee Chairperson Mary McAleese spoke to the media for an update on the integration process involving the Camogie Association, the GAA and LGFA, at Croke Park in Dublin.

This week in Westminster has been dominated by the news that we can expect to see power sharing restored at Stormont in the near future. James Heale gets the reaction of former DUP first minister Baroness Arlene Foster.  Produced by Natasha Feroze and Oscar Edmondson. 

North and South, how open are citizens to constitutional changes in order to make a United Ireland work? How much economic pain would they willing to bear? What level of short-term pain be worth the long-term gain? Finding out about such attitudes is one of the goals of North and South, a collaboration between The The Irish Times and ARINS, itself a joint research project of the Royal Irish Academy (RIA) and the Keough-Naughton Centre for Irish Studies at the University of Notre Dame.Now in its second year, the collaboration also makes it possible to track changing attitudes to reunification over time - and one year in, there have already been some significant changes. To discuss the findings of the latest series of polls in the North and South series, Hugh Linehan and Pat Leahy are joined by Professor Brendan O'Leary. Brendan O'Leary is a professor of political science at the University of Pennsylvania and chair of the Public Opinion Committee of ARINS. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode needs a bit of an introduction. While the term Rotten Prod, short for Rotten Protestant, sounds like a sectarian slur, the phrase has a very different and fascinating history. It actually originated within the Protestant community in Ulster to describe a person considered disloyal to Unionism. At the turn of the 20th century, the majority of Ulster Protestants were Unionists, meaning they supported Ireland remaining in the United Kingdom. However a largely forgotten minority, many of whom were Protestant working class socialists, rejected this view. Believing a United Ireland of one kind or another was better for workers, this left them alienated from their own community. Labelled Rotten Prods, they not only faced vilification but often violence from their neighbours and workmates. In this podcast, I interview Emmet O'Connor historian in the University of Ulster and author of the book Rotten Prod, the unlikely career of Dongaree Baird. Our discussion focused on the life of James 'Dongaree' Baird a man who lived and worked in the epicentre of sectarian violence in 1920s Ireland - the Belfast Shipyards.Emmet's book Rotten Prod, the unlikely career of Dongaree Baird is available here My upcoming book, A Lethal Legacy - A History of Ireland in 18 Murders will be released on September 14th! I think you will love the book, it was shaped by your feedback over the years and written with you in mind. If you pre-order your copy today at Easons & get a 10% discount with the listener coupon code below.Link https://www.easons.com/a-lethal-legacy-finbar-dwyer-9780008555993 Coupon Code FD10 Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/irishhistory. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.