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

Una and Andrea's United Ireland

EPISODE 127: An Outbreak Of Self Love

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!

EPISODE 126: The 2021 United Ireland Awards

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.

EPISODE 125: The United Ireland Stocking Filler

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.

EPISODE 124: The National Broadband Plan gets murky

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

EPISODE 123: Is there a licensing revolution on the way?

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.

EPISODE 122: Tis the Season! 10 Reasons to be Cheerful!

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?

EVERYONE UNITED: Utopia at the National Concert Hall

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?

EPISODE 120: The Government's lost the (badly ventilated) room

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 licence for gold and silver in north Leitrim near Manorhamilton. We're joined by Jamie from Treasure Leitrim to find out what's going on, if there's an actual difference between prospecting and mining licences and what the granting of a prospecting license would mean, not just to the community but to the direction of our country going forward as a 'resource' hunter. Also, LOADS of Fave Bits - we're excited about a lot at the moment, but also an equally large amount of things to Get In The Sea and Drive us BANANAS! Enjoy xo

EPISODE 119: Gold Diggin' in Leitrim

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 everywhere else? We're joined by Fine Gael Senator John Cummins to discuss this success story. Also, Andrea is not entering the metaverse any time soon, and Una is binging on D.A. Pennebaker documentaries.

EPISODE 118: Solving Dereliction in Waterford

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 it was like at the eviction on Prussia Street in Dublin 7, and the capital loses two more beloved cultural spots.

EPISODE 117: Ready For The Floor? Going out-out nerves as Ireland opens up.

'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 change of use of PBSA to short term student lets, Owen Keegan suggested, perhaps, the SU could build their own. In this ep, we're down at the protest organised by the UCD SU at DCC HQ talking to the students affected by this accommodation crisis and ensuing glib remarks. We're also throwing the budget in the sea and rediscovering the Home & Away theme tune. And most importantly, we're finally back together.

EPISODE 116: UP THE STUDENTS

EPISODE 115: Ireland's Corporate Tax Rate Conundrum by Una & Andrea's United Ireland

EPISODE 115: Ireland's Corporate Tax Rate Conundrum

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 to find somewhere to live is so difficult. Empty purpose built student accommodation being granted change of use rather than lowering the prices. We're talking to Dublin Inquirer's Laoise Neylon about a recent article she wrote: “Providers of Purpose-Built Student Accommodation Have Been Saying There’s a Lack of Demand for It” while students have been making 200km round trips to lectures cos they can't find anywhere affordable to live. What gives? 2: Parents Being There For The Birth of Their Children There's a #MarchForMaternity on Wednesday at 1pm at the Dail because even though most things have reverted to some sort of 'normality', restrictions remain in place in maternity hospitals across the country. We're talking to Linda Kelly from The Better Maternity Care Campaign or Women Ascend on Insta about what restrictions are still in place, why and who is responsible for removing them. Plus Fave Bits, Tuna Chicken Rolls and a State of the Nation.

EPISODE 114: Empty Student Gaffs & Maternity Restrictions Rage On

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!

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Una and Andrea's United Ireland

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