The Shrapnel Podcast

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this episode we welcome back friend of the pod, researcher and writer Iain Turner. Iain chatted to the lads about progress on his book which is an authoritative history of the UVF; we talked about the Dublin & Monaghan bombings 50 years on; the difficulty of obtaining records for research; the NIO public history project; loyalist paramilitaries and truth recovery and a whole lot more. The latest Shrapnel Fragments Special Episode is out now here:

.wpedon-container .wpedon-select, .wpedon-container .wpedon-input { width: 170px; min-width: 170px; max-width: 170px; } Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack The lads did their second live show as part of the Imagine! Festival of Ideas and Politics at Belfast's Crescent Arts Centre. We were joined by a panel of three previous guests representing alternative voices from within the broad spectrum of loyalism. Beano Niblock is a former loyalist prisoner and the writer of the acclaimed play The Man Who Swallowed A Dictionary (2023) about the life of his former comrade David Ervine. Niblock is a vocal advocate for loyalist storytelling and the power of...

.wpedon-container .wpedon-select, .wpedon-container .wpedon-input { width: 170px; min-width: 170px; max-width: 170px; } Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack The lads did their second live show as part of the Imagine! Festival of Ideas and Politics at Belfast's Crescent Arts Centre. We were joined by a panel of three previous guests representing alternative voices from within the broad spectrum of loyalism. Beano Niblock is a former loyalist prisoner and the writer of the acclaimed play The Man Who Swallowed A Dictionary (2023) about the life of his former comrade David Ervine. Niblock is a vocal advocate for loyalist storytelling and the power of...

.wpedon-container .wpedon-select, .wpedon-container .wpedon-input { width: 170px; min-width: 170px; max-width: 170px; } Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack We were delighted to be joined by author and academic Paul Burgess for our inaugural live show. Paul discussed his new book Wild Colonial Boys (Manchester University Press) - a revealing and no holds barred autobiography charting his early life growing up in loyalist north and west Belfast, his passion for class politics and music and his ascent to fame with Ruefrex. The Working Class Activism in Academia Podcast is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-98820246

.wpedon-container .wpedon-select, .wpedon-container .wpedon-input { width: 170px; min-width: 170px; max-width: 170px; } Please support us in 2024 by clicking: patreon.com/tortoiseshack Welcome to our end of 2023 special. In this episode the lads chatted to two former guests: one from series 1 and another from series 2. Eddie Kinner is a former UVF prisoner, who became an important figure in negotiating the Good Friday Agreement on behalf of the PUP. Davy Adams is a former UDA member, who as a contemporary of Kinner's in the 1990s was heavily involved in negotiating the Agreement on behalf of the UDP. Eddie and Davy chatted with the lads...

.wpedon-container .wpedon-select, .wpedon-container .wpedon-input { width: 170px; min-width: 170px; max-width: 170px; } Help us keep going in 2024 by clicking on patreon.com/tortoiseshack Tony Novosel is the author of 'Northern Ireland's Lost Opportunity: The Frustrated Promise of Political Loyalism' and has been a frequent visitor to NI since 1974. Over the years he has been recognised for his cross-community peace building work. In this episode he talks to the lads about the challenges facing progressive loyalism. How better public services is the antidote to the far right podcast with Prof Catherine De Vries is out now here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-94992075

.wpedon-container .wpedon-select, .wpedon-container .wpedon-input { width: 170px; min-width: 170px; max-width: 170px; } Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack Ed Moloney is one of Ireland's most famous journalists and the author of a number of books about the conflict in Northern Ireland. In this episode he talks to the lads about legacy and reconciliation, oral history, notable characters that he has met over the years, what it was like reporting on subjects such as Kincora and how he avoided assassination by the UDA after a dirty tricks campaign against him in the early 1980's. The Ditch wrap of 2023 podcast is out now...

.wpedon-container .wpedon-select, .wpedon-container .wpedon-input { width: 170px; min-width: 170px; max-width: 170px; } Help us keep going in 2024, join the shack at patreon.com/tortoiseshack Since 1996, David Blevins has been the senior Ireland correspondent for Sky News, covering news stories north and south of the border. When the news happened, we heard it from him. In this episode he talks to Gareth and Sam about reporting some of the traumatic and momentous events in recent history in NI, why the golden age of journalism may not be over and how we need more time to hear stories, rather than sound bytes in the...

.wpedon-container .wpedon-select, .wpedon-container .wpedon-input { width: 170px; min-width: 170px; max-width: 170px; } Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In the second episode of Fragments Sam and Gareth answered some interesting questions from listeners. Topics addressed included youth subcultures in 2023 Belfast, remembering , forgetting and historical research, "peace" walls and Scottish independence. Tickets for Shrapnel Live:https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/shrapnel-live-in-conversation-with-paul-burgess-tickets-770601910057?aff=erelexpmlt The Disability Gree Paper Podcast is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-93824982

.wpedon-container .wpedon-select, .wpedon-container .wpedon-input { width: 170px; min-width: 170px; max-width: 170px; } Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack This week we were joined by Alana Cahoon who is the PR Officer from the Ulster Young Unionists, and ‘One Young World’ delegate. She is also an Ambassador of TBUC (Together:Building a United Community). We discussed Unionism from the upcoming generations viewpoint, not conforming to lazy stereotypes and why some leave Northern Ireland and do not return. We also talked about transgenerational trauma and how our past still touches lives. The Latest Shrapnel Fragments Q&A Special is out now here:

.wpedon-container .wpedon-select, .wpedon-container .wpedon-input { width: 170px; min-width: 170px; max-width: 170px; } Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack David Adams is a former loyalist politician who as a leading member of the Ulster Democratic Party was hugely influential in negotiating the Good Friday Agreement of 1998. In this episode David chats to the lads about his journey from young loyalist activist in the 1970s, through his political journey in the 1990s and his subsequent work with GOAL in humanitarian crises in Syria, Uganda, South Sudan, Iraq and Sierra Leone. The latest Shrapnel with Alana Cahoon is out now:https://www.patreon.com...

.wpedon-container .wpedon-select, .wpedon-container .wpedon-input { width: 170px; min-width: 170px; max-width: 170px; } Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack Martin Doyle is the books editor of The Irish Times and author of Dirty Linen: The Troubles In My Home Place (Merrion, 2023) In this episode Martin talks to the lads about researching and writing the book which is a deeply personal and intimate excavation of the toll that the conflict took on the parish of Tullylish, part of the notorious Murder Triangle in the north of Ireland The Latest Shrapnel with David Adams is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-92988091

.wpedon-container .wpedon-select, .wpedon-container .wpedon-input { width: 170px; min-width: 170px; max-width: 170px; } Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack Billy Hutchinson is the former leader of the Progressive Unionist Party and was a key figure in the negotiation of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. In this episode Billy talks to the lads about the current state of unionism and loyalism, class frictions within the pro-union body politic in NI and the importance of grassroots voices. The Dirty Linen podcast with Martin Doyle is out now:

.wpedon-container .wpedon-select, .wpedon-container .wpedon-input { width: 170px; min-width: 170px; max-width: 170px; } Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack Jordan Dunbar is a Northern Ireland born and London based BBC journalist, presenter and documentary maker. His recent documentary for BBC Sounds 'Blood On The Dancefloor' looked at the life and murder of gay RUC officer Darren Bradshaw. The lads spoke to Jordan about how he came to tell this story, storytelling and memory with Belfast's queer community and some of his investigations into criminal gangs in Brazil and Italy. Blood On The Dancefloor is available here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes...

.wpedon-container .wpedon-select, .wpedon-container .wpedon-input { width: 170px; min-width: 170px; max-width: 170px; } Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack Emma Shaw is a loyalist community activist from East Belfast. She is the founder and CEO of the Phoenix Education Centre, a community interest company working to tackle educational underachievement in her community. In this episode of the podcast Emma talks to the lads about the importance of education and peer empowerment, loyalist identity and actively challenging stereotypes about loyalism. The Blood on the Dancefloor Podcast with Jordan Dunbar is out now:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-91689805

.wpedon-container .wpedon-select, .wpedon-container .wpedon-input { width: 170px; min-width: 170px; max-width: 170px; } Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack Shrapnel presents Fragments - a new series of intermittent one-off episodes where Sam and Gareth answer questions about the past, present and future in Northern Ireland posed by you, our members, listeners and followers. It'll be available in the regular Shrapnel podcast feed on all streaming platforms. Get your questions in for the next episode at [email protected] Please go back and listen to our previous episode with author of the Ghost Limb, Claire Mitchell UK economist, commentator and author, Grace Blakeley...

.wpedon-container .wpedon-select, .wpedon-container .wpedon-input { width: 170px; min-width: 170px; max-width: 170px; } Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack Claire Mitchell is a writer and researcher from Belfast. Her recent book The Ghost Limb was published in 2022 to critical acclaim. In this episode Claire chats to the lads about the book, the spirit of 1798 and the United Irishmen, her work with Billy Mitchell and progressive loyalism in the early 00s and the journey of self-discovery she embarked on which led her to discover the ghost limb of alternative Protestants rooted in the era of the United Irishmen. Emma Shaw: Empowering through Education...

.wpedon-container .wpedon-select, .wpedon-container .wpedon-input { width: 170px; min-width: 170px; max-width: 170px; } Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack Moore Holmes is a loyalist activist, community advocate and commentator. As a teacher he is passionate about educating the next generation through the think tank and advocacy group, Lets Talk Loyalism about appropriate political steps and articulating a coherent argument for the Union from a loyalist perspective. In this episode we talk to Moore about the Union and community political advocacy at the grassroots in loyalist communities. The Ghost Limb podcast is out here:

.wpedon-container .wpedon-select, .wpedon-container .wpedon-input { width: 170px; min-width: 170px; max-width: 170px; } Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack Colin Harvey is Professor of Human Rights Law in the School of Law, Director of the Human Rights Centre, a Fellow of the Senator George J Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice, and an Associate Fellow of the Institute of Irish Studies. He is also a Commissioner on the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, a campaigner for a new Ireland and member of Ireland's Future. In this episode we talk to Prof. Harvey about the constitution and what a rights...

.wpedon-container .wpedon-select, .wpedon-container .wpedon-input { width: 170px; min-width: 170px; max-width: 170px; } Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack Stephen R. Millar is Lecturer in Anthropology and Ethnomusicology. His research and teaching focuses on music, conflict, and cultures of resistance, with an emphasis on Britain and Ireland. Stephen's first book Sounding Dissent: Rebel Songs, Resistance, and Irish Republicanism (University of Michigan Press 2020) explores how Irish republicans have used rebel songs to resist against the hegemonic power of the British state. Stephen's current book project, under contract with Oxford University Press, examines the interconnection between Ulster loyalist songs and political violence in Northern...

.wpedon-container .wpedon-select, .wpedon-container .wpedon-input { width: 170px; min-width: 170px; max-width: 170px; } Please help keep the mics on at:patreon.com/tortoiseshack Eilish Rooney is Emeritus Scholar in the School of Applied & Social Policy Sciences and at the Transitional Justice Institute (TJI) in the School of Law at Ulster University. As an academic and social activist from Ballymurphy, West Belfast her pioneering work at University of Ulster on the Transitional Justice Grassroots Toolkit and cross-community dialogue has garnered respect across the sectarian fault lines of Belfast and further afield. In this episode Eilish talks to the lads about her experiences of the...

.wpedon-container .wpedon-select, .wpedon-container .wpedon-input { width: 170px; min-width: 170px; max-width: 170px; } Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this episode the lads are joined by Robert Gibson. Robert's father Jackie was a bus driver who was killed on Bloody Friday, 21 July 1972 when the Provisional IRA set off a series of bombs across Belfast. He talks about the effect that his father's murder had on his family, his search for the truth about what happened in Belfast on that notorious day and how difficult it is for families of those murdered during the Troubles to get clarity on the circumstances around...

.wpedon-container .wpedon-select, .wpedon-container .wpedon-input { width: 170px; min-width: 170px; max-width: 170px; } Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack John Barry is Professor of Green Political Economy at Queen's University Belfast School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics. In this episode of Shrapnel the lads talk to John about his research on loyalism, encouraging self-discovery and organic intellectualism, agonism, Britishness in a new Ireland and generous majorities. Tickets:https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/tortoise-shack-live-tickets-698299581847?aff=erelexpmlt Wealth Tax Pod:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-88796012

.wpedon-container .wpedon-select, .wpedon-container .wpedon-input { width: 170px; min-width: 170px; max-width: 170px; } Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack Beano Niblock is a playwright, poet and former loyalist prisoner. His current play, The Man Who Swallowed A Dictionary, charts the life of former PUP leader the late David Ervine. In this episode of Shrapnel Beano talks to the lads about how he came to write the play, what his friendship with David was like and the way in which former loyalist prisoners are reticent to tell their side of the story. The Man Who Swallowed A Dictionary is written by Beano Niblock...

.wpedon-container .wpedon-select, .wpedon-container .wpedon-input { width: 170px; min-width: 170px; max-width: 170px; } Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack On Thursday July 20th Sam travelled down to Dublin to take part in the tortoise shack live at the sugar club. It was a special night with amazing people, a very lively audience some great contributors. In this part you'll hear from Sam, writer, campaigner and host of the Lost in Implementation podcast, Emma DeSouza and cohost of the Echo Chamber Podcast, Tony Groves. We talk Loyalism, nationalism, the middle ground, health, housing, education, the Good Friday Agreement, a border poll, political cowardice...

.wpedon-container .wpedon-select, .wpedon-container .wpedon-input { width: 170px; min-width: 170px; max-width: 170px; } Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack Shrapnel Returns. As a soft launch Sam and Gareth decided to talk about the NI conflict, its legacy and some of the difficult conversations that need to be had if things are ever to move forward. They also answer some listener questions and talk about what's to come in Season 2. It’s great to be back! Last tickets:https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/tortoise-shack-live-tickets-632859177837

The Failed Privatisation of Water Should be a Warning for us in Ireland Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack Rejoining us on the tortoise shack was listener favourite and one of the founders of the Green New Deal, Prof Richard Murphy, and he was in flying form and ready to cut through the B.S. He breaks down the class warfare been waged by Central Bankers across the globe, the need find new and innovative ways to reduce house prices outside of market crashes and we look at how the cost of re-nationalising utilities, such as water in England...

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack (Editors note: Tony addresses the reaction to the Ditch, Niall Collins podcast and the criticisms of new media) Martin, Tony and Sam Mcilwaine sat down to chat about the news of the week both sides of the border and to get Sam's report from his very productive few days at Queens University for the Agreement talks that took place earlier this week. This might be the first time you'll hear about Gerry Adams, Jamie Bryson and Coddle in one conversation. We also talk criminalising poverty, Fox Views $790m Dominion settlement, Calpol as the...

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack While our government fret over a temporary moratorium for no fault evictions, the Portuguese Government are busy bringing forward a series of housing plans that have have been hailed as incredible, while also derided as Venezuelan. I suppose it depends on your ideology. Joining us to talk about them all is Vice Deputy Leader and tortoise shack regular, Joao Pina. He tells us about the challenges posed in tackling vacant properties, addressing dereliction and stopping evictions. We discuss how they aim to put rent ceilings in place and bring tens of thousands of...

Following the cowardly shooting of DCI John Caldwell and the threatening statements from senior members of paramilitary gangs, things in the North seem febrile. Joining me to discuss what is happening on the ground in the affected communities are Shrapnel co-host, Sam Mcilwaine and journalist and co-facilitator with the Civic Initiative Northern Ireland, Emma DeSouza. We discuss the politics, the societal issues, the NI Protocol deal, the Good Friday Agreements 25th year anniversary and we ask how do we move forward when a noisy minority seem to want to drag us back? Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack

.wpedon-container .wpedon-select, .wpedon-container .wpedon-input { width: 170px; min-width: 170px; max-width: 170px; } Join us in 2023 at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this end of series episode, Sam and Gareth, look back on a successful first run of Shrapnel. The lads talk about Loyalism, mental health and the cost of living crisis, and link these important themes to the conversations with guests they've had on in season one of the pod. Shrapnel will be back next year after Sam and Gareth have a break and recharge for a brand new series. The diary is already filling up. Thanks for all your support and feedback...

.wpedon-container .wpedon-select, .wpedon-container .wpedon-input { width: 170px; min-width: 170px; max-width: 170px; } Ed Spence is the nephew of Gusty Spence. In the late 1960s Ed, along with his father Billy, campaigned for the release of Gusty Spence who maintained his innocence against a murder charge. When the Northern Ireland conflict began to escalate Ed and Billy started a Loyalist prisoners welfare association called The Orange Cross. In this episode of Shrapnel, Ed talks about the campaign to clear Gusty's murder charge and the issues facing loyalist prisoners in the early Troubles. Join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack

.wpedon-container .wpedon-select, .wpedon-container .wpedon-input { width: 170px; min-width: 170px; max-width: 170px; } On Friday Nov 18th, Shrapnel cohost Sam Mcilwaine came down from Belfast to the wonderful Axis Theatre in Ballymun to chat all things Northern Ireland, Loyalism, Unionism, socioeconomic issues and politics with Echo Chamber host, Martin McMahon. This is a great conversation and features an engaged and lively Q&A with members of the audience. Don't miss it. We want to again thank Dean, Aifric and the Axis team for a brilliant night. Join us and help keep the mics on at patreon.com/tortoiseshack

.wpedon-container .wpedon-select, .wpedon-container .wpedon-input { width: 170px; min-width: 170px; max-width: 170px; } E.S. 'Ed' Haggan is a former Royal Ulster Constabulary officer who is active on Twitter as @redbrickedslums. He describes himself as 'a writer of fiction about Irish terrorism and the lives it damages'. In this episode Ed talks about his experiences of living with CPTSD, shifting from wanting to be a marine biologist to joining the RUC as a teenager in 1986 during the tumult following the Anglo-Irish Agreement and experiences of policing in North and West Belfast and South Armagh and Newry. Ed also talks about his love of...

.wpedon-container .wpedon-select, .wpedon-container .wpedon-input { width: 170px; min-width: 170px; max-width: 170px; } This week on the Shrapnel Podcast I am joined by Lauren Kerr. Lauren was an Ulster Unionist Party candidate for East Belfast in the early 2022 assembly election, in which the UUP grew their share for the area. Lauren was the first openly lesbian candidate for East Belfast and uses her voice to advocate for the LGBTQ+ community within the UUP and unionism. Lauren has been involved in politics for 15 years and also has a keen interest in football. Join us:patreon.com/tortoiseshack Ballymun Tickets:https://www.eventbrite.ie/e...

.wpedon-container .wpedon-select, .wpedon-container .wpedon-input { width: 170px; min-width: 170px; max-width: 170px; } This week's guest Danielle Roberts is currently researching a PhD on barriers to political participation among women from a Protestant, unionist and loyalist background. Her work focuses on feminist activism and she is involved with Belfast Feminist Network and Reclaim the Night. Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack

.wpedon-container .wpedon-select, .wpedon-container .wpedon-input { width: 170px; min-width: 170px; max-width: 170px; } It's been quite an eventful day and around here we are used to eventful days, but this one stood out a bit. We have had statements from every quarter, we have had recalls and deadlines. But what we don't have is a working Executive or election date (not quite yet). We chat about the de ja vu of Northern Ireland politics, the need for constructive ways of dealing with the situation and the current mood. You'll probably here frustration and a tone of resignation in our voices. Join us and...

.wpedon-container .wpedon-select, .wpedon-container .wpedon-input { width: 170px; min-width: 170px; max-width: 170px; } Paul Donnelly has been the lead tour guide at DC Tours since 2013. Before that he worked in adult community and political education, earning his stripes in conflict resolution and mediation work. In 2019 he was voted UK tour guide of the year at the Wanderlust World Guide Awards. In this episode Paul talks about showing tourists and locals alike a darker side of Belfast city centers' recent history and the challenges of storytelling in a still deeply divided society. Join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack

.wpedon-container .wpedon-select, .wpedon-container .wpedon-input { width: 170px; min-width: 170px; max-width: 170px; } On this episode we have Derry-based journalist Leona O'Neill, who is a former Belfast Telegraph journalist, a columnist for the Irish News, the course director of journalism at Ulster University and now the co-editor of a new book entitled 'Breaking: Trauma In the Newsroom'. We chat to Leona about mental health and the once prevalent stiff upper lip attitudes in the newsrooms around the country. We talk to her about how this developed into conversations with fellow journalists that gave Leona and her co-editor Chris Lindsay the impetus to put...

.wpedon-container .wpedon-select, .wpedon-container .wpedon-input { width: 170px; min-width: 170px; max-width: 170px; } This week on the Shrapnel Podcast we are joined by Professor Olwen Purdue, who specialises in the social and economic history of nineteenth and twentieth-century Ireland. Her research focuses on poverty, welfare and public health in the industrial city. Olwen is the founder and Director of the Centre for Public History at Queen's University Belfast. Olwen was also specialist historical advisor for Titanic Belfast and a member of the advisory group for the Ulster Museum's Irish history exhibition and its Troubles and Beyond gallery. On this pod we discuss the...