Podcast Episodes

The Irish Wake: A History

The Irish funeral wake is a unique tradition where family and friends gather around the body of the deceased to share stories, remember their life, and celebrate their legacy. Often resembling a live…

Published on 2 months, 3 weeks ago

Midwives & Mothers: A History of Birth in Ireland

In times past, childbirth was a profoundly communal and intimate experience, guided by the steady hands and wisdom of community midwives. Known as Bean Ghlúine—the Women of the Knee—these women were …

Published on 2 months, 4 weeks ago

Glenmalure & Memories of a Lost World - How Did Electrification Change Rural Ireland?

Nestled deep in the Wicklow Mountains, Glenmalure was once a stronghold for rebels and a sanctuary from the outside world. But long after the echoes of rebellion faded, the valley remained a place ap…

Published on 3 months ago

Glendalough & The History Tourists Are Never Told

Glendalough is one of Ireland’s most iconic and picturesque destinations. Its medieval monastery and stunning mountain landscape attract around one million tourists every year. However behind the pos…

Published on 3 months, 1 week ago

A History of Ireland's Last Great Wilderness

Vast, windswept, and seemingly untouched—the landscape around the Sally Gap in Wicklow is a place where history appears to vanish into the heather and mist. With no houses and few traces of human set…

Published on 3 months, 2 weeks ago

Breaking Ireland's Bandit Country: The Wicklow Military Road

In 1800, in the wake of the 1798 Rebellion, the British military began construction of the Wicklow Military Road. Designed to bring control to the so-called “bandit country” of the Wicklow Mountains,…

Published on 3 months, 4 weeks ago

What happened to Ireland’s Protestant Community after the Revolution?

Between 1911 and 1926, the Irish Protestant population fell by over 30%. This podcast explores why this happened, as well as how the majority who remained adapted to life in the Free State.

Hosted on…

Published on 4 months ago

The IRA's Great Escape: Mountjoy Jail, 1925

In 1925, nineteen IRA prisoners orchestrated a daring escape from Mountjoy Jail in the heart of Dublin. Join me and historian Sam McGrath as we delve into the history of the IRA following the Civil W…

Published on 4 months, 1 week ago

Stories We Don't Tell: Realities of Surviving the Great Hunger

The history of the Great Hunger is often recounted through statistics and impersonal narratives. There are many reasons for this, but one significant factor is that many survivors were reluctant to s…

Published on 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Typhoid Mary: Victim or Villain

Typhoid Mary has inspired books, movies, and even a Marvel character, but the history of the Irish woman behind the name is less well known. Mary Mallon was born in County Tyrone in the late 19th cen…

Published on 5 months ago