Episodes
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Pressing Pause...
Pressing Pause... by Una & Andrea's United Ireland
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EPISODE 152: Summer Jam Top 20 Summer Vibes
It's our 2022 Summer Jam! On this episode, we give you our on top 20 cheerful summer vibes; things to look forward to, positive changes a'coming, good vibes to soak up, and all round Positive Pam feelings. Enjoy!
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EPISODE 151: Parks, Recreation, and Biodiversity in Dublin City
What makes a city sing when it comes to biodiversity? We're joined by Dublin City Council's biodiversity officer, Lorraine Bull to talk about wilding, bees, otter surveys, and making the capital greener. Also, Andrea is raging with Apple, our queen JLo ties the knot, and the plans for "culture"…
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BONUS EP: The Uber Files with Simon Carswell
BONUS EP: The Uber Files with Simon Carswell by Una & Andrea's United Ireland
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EPISODE 150: Derelict Ireland
Attention paid to dereliction across Ireland has increased hugely during the pandemic, with a grassroots anti-dereliction movement emerging from ordinary people interested in addressing the scourge of vacancy and dereliction, but also offering solutions that should be acted on now, which would...
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EPISODE 149: Where To Next For Abortion Rights in America?
It’s a time of great distress and anger in the US and beyond, as Roe V Wade was overturned by a Supreme Court once again throwing the future of American democracy into turmoil. But don’t despair. In this episode we turn to hope, tactics, strategy, and mobilisation with the great Ailbhe Smyth....
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EPISODE 148: Party Scene
For our final episode before Dublin Pride's biggest weekend, we're talking to Philly McMahon and Philip Connaughton about their new production, Party Scene, which examines chemsex and community. Plus, Andrea and Una give their verdicts on J Lo's Halftime (and her giant bejazzled coffee cup), and...
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EPISODE 147: The ethics of AI
This week Blake Lemoine, a Google engineer was put on leave after he claimed an AI program, named LaMDA, had become sentient. We've all seen the movies where AI becomes sentient, turns on humans and machines take over the world - is this what's happening now? In a word, no. But we are joined by…
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BYLINE: Mick Clifford
Mick Clifford is one of the most experienced and dogged journalists in Irish media. He is a special correspondent at the Irish Examiner, and author of several books, in genres as broad as political analysis and crime novels. On this episode, we talk about Mick's career, and his focus on…
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EPISODE 146: Gays Against Guns
We begin June with a different look at Pride. What happens when queer activists use their learnings to tackle issues that wouldn't be traditionally seen as LGBTQ+? We're joined by Irish filmmaker Paul Rowley in New York, who has been documenting the protest and creative activist group Gays…
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EPISODE 145: The Crypto Crash
Confused about the crypto crash? How will this turbulent time in digital currency impact society? We’re joined by Alex Hern, Technology Editor at The Guardian to discuss buying the dip, Ponzi scheme characteristics, and evangelical crypto communities. Also, Emer Higgins is back, the rolling An…
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EPISODE 144: The Small Business Crisis
Across Ireland, small businesses are facing a near-crippling confluence of events; the staffing crisis impacting hiring and retention, out of control insurance costs, crazy energy price hikes, and inflation across the board. There's also the housing and rental crisis which is having a huge impact...
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BONUS EP: Laurence McKeown, Time Shadows
The date of the Assembly Election, May 5th, was also the anniversary of Bobby Sands' death, a seismic moment in Irish history. On this bonus episode, we talk to Laurence McKeown, who also joined the hunger strikes that changed the political landscape. McKeown is an author, playwright, and poet…
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EPISODE 143: Assembly Election Spesh #5: End the Racist Border
It's our final #AE22 instalment before the North goes to the polls, and this week, we're talking borders. But not the border discourse you're used to. Many, many people are prevented from moving from county to county in this country because of border restrictions placed on visa-nationals. Imagine...
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EPISODE 142: Assembly Election Spesh #4: Poverty in Northern Ireland
Dr Ciara Fitzpatrick of Ulster University School of Law joins us to discuss what we feel is probably the biggest underlying election issue in the North: poverty. What aspects of poverty hit harder in the North, and why? With the cost of living crisis spirally, we chat about the problems and the...
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EPISODE 141: Assembly Election Spesh #3: Arts and Culture Policy
On our third instalment examining issues beyond the headlines during election season in the North, we're digging into the parties - as in the ones on the dancefloor. Which political party has decent arts and culture policies? We're also joined by AVA bosswoman Sarah McBriar who gives us an…
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EPISODE 140: Assembly Election Spesh #2: A New Era of Candidates with Emma DeSouza
On our second NI Assembly spesh, we’re looking beyond the traditional binaries to spotlight one of the new era of candidates that are focussing on being independent voices in the hope of being elected in a jurisdiction known for partisan politics. Emma DeSouza joins us to discuss her ideas, and…
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EPISODE 139: Assembly Election Spesh #1: The Big Picture
Welcome to the first episode in our month-long series examining the upcoming Northern Irish Assembly elections! You know we love a good vote (and this one takes place on May 5th), but we also feel that a lot of people in the South simply don't engage in Assembly elections, and tend to tune out.…
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BYLINE: Simon Carswell
BYLINE is back! This month, we're chatting to The Irish Times' Public Affairs Editor, Simon Carswell. Carswell is known in the industry for his breadth of expertise, his fastidiousness, and his capacity to take on any beat. His background in financial journalism - when he worked at both the...
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EPISODE 138: the Irish Aircraft Leasing Sector Hits Turbulence
Peter O'Dwyer of the Business Post joins us to discuss the Irish aircraft leasing sector's turbulent times, with leased jets languishing in Russia in the face of EU sanctions, how did this industry come to be massive in Ireland, and can they get their planes back? If you've always wondered what...
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EPISODE 137: The New Celtic Revival
As an epic return to St Patrick's Day celebrations winds up, we're chatting about the new Celtic revival currently influencing contemporary Irish identities across Irish culture, society, and politics. From the popularity of the Irish language, to the blending of tradition in art, music, design…
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32 Questions: First Woman of Ireland, Sabina Higgins
32 Questions with the First Woman of Ireland, live from the London Irish Centre in Camden.
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EPISODE 135: How Did Putin Get This Far?
On this week's episode, we're joined by the brilliant journalist, Natalia Antelava, the editor-in-chief of Coda Story, to discuss the Russian invasions and military actions over the past decade and a half that preceded the invasion of Ukraine.
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EPISODE 134: Why is the government ignoring the reform and resourcing needed on the issue of drugs?
A Citizen's Assembly on drug use that was expected to take place this year has been pushed back till 2023 much to the frustration of many campaigning on the issue. Ireland has one of the highest rates of drug overdoses every year. Senator Lynn Ruane tabled an amendment calling for an end to the...
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EPISODE 133: Build Your Own Gaff
Does the self-build movement offer some solutions to the housing crisis and the rent trap? Would you like to learn how to build your own gaff? This week, we're speaking to Fionn Kidney of Common Knowledge, a new enterprise based in County Clare that's teaching people the skills to build, plant,...
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EPISODE 132: WE ❤️ DUBLIN
It's been a tough time for our fair city recently and the levels of frustration being felt by people who want to continue living here but can't because of the housing crisis, the eradication of spaces to create and meet and the insane cost of living. It seems like we've made the decision that…
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EPISODE 131: The Big Housing Debate Analysis
It's the housing showdown everyone was waiting for! O'Brien V O'Broin. On this week's podcast we're analysing the debate that had everyone talking, until it didn't, what it says about the government's approach to housing, and whether Sinn Féin's vision is up to scratch. Plus the return of Glenisk...
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EPISODE 130: Wear and Tear of Pandemic Decompression
This week, Una and Andrea are doing something different. With Andrea feeling worn out by the news cycle's barrage of negativity, and the frayed feeling that you have to fight for everything in this GODFORSAKEN COUNTRY, Una does her best Dr. Melfi impression in an attempt to find out what's…
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BYLINE: Isabel Hayes
BYLINE: Isabel Hayes by Una & Andrea's United Ireland
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EPISODE 129: Busting the NIMBY Myths
In the midst of a housing crisis, all building is seen as “good” when it comes to tackling supply, but how much attention is being paid to developments that don’t just provide “units”, but community? We’re joined by architects Alfonso and Rob to talk about urbanism, SHDs and why accusations of...
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EPISODE 128: British Democracy Is Under Attack
As Boris Johnson struggles for his political life thanks to a load of lockdown parties, what about the bigger picture of British political chaos? On this episode, we're joined by the editor-in-chief of OpenDemocracy to discuss how British democracy is under attack thanks to a shift to the...
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EPISODE 127: An Outbreak Of Self Love
New Year, Same us. We're not buying into the January narrative round these parts and instead have enlisted the warmth and wisdom of author, journalist, coach and most importantly for this ep, meditation teacher Conor Creighton to spin that narrative on its head. Conor says, "The Pressure to be...
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EPISODE 126: The 2021 United Ireland Awards
Strap yourselves in for an episode of unwarranted judgements, chaos, joy, nitpicking, and other ridiculous yet somehow tremendously insightful assessments of the year that was. From Best Minister to Gas Bitch Of The Year, our awards show has it all. Happy New Year!
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EPISODE 125: The United Ireland Stocking Filler
La la La - Tis the season. We're putting our fingers in our ears and blocking out anything that isn't joyful for the next week (or so). So this episode is just a bumper filled episode of fave bits. Will JLo make the cut? Of course she will. Does everyone apart from Una know what Christmas Milk…
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EPISODE 124: The National Broadband Plan gets murky
Recent revelations about the National Broadband Plan say a lot about public-private partnerships, transparency, and what the State does with large amounts of money for big projects. Joining us to explain it all is Thomas Hubert of The Currency, who has been investigating the broadband money…
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EPISODE 123: Is there a licensing revolution on the way?
Reform of Ireland's licensing laws has long been advocated for, but the desire for more flexible and expansive licensing was ignored. Now, the government is getting to it. Even as clubs are closed, there is progress being made, and a public consultation on licensing has been opened by the...
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EPISODE 123: Is there a licensing revolution on the way?
Reform of Ireland's licensing laws has long been advocated for, but the desire for more flexible and expansive licensing was ignored. Now, the government is getting to it. Even as clubs are closed, there is progress being made, and a public consultation on licensing has been opened by the...
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EPISODE 122: Tis the Season! 10 Reasons to be Cheerful!
We know things are a bit grim & frustrating right now, but there are reasons for be cheerful. It's Mariah season! Let's go! In this episode, we give a rundown of things that are making us smile, and reasons for hope. From new vibes in the capital to Carrie Bradshaw's podcast, let's get happy.
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EVERYONE UNITED: Utopia at the National Concert Hall
This week's episode is a recording of our recent live podcast event at the National Concert Hall with ourselves and Conner Habib of Against Everyone With Conner Habib. You should definitely support Conner's podcast on Patreon, it's genuinely one of the best around. For this episode, we were…
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EPISODE 120: The Government's lost the (badly ventilated) room
Shit got real again this week as the COVID surge escalated, and HSE chief Paul Reid issued a crisis management directive. So the government obviously stood up to the task of introducing mitigation strategies, right? Well, em, no. They popped a midnight curfew on clubs and continued to talk about...
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EPISODE 119: Gold Diggin' in Leitrim
Just as the Leitrim community was able to relax after winning it's fight against onshore fracking, another threat to the county strikes - the hunt for gold. A few weeks ago, a group called Treasure Leitrim was formed when it emerged a company called Flintridge Research was seeking a prospecting...
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EPISODE 118: Solving Dereliction in Waterford
Waterford's approach to dereliction has dramatically decreased the number of families living in emergency accommodation, and homelessness more generally. By utilising a rarely talked about scheme, derelict and vacant buildings are being transformed into social housing. So why can't this happen...
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EPISODE 117: Ready For The Floor? Going out-out nerves as Ireland opens up.
Have you waited for clubs and gigs for so long, you're feeling weird about not rushing out to them? How can we cope with anxiety and overwhelm as places open back up? Our favourite psychotherapist Sarah Gilligan joins us for calmness, coping mechanisms, and capacity tips. Plus, Una discusses what...
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EPISODE 116: UP THE STUDENTS
'water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink' This famous line from Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem seems perfectly apt when we're (still) talking about student accommodation. Following a heap load of frustration communicated from UCD SU's Ruairí Power to Owen Keegan, CEO of DCC about the…
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EPISODE 115: Ireland's Corporate Tax Rate Conundrum
EPISODE 115: Ireland's Corporate Tax Rate Conundrum by Una & Andrea's United Ireland
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EPISODE 114: Empty Student Gaffs & Maternity Restrictions Rage On
Why does it feel we have to keep protesting for the things that should be a given in a society? 1: Somewhere To Live Killian Woods predicted a rent strike in a recent Byline episode because of the crazy housing crisis. Within that crisis, there's another arc that perfectly illustrates why trying…
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BYLINE: Stephen Carroll
Stephen Carroll is the Business Editor of France24. In this episode of Byline, we talk about his career in broadcast news, from starting out as a radio reporter in Dublin, to presenting young people's news for RTE, to producing and editing global breaking news stories for Sky News, working at the...
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EPISODE 113: Big Tech's data dream
As Ireland continues to be home for many Big Tech HQ's, the responsibility for enforcing privacy laws lies with us too. This week, the Irish Council for Civil Liberties released a report that suggests Ireland is failing to enforce these laws on these companies. The report comes on the back of a...
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BONUS EP: Defects: Living with the Legacy of the Celtic Tiger
Last night Eoin O'Broin launched his new book, Defects: Living with the Legacy of the Celtic Tiger. Today, bus loads of mica redress campaigners have arrived at the Fianna Fáil think-in in Cavan. In this bonus episode, we talk to the Sinn Fein spokesperson on housing and TD Eoin O Broin about his...
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EPISODE 112: DERELICTE
Housing For All launched last week and there were some easy wins for the government that were kicked down the road, like tackling the vacancy and dereliction problem that is currently rampaging through the country. The most sustainable and sense filled solution is to obviously use what’s already...
About this show
32 Episodes. 32 Counties. 32 Questions. Every week United Ireland looks at how issues in small places have a much bigger context, and discusses the issues important to you. Let's go!
Hosted by
Una & Andrea's United Ireland
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