Welcome inside politics in Northern Ireland. Listen to the podcast which brings you analysis, insight and experience from Stormont. Join journalist, David McCann, plus Tim Cairns, a former Special Advisor to Peter Robinson and Head of Policy for the DUP and Micheal McKernan, a former Special Advisor in the SDLP worked in the Executive from 2007-2016.
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Drumcree Protests, Alliance Walkout & The A5 Road Victory
Northern Ireland’s political tensions are once again in the spotlight as the panel examines the ongoing Drumcree dispute and the challenges facing the Stormont Executive. With Michelle O’Neill facing questions in the Assembly, the discussion explores whether political leaders can find a way forward, what role the Secretary of State could play, and whether the controversy could have wider consequences for power-sharing.
Elsewhere, the panel turns to the Alliance Party’s decision to walk out of the Assembly during a vote of no confidence in Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir. The discussion looks at the pressures facing parties in Northern Ireland’s power-sharing system and the challenges of ensuring ministerial accountability.
The episode also examines the latest legal developments involving the A5 road upgrade, one of Northern Ireland’s long-running infrastructure projects. With questions remaining over the route to construction, the panel discusses the obstacles facing major developments, the impact of legal challenges and whether changes to planning and decision-making could help deliver essential infrastructure more quickly.
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1 Oct 2026
Drumcree Crisis: Will Stormont Collapse?
The Drumcree parade impasse has returned to the headlines in 2026, triggering fierce debate, toxic chamber clashes in the Northern Ireland Assembly, and questions over the future of the Stormont Executive.
In this episode of the Stormont Sources Podcast, the team unpack the legal, political, and community fallout surrounding the Garvaghy Road parade determination.
Who holds responsibility? Is the Parades Commission fit for purpose? Will the DUP walk out or pull down the Executive before next May's elections, or is there an off-ramp through negotiation? The panel breaks down the legal challenges, party tactics, and what this means for political stability across Northern Ireland.
Topics covered: - The Drumcree Impasse Returns: What Happened on Garvaghy Road? - John Burroughs, the UUP, and Alternative Unionist Voices - Local Perspective & The History of the Garvaghy Road Dispute - Is Parading Settled in Northern Ireland? Community Reactions - The Asymmetry of the Dispute: Is a "One-and-Done" Parade Possible? - Toxic Assembly Debates: DUP vs. Sinn Féin in the Chamber - DUP Strategy: Will Emma Little-Pengelly Step Aside? - The Future of the Parades Commission - Judicial Review Appeal & Final Thoughts
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24 Sept 2026
UUP Leader Jon Burrows on Unionist Unity, DUP Talks & Reforming Stormont
Jon Burrows, leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, joins the Stormont Sources podcast to discuss the future of the UUP, Stormont reform, the constitutional debate and unionist cooperation ahead of the next Assembly and local government elections.
Burrows discusses why he believes Stormont needs reform, his argument for making the case for the Union, the UUP's approach to working with other unionist parties and his ambitions for the party.
Then, the panel turns their focus to last weekend's DUP Conference breaking down Gavin Robinson's leader’s address, the party's current polling position, and whether the DUP is facing a long-term shift to the UUP in 1997.
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Who has been a guest on Stormont Sources
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
John Burrows
Gerry Carroll
Michael Stewart
Hilary Benn
Colin Davidson
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
58,253
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Spotify
4.7 / 5
36 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 45 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
60
Social presence
0
YouTube
76
Engagement
0
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Guest appearances
Does not typically book guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Questions about Stormont Sources
Who hosts Stormont Sources?
David McCann and Michael McKernan and Tim Cairns and David and Tim host the show. Published by Shortbread Media.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes daily, based on its RSS feed.
Does Stormont Sources take guests?
The show does not typically feature guests, based on episode analyses.
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