{"podcast":{"title":"The Ireland Podcast","slug":"the-ireland-podcast-6592574","podcast_index_feed_id":6592574,"rss_url":"https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/64e340adddadb00012365278","website_url":"https://shows.acast.com/the-ireland-podcast","image_url":"https://assets.pippa.io/shows/64e340adddadb00012365278/1693559531557-a3e429011c16709063a495507115d15b.jpeg","author":"Salthill Media","episode_count":231,"summary":"About the Podcast The Ireland Podcast is a long-form interview series creating space for unhurried conversation about life on the island of Ireland and beyond. The Conversations Hosted 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 Host Fender 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. Approach…","last_synced_at":"2026-07-29T06:19:48.107666+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-ireland-podcast-6592574"},"episode":{"title":"229. Jeffrey Donaldson: The Rise, Fall & Future of the DUP | John Manley","slug":"229-jeffrey-donaldson-the-rise-fall-future-of-the-dup-john-manley","published_at":"2026-07-09T16:45:45+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-ireland-podcast-6592574/229-jeffrey-donaldson-the-rise-fall-future-of-the-dup-john-manley","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-ireland-podcast-6592574","url":"https://shows.acast.com/the-ireland-podcast/episodes/229-jeffrey-donaldson-the-rise-fall-future-of-the-dup-john-m","audio_url":"https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64e340adddadb00012365278/e/6a4f9d422b60482dd24d8d24/media.mp3","summary":"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.","meta_description":"Jeffrey Donaldson was once regarded as one of the most influential and respected figures in unionism. A former leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, Pr…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":3068,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-ireland-podcast-6592574/episodes/229-jeffrey-donaldson-the-rise-fall-future-of-the-dup-john-manley/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-ireland-podcast-6592574/229-jeffrey-donaldson-the-rise-fall-future-of-the-dup-john-manley.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}