Irish History Podcast

The 1916 Rising is one of the most famous events in Irish history but it’s easy to forget it took place in a city that 300,000 people called home. In this podcast (originally released over three years ago) I explore Dublin on eve of the rising revealing what the city was like in the early 20th century. You will hear the sounds of Dublin, what the city looked like, even how it smelled by following the city coroner Dr Louis A Byrne.He and his contemporaries would find Dublin of the 2020s almost unrecognisable. As you will hear their Dublin would be equally strange and bewildering to us.Get your tickets for my new walking tour here https://www.irishhistorypodcast.ie/historytours

To accompany this week's episode on Cromwell, I created created this exclusive supporters video where I explore the ruins of Dunhill Castle https://youtu.be/K7Ng6J-rR9s.

The Cromwellian Conquest of Ireland took place over 370 years ago. Despite the passage of time the man who led that conquest remains one of the most reviled figures in Irish history. In this podcast I look at why he, above others, is so reviled in Ireland.****Get tickets for my new walking tour mentioned in the episode are available here.****The episode is recorded in the ruins of Dunhill Castle. An exclusive supporters video tour of the castle is available here.

In 1397 Ramón de Perellós left the city of Avignon in the Kingdom of France, setting out on a 2,000 km journey to Ireland. His ultimate destination was a fabled gateway to the afterlife on Station Island, Lough Derg, Co Donegal. In this episode you will follow in the footsteps of de Perellós on this medieval pilgrimage. Forget the problems of the modern world and prepare yourself for a gruelling journey by land and sea through medieval Europe. Written produced and narrated by Fin Dwyer, sound by Kate DunleaSupport the show www.patreon.com/irishpodcast

The history of Belfast has been dominated by the Troubles of the late 20th century and the longer history of sectarian conflict in the city. However Belfast holds a lesser-known yet significant chapter in its past—it's connections to the slave trade. In this episode, I am joined by Tom Thorpe who uncovers Belfast's complex ties to slavery in the United States. Join us as Tom sheds light on how Belfast's economy became intertwined with the slave trade and explores the emergence of a radical anti-slavery movement within the city. To delve deeper into this fascinating topic check out Tom's walking tour at  antislaverybelfast.com

In the 1880s Charles Stewart Parnell was the most famous Irish politician of his generation. Dubbed 'the uncrowned king of Ireland' he was respected and admired across the political spectrum.However 1890 he was embroiled in a sensational scandal that rocked the Victorian world when it emerged he had been in a decade long relationship with a married woman. In this episode I am joined by Dr Lloyd (Meadhbh) Houston. Their recent book Irish Modernism and the Politics of Sexual Health explores the impact this scandal had on Irish politics and society.They explain who Parnell was, his rise and then his spectacular downfall.If you want to learn more about the Land War - check out my Patron's Exclusive Podcast on this fascinating conflict that changed Irish history here https://www.patreon.com/posts/patrons-podcast-7434081You can find Lloyd's book here. It's an academic text so its on the pricey side but you can read Lloyd's work at their website https://lmhouston.co.uk/

Disert is a remote townland in the Bluestack Mountains in Co Donegal. For reasons that are not entirely clear, our ancestors have been drawn here for thousands of years. There is no question it is a special place.Located in the shade of a sacred mountain - Carnaween - it was a site of pagan worship associated with some of the most famous figures in Irish mythology. There are stories relating to Finn MacCumhail (McCool), Diarmaid and Grainne in the surrounding area.It was also used by early Irish Christians and medieval pilgrims. In the 18th century Catholics were drawn to Disert when their religion was suppressed by the penal laws. Even into the 20th century it was used as a cillín to bury unbaptised children. Today the local community continues to pray at the site.The questions remains why? What is special about this site?Over the last few years archaeologists led by Dr Fiona Beglane from Atlantic Technological University, Sligo have been excavating Disert to try and understand its complex story.Her international team of archaeologists from the Institute for Field Research and California State University Los Angeles have made some fascinating discoveries.Last summer I visited Disert to record an episode at the excavation. In this podcast Fiona shares what her team uncovered in this remarkable place...Thanks to Dr Fiona Beglane for her time and archaeologist Rebekka Grace who arranged the recordings.Find out more about Disert at https://disertheritage.com/

In this episode Neil Jackman and myself continue our journey down the Lingaun Valley, one of Ireland’s oldest frontiers. As we move closer to the present day we explore an 800 year old church, a castle and a battlefield from the 1798 rebellion looking at how this once contested frontier fell into obscurity after thousands of year.Support the show at patreon.com/irishpodcastCheck out Neil’s episodes 26 and 28 of Neil’s Podcast Amplify Archaeology which cover topics related the Lingaun. If you are planning a a trip down to explore the Lingaun Neil’s website Tuath.ie has all you need. This article on Knockroe is a great place to startYou can read more about Knockroe at https://www.tuatha.ie/knockroe-passage-tomb/

The Lingaun Valley is a little known valley that forms the border between Co Kilkenny and Co Tipperary. However for thousands of years this small river formed one of the most important frontiers in Ireland.While the societies and kingdoms that fought and died over this valley are long vanished the region is littered with their remains in the tombs, religious sites, castles and battlefields.A few weeks ago I met up with archaeologist Neil Jackman, an expert in the region and we spent a morning exploring the valley. Our initial intention was to focus on the Lingaun, but our conversations took in a range of topics from what life was like 5,000 years ago, to the spiritual beliefs of our distance ancestors down to the story of battle in the 1798 rebellion!Check out Neil’s episodes 26 and 28 of Neil’s Podcast Amplify Archaeology which cover topics related the Lingaun.If you are planning a a trip down to explore the Lingaun Neil’s website Tuath.ie has all you need. This article on Knockroe is a great place to start https://www.tuatha.ie/knockroe-passage-tomb/