Una and Andrea's United Ireland

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 and fashion, it feels very much that we're in a new Celtic revival. What's behind this shift, what will its impact on society be?

32 Questions with the First Woman of Ireland, live from the London Irish Centre in Camden.

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.

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 delay in establishing this essential Citizens Assembly and gave an impassioned speech in the Seanad this week highlighting why we must move now. She joins us on this week's pod.

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, forage, and connect with each other, and the land.

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 only people who buy into the definition of success that those who can accumulate the most are successful and can live in the city. We need to redefine our metrics of success as otherwise, whoever has the deepest pockets gets to have the final say on who gets to live in the city. We need to remember that no one owns this city, we all do. So as the closing date for submissions to the Dublin Development Plan falls on Valentine's Day, we asked some people to tell us what they love about the city. We hope that listening to this reignites the reasons you love Dublin but also encourages you to make a submission to the Dublin Development Plan before Monday. https://consult.dublincity.ie/en/consultation/draft-dublin-city-dev

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 yoghurt, Bezos' yacht a bridge too far, Investors taking legal action against residents objecting to developments and more!

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 beneath a feeling of end-of-tether-ness that's cropping up so much at the moment, how people can feel more in control of bad situations, and how 2022 will be a year of connection, gathering, mobilisation and change.

BYLINE: Isabel Hayes by Una & Andrea's United Ireland

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 NIMBYism are often misplaced when it comes to creating cities we want to thrive in.

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 libertarian-right within the Tory party, and how a raft of regressive and sinister legislation seeks to curtail freedoms and undermine democracy. Plus: Iveagh Markets; Deadly Cuts AGAIN; our new TV show about coddle and our ongoing problem with pleasure (not ours obviously, the collective ours!)

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 highly productive in January is capitalism further disconnecting us from our true selves. All nature is resting right now, so should you." Less Namaste is the rioting in Kazakhstan and it's connection to bitcoin mining, Operation Transformation; the ongoing bananas-ness of Build-To-Rent and the sham of minimum unit pricing for alcohol. Plus a reminder to fill in the review on alcohol licensing. https://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/open-consultation-sale-of-alcohol

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!

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 is? Is there a full on lean to the left in Latin America? YES! And is The Golden Girls on TG4 every day? Thank you for being a friend. Good things are happening.

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 trail. Meanwhile, Una wants the new season of Drive To Survive ASAP, and Andrea has her PR hat on with Peloton.

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 Department of Justice. So what needs to happen, and how can you make an impact in the consultation process? We're bringing you a licensing explainer, and the thoughts of PYG booker and DJ Colin Perkins. Shout out to Give Us The Night and everyone working towards a better vibe at night (you can register for webinars GUTN are doing on this consultation through their socials) You can take part in the consultation here, the closing date is the 21st January. https://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/open-consultation-sale-of-alcohol

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 Department of Justice. So what needs to happen, and how can you make an impact in the consultation process? We're bringing you a licensing explainer, and the thoughts of PYG booker and DJ Colin Perkins. Shout out to Give Us The Night and everyone working towards a better vibe at night (you can register for webinars GUTN are doing on this consultation through their socials) You can take part in the consultation here, the closing date is the 21st January. https://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/open-consultation-sale-of-alcohol

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.

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 joined by an audience to discuss utopian processes, unity, creating the life you want to live, and asking: what do you want?

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 washing your hands. We're looking at a cataclysmic week for the govt where things were reduced to arguing over who was going to pay for their own antigen tests (how noble) and who was throwing teachers under the bus off mic (or not) rather than talking about how the hell we're going to get out of this fine mess, without simple relying on the silver bullet of the vaccine. The mood has changed. The room's been lost. But what now?