

Irish History Podcast
Fin Dwyer
From the Norman Invasion to the War of Independence, the Great Famine to the Troubles, the Irish History Podcast takes you on a journey through the most fascinating stories in Ireland's past. Whether it’s the siege of Dublin in 1171 or gun battles in the 1920s, the podcast vividly recreates a sense of time and place. Each episode is meticulously researched, creating character-driven narratives that are engaging and accessible for all.Since the first episode was released back in 2010, the podcast has covered scores of captivating stories. Major multi-part series have explored the Great Famine, the Norman Invasion, and Irish involvement in the Spanish Civil War. If you are looking for standalone episodes, there are lots of great interviews with leading Irish historians covering topics from medieval sex magic to Irish connections in the Jack the Ripper murders!Why not start with 'Three Days in July', an acclaimed mini-series from the summer of 2024. It explores the early years of the Troubles and the forgotten story of a young Londoner who was shot dead by the British Army in Belfast in 1970. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 10, 2024 • 28min
Manipulating the Past - A History of Photography in Ireland
The camera never lies or does it? In this episode, I take a trip to the National Photographic Archive in Temple Bar, Dublin. Joining me is the archivist, Nora Thornton. Nora not only leads you through the history of photography from its earliest days but also delves into the murky history of image manipulation. It's much older than modern photoshopping. From your great-grandmother, who was eager to alter her figure, to more significant political editing, there's a fascinating history that unfolded behind the scenes.You can visit the National Photographic Archive - its located on Meeting House Square in Templebar. You can also check out thousands of images from their collection that have been digitised here https://www.nli.ie/collections/our-collections/photographsThese are the images mentioned in the show No.1 https://catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000188503No.2 https://catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000188275No.3 https://catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000183831No.4 https://catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000354193 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 3, 2024 • 36min
Strongbow & Aoife: The wedding that changed Ireland
In 1170, the Norman Lord Strongbow landed an army in Ireland. The following day, he launched a deadly assault on the nearby city of Waterford. Before the day was out, Strongbow had not only conquered Waterford in a brutal assault but also made time for his wedding.This marriage changed Ireland forever.Discover how the marriage of Aoife, a seventeen-year-old, and Strongbow, a man in his mid-forties, altered the course of Irish history. I also explore how it elevated Aoife to one of the most powerful women in medieval Irish history.In addition, my supporters of "The Troubles" with Dr. Brian Hanley continues this week with part four, as we delve into the years 1970 and 1971. During this time, the IRA begins to engage the British Army across Northern Ireland.Get the first four episodes at patreon.com/irishpodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4 snips
Mar 27, 2024 • 28min
Exiled: Irish Writers in the 1930s
The 1930s stood out as one of the most dramatic decades in modern history. Fascism was on the rise, and Europe was hurtling towards the Second World War.However, it was a peculiar time in Ireland. The Revolutionary Era was firmly in the rearview, and the optimism and hope it once inspired had long faded. Irish society was increasingly dominated by the Catholic Church and conservative political forces. This podcast delves into life in Ireland during the 1930s by examining the experiences of a series of writers. These writers were critical of Irish society, and due to their political or religious beliefs, they found themselves labeled as outsiders. This podcast tracks their journeys as they left Ireland for London, where they mingled with the most renowned writers of the age, such as T.S. Eliot and George Orwell, and were drawn into the dramatic global politics of the time.My guest is Katrina Goldstone. Katrina has published a book Irish Writers and the 30s and is available here https://www.routledge.com/Irish-Writers-and-the-Thirties-Art-Exile-and-War/Goldstone/p/book/9780367634995You can find Katrina’s website https://www.katrinagoldstone.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 20, 2024 • 28min
Ireland's Lost Generation - The Orphans of the Great Hunger
In 1851 there were nearly 90,000 orphans in Irish Workhouses. Many of these children had lost their parents to hunger and disease. Others had been abandoned. This podcast explores the lives of these resilient children as they turned into young adults and rebelled against a world that had forsaken them... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 6, 2024 • 31min
Time's Untold Tales: Life before clocks & Dublin's two time zones in the 1870s
Telling the time in hours and minutes seems so natural that we don’t even question where it came from. However it is a pretty recent development. For most of history our ancestors didn’t have clocks and understood time itself in a very different way. In this podcast we will journey back through the centuries to explore how our ancestors measured time. Its an intriguing story. In the medieval world the length of an hour changed every day while Dublin in the 1870s had two separate time zones!WhatsApp Irish History ChannelTelegram Irish History ChannelSupport the show and get my exclusive series on the Troubles www.patreon.com/irishpodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 28, 2024 • 29min
The IRA ambush in Central Park, New York
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 before escaping. This event marked the culmination of an international manhunt as the IRA tracked an informer across the world.In this episode, I am joined by New York Times Senior Editor Mark Bulik. During the interview, Mark shares the intriguing story of Patrick 'Cruxie' O'Connor and why he was hunted by the IRA in 1920s New York.Follow up on the episode at my new socials. WhatsApp Irish History ChannelTelegram Irish History ChannelGet Mark's book Ambush at Central Park - When the IRA Came to New York Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 21, 2024 • 31min
The Slaves who helped Ireland during the Great Hunger
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 of the First African Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia. Even though many of the congregants were slaves, they still sent a donation.In this podcast, I interview Anelise Shrout, who shares this and other stories of remarkable generosity. Anelise also reveals why people chose to give money to Ireland above other causes and crises. We also discuss the motivation behind what was arguably the most controversial of all donations during the Great Hunger - that of the Charleston Hibernian Society, whose members were supporters of slavery and enslaves themselves. Get Anelise's book "Aiding Ireland - The Great Famine and the Rise of Transnational Philanthropy" at https://nyupress.org/9781479824601/aiding-ireland/.Follow Anelise on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dr.a.h.shrout/ and check out her website at https://www.anelisehshrout.com/.Become a supporter and get the next episode of my exclusive series on the Troubles at https://www.patreon.com/irishpodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4 snips
Feb 14, 2024 • 27min
Saving Ireland from Sin & Sex - Film Censorship in Ireland
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 three films was censored in Ireland. The reasons for this are often hard to fathom today. Scenes that showed a dancer's legs or even a long kiss were often edited out. Allusions to sex were considered far too racy. And this was all before they even got into the films that strayed into politics or religionIn this episode, I am joined by Aoife Breathnach and Lloyd Maedbh Houston to explore the very strange world of film censorship in Ireland on both sides of the border. Want to hear more? Lloyd joins Aoife on a special season of her podcast, Censored, that looks at censorship in film in Ireland. I highly recommend checking this out. You can find it at link to the podcast: https://play.acast.com/s/censored. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 8, 2024 • 2min
What started The Troubles?
In the late 1960s, Northern Ireland erupted into major violence, marking the opening phase of The Troubles. Over three decades, this conflict would claim thousands of lives and continues to dominate life in Ireland today.In my new exclusive supporters series, I am joined by Dr. Brian Hanley to explore how and why The Troubles began. This fascinating history begins in the 1920s when Northern Ireland was forged amid intense violence. Over six episodes, the series explores the rising tensions of the 1960s when Nationalists demanded equality and how seminal events such as the Battle of the Bogside and Bloody Sunday proved to be pivotal moments in our history.Episode 1 is exclusively available for supporters at https://www.patreon/irishpodcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 31, 2024 • 35min
Polygamy, the Pope or Politics. Why was 19th century Ireland so hostile to Mormonism?
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 they failed to establish a foothold. Over time Ireland gained a reputation as the most hostile country on earth for Mormons.This podcast explores why this was the case. The answer is the complexities of Irish identity, our relationship with Catholicism and scandals surrounding the 19th century Mormon practice of polygamy.The show starts however with the bizarre story of a 19th century Irish conman who played a role in getting the church off the ground in the 1830s.Sources.If you are interested in exploring more about the history of Mormonism I would recommend the podcast Mormon Stories has an extensive back catalogue. https://www.mormonstories.orgBrent Barlow’s PhD thesis on the history of Mormonism is extremely useful - https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/4503/The website https://sites.google.com/site/patrickhenrymcguire2 is an excellent resource on the Irish born Mormon Patrick McGuireIrish Mormons- Reconciling identity in Global Mormonism by Hazel O’Brien is analysis of contemporary Mormonism. https://www.google.ie/books/edition/Irish_Mormons/WbW7EAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0Support the show and get my exclusive series on the outbreak of the TroublesPatreon.com/irishpodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.