Irish History Podcast

John Keany, Monica de Wichfeld, and Delia Murphy are not well-known figures, yet they are some of the most extraordinary people in modern Irish history. During the Second World War, they found themselves in Nazi-occupied Europe and took extraordinary risks to resist the Nazis. Some paid with their lives.This podcast tells their stories.The episode is based around a conversation with John Morgan and Clodagh Finn. Their new book, The Irish in the Resistance: The Untold Stories of the Ordinary Heroes Who Resisted Hitler, details the lives of Irish people who fought the Nazis. You can find links to the book below.**My big announcement for podcast fans https://linktr.ee/transatlanticpod ** You can buy John & Clodagh’s book https://linktr.ee/irishintheresistanceYou can follow John & Clodagh on Socials Clodagh Insta https://www.instagram.com/clodaghfinnwritesTwitter https://x.com/FinnClodaghJohnInsta https://www.instagram.com/johnm436/Twitter  https://x.com/maoilmordha

I am delighted to announce historian Damian Shiels and myself are teaming up to create a new history show called Transatlantic - An Irish American History Podcast.Season 1 starts next Monday September 9th. You can subscribe here. This podcast explains what you can expect to hear in the first ten episodes.I am delighted to finally share this news with you - it been eight months in the making!Most importantly subscribe today and get #ep1 of Transatlantic which it drops next Monday.I also have an update on the 1798 series and i would like your advice on how it should be structured. its all explained in this episode.BestFin

At the outbreak of the Second World War, Ireland adopted a position of neutrality. However, throughout the conflict, senior figures in the United Kingdom and the United States suspected the government in Dublin harboured Nazi sympathies. While the Royal Navy believed German U-boats were refuelling along the West Coast, actions taken by the Irish government only seemed to confirm a view that neutrality masked pro Nazi sympathies. For example when the Taoiseach Eamon de Valera paid a visit of condolence to the German legation on the death of Hitler, in a move that provoked outrage across the globe. This was just one of a catalogue of incidents that seemed to confirm that the Irish government was sympathetic to the Nazis. However at the same time, the Irish government were providing secret aid to the Allies.In this podcast I explore Irish attitudes during the Second World War and whether the Irish government really harboured Nazi sympathies.

In this riveting episode I delve into one of the most intriguing and lesser-known stories of World War II: "The Mystery Nazi Flight to Ireland." On May 5th 1945, a German bomber unexpectedly landed in Ireland, sparking a media frenzy and wild speculation. Newspapers across the globe sensationalized the event, suggesting that Adolf Hitler and other high-ranking Nazi officials were on board, seeking refuge as the Third Reich collapse.Recently I visited the military archives to access the Irish Intelligence file on the incident. The plane had three passengers, all in German military uniform. Who were these men, and what led them to undertake such a perilous journey in the dying days of the war?Join me as we uncover the real story behind this mysterious flight, exploring the soldiers' backgrounds, their motivations, and the incredible circumstances that brought them to Ireland.Additional Narrations by Aidan Crowe. Sound by Kate Dunlea.

Portal Tombs are scattered across the Irish countryside. These monuments, around 5,000 years old, have been sites of ritual for millennia. Generation after generation, while spiritual beliefs changed, these ancient sites often remained sacred. In this podcast, I explore two of these tombs to understand how and why these mysterious tombs were built, and why humans return to particular landscapes over thousands of years.

Guinness is the most iconic Irish brand of all time. A large part of its success is based on a history the company has carefully crafted around the beer. However like all histories, the actual history of Guinness is complicated. In this episode, I am joined by Eoin Tabb and DJ Walsh to explore some of the more controversial aspects of the history of Guinness. So tune in to uncover the untold stories behind Ireland's famous stout.

Brehon Law, the ancient legal system that ruled Ireland during the Middle Ages, is often romanticised as egalitarian and even feminist. But, in this riveting episode, Dr. Gillian Kenny shatters these myths. Join us as we delve deep into a world where sex magic and slavery were prevalent, and discover how Brehon Law actually reinforced a patriarchal society.Tune in to this classic episode, originally released over five years ago, for an eye-opening journey through ancient Ireland.

Hi folks, I didn't realize this episode never posted here—it was sitting in drafts for a few months! I am currently working on the final episode in the series on the outbreak of the Troubles, and that will be out in a week or two. I will also have a pretty exciting announcement about the next supporters' series.In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this episode.Bloody Sunday was a defining moment in late 20th-century Irish history. The massacre in Derry in January 1972 was a turning point in the early history of the Troubles.In Part 5 of my exclusive series on the history of the Troubles, Dr. Brian Hanley and I delve into what happened. We begin by exploring the context of the deteriorating situation across the North in late 1971. The episode continues by detailing the events of Bloody Sunday. Brian also explains the dramatic aftermath, including the mass protests that took place across Ireland.

Step back to 1324 and listen to the chilling story of Ireland’s first Witchcraft Trial in my latest episode. In 1324, the Bishop of Ossory, Richard Ledrede, accused Alice Kyteler, a wealthy and influential woman, of witchcraft and heresy. Alongside Alice's story, we explore the tragic fate of Petronilla de Meath, the first person in Ireland to be executed for witchcraft.Marking the 700th anniversary of these dark events, we delve into the societal fears, power struggles, and personal stories that shaped this infamous trial.Join me for a gripping journey through medieval Ireland.Research and production was funded by the Library and Heritage Services at Kilkenny County Council with the support of The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.