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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 po ...
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3,000 miles of ocean separate Ireland from the USA, but both countries share a deep and intertwined history. Links between North America and Ireland predate Columbus, stretching back over 1,000 years. Since then, Irish people have shaped the history of the United States. From Ann 'Goody' Glover, who was hanged as a witch in Boston in the 17th century, to JFK, the story of the Irish in the US is fascinating. Join historians Damian Sheils and Fin Dwyer as they join forces to explore the good, ...
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This podcast is part of the Carlow County Council Decade of Centenaries Programme and is a collaborative podcast series on the history of Carlow during the decade 1913 -1923. Collaborators on the project include Carlow County Museum, Carlow Historical and Archaeological Society and Carlow County Library Service.
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Why Was Life Expectancy So Low in Ireland Until 1900?
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Life expectancy in Ireland has doubled over the past 200 years, but why was it so low for so long? In this podcast, I delve into the factors that kept life expectancy down in Ireland's history and what those numbers truly mean. Did people really only live to 40 in the past? During the Great Hunger, life expectancy plummeted to just 20 years—what do…
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New Orleans is one of the most famous cities in the American South. World-renowned for Mardi Gras, the city has a unique history. Founded by the French, it was also an outpost of the Spanish, today, it is famous for its Creole and Cajun culture. However, the city also became home to tens of thousands of Irish emigrants in the 19th century. In this …
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1719: The Irish Rescue of the Polish Princess Bride
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In 1719, the 17-year-old Polish Princess Maria Clementina Sobieska was seized by the Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI. While the move shocked many in Europe, in the following months a group of Irish exiles plotted a daring rescue of Maria Clementina. This led to a dramatic 400-kilometer chase across 18th-century Europe. In this episode, I am joined by…
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Coffin Ships & Famine Emigrants: Surviving the American Journey
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Many Irish Americans trace their roots back to the Famine emigrants who escaped the death and disease that ravaged Ireland in the 1840s. In this episode, we delve into the harrowing journeys these emigrants faced aboard the infamous "Coffin Ships." Join us as we explore the stories of these resilient individuals, uncovering who they were and the co…
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Societal Collapse: Did It Happen in Irish History?
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In this episode, I explore the ruins of a Temple and the intriguing concept of societal collapse and its relevance to Irish history. Often depicted as dramatic and apocalyptic, societal collapse is a topic that has captured the imagination of historians and the public alike. But how accurate is this narrative especially when applied to Ireland's pa…
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Mother Jones: The Most Dangerous Woman in America?
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In this episode, Fin and Damian explore the life of one of the most renowned Irish American women in history: Mother Jones. Known as a fearless labour organiser at the turn of the 20th century, she played a pivotal role in the often violent struggles between workers and employers. Her very name instilled fear in the authorities, with one prosecutor…
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Your Prehistoric Ancestors: More Sophisticated than you think!
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Check out my new podcast 'Transatlantic: An Irish American History Podcast' with Damian Shiels https://linktr.ee/transatlanticpod In this captivating episode, I explore the enigmatic world of prehistoric Ireland. I am joined by Professor Gabriel Cooney to discuss the lives of Ireland's earliest inhabitants. Our conversation challenges the stereotyp…
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We Share a History: But Are Irish Americans Really Irish?
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In this episode, Fin and Damian explore the intriguing question: Are Irish Americans truly Irish? This complex inquiry challenges the reasons behind the strong protectiveness many Irish people feel over Irish identity. Is this protectiveness legitimate, or does it create barriers to a broader understanding of what it means to be Irish? We delve int…
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Stigma, Famine & Emigration: A History of Mental Health in Ireland
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By the late 1950s, over 20,000 individuals in the Republic of Ireland were confined in asylums—a staggering figure equivalent to 1 in every 133 Irish people at the time. This episode delves into how such a situation arose. Were Irish people inherently more susceptible to mental health issues, or was there something else at play? Centered around a s…
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From Ireland to Jamestown, Virginia: The Bloody Blueprint For English Colonialism
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Fin and Damian explore the connections between English colonial settlements and the bloody conflicts of Tudor Ireland. They reveal how the violent plantation systems of 16th-century Ireland served as a blueprint for English colonial strategies in North America. The episode also highlights how many of the early English colonists in Virginia had prev…
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The Dirtiest City in Europe? Why Did Typhoid Thrive in Victorian Dublin?
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In 1900, the life expectancy in Dublin was a mere 49 years, a stark indicator of the city's dire living conditions. The Victorian city was notorious for its filth and disease, which proved an ideal breeding ground for Typhoid. This episode explores how Dublin battled with this deadly disease for decades. This journey takes you through the Victorian…
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Join historians Fin Dwyer and Damian Shiels as they explore the road to Civil War in the United States. Irish emigrants fought in huge numbers, but their motives were complex. Many assume that the Irish, who had endured oppression at home, would identify with African Americans struggling for emancipation from slavery. This was not always the case. …
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Emily Anderson: The Forgotten Irish Woman of Bletchley Park
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In this captivating episode of the Irish History Podcast, Jackie Ni Chionna joins me to discuss the remarkable but forgotten Irish woman, Emily Anderson. Emily was an Irish code breaker who played a pivotal role at Bletchley Park during World War II. Despite her significant contributions to the Allied war effort, Emily has been forgotten in the wid…
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Pioneers of Irish America: Irish Emigration before the Great Famine
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The stereotypical Irish emigrant is often seen as a famine exile from the west of Ireland. However, in the decades before the Great Hunger of the 1840s, over one million Irish people had already crossed the Atlantic. These early 19th-century emigrants, who laid the foundations of modern Irish American communities, differed significantly from the co…
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1917: The American Invasion of Ireland
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In 1917, the USA entered the First World War. Some of the first Americans to arrive in Europe were stationed in Ireland. However, this did not go entirely to plan. While Irish American sailors based in Cork were excited to see the land of their forefathers for the first time, many in Ireland were less than enthused. The island was hurtling towards …
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The Making of a Ghost Town - The Rise and Fall of the Irish Kings of Cotton
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In the 1850s, Portlaw was Ireland's most successful town. The population had grown tenfold in the previous 30 years. The local Cotton Mill, built by the Malcomson Family, provided work for thousands of people. However, by the early 20th century, everything had changed. The Cotton Mill was silent, and many of the houses had been abandoned. This epis…
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The Irish Witch of Boston: The Prelude to Salem
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Ann Glover was a poor Irish woman who lived in late 17th century Boston. Although she is a largely forgotten figure, she played a significant role in the famous Salem witchcraft trials. In 1688, Ann was accused of being a witch. Her trial and execution would shape the harrowing events that played out in nearby Salem just a few years later. In this …
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Who was the first Irish person to cross the Atlantic Ocean?
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I am delighted to share the very first episode of Transatlantic: An Irish American History Podcast. It's a new show I am making with historian Damian Shiels which looks at Irish-American History. It's separate from the Irish History Podcast and Season 1 will be released each Monday. You can subscribe to Transatlantic: An Irish American History Podc…
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Who Was the First Irish Person in the Americas?
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In the first episode of Transatlantic: An Irish American History Podcast, historians Fin Dwyer and Damian Shiels embark on a quest to uncover the identity of the first Irish person to reach America. Was it St. Brendan, the intrepid Irish monk who is said to have voyaged across the Atlantic centuries before Columbus? Could it have been an Irish woma…
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Resisting Nazi Occupation: Ireland's Forgotten World War II Heroes
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John Keany, Monica de Wichfeld, and Delia Murphy are not well-known figures, yet they are some of the most extraordinary people in modern Irish history. During the Second World War, they found themselves in Nazi-occupied Europe and took extraordinary risks to resist the Nazis. Some paid with their lives. This podcast tells their stories. The episod…
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