229. Jeffrey Donaldson: The Rise, Fall & Future of the DUP | John Manley
09/07/2026 | 51 mins.
Jeffrey Donaldson was once regarded as one of the most influential and respected figures in unionism. A former leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, Privy Counsellor, and key negotiator during some of the most significant moments in post-Brexit politics, his conviction has sent shockwaves through Northern Ireland.
In this episode, Irish News Political Correspondent John Manley traces Donaldson's political journey, from his early years in the Ulster Unionist Party and move to the DUP, through the Good Friday Agreement, St Andrews Agreement, Brexit, and the Northern Ireland Protocol, before examining the political fallout following his conviction.
The conversation also explores:
• The origins and evolution of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) • Ian Paisley, Peter Robinson, Arlene Foster and Gavin Robinson • Why Jeffrey Donaldson became leader • The internal struggles within unionism • The impact of Brexit and the Northern Ireland Protocol • The future of the DUP • The rise of the TUV and changing unionist politics • The political response from Sinn Féin and other parties • Whether the Donaldson scandal could reshape unionism for years to come
This episode is intended as an exploration of the political context surrounding one of the most significant developments in modern Northern Irish politics.
The Ireland Podcast celebrates the people, places, culture and ideas that shape Ireland through long-form conversations.
Hosted by Fender Jackson.
Relevant Links https://www.irishnews.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
228. How Brexit Was Negotiated: Prof. Katy Hayward
06/07/2026 | 56 mins.
How did Brexit move from referendum result to international treaty?
In Part 2 of this three-part conversation, Professor Katy Hayward traces the negotiations that reshaped relations between Northern Ireland, Ireland, the United Kingdom and the European Union.
Together we explore Theresa May's Withdrawal Agreement, the backstop, Boris Johnson's renegotiation, the Northern Ireland Protocol, the search for technological solutions, and why the Irish border became the central challenge of Brexit.
Professor Hayward also discusses the competing priorities of London, Dublin, Brussels and Belfast, and explains why some of the proposed solutions were described as "unicorns".
This is Part 2 of a three-part series examining Brexit through the eyes of Northern Ireland.
Topics include
The Irish border dilemma Theresa May and the backstop Boris Johnson's renegotiation The Northern Ireland Protocol The search for alternative arrangements UK–EU negotiations The Good Friday Agreement Northern Ireland after Brexit
Relevant Links https://www.qub.ac.uk/sites/post-brexit-governance-ni/ https://www.niassembly.gov.uk/assembly-business/brexit-and-beyond/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
227. John Heron: 43 Years in the Gaeltacht
01/07/2026 | 1h 5 mins.
As he approaches his 87th birthday, John Heron joins his son, Fender Jackson, for a deeply personal conversation about a lifetime of learning, community and his 42 consecutive years attending Oideas Gael in Gleann Cholm Cille.
John reflects on discovering the Irish language, the friendships that have lasted decades, dancing with Mary McAleese, the vision of Liam Ó Cuinneagáin, and why he believes anyone who spends a fortnight in Donegal with Oideas Gael will leave speaking Irish.
Best known to many as co-founder of Heron Bros, this conversation instead reveals the man behind the business: a lifelong learner whose love of language, music and people has shaped more than four decades of summers in the Donegal Gaeltacht.
A warm and affectionate conversation that celebrates Oideas Gael, the Irish language and the power of preserving family stories for future generations.
Relevant Links https://www.oideasgael.ie/ https://youtu.be/emdJYEfbhBY https://www.irishnews.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
226. How Brexit Happened: Prof. Katy Hayward
29/06/2026 | 49 mins.
Ten years after the Brexit referendum, Professor Katy Hayward joins The Ireland Podcast to look back at one of the most consequential political events in modern British and Irish history.
Rather than debating Brexit's merits, this conversation traces how it happened. Beginning with the political climate before the referendum, Professor Hayward explains the promises, pressures and decisions that led to the vote, before examining why the Irish border became central to the negotiations that followed.
In this first part of a multi-part conversation, we explore the years leading up to the referendum and the constitutional, political and social context that shaped the result.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
225. Gerry Hanley: Trad Musician - Part 2
25/06/2026 | 24 mins.
In the concluding part of his conversation with The Ireland Podcast, Gerry Hanley reflects on the people and experiences that have shaped his musical journey. He shares stories of Sharon Shannon, Greg Cotter and the legendary London sessions of the 1970s, discusses why great musicians sound like themselves regardless of the instrument they play, and recalls the famous story of violin virtuoso Joshua Bell performing incognito as a busker in a Washington Metro station.
The episode also features Gerry's 1983 recording with Roudledum alongside tracks from his recent CD, bringing to a close a warm and thoughtful conversation about music, memory and community.
Roudledum - Traditional Irish Music And Song Jigs: Thrush In The Bush / Rocking Chair / Fahy's In C
Gerry Hanley - In The Middle Of It Hornpipes: Slopes Of Benbulben / The Swan On The Lake / The Showman's Fancy
Relevant Links https://gerryhanleymusic.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
About the PodcastThe Ireland Podcast is a long-form interview series creating space for unhurried conversation about life on the island of Ireland and beyond.The ConversationsHosted by Fender Jackson and produced by Salthill Media, the podcast centres on listening rather than argument. Each episode features a single guest and allows time for reflection, context, and experience to emerge naturally. Guests include artists, musicians, writers, athletes, broadcasters, historians, and cultural figures whose work or perspective offers insight into place, memory, and lived experience.There is no political or religious agenda. The podcast does not seek to persuade, promote, or argue a position. Instead, it exists as a space for careful dialogue, where complexity is allowed and difference is approached with curiosity rather than confrontation.The HostFender Jackson grew up in Ulster and later lived in England and China before returning to Ireland and settling in Galway, where most episodes are now recorded. These experiences inform a listening-led, exploratory approach shaped by distance as well as proximity, and by an awareness of how place, movement, and memory intersect.ApproachThe Ireland Podcast approaches the island as a shared, lived place - shaped by multiple histories, traditions, communities, and viewpoints. In a post-conflict society, conversation itself has value. The podcast recognises the role that respectful dialogue, storytelling, and careful questioning can play in fostering empathy and understanding.Over time, it becomes an informal record of conversations about the island and its many expressions, offered quietly and without prescription. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ireland