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Irish History Podcast – Fin Dwyer — History
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.

Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/irishhistory.

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Copyright: © Fin Dwyer

Latest Episodes:

The Lingaun – Exploring Ireland's Oldest Frontier Part I Apr 19, 2023

Show notes

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 river formed one of the most important frontiers in Ireland.

While the societies and kingdoms that fought and died over this valley are long vanished the region is littered with their remains in the tombs, religious sites, castles and battlefields.

A few weeks ago I met up with archaeologist Neil Jackman, an expert in the region and we spent a morning exploring the valley. Our initial intention was to focus on the Lingaun, but our conversations took in a range of topics from what life was like 5,000 years ago, to the spiritual beliefs of our distance ancestors down to the story of battle in the 1798 rebellion!

Check out Neil’s episodes 26 and 28 of Neil’s Podcast Amplify Archaeology which cover topics related the Lingaun.

If you are planning a a trip down to explore the Lingaun Neil’s website Tuath.ie has all you need. This article on Knockroe is a great place to start https://www.tuatha.ie/knockroe-passage-tomb/

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Heroes or Villains? How To Trace Your Ancestors... Apr 12, 2023

Show notes

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 family have dark secrets?

In this podcast genealogist Martin Costello gives you a step by step guide to tracing your family. Over the episode I follow Martin’s steps and trace my ancestors back to the Great Hunger. Along the way I found out a few secrets my great grandparents would prefer had remained in the 19th century!

These are the resources Martin mentions

1901 and 1911 census census.nationalarchives.ie/

Irish civil records Irishgenealogy.ie

Catholic Church Parish records https://registers.nli.ie/

Church of the Latter Day Saints transcription of Irish Parish Records www.familysearch.org

British Newspaper Archives (contains numerous Irish publications) https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk

Irish Newspaper Archive https://www.irishnewsarchive.com

Ancestry Websites. Findmypast.co.uk & Ancestry.co.uk

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Bad Bridget: When American Dreams became Nightmares Mar 29, 2023

Show notes

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 finding a better life across the Atlantic. Many succeeded but for some these dreams became nightmares.

Over the last few years The Bad Bridget Project in Queens University Belfast by Dr Elaine Farrell and Dr Leanne McCormick has focused on criminal and deviant Irish women in North America. Now an award winning podcast and book, Leanne and Elaine join me in this episode share the stories they have uncovered.

These include Annie Young a woman who lived in grinding poverty, the sex workers Maud Merrill and Marion Canning and the somewhat unbelievable Ellen Nagle a child prosecuted for being stubborn!

Check out the Bad Bridget Podcast

Get the book Bad Bridget: Crime, Mayhem and the Lives Irish Emigrant Women

Become a supporter and get my exclusive Series on the Irish Civil War with Dr Brian Hanley

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Burned Alive: The Burning of Bridget Cleary Mar 22, 2023

Show notes

In 1895 Bridget Cleary was a confident independent woman in a rapidly changing Ireland. This brought her into conflict with dark and sinister figures in her own community.

After being labelled a 'changeling' (a fairy who had taken the place of the real person) Bridget was tortured in a brutal ritual. This podcast, based in an original episode released in 2016, explores Cleary's life and why those closest to her ultimately murdered her.

The book mentioned in the show is The Burning of Bridget Cleary: A True Story by Angela Bourke

Sound By Kate Dunlea

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Women on Trial - The Alice Morton Divorce Case of 1920 Mar 15, 2023

Show notes

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 had an affair with his wife. Referred to as 'criminal conversation’ these trials were demeaning and humiliating for the women involved. 'Women on trial looks' looks at the story of Alice Morton.

When her marriage fell apart in 1919, she found herself at the centre of a sensational divorce and criminal conversation trial. When this developed into an early 20th century sex scandal, Alice went on the run rather than be subjected to such humiliation.

The episode follows Alice's story as she evaded private detectives, and a court system stacked against her.

Sound: Kate Dunlea

Additional Narrations: Aidan Crowe and Therese Murray

Read more about criminal conversation trials:

Adultery in the Courts: Criminal Conversation in Ireland by Niamh Howlin https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2787632

Ireland’s criminal conversations by Diane Urquhart https://journals.openedition.org/etudesirlandaises/3162

Support the show

Patreon - https://patreon.com/irishpodcast

Acast+ https://plus.acast.com/s/irishhistory

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Mystery of Henry Wilson’s Assassination Mar 01, 2023

Show notes

On June 22nd 1922, the British Field Marshall, Henry Wilson was shot dead in London. The assassination sparked a major political crisis in Ireland. The British government blamed the killing on a faction of the IRA opposed to the recent Anglo-Irish Treaty. When they demanded action be taken against them, Michael Collins oversaw an attack on an IRA unit occupying the Four Courts in Dublin. This sparked the Irish Civil War.

Over the last century the incident has been shrouded in controversy. Many at the time and since have accused Michael Collins himself of ordering the attack on Wilson. In this episode I am joined by John Dorney to discuss the assassination of Henry Wilson, the fallout and who was responsible.

My exclusive supporters' series on the Irish Civil War with Dr Brian Hanley of Trinity College Dublin continued this week on Acast+ and Patreon. Ep #1 explains backdrop to the war, while Ep #2 profiles Michael Collins, his involvement in the war and his death in August 1922.

My guest on this week’s show is John Dorney. John’s website theIrishstory.com is one of the leading online resources on Irish History. He also the co host of the Irish History Show https://irishhistoryshow.ie/

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Ireland's Alcatraz - the Story of Spike Island Feb 22, 2023

Show notes

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 transformed into a fortress during the American Revolutionary War. However Spike island gained it's notorious reputation during the Great Hunger of the 1840s when a prison was opened in the fort.

This episode recorded on Spike island tells the story of Ireland’s Alcatraz…

I would like to thank the team on Spike Island for facilitating the recording of this episode. In particular I would like to thank Tom O’Neill for his time and expertise.

Sound by Kate Dunlea

Visit Spike Island: https://www.spikeislandcork.ie/

If you want find out more about Spike Island these texts come highly recommended.

Spike Island: Saint Felons and Famine

Too beautiful for thieves and pickpockets: A history of the Victorian convict prison on spike island

Spike Island republican prisoners 1921

My exclusive Supporters Civil War Series with Dr Brian Hanley from Trinity College Dublin continues on Thursday. Episode II looks at Michael Collins and the Outbreak of the War. This is available on www.patreon.com/irishpodcast and Acast+.

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How the Famine Irish built New York Feb 15, 2023

Show notes

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 modern Manhattan. At the heart of this story were the 250,000 Irish people who made the city their home in the aftermath of the Great Hunger.

This is the story of the Famine Irish in New York.

In this episode I interview Dr Tyler Anbinder from George Washington University. An expert in the history of New York, Tyler vividly explain New York of the 1850s and how the Famine Irish adapted to life in the city. You can find Tyler’s books here https://history.columbian.gwu.edu/tyler-anbinder. I would recommend Five Points: The Nineteenth-Century New York City Neighborhood that Invented Tap Dance, Stole Elections, and Became the World's Most Notorious Slum

My series on the civil war continues next week when myself and Dr Brian Hanley discuss Michael Collins, the man, the myth and his role in the conflict. You can get the series on Acast+ or at the $5 tier on patreon.com/irishpodcast

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The Myth of Irish Neutrality in World War II Feb 01, 2023

Show notes

Five days after the end of the Second World War, Winston Churchill launched into a blistering critique of Irish neutrality on the BBC World Service. He would famously claim the government of Éamon de Valera had frolicked with German representatives in Dublin while Britain fought the Nazis.

The reality of Irish neutrality in the World War II was somewhat more complicated. To discuss the story of Irish neutrality I am joined by the Dr Donal Ó Drisceoil from the History of Department of University College Cork.

Donal has written extensively on the history of neutrality and in this episode he explains why Ireland took a neutral position in the war. He also reveals how and why the government aided the Allies behind the scenes but remained adamant they were neutral. Sound by Kate Dunlea.

Support the show to get hours of exclusive content at patreon.com/irishpodcast

Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/irishhistory.

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The Story of Irish Coffin Ships Continued... Jan 25, 2023

Show notes

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 - Life and Death at Sea during the Great Famine discusses

The death rate onboard coffin ships
What factors determined whether someone lived or died.
How Irish Famine emigrants adjusted to life in the U.S.

You can get a copy of The Coffin Ship - Life and Death at Sea here

If you want listen to more stories form the Great Hunger my 30 part podcast series is available here.

My exclusive supporters Civil War series with Dr Brian Hanley kicks this Thursday here on Patreon and Acast+

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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