Radio legend Waitangi Day 2025 guest speaker

The Ulster New Zealand Trust is delighted that BBC Radio Ulster presenter Anne Marie McAleese will be the 2025 Waitangi Day guest speaker on Friday February 7, an event for members and volunteers. 

For over 35 years Anne Marie has presented the iconic Saturday morning radio show ‘Your Place and Mine’ for almost an hour between the news bulletins at 8am and 9am. Her coverage over the years has included many updates on happenings at The Ballance House. Publicity yielding dividends in the numbers supporting UNZT.

Ironically a week later, on Saturday, Feb 15 Anne Marie will present her final edition of Your Place and Mine.  Commenting on the decision to step aside from the programme Anne Marie said “Your Place And Mine has been a massive part of my life for the last 35 years.  And it has been the joy of my life,      all the people I’ve met and the far flung places I’ve been to.  It was a privilege to visit so many parts of Northern Ireland and to have learnt so much about the things that really matter in life, especially the value of a shared sense of community and a pride in our place. It’s time for a new chapter in my life,   but my heart will always be in Your Place And Mine”.

The daughter of Maurice McAleese, for many years the much respected editor of the Northern Constitution weekly newspaper in Coleraine, Anne Marie joined the BBC in February 1989. Working in the Broadcasting House press office before becoming a reporter for a programme called Round The Triangle, about life on the north coast. She went on to present several other programmes on BBC Radio Ulster, including Frankly Anne Marie, Saturday Afternoon With Anne Marie, Arts Extra, A Round With Anne Marie, and On Your Behalf. Her documentary programmes included Tea And Cappuccino and   The Lady Computer Of Strabane.  Anne Marie presented the first ever broadcast of Your Place And Mine in September 1991.