How different is everyday life in the North of this country, compared to the Republic? In Our Lives in the North, journalist Una Kelly looks behind the flags and the politics of Northern Ireland, to explore real life north of the border. Is the NHS still as great as people think? Are houses cheaper? Is the Cost of Living as high? Do paramilitaries still have influence? The series begins with that look at the NHS born out of idealism and paints a picture of two different places, but not always in ways we might expect.
The new six-part series will air on RT Radio 1 every Wednesday for 6 weeks from September 4th at 6:30pm. The episodes will also be available as part of RT Podcasts and will be available on the RT radio app (or wherever you get your podcasts). A new episode will be published every Wednesday for 6 weeks from September 4th.
Our Lives in the North is presented and produced by Una Kelly. Alistair McConnell is the Executive Producer.
The first episode in this new series examines the health system. NHS waiting lists in the north are the worst in the UK, with patients waiting for more than half a million hospital appointments. Compared to the south waiting lists in the north are at least twice as long. The NHS a health service free for all is highly prized in terms of British identity. It's embedded in the psyche of the UK and that makes it relevant to everyone on this island because healthcare could influence people in any future vote on Irish unity. People feel attached to the NHS but does that service still exist?
Contributors in the first episode include Dr Gareth Hampton- Daisy Hill Emergency Department, Dr Grace Downey a junior doctor on strike, Dr Karen Humphries who left the NHS in the north to work as a consultant in the HSE, Deirdre Heenan professor of social policy at Ulster University, Claire Scott- pancreatic cancer survivor and Dr Tom Black a GP in Derry.
Journalist Una Kelly said: I'm really grateful to the people who shared their personal stories with me for this series, especially when they found themselves in difficult circumstances. It's always a privilege to be granted that time and trust. I met a range of remarkable youth workers, teaching staff, health workers and others who work hard every day for their communities.
The remaining episodes in the series will focus on education, housing, paramilitaries, ethnic minorities and the cost of living. See Notes to Editor below for further information.
Radio billings with contributor details and further information will be available weekly on the Radio section of the RT Press Centre https://presspack.rte.ie/
Notes to Editor:
The episode on education will examine the religious separation of schools dating back to the partition of the island in 1921. More than a century later, only around 7% of children in NI attend a formally integrated school. Why has the pace of change been slow, and what consequences does this have in a post-conflict society?
The housing episode will focus on record waiting lists for social housing and record homelessness as the north is facing an unprecedented level of need for homes. Housing issues have a long political history in the north; discrimination in housing allocation kicked off the civil rights movement. 60 years later, it still resonates in a society facing a lack of affordable homes and residential segregation.
45% of young people in the north are impacted by paramilitaries, according to government officials. One young man tells his story of how he ended up in drug debt to his local paramilitaries and was faced with the prospect of either paying up, joining the organisation or being badly beaten. At one point he tried to take his own life. His friends have been shot, joined up, or are in prison. He describes an endless cycle' where the only route out is often death or prison'. But he managed to pull himself out of the situation and is now speaking out to let other young people know there is a way out. He describes how paramilitaries operate in plain sight in his community and exercise coercive control over the people there.
From a tiny base, the number of ethnic minority people in the north has grown five-fold in the past 20 years. After decades of conflict, it's a sign of a more normal' society, where people see the north as a peaceful destination to live their lives in safety. Inequality and prejudice still exist ethnic minorities are under-represented in politics and the needs of the community have sometimes been overlooked in policymaking. The community is still reeling after racially motivated violence flared in the summer. In a society that too often views things through a prism of orange and green, what role might ethnic minority communities play in the future of the north?
The episode on cost of living will explore the common perception that life, and houses, are cheaper north of the border. But as the cost-of-living bites, and wages in the north are often well below those in the Republic, ordinary people are struggling.
Europe Stories
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
16/05/2026
Helps to deliver a clean, balanced midrange
Developed alongside Newfangled Audio, the latest plug-in in Eventide's software collection has been designed...
16/05/2026
Brings onboard stem rendering to RANE System One
Engine DJ have just released Engine DJ 5.0, a free update for their Engine DJ OS embedded hardware and Engi...
15/05/2026
Last night, the Spotify Podcast Awards in Mexico returned to the country's capital. Now in its second year, the evening honors creators whose voices are hel...
15/05/2026
Rebranded show announced
Ahead of their 2026 return, Music Expo have announced that they have now officially changed their name to the MONO Music Conference...
15/05/2026
Fuzz pedal joins UK companys line-up
UK-based pedal makers Buzzing Bugs Audio Devices have recently unveiled their latest creation, the Bolster. Said to pay...
15/05/2026
Join Calrec at MPTS 2026 | May 13-14 | Stand A40 | Olympia, London We're looking forward to meeting up with customers and partners at this year's Media ...
15/05/2026
The six-part series is a co-commission with BritBox and Sony Pictures Television...
15/05/2026
Against that backdrop, IAB UK has added retail media to its Gold Standard. Jan Pitt, Commercial Director at ABC, spoke with Liv McCullagh, Retail Media Lead at ...
15/05/2026
Further to RT 's statement released yesterday and in the interest of full transparency, with the full permission of Derek Mooney, we are now publishing the ...
14/05/2026
At Spotify, we're focused on making every listening experience feel intentio...
14/05/2026
Spotify recently welcomed songwriters, artists, executives, and music students t...
14/05/2026
New articulations, ostinatos, Motion Scoring Articulation Sets & more
Sonuscore's flagship cinematic string library has just been treated to a significa...
14/05/2026
World-class studio opens on T rkiye's Aegean coast
P r Recording & Residence have announced their official opening, introducing a new world-class reside...
14/05/2026
Now supports channel layouts up to 9.1.6
Nugen Audio have just released an update for their AI-powered dialogue intelligibility and compliance tool. Set to ...
14/05/2026
New recordings & one-key chord tool
UVI have just announced the release of Orchestral Suite 2, a ground-up redesign of their all-in-one symphonic orchestra ...
14/05/2026
Two new arrivals & expanded factory content
Rob Papen's all-encompassing plug-in and virtual instrument collection has just been treated to another upda...
14/05/2026
Embed QR codes into DAW sessions
FSK Audio's latest plug-in doesn't process audio, but serves as an organisational tool that allows QR codes to be e...
14/05/2026
Rohde & Schwarz transforms spectrum complexity into situational awareness and ef...
14/05/2026
Rohde & Schwarz and Quantum Systems join forces to redefine EW and C-UAS-enabled...
14/05/2026
Rohde & Schwarz showcases STANAG aligned ARDRONIS Counter UAS capability at NATO...
14/05/2026
Code of Silence has won the BAFTA for Best Drama Series at Sunday night's ceremony at the Royal Festival Hall.
The series, starring Rose Ayling-Ellis and w...
14/05/2026
Vivid Broadcast was embracing remote production long before it became the industry norm. Now, with Calrec's True Control 2.0-enabled Argo M and Type R conso...
14/05/2026
Comscore Reports First Quarter 2026 ResultsRESTON, Va., May 14, 2026 Comscore, Inc. (Nasdaq: SCOR), a trusted partner for planning, transacting and evaluating...
14/05/2026
RT is today publishing the earnings of its top 10 highest-earning presenters for 2025, ahead of the publication of RT 's Annual Report 2025 later this year...
14/05/2026
What can I watch on UKTV and stream on U this week?
This week on UKTV and the free streaming service U, viewers can watch a range of new and returning programm...
14/05/2026
The high-stakes chase thriller from Oscar- and BAFTA-nominated writer Matt Charm...
14/05/2026
Back From The Brink airs Sunday 17 May and Sunday 24 May at 6.30pm on RT One an...
13/05/2026
13 May 2026
VEON Delivers Strong Start to 2026 1Q26: Revenue 17.0%, EBITDA 17...
13/05/2026
Thousands of props donated from Skys longest-running original seriesWednesday 13 May 2026
How a neon windmill from A League of Their Own ended up in a dogs'...
13/05/2026
SAN JOSE, Calif. - May 13, 2026 - Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT) today announced that I...
13/05/2026
A definitive portrait of one of Ireland's most influential musicians
New TV documentary airs Monday 18 May on RT One and RT Player at 9.35pm
Watch the...
12/05/2026
Spotify is where fans and artists come together, turning discovery into somethin...
12/05/2026
Features patented Marco-MMC clocking technology
Black Lion Audio's latest release combines the company's expertise in clocking with their renowned p...
12/05/2026
New Track Panel, sequencer upgrades & more
Following their recent public beta release, Reason Studios have announced the full release of Reason 14. With the...
12/05/2026
Rohde & Schwarz presents its advanced solutions for power electronics testing at...
12/05/2026
aconnic AG (ISIN: DE000A0LBKW6), Munich, has developed a modified fund raising p...
12/05/2026
FOX Announces Schedule for 2026-27 Season FOX'S POWERFUL NEW SERIES PIPELINE FUELS A BREAKOUT SEASON WITH RETURNING HITS AND BOLD NEW STORYTELLING ACROSS ...
12/05/2026
Customer demand for data continues to grow in the first quarter of 2026 at Magya...
12/05/2026
The latest drama underscores Sky's continued investment in regional production and Welsh creative talent.Tuesday 12 May 2026
Wales takes the spotlight in S...
11/05/2026
As Eurovision fans gear up to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the iconic song ...
11/05/2026
Pela primeira vez na hist ria, o Brasil figura entre os oito maiores mercados de...
11/05/2026
New desktop instrument focused on tactile performance
Bastl Instruments have announced the Kalimba, a new desktop instrument that combines physical modellin...
11/05/2026
Compact sampling workstation gains new features
1010music have announced the blackbox 2, a new version of their compact standalone sampler designed for DAWl...
11/05/2026
Performance-focused sequencer with microtonal control
Berlin-based KOMA Elektronik have announced Monoplex, a new 42HP Eurorack sequencer designed for hands...
11/05/2026
Boasts wireless control from mobile devices
The latest iteration of IK Multimedia's compact amp and effects modelling pedal expands on the capabilities ...
How different is everyday life in the North of this country, compared to the Republic? In Our Lives in the North, journalist Una Kelly looks behind the flags and the politics of Northern Ireland, to explore real life north of the border. Is the NHS still as great as people think? Are houses cheaper? Is the Cost of Living as high? Do paramilitaries still have influence? The series begins with that look at the NHS born out of idealism and paints a picture of two different places, but not always in ways we might expect.
