Irish History Podcast
Episodes
The IRA ambush in Central Park, New York
28 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On April 13th, 1922, three IRA volunteers chased a man through Central Park in New York. In front of dozens of witnesses, they shot him four times bef...
The Slaves who helped Ireland during the Great Hunger
21 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
During the Great Hunger of the 1840s, vast sums of money were sent to Ireland by people across the world. One of the most remarkable stories is that o...
Saving Ireland from Sin & Sex - Film Censorship in Ireland
14 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Through most of the 20th century, authorities in Ireland operated a strict censorship regime when it came to film. At its height, around one in every ...
What started The Troubles?
08 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the late 1960s, Northern Ireland erupted into major violence, marking the opening phase of The Troubles. Over three decades, this conflict would cl...
Polygamy, the Pope or Politics. Why was 19th century Ireland so hostile to Mormonism?
31 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the mid 19th century Mormonism was one of the fastest growing religions in the world. However when Mormon missionaries arrived in Ireland in 1840 t...
Shipwrecked: The Story of the Samson
24 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The story of the Samson is one most bizarre shipwrecks in Irish history.When this enormous sea crane ship crashed into the Irish coast, it's owne...
New Geneva: Ireland's Lost City
17 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the 1780s work began on a new city in Ireland. Called New Geneva it was designed to provide a new home for exiled revolutionaries from Switzerland....
Plan 2024: It's ambitious but you can make it possible
10 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We've been on an extraordinary journey since the show launched 14 years ago. From medieval battlefields to revolutions we've shared ringside seats to ...
Forgotten: The Irish in the American West
13 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
New York, Boston, and Chicago dominate the history of Irish migration to the United States. However by 1900 one of the most Irish cities in the US was...
Taking the world by storm – a history of podcasting 2/2
06 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In the past decade, podcasting has taken the world by storm. The advent of smartphones and the ground-breaking podcast 'Serial' would see podcasting s...
Are you in a cult? A history of podcasting 1/2
29 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
‘You might not be a revolutionary, but you are living through a revolution.’ Podcasting is much older than you might imagine. A decade before...
Assassinated: A Story of Vengeance & Murder in the Great Hunger
22 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It’s a dark evening in early November 1847.A carriage makes it's way through lawless starving countryside in North Roscommon.A gun shot rings out, a...
The Irish in Andersonville 'the deadliest place in America'
15 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In the mid 1860s, Andersonville became one of the most feared places in America.This sleepy corner of Georgia gained notoriety in the later stages of ...
Rose McKenna & Sydney Arnold – Rebels With A Secret History
01 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Writing histories of people who led secret lives is difficult because they leave few records. Yet that is precisely what my guest in today’s show ha...
A History of the Supernatural in Ireland
25 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As we prepare to celebrate Halloween, this episode is a timely exploration of the history of the supernatural in Ireland.Ghosts have long played an im...
A History of Ireland's Deaf Community [From the archives]
18 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I have come down with a cold so rather than subject you to me coughing and spluttering through a show I have selected a classic from the archives.&nbs...
Anti-Irish Racism in 1930s Britain
11 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In the 1920s and 30s Irish emigrants in Britain faced widespread racism and discrimination. Labelled drunks, subversives, and a threat to society, rig...
The Arigna Soviet
04 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In 1923 as the Irish revolution came to an end, large parts of the North Roscommon town of Arigna lay in ruins. While war and revolution had swept acr...
Addiction in Irish History
27 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
At the turn of the 20th century alcoholism was a major problem in Irish society. The island had 17,300 pubs while around 40% of all prison sentences w...
The Origin Story of 'A Lethal Legacy'
14 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Every book has an origin story. My new book ‘A Lethal Legacy – A History of Ireland in 18 Murders’ is no different. While the book goes on sale ...
The Cork tsunami & other historic natural disasters
12 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This podcast looks at forgotten story of the tsunami that hit Cork in 1755, the volcanic winter of 1816 and a meteor that was way to close for comfort...
The First Modern Royal Visit to Ireland
06 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In 1821 George IV was the first British monarch to visit Ireland in modern times. It was a historic occasion for multiple reasons. Not only was he the...
A Broken People: The Survivors of the Great Hunger
30 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Great Hunger left deep scars on the Irish society. Many of those who survived the 1840s never fully survived the harrowing ordeal they had endured...
The Brighton Bombing - the attempt to kill Margaret Thatcher
23 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In 1984, the Conservative Party, lead by the British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, gathered in the seaside town of Brighton for their annual confe...
A Deep, Dark History. Bunmahon & the Copper Rush of the 19th Century
16 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Bunmahon is an idyllic seaside town in Co Waterford but it has a deep dark history. It's a story that begins in an abandoned mine and ends in a search...
Jack the Ripper: Irish Connections [From the Archives]
02 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This episode was originally released in 2019. Over the past week I was recording the audio version of 'A Lethal Legacy - A History of Ireland in 18 Mu...
Taking the Hard Road - Edward O’Rourke & opposing Hitler
26 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As I mention in the episode I am recording the audio version of A Lethal Legacy - A History of Ireland in 18 Murders this week! Don't forget to pre-or...
The Road to War - How the Irish Civil War Started
12 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
'The Road to War' is the first episode in a five part Irish History Podcast production on the Irish Civil War. The full series, exclusively available ...
The Irish Women Who Fought the Nazis in World War II (The French Resistance Part II)
05 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
**This is the second of two episodes on the story of Irish people who fought in the French Resistance. Part I was released last week.**Few Irish peopl...
Irish Volunteers in the French Resistance Part I
28 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The struggle of the French Resistance against the Nazi Occupation of France remains one of the most famous chapters in World War II history. It has be...
Rotten Prod - The Life of James Baird
21 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This episode needs a bit of an introduction. While the term Rotten Prod, short for Rotten Protestant, sounds like a sectarian slur, the phrase has a v...
A Lethal Legacy - A History of Ireland in 18 Murders (A New Book from Fin Dwyer)
14 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is short, but has a big reveal! For nearly two years I have been working on a new book and I can finally tell you all about it. Published...
Sights, Sounds & Smells: Life in Dublin on the Eve of the 1916 Rising [from the archives]
07 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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. I...
Oliver Cromwell - Still Notorious, But Why?
31 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 r...
A Journey to the Gates of Hell
24 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Belfast and the Slave Trade
17 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 B...
The Parnell Divorce Case - a story that shocked the Victorian world
10 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In the 1880s Charles Stewart Parnell was the most famous Irish politician of his generation. Dubbed 'the uncrowned king of Ireland' he was respected a...
Disert - A Place Where Mythology and History Meets
03 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
The Lingaun – Exploring Ireland's Oldest Frontier Part II
26 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 pr...
The Lingaun – Exploring Ireland's Oldest Frontier Part I
19 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 rive...
Heroes or Villains? How To Trace Your Ancestors...
12 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever wondered about your ancestors and who they were were? Were they on the right side of history? Maybe you’re curious to find out if your...
Bad Bridget: When American Dreams became Nightmares
29 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Emigration has been one of the defining features of Irish life since the Great Hunger. Generations have been drawn to the United States in the hope of...
Burned Alive: The Burning of Bridget Cleary
22 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In 1895 Bridget Cleary was a confident independent woman in a rapidly changing Ireland. This brought her into conflict with dark and sinister figures ...
Women on Trial - The Alice Morton Divorce Case of 1920
15 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Until 1981 a woman was considered the property of her husband under Irish law. A husband could even sue another man for damaging his property if he ha...
The Mystery of Henry Wilson’s Assassination
01 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On June 22nd 1922, the British Field Marshall, Henry Wilson was shot dead in London. The assassination sparked a major political crisis in Ireland. Th...
Ireland's Alcatraz - the Story of Spike Island
22 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Spike Island in Cork Harbour is often referred to as 'Ireland’s Alcatraz'. While this famous island prison began life as a monastery it was transfor...
How the Famine Irish built New York
15 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Between 1840 and 1860 the population of New York almost trebled growing from 300,000 to 800,000. This influx of migrants from Europe gave birth to mod...
The Story of Irish Coffin Ships Continued...
25 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This episode continues the story of emigration and Irish Coffin Ships during the Great Famine. Dr Cian T. McMahon, the author of The Coffin Ship - Lif...
The Story of Irish Coffin Ships Part I
18 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Between 1845 - 1855 over two million people left Ireland to escape hunger, poverty and disease during the Great Hunger. The experience of these emigra...
How will 2022 be remembered in history?
19 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Are we living through historic times? The Russian Invasion of Ukraine, the Queen's death, Liz Truss and Elon Musk have all dominated the headlines in ...
A Slum City - Life & Death in Late Victorian Dublin
07 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Life in Dublin at the turn of the 20th century was difficult to say the least. Working Class Dubliners were lucky if they reached 50. In those five or...
A lost town in the Wicklow Mountains
23 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Castlekevin was once a thriving settlement deep in the Wicklow Mountains. However in the 14th century after decades of warfare the historical record f...
The Black Death in Ireland
09 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Black Death changed Europe and Ireland forever. This disease which swept across the continent through 1348 carried off around 40% of the populatio...
Contraception in Ireland
02 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Believe it or not, it was a crime to sell contraception in Ireland between 1935 and 1979. The Irish government also banned all literature on family pl...
The Hunt for Nazi Spies in World War II
26 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
While Ireland remained neutral in the Second World War several Nazi agents were smuggled into the country. Their aims varied, some sought to establish...
Exploring A Medieval Fortress - Conwy Castle
19 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
There is a photo essay to accompany this episode here Conwy castle in Wales in one of Europe's most spectacular medieval castles. Built in the 12...
[Ep 3/3] Ireland's Last Aristocrat - The Life of Olive Packenham Mahon
12 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this final episode of Ireland's Last Aristocrat, you will hear how Olive Packenham Mahon adjusted to life in Ireland after the War of Independence....
[Ep 2/3] Ireland's Last Aristocrat - The Life of Olive Packenham Mahon
28 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Olive's unpublished diary and letters reveal a story of war, revolution and scandalous relationships in Ireland during the War of Independence.After b...
[Ep 1/3] Ireland's Last Aristocrat - The Life of Olive Packenham Mahon
21 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Olive Packenham Mahon was born into wealth and privilege in 1894, but the legacy of a secret funeral and the spectre of war and revolution defined her...
[Coming Weds 21st] Ireland's Last Aristocrat - the Life of Olive Pakenham Mahon
18 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Olive Pakenham Mahon was one of Ireland's last Aristocrats. Haunted by a secret funeral in her families past, revolution and war defined her life. She...
Who was Bridget O’Donnel? AKA The Most Famous Irish Woman in History
14 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
You may not recognise the name Bridget O’Donnel, but she is one of the most recognisable women in Irish history. In December 1849 her image (picture...
From Ancient Ireland to Westeros: A History of Dragons
31 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this special episode brought to you by NOW, I look into why humans are fascinated with dragons. Did you know mythology around dragons is older than...
15 Minutes in Medieval Dublin [From the Archives]
24 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
2022 has been stressful so this episode treats you to 15 minutes of escapism. It brings you back to Dublin in 1320 in a soundscape of the medieval cit...
Was the Great Famine a Genocide? [From the Archives]
17 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Over the next two weeks I will be busy writing and editing an upcoming series called Ireland's Last Aristocrat. In the meantime I have dusted down two...
From Newgrange to D-Day: A History of Weather Forecasting
10 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Since the dawn of history humans have been intrigued by the weather. However while it has the potential to sustain or destroy life, our ability to acc...
‘No Irish, No Blacks, No Dogs’ - The Irish in London
02 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The 1950s were a dismal time in Ireland. While the economy tanked, the catholic church, at the height of its power, maintained strict control over soc...
A voicenote from Fin
29 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Hey folks, I have a few important announcements for you:🎙️🎙️Starting in September supporters (at the $5 tier or more) will receive an exclus...
Murder at Mother Mountain 5/5 - Redemption?
18 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In the series finale 'Redemption', we follow Ellen's life in Australia where a strange and unexpected redemption awaits.Support the show:Patreon https...
Murder at Murder Mountain 4/5 - The Punishment
11 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The trials are over, the sentences have been passed down and there is nothing left but the punishment. However as we have seen in the story so far, th...
[Deep Dive] Behind the scenes of a victorian murder investigation
06 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Given the popularity of true crime genre, we are increasingly familiar with how murder investigations work in the 21st century. However they were quit...
Murder at Mother Mountain 3/5 - The Trial
04 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The trial begins in Nenagh Courthouse in August 1846. What lies ahead for the accused is more uncertain than ever - murder in 19th century Ireland car...
Murder at Mother Mountain Part 2/5 - The Crime
27 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In part 2 of Murder at Mother Mountain Ellen’s life changes forever on March 10th 1846 when the violence that overshadowed her life finally comes to...
[Deep Dive] Religion in Ireland before the Famine
20 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
To accompany Murder at Murder Mountain, I am releasing five deep dive episodes which delve into the history of the early 19th century Ireland in great...
Murder at Mother Mountain 1/5 - Nurtured by Violence
20 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ellen Kennedy was born into in Western Tipperary in 1803. Her youth was one nurtured by violence. Hunger and food shortages were common. The stark ine...
New Series - Murder at Mother Mountain Coming June 20th
15 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ellen Kennedy was born into in Western Tipperary in 1803. Her youth was one nurtured by violence…Listen to an exclusive preview of episode 1 now at ...
175 years on - Does Black '47 & the Great Hunger still matter?
08 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Over the last decade there has been countless events to mark the centenary of the Irish Revolution. However 2022 is also the 175th anniversary of Blac...
From Bastardstown to Slutsend: A History of Irish Place Names
25 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ireland has some very strange place names. They range from the perplexing – Skeoghvosteen in Kilkenny, to the scandalous - Slutsend in Dublin and Ba...
A Violent History of Fun - Having the Craic in Medieval Ireland 50/16
18 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When you think of the Middle Ages what springs to mind? Medieval battles, warfare and general hardship? Certainly not fun. However while medieval Irel...
'From the Backwoods to the Motorway' A History of Traditional Irish Music
04 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Traditional music is central to Irish culture and identity in the 21st century. Contrary to what we might think, this is a relatively recent developme...
Cocaine, Murder & Inquests: A night on the town in Victorian Waterford [Live from Katty Barry’s] 50/14
26 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This live podcast pokes in to the darker corners of the past looking at life in Victorian Waterford. Recorded live in Katty Barry’s in Waterford, it...
Hitler, Copperfaced Jack & Bodysnatching - The real history of Stephens Green. 50/13
11 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Stephen’s Green is one of Dublin’s well known areas. Located in the heart of the city centre, the Green is home to several prestigous instiutions ...
Nazi Propaganda in Ireland - the story of Irland Redaktion (50/12)
04 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Irland Redaktion was a Nazi radio station established during the Second World War. It's sole purpose was to shape and influence Irish public opinion i...
Getting Dirty in a Digital Archive
28 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What did Dublin look like before the authorities demolished the medieval city? How did Irish people address Queen Victoria during the Famine?The ...
A Human History of Forests and Woodlands in Ireland
21 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Its National Tree Week! In this special episode brought to you by Wolfgang Reforest, I investigate the history of Ireland's woodlands and forests. The...
'Riding the Lartigue' Ireland's only Monorail
14 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In 1888 Ireland's most unusual railway, the Lartigue monorail, opened for business. Although largely forgotten, the story of this unique train is intr...
Grace O'Malley, an Irish 'Pirate Queen'
07 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Grace O'Malley or Granuaile is an iconic name in Irish history. Born in 1530, she emerged as a powerful leader in the West of Ireland in ruthless and ...
The War of Independence Finale (Endgame III)
28 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We've made it! This is the final episode in the War of Independence series. The episode begins as Michael Collins and an Irish negotiating team lock h...
Endgame II
23 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This is the second last episode in the War of Independence series. In this podcast we travel to Belfast in the summer of 1921. Despite major violence,...
Endgame Part I
21 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This is the first of three episodes which will be released over the next 8 days to conclude the War of Independence Series. Endgame I is a fast moving...
From Kerry to Antarctica - The Life of Tom Crean
14 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Tom Crean was born outside Anascaul, Co. Kerry in 1877. One of eleven children from a small farming family, Crean grew up in a world where Antarctica ...
Radio News from Black 47
31 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Imagine radio had existed during the Great Famine. What would it sound like if you could go to an archive and listen to news reports from 1847?To mark...
Nixie Boran - An Underground Rebel
17 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The life of Nicholas Boran was extraordinary. Known as 'Nixie', he was born outside Castlecomer in Co Kilkenny in 1904. At the age of 18 he fought in ...
Inside the Vault - Behind the Scenes in the National Museum
10 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
One of the most important buildings in terms of Irish history or archaeology is located in North County Dublin. Strange as it may sound, this building...
The Mary Celeste of Medieval Ireland
20 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Mary Celeste is one of the great mysteries of modern times. The ship was found abandoned in the Atlantic in 1872 and the ten people who had been o...
The Ladies of Llangollen
15 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Irish women Eleanor Butler and Sarah Ponsonby are known to history as the Ladies of Llangollen. In 1780 the two aristocrats caused controversy whe...
Growing up Black & Irish - A personal history of Liverpool
29 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Last month I recorded a show at the Liverpool Irish Festival with Teresa Hill. Teresa is really passionate about her fascinating family history. Her f...
Reprisals, Concentration Camps or ‘Indian measures’ - British paths to victory in 1921? (The War of Independence Part XXII)
24 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Following on from the collapse of the Clune Peace talks in December 1920, the British Government adopted an even more aggressive attitude to the war.&...
Peace, Partition & Christmas 1920 (The War of Independence Part XXI)
15 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Over the last three episodes of the War of Independence Series, we saw the Republican movement demonstrate an ability and willingness to fight on desp...
The Irish History Summit January 2022 – Cultivating Ireland’s Historians of the Future
03 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Irish History Summit returns! Taking place on Saturday January 15th 2022 we have a great line up of historians and educational experts to prepare ...
The Kilmichael Ambush & the Burning of Cork (The War of Independence XX)
01 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Kilmichael is remembered as one of the most important and controversial battles in the War of Independence. This episodes explains what actually happe...