Rory Cowan from Mrs. Browns Boys chats to @stephennolan about his career in show business and the loss of his mother
He was part of one of the most successful comedies in recent years, Rory Cowan,  better know to many listeners as Rory Brown the son Agnes Brown in the BBC hit comedy Mrs Brown's Boys.  Rory has released a autobiography titled Mrs Cowan's Boy and talked to Stephen about his time in showbiz.
10m Oct 04, 2019
10m
High Court in Belfast rules NI's abortion law breaches the UK's Human Rights Commitment
It's a legal fight that started six years ago but ended yesterday when the High Court in Belfast ruled Northern Ireland's abortion law breaches the UK's Human Rights Commitments. The case was taken by Sarah Ewart, who challenged the law after she was denied a termination. The judge said she ruled in Mrs Ewart's favour as it was not right to ask another woman to relive the trauma that she had al...
15m Oct 04, 2019
15m
We're right and you're all wrong - DUP tell local political parties and business organisations that Boris Johnson's Brexit proposals can work for NI
Sinn Féin, the Ulster Unionists, SDLP, Alliance, Greens and TUV are all against the DUP's proposals for NI.  And now they have all come out against Boris Johnson's new Brexit proposals. But guess what? they've all got it wrong. that's according to the DUP.  Stephen spoke to Declan Billington - Chief Executive of Thompsons, Glyn Roberts Chief Executive of Retail NI, Irish Sentator Ian Marshall, ...
45m Oct 04, 2019
45m
"A very clear u-turn" - @SJAMcBride on DUP endorsement of Boris Johnson's #Brexit offer to EU
Political Editor of the Newsletter Sam McBride reacts to the DUP's backing of Boris Johnson's recent Brexit offer to the EU.
15m Oct 03, 2019
15m
The worst of both worlds - that's how Boris Johnson's new #Brexit proposals have been described by business
All goods in NI will have different regulation benchmarks than the rest of the UK . All goods in NI must comply with the regulations dictated by the EU that wouldn't apply to England, Scotland or Wales - but it would apply to NI? Is this a pragmatic approach which couldn't threaten the Union as Stormont would have a lock on it? Or have we taken a step closer to a United Ireland? Stephen spoke t...
42m Oct 03, 2019
42m
"This is the backstop by another name" - Jim Allister
"This is the backstop by another name" - Jim Allister
10m Oct 02, 2019
10m
"It jeopardises the position of Northern Ireland within the UK" - Steve Aiken
"It jeopardises the position of Northern Ireland within the UK" - Steve Aiken
7m Oct 02, 2019
7m
"Business is now extremely worried" - John McGrane
"Business is now extremely worried" - John McGrane Director General British Irish Chamber of Commerce
4m Oct 02, 2019
4m
"What Boris Johnson is doing is simply appealing to the hardliners in the DUP and his own party" - Chris Hazzard
"What Boris Johnson is doing is simply appealing to the hardliners in the DUP and his own party" - Chris Hazzard
11m Oct 02, 2019
11m
"The backstop is about avoiding borders - this is about facilitating borders" - Naomi Long
"The backstop is about avoiding borders - this is about facilitating borders" - Naomi Long
7m Oct 02, 2019
7m
"It will be rejected - Boris Johnson and the DUP know it will be rejected" - Colum Eastwood
Boris Johnson will present fresh legal texts to the EU later today. But in his first speech to his party conference as Prime Minister, Mr Johnson is expected to tell his Conservative grassroots supporters that the Brexit proposals will be his final offer. Last night he told a DUP reception that a Brexit deal can be done within days but that it won't be, what he called, a walk in the park. Steph...
24m Oct 02, 2019
24m
"I'm a unionist and I'd be angry - I do not want infrastructure on the border" - Doug Beattie on reports of checks near Irish border after #Brexit
"I'm a unionist and I'd be angry - I do not want infrastructure on the border" - UUP MLA Doug Beattie on reports of checks near Irish border after #Brexit.
2m Oct 01, 2019
2m
.@BeattieDoug says he would not support an Irish language act as it could "divide society more than it is divided now"
UUP MLA Doug Beattie says he would not support an Irish language act as it could "divide society more than it is divided now"
6m Oct 01, 2019
6m
On same sex marriage @BeattieDoug says he "won't compromise" on his values and will support introduction of same-sex marriage
On same sex marriage UUP MLA Doug Beattie says he "won't compromise" on his values and will support introduction of same-sex marriage.
2m Oct 01, 2019
2m
UUP MLA @BeattieDoug says he’s up running for leadership of his party. He sets out his position on Brexit, same sex marriage, Irish language and abortion
Ulster Unionist Leader Robin Swann has announced that he will be stepping down as Party Leader at the next annual general meeting due in the Spring next year. He will remain as MLA for North Antrim. He has been leader since taking over from Mike Nesbitt in 2017. Stephen spoke to UUP MLA Doug Beattie and News Letter political editor Sam McBride.
25m Oct 01, 2019
25m
Boris Johnson dismisses reports his #Brexit deal will impose checks near Irish Border
Speculation this morning that customs posts near the border are going to be the government's solution to the Brexit deadlock. How are nationalists expected to react to what some might describe as a hard border near the border? Stephen spoke to BBC NI's Economics and Business Editor John Campbell, SDLP's Brexit spokesperson Daniel McCrossan and the former UKIP leader David McNarry.
41m Oct 01, 2019
41m
Free Presbyterian minister says all claims for Troubles compensation should be heard
It's a senstive issue and one which divides opinion- who should get Troubles related compensation? The Free Presbyterian minister David McIlveen has said he would not necessarily object to Troubles-related compensation for ex-paramilitaries who needed support. He told BBC's Sunday Sequence programme he recognised it was a "sensitive issue". However, he added that every person should be assessed...
15m Sep 30, 2019
15m
Is there anything to fear in a time limited backstop? #Brexit
Stephen spoke to TUV MLA Jim Allister and the pro-EU commentator Jane Morrice.
28m Sep 30, 2019
28m
.@AndrewBowieMP tells @StephenNolan a time limited backstop is one of the solutions being considered by the British government in #Brexit negotiations.
At the start of the Conservative Conference in Manchester, the Prime Minister has told the BBC he's been a "model of restraint" when it comes to language and Brexit. Speaking on the Andrew Marr Show, Boris Johnson said there had been a "misunderstanding" over his intention. Labour's Angela Rayner said Mr Johnson should be "absolutely, utterly ashamed of himself". It's the end of a week which sa...
11m Sep 30, 2019
11m
A vulnerable older lady allegedly scammed out of hundreds of pounds but the PSNI say it's not a job for them until the Nolan Show gets involved
The PSNI shunned an elderly lady and refused to investigate her claims that. You bring us your stories every day and we make sure you get a voice that will be heard. That's what happened when Stephanie came to us about money that had been taken from her elderly disabled mother, Moira, from a tradesman who promised to do work at her property. Now this was not a cold caller or a case of someone t...
15m Sep 30, 2019
15m
Department of Communities tells the Nolan Show that a scheme to ease the pain of welfare reform cannot be extended without a Stormont minister
Can mitigation to ease the effect of Welfare Reform next year happen without ministers in Stormont? Not according to the department in charge. The Department of Communities has told the Nolan Show that "existing schemes cannot be extended in the absence of the Assembly". Stephen spoke to Sinn Fein MLA Alex Maskey and UUP MLA Andy Allen.
10m Sep 27, 2019
10m
Sinn Fein's youth wing under fire after displaying a "Brits out" poster at Queen's freshers' fair
Unionists have expressed anger after a Sinn Fein youth group displayed a poster featuring the words 'Brits Out' at the Queen's University Belfast Freshers' Fair. Ógra Shinn Féin featured 1916 Easter Rising leader James Connolly and an image of a group holding up a placard which includes the slogan 'Brits Out! The Freshers' Fair gives new students at Queen's the opportunity to find out about clu...
58m Sep 27, 2019
58m
The family which owned Wrightbus deny acting unreasonably during attempts to sell the business.
The family which owned Wrightbus have denied they acted unreasonably during attempts to sell the business. The Wrightbus factory is owned by Jeff Wright, separately from the manufacturing company. That's understood to have been a sticking point during the sales negotiation. Stephen spoke to BBC NI Economics and Business Editor John Campbell.
7m Sep 27, 2019
7m
It's #BBCMusicDay. The theme this year is the power of music to inspire, bring us together and make a positive impact.
Today is BBC Music Day! It's in its 5th year now - and the theme this year is the power of music to inspire, bring us together and make a positive impact. Our reporter, Nicola Weir, has been finding out about Singing for the Brain - a service provided by the Alzheimer's Society which uses singing and other activities to bring together people with dementia or memory loss. She went along to Stran...
5m Sep 26, 2019
5m
Glentoran manager Mick McDermott's wife in visa crisis that forced her to leave NI and her entire family yesterday - he spoke to @StephenNolan
Karla McDermott, wife of Glentoran manager Mick McDermott, left Northern Ireland and her entire family yesterday and flew nearly 4,000 miles to Dubai in order to trigger her visa application to the Home Office. Karla has no guarantee she'll will be allowed to return, and told Belfast LIVE that her kids have been 'in tears'. She said she had 'been suffering heart palpitations and cold sweats as ...
7m Sep 26, 2019
7m
Surrender, betrayal, traitors. Boris Johnson lambasted for 'inflammatory' language. Did the PM go too far?
Boris Johnson is facing calls to 'moderate his language' after being accused of stoking dangerous divisions about Brexit during angry exchanges in the Commons yesterday.  Some senior Conservative MPs - including a cabinet minister - have urged him to pick his words carefully after he accused his opponents of surrender. And he didn't stop there with his attack on the opposition - accusing them o...
10m Sep 26, 2019
10m
Hundreds of healthcare workers write to SoS and health permanent secretary to oppose liberalisation of NI's abortion laws
Hundreds of healthcare workers write to SoS and health permanent secretary to oppose liberalisation of NI's abortion laws. Kellie Turtle from Alliance for Choice and Marion Woods from Both Lives Matter discuss.
21m Sep 26, 2019
21m
Abortion and abortion rights in NI - mum Tori shares her story
Abortion and abortion rights are never far from the news headlines in Northern Ireland. In July, MPs passed the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Act, which means the government will have to regulate to provide for access to abortion in Northern Ireland, if the Stormont Executive is not restored by October 21st. Regulations then have to be in place by the end of March 2020. Tori contacted ...
14m Sep 26, 2019
14m
Hundreds of healthcare workers oppose liberalisation of NI's abortion laws.
A County Antrim GP says he and hundreds of health professionals have written to the NI secretary expressing opposition to the liberalisation of NI's abortion laws. The doctors, nurses and midwives say their consciences will not allow them to stay silent on the issue. They want reassurance as "conscientious objectors" that they will not have to perform or assist abortions. I spoke to Dr Andrew C...
5m Sep 26, 2019
5m
Would you like to work a 4 day week - but get paid the same? That's the pledge from Labour if they get into power.
Would you like to work a 4 day week - but get paid the same? That's the pledge from Labour if they get into power. Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell made the promise at their annual conference in Brighton this week. 32 hours within 10 years,  with "no loss of pay". Would it make you more productive, or is this just a chance for us to get away with doing less?
8m Sep 25, 2019
8m
DUP accused of serious lack of judgement for backing PM's suspension of parliament as supreme court rules it unlawful
DUP accused of serious lack of judgement for backing PM's suspension of parliament as supreme court rules it unlawful. Stephen spoke to MLA Jim Wells.
14m Sep 25, 2019
14m
Wrightbus could go in to administration "at some point today" - DUP MP Ian Paisley
It is expected that troubled Ballymena bus maker Wrightbus will go into administration. The company, which employs 1400 people, is suffering from cashflow problems and has been seeking investment or a new owner. Stephen spoke to MP for the area, Ian Paisley, and BBC NI Economics & Business Editor John Campbell.
12m Sep 25, 2019
12m
UK's highest court says the PM broke the law and gave the Queen advice that was unlawful
Parliament will sit this morning after the Supreme Court ruled that Prime Minister Boris Johnson's proroguing of Parliament was unlawful. The Speaker has now made it clear that there will be full scope for urgent questions, ministerial statements and applications for emergency debates. How will that historic decision be received on the green benches and where does it leave the government and op...
36m Sep 25, 2019
36m
A former Catholic priest tells BBC Spotlight that he was involved in multiple IRA attacks including the Brighton bomb
A priest has admitted links to an IRA bomb attack on the Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Speaking to the BBC NI Spotlight series on the Troubles, Patrick Ryan, a former priest from Tipperary said he regretted not being 'more effective'. Stephen got reaction from TUV leader Jim Allister and Irish News security correspondent Allison Morris.
28m Sep 24, 2019
28m
A grieving Belfast dad launches a street 'drug awareness campaign' to stop families from going through the heartbreak that he and his family did.
A grieving Belfast dad has now launched a street 'drug awareness campaign' in a bid to prevent other families from going through the heartbreak that he and his family did. 27 year old Karl had battled drugs for some time, but it was a short time on what's known as 'Street Xanax', that lead to his death earlier this year. His dad Michael spoke to Stephen.
13m Sep 24, 2019
13m
.@J_Donaldson_MP tells Nolan he wants an apology from the Irish government for not extraditing Patrick Ryan - and wants them to cooperate with extradition now
DUP MP Sir Jeffrey Donaldson tells Nolan he wants an apology from the Irish government for not extraditing Patrick Ryan - and wants them to cooperate with extradition now.
12m Sep 24, 2019
12m
Greta Thunberg condemns world leaders in emotional speech at UN.
Teenage climate campaigner Greta Thunberg has become the poster girl of the climate change movement  culminating in her empassioned speech at the UN Climate summit yesterday. Some commentators, however, have accused climate activists of exploiting Greta Thunberg. So, is she a role model for teenagers throughout the world, or is she being used by those around her? Stephen got the views of commen...
12m Sep 24, 2019
12m
NI holidaymakers talk to @StephenNolan as #ThomasCook goes bust
At 2am this morning the world's oldest and most famous travel operator, Thomas Cook, went bust leaving thousands stranded abroad and around 9,000 without a job. Government ministers will today launch its biggest peacetime repatriation effort, with a fleet of 40 Jumbo jets on standby to start flying holidaymakers home from more than 50 destinations over the coming fortnight. Those waiting to go ...
10m Sep 23, 2019
10m
Broadcaster John Humphrys hits out at BBC for 'liberal-left bias' days after retiring
Just two days after leaving Radio 4's Today programme, the presenter John Humphrys has criticised the BBC saying there is "a form of institutional liberal bias" within the organisation and that he is now free of 'the BBC Thought Police.'  In his book, A Day Like Today, Humphrys also said the BBC was terrified of offending "fashionable pressure groups - usually from the liberal Left, the spiritu...
23m Sep 23, 2019
23m
Thousands of NI households could face hardship if measures to ease the impact of welfare reforms end in March 2020
There's growing concern that thousands of benefit claimants in Northern Ireland will be hit hard when measures to ease the impact of welfare reforms end in March 2020. The DUP is the latest political party to hold discussions with Stormont officials amidst warnings that welfare claimants are facing a "cliff edge". The party says that without a functioning executive to intervene, around 34,000 h...
41m Sep 23, 2019
41m
Belfast City Councillors to discuss removal of flags and banners from around the city
Belfast City councillors will meet this morning to discuss the removal of flags and banners from around the city.  In July, the council voted to take legal action against the Department for Infrastructure to force it to remove flags and banners from public property such as lampposts. But it stepped back after receiving legal advice that the removal of flags would impact mainly on the loyalist c...
29m Sep 20, 2019
29m
‘I am not the same person.’ - Former MP Harvey Proctor shares the traumatic impact of false allegations of historic abuse and murder
A former high court judge says officers involved in the investigation into an alleged VIP paedophile ring should themselves be investigated.  Sir Richard Henriques says police knew Carl Beech was inconsistent when applying for warrants to search suspects' homes.  The former MP Harvey Proctor is one of those who was falsely accused. Mr Beech made up lurid claims that he - along with a wider ring...
42m Sep 20, 2019
42m
‘A Brutal and savage attack’ - Director of Quinn Holdings Group left with life changing injuries after being abducted and beaten
A company director of Quinn Holdings Group in Fermanagh has been left with life changing injuries after being abducted, beaten, stabbed and then dumped across the border. Police say married father-of-six Kevin Lunney, who is 50 and lives a few miles from the Quinn headquarters in Derrylin, was travelling home from work on Tuesday when he was taken from his car. Stephen spoke to  deputy editor o...
4m Sep 20, 2019
4m
Transgender rules for schools 'ignore the rights of girls' reports the Times
New rules around how schools treat transgender children are 'ignoring the rights of girls' say critics. The Times has seen a confIdential draft document from the Equality and Human Rights Commission which seeks to protect the rights of children "who are simply exploring their gender identity". According to the paper - "In sensitive areas of day-to-day life, where pupils have traditionally been ...
12m Sep 19, 2019
12m
Rev David McIlveen tells #NolanLIVE he believes DUP trying to "expedite themselves" from decisions around abortion
A seismic change in the abortion law is on its way. Abortion will be effectively decriminalised in Northern Ireland. But our local MLAs had no say in that. And its unclear what will replace the laws that have been repealed by Westminster. Stephen got reaction from Marion Woods from Both Lives Matter and the People Before Profit Councillor Fiona Ferguson.
20m Sep 19, 2019
20m
Arlene Foster suggests she is open to special arrangements for NI as part of #Brexit deal
Arlene Foster, has suggested her party might consider supporting a Brexit deal - if it included what she called "Northern Ireland specific solutions". But addressing the Dublin Chamber of Commerce last night Mrs Foster re-iterated that a deal that involved an Irish backstop, would not be achieved.  She also held talks with the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. Speaking to reporters beforehand  she was as...
28m Sep 19, 2019
28m
RNLI hits back at accusation of "funding burkinis" and using money to save lives abroad
The RNLI has made a strong defence of its work after people stopped donating to the charity because it used funding to save lives abroad and provide burkinis in Africa.  Joining Vinny was the commentators Andre Walker and Phil Kelly
14m Sep 18, 2019
14m
TV critic says soaps face 'fatal crisis' as viewers switch off over dark and outlandish plots
Many of us love the soaps.  Coronation Street, Eastenders and Emmerdale dominate our TV viewing,  but are fans being driven away by dark,  outlandish plots  with too much violence, suffering and misery?  The BBC presenter and TV critic Mark Lawson thinks so.  He's told The Radio Times that viewers are being put off by too much melodrama and catastrophe in the storylines.  Is he right? Talking t...
11m Sep 18, 2019
11m
Mum questions school over haircut policy as son removed from class
Its September so most kids are back at school and already there are reports of detention and suspension for non compliance with the school rules on hair cuts. Has your child been disciplined for having the wrong hair cut? And is it fair to penalise our children for how they look? Vinny spoke to parent Gemma who told him about how her son was pulled out of school because of an issue with their h...
26m Sep 18, 2019
26m
Former IRA member Tommy Gorman breaks down during last night's BBC Spotlight. Does his reaction sum up the futility of the Troubles?
The BBC's Spotlight programme on the Troubles series continued last night. The programme ran an interview with former IRA man Tommy Gorman which has sparked a lot of reaction on social media. So what did you make of what the former IRA man said? Did that sound like true remorse over a conflict that took over three and a half thousand lives - or regret over personal loss? Vinny spoke to former S...
27m Sep 18, 2019
27m