The Last Word with Matt Cooper Think You Know The Presidents? Erskine Childers
Oct 7, 2025
In this captivating discussion, historian Liz Gillis brings Erskine Childers' poignant story to life. She reveals how the tragic execution of his father haunted Childers throughout his life. The podcast explores his unexpected path to the presidency, his connections with 1970s social changes, and how he championed transparency in government. Liz shares insights on Childers’ unique vision for the presidency, his innovative approach to public health, and the public's profound reaction to his untimely death. A blend of history and human emotion!
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Teenage Farewell That Shaped A Life
- Erskine Childers Jr. was uprooted from English boarding school to visit his father before execution, a formative trauma.
- He later carried his father's last wishes and silence about the Civil War throughout his life.
A Father Like A Spy Novel Hero
- Robert Erskine Childers led a dramatic life: Boer War veteran, spy novelist author, gun-runner, and anti-treaty propagandist.
- He was arrested in November 1922 and executed after being found with a gifted gun, a trauma that haunted his son.
Bridge Between Old Violence And New Ireland
- Erskine Childers Jr. embodied a bridge between revolutionary Ireland and a modernising society.
- His presidency symbolised the last living link to the violent origins of the state while Ireland moved into a new era.
