The Irish Passport

Latest Episodes:

Live show! Ireland and America: the long romance Feb 16, 2019

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The Irish Passport’s first live show takes on the issues of race, politics and history between Ireland and the United States. We hear the backstage gossip from St. Patrick’s Day at the White house from RTÉ broadcaster Caitríona Perry, author of In America: Tales from Trump Country. We find out how strong the Irish-American lobby really is in Washington, and what that could mean for Brexit. Academic, broadcaster and author of Don’t Touch My Hair, Emma Dabiri, breaks down the fascinating and complex history of Ireland, slavery and the abolitionist movement. Recorded with a live audience at the Centre Culturel Irlandais in Paris on February 15, 2019. For bonus episodes, support us on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/theirishpassport.

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Halfpints preview: Brexit, the border and Irish unity Jan 29, 2019

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A sneak preview of a bonus episode published to thank our Patreon supporters. Hear the full episode at patreon.com/theirishpassport.

How has Brexit transformed the debate on Irish unification? Naomi O'Leary and Tim Mc Inerney hear from locals in Northern Ireland on why a referendum on unity some thought they'd never see in their lifetime suddenly seems closer than ever. Naomi describes the mood on the ground and lays out polling that shows why the border is such a decisive issue. David McCann of Slugger O'Toole explains how politics in Northern Ireland has transformed since the referendum, and we hear from self-described unionist Raymond McCord on why he's battling for clarification of the circumstances under which a vote on unification could be held.

For bonus episodes, support us on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/theirishpassport.

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Nationalism Jan 27, 2019

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It's the Season 2 finale of the Irish Passport Podcast, and we're taking on Irish Nationalism. Naomi O'Leary interviews Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald about her concept of progressive Irish nationalism, and why she believes its anti-colonial roots distinguishes it from counterparts in continental Europe. Tim Mc Inerney speaks to historians Richard English and Aidan Beatty to find out why race, gender and a whole lot of misunderstandings made Irish nationalism what it is today. And guest reporter Michael Lanigan heads to Dublin, where a Republic of Ireland versus Northern Ireland soccer match offers an interesting perspective on one of the newer national identities on the island: Northern Irish.

This episode is sponsored by Tigh Neachtain pub in Galway. This sponsorship allowed us to hire an audio editor for this episode: thank you very much to Alan Meaney.

For bonus episodes, support us on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/theirishpassport.

A transcript of this episode is available here: https://www.theirishpassport.com/transcripts/transcript-nationalism/

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The Mysterious Eviction Dec 19, 2018

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Strange things are happening in Co. Roscommon, where a controversial eviction has set the internet on fire. Who were the unidentified men who ejected an elderly family from their farm house last week? Why do ex-British soldiers appear to be involved? And where do the rumours stop and facts begin? Naomi O'Leary and Tim Mc Inerney uncover the dramatic story of this eviction and its deep historical resonances in the Irish cultural consciousness. They trace out the facts of what exactly happened in the townland of Falsk, how it inspired a vicious vigilante counter-attack that has gripped national headlines - and why you should pay very close attention to what happens next. This episode includes exclusive unreported revelations about security guards from Northern Ireland who carried out the eviction. Trust us, you're going to want to listen to this one.

For bonus episodes, support us on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/theirishpassport.

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Irish Politics and the Civil War Nov 21, 2018

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Ireland's main political parties are not split on a traditional left-right model, but instead represent different sides of a bloody civil war in the 1920s. But why is this war spoken about so little today? Could it be that its memory is too painful? Or is it because it still so strangely dominant in modern Irish politics? In this episode, Tim Mc Inerney traces the history of Ireland's Civil War from 1922-23, and how it shaped the country's political landscape. Meanwhile, Naomi O'Leary pays a visits the Irish Seanad or senate in Dublin, where she meets two politicians who have been deeply influenced by Civil War politics, albeit in very different ways. One is Senator Mark Daly, a descendant from anti-treaty rebels still questing for a 32-county Ireland, and the other is Senator Ian Marshall, the first northern unionist ever to be elected to the Irish Seanad. For bonus episodes, support us on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/theirishpassport. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook: @PassportIrish. A transcript of this episode is available here: https://www.theirishpassport.com/transcripts/transcript-irish-politics-and-the-civil-war/ Support this podcast

Halfpints: Why the poppy divides Ireland Nov 11, 2018

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A hundred years since the end of the First World War, the remembrance poppy remains a controversial symbol in Ireland. Why? Writer Kylie Noble explains what the poppy meant to her as a child growing up in Fermanagh in Northern Ireland, and how she reconciles it with her British and Irish identity today. Naomi O'Leary traces the roots of Ireland's complex relationship with the poppy and how it intersects with her own family history, and interrogates what the fundraising appeal is for according to the accounts of the Royal British Legion. Should Taoiseach Leo Varadkar be wearing a shamrock poppy? You decide. For bonus episodes, support us on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/theirishpassport. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook: @PassportIrish. Featuring Cello Duet No. 1 by Chief Boima Support this podcast

The Housing Crisis Oct 02, 2018

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Ireland's housing crisis is at boiling point, with homelessness at record levels and even well-paid people struggling to afford soaring rents and house prices. It's the political issue everyone is talking about -- but it's one with a long and dramatic history. Tim Mc Inerney and Naomi O'Leary trace the backstory to how an agrarian revolt turned Ireland into a kind of property-based welfare state. Guest reporter Molly May O'Leary visits an 'occupation training' session by Take Back the City, the activists who are grabbing headlines by seizing empty buildings in Dublin and demanding they be turned into social housing. How did Ireland go from the excesses of the Celtic Tiger property boom, to bust and back again? And what does diaspora minister Ciaran Cannon say about the impact on those hoping to move home? Hear the whole story in this episode. Featuring insights from University College Dublin Professor Michelle Norris, University College Cork Professor Cathal O’Connell, and Lorcan Sirr, who’s senior lecturer of housing at the Dublin Institute of Technology. For bonus episodes, support us on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/theirishpassport. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook: @PassportIrish. A transcript of this episode is available here: https://www.theirishpassport.com/transcript-the-housing-crisis/ Support this podcast

The Glorious Twelfth Sep 12, 2018

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Tim Mc Inerney and Naomi O'Leary travel to Belfast for the peak of Northern Ireland's marching season: the 11th and 12th of July, when unionists and British-identifying communities light enormous bonfires and parade through the streets to commemorate Protestant military victories of the 17th century. We speak to experts including Donald MacRaild and Dominic Bryan of Queens University Belfast who explain the meaning of the tradition, and visit loyalist and republican communities in Belfast to understand what this time of year is like for them. We find many sides to the Glorious Twelfth: it can be a beloved community event, but it's intimidating enough that it drives most Catholics off the streets of Belfast. Naomi and Tim come face to face with the darker side, as they find themselves caught up in the thick of openly sectarian celebrations. For bonus episodes, support us on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/theirishpassport. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook: @PassportIrish. A transcript of this episode is available here: https://www.theirishpassport.com/transcripts/transcript-the-glorious-twelfth/ Support this podcast

Halfpints: Pope Francis in Ireland Sep 04, 2018

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Pope Francis visits Ireland in the wake of the abortion referendum, as Church infighting over the legacy of abuse in Catholic institutions threatens to derail the trip. We hear from people who protested the papal visit, and feature a special guest who decided he wanted to hear what the pope had to say for himself. Naomi O’Leary and Tim Mc Inerney discuss what the low turnout tells us about how the country has changed, and whether the visit closes a chapter in modern Irish history.

This is a Halfpint episode, the extra content created to thank our Patreon supporters. Due to strong demand for an episode about the pope’s visit, we’ve released this Halfpint to all listeners.

You can listen to our full archive of bonus episodes by signing up as a supporter on our Patreon page.

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Derry: “Ireland’s Jerusalem” Jul 27, 2018

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Derry: ground zero for the outbreak of conflict in Northern Ireland. Is it once again being threatened with instability as Brexit causes deep uncertainty over the border? Naomi O'Leary and Tim Mc Inerney travel north just as unrest breaks out in the ancient city as Protestants and unionists prepare to mark the 12th of July: a yearly celebration of their culture. We chat to a man who lost his father in Bloody Sunday, speak to children building a bonfire about why they burn the Irish flag, and sketch out why this city of so much promise has been held back by decades of discrimination. For bonus episodes, support us on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/theirishpassport. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook: @PassportIrish. A transcript of this episode is available here: https://www.theirishpassport.com/transcripts/transcript-derry-irelands-jerusalem/ Support this podcast

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