The Irish Passport

In our first episode of Season 4, we take on the Irish Accent: where did it come from? What secrets might it hide? And why is it so often an issue of contention? Tim speaks to accent expert Shane Walshe of Zurich University about how Irish accents are seen by the wider world, Naomi talks with Senator Lynn Ruane about why some Irish accents can lead to discrimination and marginalisation, and most importantly we hear from our own listeners about the complications, the poetry, and the personal histories contained in every individual accent. In this episode we asked our listeners to take the “accent challenge”. Below is the list of words they were asked to pronounce: Wash, Oil, Theater, Data, Crayon, Ruin, Spitting Image, Toilet, Syrup, Aunt, Salmon, Caramel, Fire, Water, Again, Both, Probably, Alabama, Lawyer, Coupon, New Orleans. We’ve published a bonus episode featuring a full interview with Senator Lynn Ruane on class and inequality in Ireland over on our Patreon page www.patreon.com/theirishpassport. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook: @PassportIrish. Special thanks to The Mary Wallopers, for the use of their fantastic track “Cod Liver oil and Orange Juice”.

In Northern Ireland, questions of national identity often come with some surprising answers. Our reporter Jennifer Smith catches up with two Belfast residents born around the time of the Good Friday Agreement. They explain their understanding of identity in Northern Ireland and how nationality there constitutes a complex and ever-changing web of politics, family history, and social class. This bonus content was made possible by the continued support of our patrons! Sign up to support the podcast today at www.patreon.com/theirishpassport and gain access to our whole archive of Halfpint extra content. For access to our full archive of bonus content, head on over on our Patreon page www.patreon.com/theirishpassport. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook: @PassportIrish. The music featured in this episode is “You get the Blues” by Lobo Loco.

In this bonus episode made specially to thank our Patreon supporters, we take a look at some of the good news coming out in the times of Coronavirus. We’ll be talking about drive-through testing centres in Dublin, mass volunteering efforts to help neighbours and the health service, EU officials embracing poetry, and some very promising statistics and real concrete help coming out of China. You can sign up to join the Irish health service the HSE: hse.ie/oncall If you need help or can offer help, like delivering groceries or subscriptions to your neighbours, the website to sign up is: https://localsupport.ie/ . Anyone who isn’t online can ask for help by text on 087 365 8233. We make Halfpint episodes especially to thank our Patreon supporters. If you want to access our full archive of Halfpint episodes, you can become a Patron today at www.patreon.com/theirishpassport. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook: @PassportIrish.

How is Ireland dealing with the Coronavirus outbreak? In this freely available Halfpint episode, Naomi and Tim look into the way different countries in Europe have dealt with the unprecedented pandemic sweeping the world right now. We look at how the outbreak is affecting politics at home and abroad, and offer some advice for those who might be self-isolating right now. We make Halfpint episodes especially to thank our Patreon supporters. If you want to access our full archive of Halfpint episodes, you can become a Patron today at www.patreon.com/theirishpassport

A seismic result has emerged in the Irish election: the left-wing nationalist Sinn Fe’in are the most popular party, sweeping away the traditional dominance of Fine Gael and Fianna Fa’il for the first time in the history of the republic. What caused the political earthquake? And what happens now? Naomi joins Tim from the main voting count centre in Dublin to break down the results. The housing crisis, what went wrong for Leo Varadkar, the peculiar nature of Irish nationalism, and options for the next government: it’s all up for discussion. We speak to Dessie Ellis, who spent time in prison for his involvement with thetime Provisional Irish Republican Army, after he swept to the top of the poll in his constituency of Dublin North West. Naomi brings context from the campaign trail as voters tell us their concerns. And we hear from Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin, Fine Gael’s Leo Varadkar, and Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald to tell you all you need to know about the election that changed history. For bonus episodes including an interview with Mary Lou McDonald about the meaning of left-wing nationalism, support us on Patreon: https://www.theirishpassport.com/podcast/what-the-uk-election-means-for-ireland-brexit-and-the-union/ Follow us on Twitter and Facebook: @PassportIrish.

The global rise of radical right nativist parties seemed to skip Ireland. But the last 18 months have seen efforts to introduce anti-immigration politics to Ireland in a way not seen before, amid a backlash against the legalisation of abortion. We hear how a conspiracy theory elevated by US pundit Alex Jones has ended up on the streets of Cork, as protesters ambush an event by ruling party Fine Gael a week out from the election. Naomi speaks to Dutch political scientist Cas Mudde about what Ireland can learn from the experience of countries that have already seen similar trends. Mudde breaks down the evolution of the far right, new tactics at play, and the dubious role played by the media in the United States and the Netherlands. This is an episode of Halfpints, the bonus content we make specially to thank our Patreon supporters. You can find a whole archive of extra content over at https://www.patreon.com/theirishpassport. Share this episode and tag @PassportIrish to be in with a chance to win a copy of Cas Mudde’s new book, ‘The Far Right Today’.

Tech workers abandoning Dublin due to housing costs, an Airbnb maintenance worker who is himself homeless, and the woman battling to transform Ireland’s swathe of vacant properties into homes. This episode takes an inside look at the housing crisis from the point of view of people facing the hard edge of the issue in different ways. As polls ahead of the election on February 8th indicate Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s chance at a second term may be slipping away as support ebbs towards Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil, Naomi puts the appeal of promises to build social housing in context. This is an episode of Halfpints, the bonus episodes of The Irish Passport podcast we make specially to thank our supporters on Patreon. You can find a whole archive of extra content over at https://www.patreon.com/theirishpassport. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook: @PassportIrish.

Ireland goes to the polls on February 8th. We break down six points that explain the election. Who are the players? Why was the election called? What are the main issues? How will the election work? What are the likely results? And what do the Black and Tans have to do with it? This is an episode of Halfpints, the bonus episodes of The Irish Passport podcast we make specially to thank our supporters on Patreon. You can find a whole archive of extra content over at https://www.patreon.com/theirishpassport. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook: @PassportIrish.

In this season finale, The Irish Passport takes on one of Ireland’s most controversial issues: Direct Provision. The system for housing people who apply for refugee status in Ireland turns 20 this year. We speak to Bulelani Mfaco, who fled persecution of gay and LGBT+ people in South Africa to Ireland in 2017, and now campaigns for the rights of those seeking asylum. We visit the Direct Provision centre he lives in to take a look at life on the inside, and find out why Mfaco describes the system as deliberate marginalisation of migrants and akin to racial segregation. Irish Times journalist Sorcha Pollak explains how the system came to be, and discusses the evidence that the system was deliberately designed to be unpleasant. In the wake of a series of arson attacks on planned Direct Provision centres, Pollak’s reporting has revealed that a small group of far-right activists are hijacking community meetings all around Ireland in an attempt to exploit unhappiness about Direct Provision and inflame anti-immigration politics that have so far skipped over Ireland. Finally, we explore cultural responses to the system, in a discussion with award-winning music group Rusangano Family, featuring their acclaimed song ‘Heathrow’.

Every year, thousands of returning emigrants make their way through the sliding doors of Dublin airport arrivals to come home to Ireland for Christmas. Tim and Naomi record from the scene to bring you the stories of those who have travelled from far and wide and come back home to celebrate the holiday with their loved ones. We share funny stories, sad stories, moving stories, and discuss family quirks and pre-Christian traditions that make up the Irish Christmas experience. For bonus episodes, support us on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/theirishpassport. Featuring editing by Alan Meaney http://alanmeaney.ie/ . Season 3 of The Irish Passport podcast is made with the kind support of Biddy Murphy, online sellers of genuine Irish goods. Check them out on www.biddymurphy.com. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook: @PassportIrish. Featuring the track “wound” by Jahzzar.