Irish History Podcast

Episoder

• Daily Life in the Middle Ages: Worse Than You Think [Listener Favourite] 27.05.2026 38min

  A recent hospital visit means there is no new episode this week, but it reminded me of this classic from early 2024! Tune in to find out more How difficult was life in the Middle Ages? This is something archaeologists and historians have debated for decades. In recent years, new techniques, including genetic analysis, have given us new insights into the lives of our distant ancestors in the Medieval Era. Their findings are unsettling. Life in the Middle Ages was far more difficult than we imagine.My guest in this episode is Prof. Eileen Murphy from Queen's University Belfast. Eileen has recently published groundbreaking research on daily life in early medieval Ireland, based on her analysis of human remains excavated in Co. Roscommon. In this podcast, she answers all your questions on what life was like.Eileen shares her discoveries on how people survived in a hard and difficult world. It's not for the faint of heart.This episode is not suitable for children.Our interview is based on the book "The Forgotten Cemetery: Excavations at Ranelagh, Co. Roscommon," available for free at https://www.tii.ie/technical-services/archaeology/publications/tii-heritage/.Eileen is the deputy head of the School of Built & Natural Heritage at Queen's University Belfast: https://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/NBE/.Sound by Kate Dunlea Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Dublin Port Has Seen It All: 1,200 Years of History. 20.05.2026 45min

  Dublin is famous for its Georgian squares, medieval cathedral, castle and revolutionary history. But the cornerstone of Dublin's history is undoubtedly the port.Nearly 1,200 years ago, the Vikings established a settlement on the banks of the Liffey, and from that moment, Dublin's fate was tied to the sea. The port became the gateway where Ireland met the wider world. Ships carried goods, armies, ideas and people in and out of the city, connecting Dublin to Britain, Scandinavia, the Mediterranean and the far reaches of empire.But Dublin Port's history is far more than commerce. It witnessed slavery and trade, military occupation and revolution, famine and emigration, labour struggles and war. It was also shaped by a centuries-long battle against nature itself. Sandbanks, silting and storms forced generations of engineers to reshape the coastline with quays, docks, lighthouses and massive sea walls, creating one of Ireland's most remarkable engineering achievements.In this episode, recorded on the Great South Wall, I speak with historian Lar Joye, Heritage Director at Dublin Port, to explore the extraordinary 1,200-year history of Dublin Port. From Viking traders and Norman conquerors to famine emigrants and dock workers this is the story of a place that has witnessed every major turning point in Irish history.Sound by Kate Dunlea.My guest Lar Joye has served as Port Heritage Director at Dublin Port since 2017, where he cares for the 300-year-old Port Archive and leads projects that reconnect the working port with the city through heritage, culture and public access. Before joining Dublin Port, he worked as a film archivist and as Curator of Irish Military History at the National Museum of Ireland, where he led the team behind the award-winning "Soldiers and Chiefs" exhibition on the Irish soldier at home and abroad from 1550 to the present.He is a well-known lecturer and media contributor on topics ranging from the history of Dublin Port and its dockers to Irish soldiers in the British Army and the First World War, and he played a significant role in the Decade of Commemorations between 2012 and 2018. At Dublin Port he has initiated projects such as the Dublin Port Memory and Story oral history project and the development of new walking routes and cultural spaces, illustrating how archives, place and community stories can be brought together for contemporary audiences.Programme of Events for 2026 Events - Dublin PortBus tours of the port: Behind the Scenes Tours are Open - Dublin PortDistributed Museum - Dublin Port Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Solidarity, Suspicion and Conspiracy: Jews and the Irish Revolution 15.05.2026 28min

  As the Irish Revolution broke out, Europe was gripped by political upheaval, fear of revolution, and rising antisemitism. In conservative and right-wing circles, the so-called “Jewish Question” loomed large. Claims that Jews were secretly fomenting revolution across the world became increasingly common, feeding conspiracy theories that shaped how many people interpreted events from Russia to Ireland.In this episode of Brothers in Pain, Dr Brian Hanley explores how these ideas influenced perceptions of the Irish Revolution. Leading British figures repeatedly claimed that Jews were secretly behind unrest in Ireland, reflecting the wider antisemitic beliefs circulating in British and European politics at the time.But the story was far more complex than conspiracy and prejudice. Jewish communities in Ireland and across the world responded to the Irish Revolution in different ways. Some Jewish figures, including Michael Noyek and Robert Briscoe, became prominent Irish republicans. Others were more cautious, concerned by political instability, violence, and antisemitism within parts of Irish nationalist politics.Brian also examines the uncomfortable reality that some leading Irish nationalist figures, including John Devoy and Arthur Griffith expressed antisemitic views. The result was a complicated history, shaped by solidarity, suspicion and racism.This is the seventh episode in the Brothers in Pain Series a groundbreaking Global history of the Irish War of Independence by Dr Brian HanleyWritten, Researched & Narrated by Dr Brian Hanley. Check out Brian's publications here https://www.tcd.ie/history/staff/brian-hanley.phpProducer: Fin DwyerSound: Kate DunleaNote from Brian :In researching these episodes I have been indebted to the work of the following scholars;Anna Lively, Sam McGrath, Bruce Nelson, Terry Dunne, David Brundage, Niamh Coffey, Gerard Shannon, Maurice Casey, Kelly Anne Reynolds, Chris McNickle, Joe Doyle, Liz Gillis, FM Carroll, Patrick Mannion, Jimmy Yann, Niall Cullen, Pádraig Óg Ó Ruairc, Keith Jeffrey, Arthur Mitchell, John Borgonovo, Kate O’Malley, Michael Doorley, Robin Adams, Kevin Kenny, Fearghal McGarry, Catherine M. Burns, Síobhra Aiken, Patrick J. Mahony, Darragh Gannon, Matthew Pratt Guterl and James R. Barrett. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Drogheda & Beyond: The Terrifying Reality of Siege Warfare in Ireland 13.05.2026 44min

  Between 1641 and 1653, Ireland was engulfed by devastating war. It was a period of extraordinary violence, famine and social collapse. The death toll was staggering. As many as 25% of the population may have perished.At the heart of this conflict was siege warfare. Across Ireland, towns, castles, forts and fortified houses came under attack. Some were taken by storm, while others were blockaded until starvation and disease did their work. Defenders faced cannon fire, tunnelling, psychological warfare and the terrifying prospect of what might happen if the walls were breached. Meanwhile, thousands of civilians had no escape and suffered appallingly. In this episode, I’m joined by historian Padraig Lenihan to explore the brutal reality of siege warfare in 17th-century Ireland. We look at why these conflicts were so destructive, how sieges were fought, and why warfare in Ireland was often more violent than in Britain during the same period. We also examine the infamous massacre at Drogheda, placing it in the wider context of the wars in Ireland and Britain, and asking whether it was exceptional or part of a broader pattern of violence.You can get Padraig’s book, Siege Warfare in Ireland, 1641-1653 which offers a fascinating insight into one of the darkest periods in Irish history: https://www.fourcourtspress.ie/books/2025/siege-in-ireland-1641-53Sound: Kate DunleaRequest: My guest on the last episode, James Doherty, is looking for photographs of Irish Army soldiers in Kilkenny Castle during the Emergency. If you have any information, please get in touch at info@irishhistorypodcast.ie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Forgotten Allies: How Egypt and India Supported the Irish Revolution 01.05.2026 32min

  During the Irish War of Independence, republicans in Ireland looked far beyond Britain and America for support. In Egypt and India, they found allies. Secret meetings took place between IRA representatives and Egyptian revolutionaries, while Irish republicans also made contact with Indian nationalists who were waging their own struggle against British rule. Across the Empire, activists began to see their causes as connected, bound together by a common enemy and a shared desire for freedom.But this was never a simple story of solidarity. For generations, Irish people had also served the British Empire in India and the Middle East as soldiers, policemen and civil servants. This episode explores the forgotten links between Ireland, Egypt and India, revealing how the Irish Revolution was shaped not only by events at home, but by anti-colonial struggles unfolding across the wider world.Support the show and get ad-free early episodes at patreon.com/irishpodcastThe series is researched, written, and presented by Dr Brian Hanley. Brian is a historian at Trinity College Dublin and has written extensively on the Irish Revolution, republicanism, and radical politics in the twentieth century. You can find a list of his publications here: https://www.tcd.ie/history/staff/brian-hanley.phpWritten, Researched and Narrated by Dr Brian HanleyProducer: Fin DwyerSound: Kate DunleaNote from Brian:In researching these episodes, I have been indebted to the work of the following scholars:Anna Lively, Sam McGrath, Bruce Nelson, Terry Dunne, David Brundage, Niamh Coffey, Gerard Shannon, Maurice Casey, Kelly Anne Reynolds, Chris McNickle, Joe Doyle, Liz Gillis, F. M. Carroll, Patrick Mannion, Jimmy Yann, Niall Cullen, Pádraig Óg Ó Ruairc, Keith Jeffrey, Arthur Mitchell, John Borgonovo, Kate O’Malley, Michael Doorley, Robin Adams, Kevin Kenny, Fearghal McGarry, Catherine M. Burns, Síobhra Aiken, Patrick J. Mahony, Darragh Gannon, Matthew Pratt Guterl, and James R. Barrett. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Operation Green: Hitler's Plan for Ireland 29.04.2026 38min

  In 1939, Ireland declared itself neutral in the Second World War. But neutrality did not mean the island was safe. Indeed, both Germany and Britain developed plans to occupy the entire island.This episode focuses on Operation Green, Hitler's secret invasion plan for Ireland, and Plan W, the Irish government's defensive strategy. Historian James Doherty joins me to explain this intriguing aspect of the Second World War in Ireland. We begin by exploring why Ireland was important to both sides in the war. Then James details the German invasion plan and the why the British were determined to stop them. He also explores the controversial Irish Army defence plans and whether they would have worked.Sound by Kate Dunlea.James Doherty is a historian based in Waterford with interests in Military History and the history of smuggling in Ireland in the 18th and 19th centuries. He is currently researching Ireland during the Emergency. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Divided Loyalties: The Irish Who Fought for Britain 24.04.2026 29min

  The Irish War of Independence & Revolution saw the IRA pitted against Crown forces across the island. However, on the ground in Ireland, allegiance was often more complicated than is sometimes remembered.Ireland had a long tradition of service in the British Army, and during the conflict thousands of Irishmen served not only in British military ranks but also in the police forces sent to crush the revolution. Even the Black and Tans, remembered as outsiders and occupiers, included surprising numbers of Irish recruits.This episode explores the uncomfortable and often forgotten story of the Irish who fought for Britain. Who were these men? Why did they serve the Crown, in Ireland and across the Empire? What drew them into the British Army, the Royal Irish Constabulary, and even the ranks of the Black and Tans? And what does their story reveal about Ireland’s deep and complicated relationship with the British Empire?This is Episode 5 of Brothers in Pain, a global history of the Irish Revolution. The series is researched, written, and presented by Dr Brian Hanley. Brian is a historian at Trinity College Dublin and has written extensively on the Irish Revolution, republicanism, and radical politics in the twentieth century. You can find a list of his publications here: https://www.tcd.ie/history/staff/brian-hanley.phpWritten, Researched and Narrated by Dr Brian HanleyProducer: Fin DwyerSound: Kate DunleaNote from Brian:In researching these episodes, I have been indebted to the work of the following scholars:Anna Lively, Sam McGrath, Bruce Nelson, Terry Dunne, David Brundage, Niamh Coffey, Gerard Shannon, Maurice Casey, Kelly Anne Reynolds, Chris McNickle, Joe Doyle, Liz Gillis, F. M. Carroll, Patrick Mannion, Jimmy Yann, Niall Cullen, Pádraig Óg Ó Ruairc, Keith Jeffrey, Arthur Mitchell, John Borgonovo, Kate O’Malley, Michael Doorley, Robin Adams, Kevin Kenny, Fearghal McGarry, Catherine M. Burns, Síobhra Aiken, Patrick J. Mahony, Darragh Gannon, Matthew Pratt Guterl, and James R. Barrett. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• The Irish Language: Why Ireland Became English-Speaking 22.04.2026 35min

  How did Ireland become an English-speaking country? Was it colonialism, the Great Hunger, the education system or emigration that drove the shift from Irish to English?In this episode, I am joined by Dr Nicholas Wolf to explore one of the biggest questions in Irish history: how Irish, once the dominant language of the island, lost ground over the centuries. Nicholas explains how this is a multifaceted story, beginning in the wars of the seventeenth century but continuing through the Great Famine of the 1840s and beyond.While he explores the impact conquest, plantation and emigration, Nicholas also explains why English became so necessary in everyday life in Ireland.About Nicholas WolfNicholas Wolf is a historian and librarian at New York University, where he is co-head of NYU Library’s Data Services department and associate director of research and publishing initiatives at Glucksman Ireland House. He is the author of An Irish-Speaking Island (2014), a social and cultural history of Ireland’s Irish-language community in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries that was awarded the Michael J. Durkan Prize for Books on Language and Culture and the Donald Murphy Prize for Distinguished First Books. His research into the social and cultural history of the Irish language, Irish Catholicism, and Ireland’s population history has received grants and fellowships from the Gardiner Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Newberry Library, and Newman College at the University of Melbourne.Get An Irish-Speaking Island (2014) https://uwpress.wisc.edu/Books/A/An-Irish-Speaking-IslandNicholas’s website: https://nmwolf.netLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-wolf-204a24335Check out this digitisation project Nicholas was involved in, focusing on the bilingual historical newspaper An Gaodhal: https://www.universityofgalway.ie/angaodhalSound by Kate Dunlea Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• A White Mans Nation? The Irish Revolution & Black Radicals 17.04.2026 34min

  “The Irish fight for liberty is the greatest epic of the modern age… those suffering together under British imperialism must learn to coordinate their effort before they can hope to be free.”These words from the Black radical Cyril Briggs captured how many people of colour viewed the Irish War of Independence. Today, the Irish Revolution is usually remembered as a struggle shaped by empire, nationalism and religion. But race also haunted this history. As Ireland fought for freedom, racial tensions were erupting across the world. In 1919, the United States was convulsed by the Red Summer, when white mobs launched brutal attacks on African American communities. At the same time, many opponents of Irish independence portrayed the conflict in Ireland as a racial struggle.Yet the relationship between Irish republicans and Black radicals was never straightforward. While Black activists looked to Ireland with hope, many Irish leaders were slow to support Black struggles and some even argued that Ireland deserved freedom precisely because the Irish were white.This episode uncovers the forgotten story of solidarity, suspicion and betrayal between Irish and Black radicals and reveals how deeply the politics of race shaped the Irish War of Independence.This is the fourth episode in Brothers in Pain a groundbreaking Global history of the Irish War of Independence by Dr Brian HanleyWritten, Researched & Narrated by Dr Brian Hanley. Check out Brian's publications here https://www.tcd.ie/history/staff/brian-hanley.phpProducer: Fin DwyerSound: Kate DunleaNote from Brian :In researching these episodes I have been indebted to the work of the following scholars;Anna Lively, Sam McGrath, Bruce Nelson, Terry Dunne, David Brundage, Niamh Coffey, Gerard Shannon, Maurice Casey, Kelly Anne Reynolds, Chris McNickle, Joe Doyle, Liz Gillis, FM Carroll, Patrick Mannion, Jimmy Yann, Niall Cullen, Pádraig Óg Ó Ruairc, Keith Jeffrey, Arthur Mitchell, John Borgonovo, Kate O’Malley, Michael Doorley, Robin Adams, Kevin Kenny, Fearghal McGarry, Catherine M. Burns, Síobhra Aiken, Patrick J. Mahony, Darragh Gannon, Matthew Pratt Guterl and James R. Barrett. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• From the Banshee to Burial: The Strange History of Irish Funerals 15.04.2026 31min

  Irish funerals and wakes are one of the more famous aspects of our culture. Often taking the form of a celebration, it has been said we do death well. However the modern Irish funeral is not the timeless tradition we often imagine. In this episode of the Irish History Podcast I explore the strange history of Irish funerals and the lost world of 19th-century death customs.Drawing on folklore and first-hand accounts, I explore the history behind the banshee (bean sí) and other less well known death omens. I also trace the strange and unsettling rituals, superstitions and wake traditions that once surrounded death in Ireland - customs that can be difficult to relate to today.From the banshee to the grave, this is a journey into a lost world of grief, ritual and belief.Written, researched, and presented by Fin DwyerSound: Kate DunleaVoice Actors: Aidan Crowe and Therese MurrayIf you want to learn more about wakes, check out this episode recorded in the Irish Wake Museum https://shows.acast.com/irishhistory/episodes/the-irish-wake-a-historySources* Patricia Lysaght, The Banshee: The Irish Death-Messenger https://archive.org/details/bansheeirishdeat0000lysa* St. John Seymour, True Irish Ghost Stories https://archive.org/details/trueirishghostst00seymialaDuchas.ie, the National Folklore Archivehttps://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4602737/4599804/4634242https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4427971/4362341/4466724https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4649683/4646384/4650807https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4427866/4351921/4435336https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4649683/4646384/4650807https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4758475/4747226/4779806https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/5008831/4959379/5072669https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4623003/4622767/4630843https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4742070/4732588/4819790https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4922035/4920905/4955848https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4922258/4864961/5021036https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4706331/4703491/4726094 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Comrades in Arms? The IRA and Soviet Russia 03.04.2026 27min

  "Intercourse between Bolshevism and Sinn Féin" These were the words one British newspaper used to describe the relationship between the Irish Republican movement and the fledgling Soviet Union during the Irish Revolution. It was an unlikely pairing. Ireland became a deeply conservative, Catholic country where communism was viewed with suspicion and fear. Yet during the Irish War of Independence, as British forces fought republicans across the island, whispers of Soviet support and communist sympathy rippled through both Dublin and London.But how real was this link? Did the IRA truly seek Soviet weapons and backing? And what did Moscow make of Irish republicanism? This episode uncovers the remarkable and forgotten story of how Ireland and Soviet Russia came to view each other as potential allies, and why that relationship would ultimately collapse. This is the third episode in Brothers in Pain ia groundbreaking series by Dr Brian Hanley that explores the international dimensions of the Irish War of Independence.  Written, Researched & Narrated by Dr Brian Hanley. Check out Brian's publications here https://www.tcd.ie/history/staff/brian-hanley.phpProducer: Fin DwyerSound: Kate DunleaNote from Brian :In researching these episodes I have been indebted to the work of the following scholars;Anna Lively, Sam McGrath, Bruce Nelson, Terry Dunne, David Brundage, Niamh Coffey, Gerard Shannon, Maurice Casey, Kelly Anne Reynolds, Chris McNickle, Joe Doyle, Liz Gillis, FM Carroll, Patrick Mannion, Jimmy Yann, Niall Cullen, Pádraig Óg Ó Ruairc, Keith Jeffrey, Arthur Mitchell, John Borgonovo, Kate O’Malley, Michael Doorley, Robin Adams, Kevin Kenny, Fearghal McGarry, Catherine M. Burns, Síobhra Aiken, Patrick J. Mahony, Darragh Gannon, Matthew Pratt Guterl and James R. Barrett. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Hidden Lives: The Gay Community in Post-Independence Ireland 01.04.2026 36min

  For Dublin's gay community, Irish Independence and the creation of the Irish Free State in 1922 heralded anything but freedom. While the new state promised change, the gay community faced decades of repression, arrest, and severe punishment. Yet despite this, they continued to build lives, relationships, and communities in the shadow of fear.In this episode, I am joined by historian Averill Earls to discuss her book Love in the Lav, a fascinating history of the community in Dublin in the decades after Irish independence. While repression is central to the story, this conversation also uncovers a more complicated picture of the community's relationship with wider Irish society and the ways people navigated a world shaped by surveillance, stigma, and silence.Become a supporter of the show patreon.com/irishpodcastGet your copy of Averill's book Love in the LavIn Ireland - https://www.hodgesfiggis.ie/book/love-in-the-lav/averill-earls/9781439924167In the US Bookshop.org - https://bookshop.org/p/books/love-in-the-lav-a-social-biography-of-same-sex-desire-in-ireland-1922-1972-averill-earls/99753665e753ea33?ean=9781439924167&next=tAverill Earls is Associate Professor of History at St. Olaf College in Minnesota, Executive Producer of Dig: A History Podcast, and co-convener of the Reminiscence and Remembrance Oral History Project for LGBTQ+ Ireland.Sound: Kate Dunlea Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• The IRA & the Battle for America 27.03.2026 37min

  “Keep handing it to the Micks. The Roman Catholic Irish are, and always have been, the only un-Americanised people in the United States.”  These words came from a supporter of Admiral William S. Sims, an ardent opponent of Irish republicans in the United States in the 1920s.  This episode of Brothers in Pain explores the crucial battle for American public opinion during the Irish War of Independence. While the equivalent of over one hundred million dollars was raised for republican organisations and for victims of the war of independence in Ireland, there was also strong opposition to Irish independence in the United States. Leading American politicians regarded Britain as a key ally, while groups like the Ku Klux Klan despised what they saw as immigrant politics.  This podcast tells the history of this crucial battleground in the Irish War of Independence.  Brothers in Pain is a groundbreaking series by Dr Brian Hanley that explores the international dimensions of the Irish War of Independence.  Written, Researched & Narrated by Dr Brian HanleyProducer Fin DwyerSound Kate DunleaNote from Brian :In researching these episodes I have been indebted to the work of the following scholars;Anna Lively, Sam McGrath, Bruce Nelson, Terry Dunne, David Brundage, Niamh Coffey, Gerard Shannon, Maurice Casey, Kelly Anne Reynolds, Chris McNickle, Joe Doyle, Liz Gillis, FM Carroll, Patrick Mannion, Jimmy Yann, Niall Cullen, Pádraig Óg Ó Ruairc, Keith Jeffrey, Arthur Mitchell, John Borgonovo, Kate O’Malley, Michael Doorley, Robin Adams, Kevin Kenny, Fearghal McGarry, Catherine M. Burns, Síobhra Aiken, Patrick J. Mahony, Darragh Gannon, Matthew Pratt Guterl and James R. Barrett. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Did Neutrality Save Ireland? Daily Life in Wartime Ireland 25.03.2026 41min

  At the outbreak of World War II, Ireland declared itself neutral. But neutrality didn't mean the country was untouched by the conflict. Known as the The Emergency, the war left people in Ireland facing invasion fears, severe rationing, and an uncertain future. Thousands of Irish men and women crossed the Irish Sea to serve in Allied armies and work in British wartime industries.The memories of Ireland's wartime experience is now at the cusp of living memory. In 2025 Waterford Treasures Museum, talked to those who had memories of the war. In this episode, I speak with Donnchadh O'Ceallacháin about these memories. Donnchadh reveals how the war affected Ireland. From the scarcity of everyday goods to the courage of Irish soldiers at D-Day, these stories chronicle a remarkable time.Become a supporter today and get early access to ad-free episodes including the latest episode of the new weekly series Brothers in Pain which is available now https://www.patreon.com/posts/153901266Check out Waterford Treasures Museum: https://waterfordtreasures.com/Sound by Kate Dunlea Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• The Smugglers & Gun Runners: Who armed the IRA? 20.03.2026 29min

  "There were spies, informers and degenerates of every kind and we were here to do business." These were the words an IRA activist describing his desperate, shadowy quest to source weapons for the IRA in Europe. But who were these people who traded weapons and information to support the IRA campaign in Ireland. \In this episode of Brothers in Pain: The IRA in a Revolutionary World, Dr. Brian Hanley goes beyond the battlefields to uncover the hidden networks of the Irish Revolution. From the dangerous underworld of the continent to clandestine shipments across the Atlantic, we meet the smugglers, gun runners and fixers who operated in the shadows. This is the true story of the individuals who made the revolution possible in the face of impossible odds.Support the show: www.patreon.com/irishpodcastWritten, Researched & Narrated by Dr Brian HanleyProducer Fin DwyerSound Kate DunleaNote from Brian :In researching these episodes I have been indebted to the work of the following scholars;Anna Lively, Sam McGrath, Bruce Nelson, Terry Dunne, David Brundage, Niamh Coffey, Gerard Shannon,Maurice Casey, Kelly Anne Reynolds, Chris McNickle, Joe Doyle, Liz Gillis, FM Carroll, PatrickMannion, Jimmy Yann, Niall Cullen, Pádraig Óg Ó Ruairc, Keith Jeffrey, Arthur Mitchell, JohnBorgonovo, Kate O’Malley, Michael Doorley, Robin Adams, Kevin Kenny, Fearghal McGarry,Catherine M. Burns, Síobhra Aiken, Patrick J. Mahony, Darragh Gannon, Matthew PrattGuterl and James R. Barrett. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Brothers in Pain: New Series Preview 18.03.2026 13min

  The Irish War of Independence often conjures images of guerrilla fighters on lonely mountainsides, on the run from the Black and Tans. While that is part of the story, Ireland’s struggle for independence unfolded against the backdrop of a world in total crisis. As empires frayed and global movements for equality surged, the IRA sought out their own 'Brothers in Pain' navigating a shadow world of smugglers, gun runners, and unlikely international allies from the Soviet Union to the United States.This overlooked international dimension is the focus of a new series on the Irish History Podcast, hosted by historian Dr. Brian Hanley. This marks a new chapter for the show as we expand to two episodes per week.Brothers in Pain: The IRA in a Revolutionary World officially begins this Friday, March 20th. In this preview episode, I speak with Brian about what you can expect from this unique series as we uncover the story of the Irish Revolution as you have never heard it before. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• St. Patrick's Day Parades: Tradition or American Invention? 11.03.2026 48min

  On March 17th, thousands of St. Patrick's Day Parades take place across the globe. New York's parade, dating back to the 1760s, draws three million people and reinforces the stereotype that the parade is an American invention. Yet parades have been taking place since at least the early 17th century. The real origins of St. Patrick's Day Parade are far more complicated, and far more contentious, than anyone imagines.In this episode, originally released on Transatlantic, the Irish American history podcast I make with Damian Shiels, we explore this history with Dr. Cian T. McMahon from the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Cian challenges the myths surrounding the parade's origins and reveals how it became one of the world's most contested cultural events. He examines how it reflects the constantly changing nature of Irish identity and explores how women and LGBTQ+ activists fought for the right to participate in a celebration that was often fiercely controlled.Cian T. McMahon is Professor of History at the Department of History and Honors College at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. He was the co-editor of The Routledge History of Irish America and is the author The Coffin Ship: Life and Death at Sea during the Great Irish Famine and The Global Dimensions of Irish Identity: Race, Nation and the Popular Press, 1840-1880.Note from Fin: I have updated this episode since it was first published to correct a mistake in the original version. In the intro, I mistakenly referred to the LGBT community as the "LGB community", omitting the T. I understand that this term is often used in a way that denigrates the trans community. That was entirely unintended on my part, and I am very sorry.Sound by Kate Dunlea.Listen to American Emigrants in Irish Folklore on Transatlantic, An Irish American History Podcast: https://shows.acast.com/transatlantic/episodes/37-memories-of-homeSupport the show: Patreon.com/irishpodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Éamon de Valera: Visionary or Victorian? 04.03.2026 50min

  Éamon de Valera is one of the most influential figures in modern Irish history. Born in New York in 1880s and raised in rural Limerick, he rose from obscurity to become a central figure in the Irish Revolution. He played a major role in the 1916 Rising, became the most internationally recognised Irish figure during the War of Independence, and was central to the Treaty split that led to the Civil War. Although defeated in that conflict he returned to politics as a founder of Fianna Fáil and, in 1932, began the long era in which he dominated Irish public life.Today he is often remembered as the architect of a conservative, Catholic and insular Ireland. This podcast featuring, David McCullagh, looks at de Valera's early years and rise to power and seeks to answer if he was the architect of a conservative state, or simply a reflection of the Irish society that shaped him?My guest is David McCullagh. David is a broadcaster with RTÉ, has a PhD in politics and is the author of six books, including a biography of John A. Costello, The Reluctant Taoiseach, a two-volume biography of Éamon de Valera, Rise and Rule, and most recently From Crown to Harp: How the Anglo-Irish Treaty Was Undone. RTÉ broadcaster and author of the acclaimed two volume biography of de Valera, You can find David's books here.Sound by Kate Dunlea. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• The Irish in America's Indian Wars: A Dark History 25.02.2026 50min

  In the late nineteenth century the United States pushed west and its expansion unleashed devastating violence against Native Americans. Forced from their lands and herded onto reservations Native communities faced a relentless campaign of dispossession and massacre. Thousands of miles away in Ireland deep poverty drove many to enlist in the US Army and they became participants in these same frontier wars. This contradiction is stark. People who had been pushed from their own homes by hardship helped push Native Americans from theirs and in some cases took part in atrocities.In this episode Damian Shiels joins me to talk about his remarkable new project mapping US military pensions claimed in Ireland between 1845 and 1905. These files are a window into working class Irish life and also reveal how closely Irish history is tied to some of the darkest chapters of American expansion. Our conversation focuses on the Indian Wars and the uncomfortable questions they raise. It is a complex story that challenges assumptions and connects global history to local Irish streets and villages in surprising ways.Check out the map https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/4e3d403b289342ad92a9259de2597c24Support the show https://patreon.com/irishpodcastSound by Kate Dunlea Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Wild Animals and Public Entertainment in Georgian Ireland 18.02.2026 28min

  In the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, lions, tigers and even elephants toured towns and cities across Ireland. Long before modern zoos, travelling menageries brought wild animals from across the globe into marketplaces, fairgrounds and urban streets. For many people, this was their first encounter with creatures they had only ever seen in books or sermons.In this episode, I’m joined by historian Karina Holton to explore the fascinating and largely forgotten history of Irish menageries between 1790 and 1840. We discuss what these exhibitions were, how they differed from circuses and modern zoos, and what it was actually like to visit one. What animals could audiences expect to see?We also examine the controversies surrounding these shows. Not everyone welcomed them. There were dramatic incidents involving escapes and attacks, concerns about public safety, and growing criticism around animal welfare.Sound by Kate Dunlea.About My GuestKarina Holton completed her PhD at Dublin City University and has published widely on eighteenth and nineteenth century Ireland. She is the author of Valentine Lawless, Lord Cloncurry, 1773 to 1853: From United Irishman to Liberal Politician. https://www.fourcourtspress.ie/books/2018/valentine-lawless-lord-cloncurryThis episode is inspired by her article:‘A Most Curious Collection of Foreign Beasts’: Menageries in Ireland, 1790 to 1840. You can read it here https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/24DB1506CB06E117BEA2C1819FC312AA/S0021121425100916a.pdf/most_curious_collection_of_foreign_beasts_menageries_in_ireland_17901840.pdf Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.