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.
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.
The Battle of New Ross was one of the bloodiest clashes of the 1798 Rebellion and within hours it was followed by the horrific Scullabogue Massacre. Together these events created a day long remembered for fire, terror and unimaginable suffering. In this episode we follow the rebels to New Ross, a strategically crucial town where the fighting would shape the course of the revolt. In the aftermath of the battle we examine the notorious Scullabogue massacre. This battle and the killings that followed would cast a shadow far beyond the 1798 rebellion and this episode reveals the complicated and uncomfortable truth behind them.
As we continue the story of the 1798 rebellion we also travel to Belfast to explore how the revolt unfolded in the heartland of the revolutionary movement.
A map showing the key locations is available here https://www.patreon.com/posts/143849510 (this is not paywalled)
Check out this comprehensive list of texts and sources used in the series here https://www.patreon.com/posts/138580354 (this is not paywalled)
Sound is by Kate Dunlea. Additional research is by Stewart Reddin with additional narrations from Aidan Crowe and Therese Murray.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
As my series on the 1798 Rebellion returns, this is a great point to dive in to the story...
In this episode we see major fighting break out as the south of Ireland erupts in revolt. Rebel forces sweep through the countryside in Co Wexford as loyalist strongholds fall one after another. However as the violence escalates carefully laid plans quickly unravel, and the first major battles left irish society reeling.
This podcast explores how ordinary people found themselves caught up in events beyond their control, as the hopes of an Irish republic collided with the brutal reality of rebellion. From the streets of Dublin to the fields of Wexford, this episode traced how the southeast fell to the rebels in events that would transform Irish history.
Written, Produced and narrated by Fin Dwyer
Additional Research: Styewart Reddin
Voice Actors:Aidan Crowe and Therese Murray.
Sound by Kate Dunlea
Support the show Patreon.com/irishpodcast
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In March 1844, the quiet community of Culdaff in north Donegal was rocked by the brutal murder of fourteen-year-old servant Mary Doherty. As the Great Hunger loomed on the horizon, Mary’s tragic death was soon overshadowed by famine and emigration, her story fading into fragments of local folklore. However, in recent years, historian Angela Byrne has brought renewed attention to Mary’s forgotten life and this dark chapter in our history.
In this episode, Angela Byrne joins Fin Dwyer to discuss the history behind Mary’s murder, as detailed in her new book Finding Mary. Angela vividly reconstructs the community Mary grew up in, the background to her murder, and the reasons she was killed. The episode also explores the world of rural Donegal on the eve of the tragedy and asks why Mary Doherty’s story remained untold for generations.
You can get Angela’s book, Finding Mary, at https://www.fourcourtspress.ie/books/2025/finding-mary.
Sound by Kate Dunlea.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In the early days of 1798, Dublin teetered on the edge of revolution. A shadow war raged between the United Irishmen and the British authorities, with the city’s fate hanging in the balance.
This episode delves into the world of Edward Cooke, the spymaster at Dublin Castle, as he races to dismantle the revolutionary movement through a web of informers and secret agents. Meanwhile, leading rebels like Lord Edward Fitzgerald struggle to stay one step ahead, risking everything to keep the cause alive.
As martial law is declared and terror sweeps across Ireland, the final days before the rebellion erupt into chaos, violence, and desperate gambles on both sides. Step into the heart of a city in crisis, where every shadow hides a secret and the first sparks of revolution are about to ignite.
This is Episode 6 in my series on the 1798 Rebellion. The next installment, Part 7, will be available early and ad-free for show supporters next Monday week.
Become a supporter today and get exclusive early and ad-free access at:
Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/Irishpodcast
Supercast:https://irishhistory.supercast.com/
Written, narrated and produced by Fin Dwyer
Sound: Kate Dunlea
Additional Research: Stewart Reddin
Voice Actors: Aidan Crowe & Therese Murray
Contact me with your questions at info(at)Irishhistorypodcast(dot)ie.
A list of sources for the 1798 Rebellion is available here: 
https://www.patreon.com/posts/138580354 (the post is not paywalled)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This special episode of the Irish History Podcast is made in partnership with An Post.
In Nazi-occupied Rome, the Irish priest Hugh O’Flaherty risked everything to save thousands from certain death. By running a secret escape line, O’Flaherty became a lifeline for those facing persecution so much so that he became a wanted man by the Gestapo.
Despite the danger, he managed to save thousands from the Nazis.
In this episode, I share his remarkable story, with insights from novelist Joseph O’Connor, author of the Rome Escape Line Trilogy, Jerry O’Grady of the Hugh O’Flaherty Memorial Society, and filmmaker and O'Flaherty's grandniece, Catherine O’Flaherty.
To mark Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty’s extraordinary life, An Post, Ireland's Postal Service, has released a new commemorative stamp and First Day Cover. They are available at anpost.com/shop or at selected post offices.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This episode covers one of the most famous events in our history. It’s part of the 1798 Rebellion series, but you can dive straight in if you don't want the gripping backstory!
In the closing months of 1796, Ireland was gripped by fear and uncertainty. This episode sees an invasion force of battle-hardened French veterans arrive off the Irish coast, inspiring hope and fear in equal measure.
Meanwhile, a brutal campaign of repression sweeps Ulster as the British authorities unleash state terror on the revolutionary movement during a campaign known as the Disarming of the North.
This episode also marks the first major violence between Crown forces and the wider populace.
This is Episode 5 in my series on the 1798 Rebellion. The next instalment, Part 6, will be available early and ad-free for show supporters next Monday.
Become a supporter today and get exclusive early and ad-free access at:
Patreon:
Supercast:
Written, narrated and produced by Fin Dwyer
Sound: Kate Dunlea
Additional Research: Stewart Reddin
Voice Actors: Aidan Crowe & Therese Murray
Contact me with your questions at info(at)Irishhistorypodcast(dot)ie.
A list of sources for the 1798 Rebellion is available here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/138580354 (the post is not paywalled)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This episode returns to the story of the 1798 Rebellion, but also stands alone as its own story.
In 1793, war broke out between the British Empire and Revolutionary France. This episode explores what happened when a French spy, William Jackson, is caught in Ireland. After his capture, the authorities learned that Irish radicals in the Society of United Irishmen were in contact with Britain’s enemy, Revolutionary France.
In this episode how the dramatic fallout pushed Ireland to the brink of rebellion. As sectarian violence and government repression escalate, Irish society polarises and radicalises at a breathtaking pace...
This podcast launches my series on the 1798 Rebellion. The next instalment, Part 2, will be available early and ad-free for show supporters next Monday.
Become a supporter today and get exclusive early and ad-free access at:
Patreon:
Supercast:
Written, narrated and produced by Fin Dwyer
Sound: Kate Dunlea
Additional Research: Stewart Reddin
Voice Actors: Aidan Crowe & Therese Murray
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week, we’re taking a break from our series on the 1798 Rebellion for a fascinating conversation about the Great Famine in Dublin and why this key chapter in the city’s history has been largely forgotten.
When most people think of the Great Hunger, they picture rural Ireland and the suffering along the Atlantic coast. For years, it was widely believed that Dublin escaped the worst of the Famine. But is that really the case?
In this episode, I’m joined by Dublin historian Maria Ball, who shares her unique insights into how the Famine impacted the capital and why its story has faded from memory. Drawing on her own family’s history in the Smithfield tenements, Maria reveals the hidden struggles faced by Dubliners during the 1840s. She also explains how institutions like the city workhouses and the Lock Hospital (which treated venereal disease) were overwhelmed during the crisis.
Maria is also involved in organising a history festival in Cabra this week - you can find out more here.
Sound by Kate Dunlea.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
While this episode fits into a bigger series on the 1798 Rebellion, it’s also designed to stand on its own.
The French Revolution of 1789 electrified Ireland, inspiring hope and fear in equal measure. It would lead to the establishment of Ireland’s republican movement in 1791.
Exploring the profound impact of the revolution in Ireland, this episode opens with the dramatic story of Henry Edgeworth, an Irish priest living in Paris, who would participate in one of the most famous executions of the revolution - an event with profound effects at home in Ireland.
We then explore how the spread of revolutionary ideas led to the foundation of the Society of United Irishmen, who would spearhead Ireland’s revolution in 1798. As old certainties crumble, Ireland stood on the brink of a new, exciting but dangerous age.
This is Episode 3 in my series on the 1798 Rebellion. The next instalment, Part 4, will be available early and ad-free for show supporters next Monday week.
Become a supporter today and get exclusive early and ad-free access at:
Patreon:
Supercast:
Written, narrated and produced by Fin Dwyer
Sound: Kate Dunlea
Additional Research: Stewart Reddin
Voice Actors: Aidan Crowe & Therese Murray
Contact me with your questions at info(at)Irishhistorypodcast(dot)ie.
A list of sources for the 1798 Rebellion is available here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/138580354 (the post is not paywalled)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This episode is part of a wider series on the 1798 Rebellion, but you can enjoy it as a stand-alone story.
When the American Revolution broke out in the 1770s, it sent shock waves across the Atlantic, transforming Irish politics and society. To explore this enthralling story the episode begins with the arrival of Benjamin Franklin in Dublin - a visit that would have unexpected consequences for Ireland’s future.
We explore how revolutionary ideas, economic hardship, and the threat of invasion combined to spark new demands for change in Ireland. The episode goes on to trace Ben the rise of the Patriot movement and the revolution of 1782, as Irish society starts to cleave apart.
This is Episode 2 in my series on the 1798 Rebellion. The next installment, Part 3, will be available early and ad-free for show supporters next Monday.
Become a supporter today and get exclusive early and ad-free access at:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Irishpodcast
Supercast: https://irishhistory.supercast.com/
Written, narrated and produced by Fin Dwyer
Sound: Kate Dunlea
Additional Research: Stewart Reddin
Voice Actors: Aidan Crowe & Therese Murray
Contact me with your questions at info(at)Irishhistorypodcast(dot)ie.
A list of sources for the 1798 Rebellion is available here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/138580354 (the post is not paywalled)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This podcast opens a broader series on the 1798 Rebellion, but also works as a stand alone episode.
For over a century, Irish Catholics and Presbyterians were subjected to the Penal Laws. Although the vast majority of the population, they were banned from voting, sitting in parliament, bearing weapons, and entering many professions—the list goes on.
This episode explores the deeply unequal society these laws created. By following the life of Emily Fitzgerald, who moved to Ireland in 1747, we gain a unique insight into this world. I explain how the Penal Laws emerged after a century of warfare, how Catholics resisted their brutal treatment, and how these laws created a deeply unequal and unstable society.
To find our feet in this world, we begin in the harrowing winter of 1740, which led to the Year of Slaughter—the worst famine in Irish history.
This podcast launches my series on the 1798 Rebellion. The next instalment, Part 2, will be available early and ad-free for show supporters next Monday.
Become a supporter today and get exclusive early and ad-free access at:
Patreon:
Supercast:
Sound: Kate Dunlea
Additional Research: Stewart Reddin
Voice Actors: Aidan Crowe & Therese Murray
A list of sources for the 1798 Rebellion is available here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/138580354 (the post is not paywalled)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The 1790s remain one of the most important decades in modern Irish history. After years of rising tensions, the island was rocked by the 1798 Rebellion—the largest uprising in Irish history. In just a few months, more people perished than in all the conflicts of the 20th century combined.
These events continue to cast a long shadow over life in Ireland and are central to understanding this island in the 21st century. In many ways, 1798 is our foundational story. So much of what followed from the War of Independence to the Troubles sought to answer questions first posed by Ireland’s revolutionary generation of the 1790s. What does it mean to be Irish? Why is our history so deeply divided along religious lines? And what lies at the heart of the bitterness that has marked modern Anglo-Irish relations?
In my gripping new series, starting next week, I’ll take you deep into life in 18th-century Ireland and uncover the dramatic story of the 1798 Rebellion. Through the gripping narratives of people who lived through these remarkable events, we’ll explore the anti-Catholic Penal Laws, the impact of the American and French Revolutions, and how Ireland’s republican movement emerged in the 1790s.
It’s a story dominated by larger-than-life characters from the great-grandson of an English king who became Ireland’s leading revolutionary, to the spies and agents who betrayed friends and comrades. The series navigates global revolutions and the brutal realities of war and sectarianism in Ireland.
Whether you’re new to Irish history or searching for fresh insights, this series brings the drama, the characters, and the high stakes of the 1790s to life. Join me as we uncover how the 1798 Rebellion changed Ireland forever.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In the 1960s, over 30,000 Irish immigrants were working in Britain’s National Health Service (NHS). While the NHS is often celebrated as one of Britain’s greatest achievements, the vital contributions of these Irish nurses are frequently overlooked. In this episode, I’m joined by Professor Louise Ryan, co-author of Irish Nurses in the NHS: An Oral History, to discuss the experiences of these remarkable women.
Louise shares how, for many Irish nurses, Britain offered opportunities unimaginable at home. Yet, despite their essential role in building the NHS, they often faced racism and discrimination.
Get Irish Nurses in the NHS: An Oral History by Louise Ryan, Gráinne Mac Polin, and Neha Doshi: Four Courts Press
Special offer: Life in Medieval Ireland and The Black Death in Ireland – both books for €30 https://irishhistory.bigcartel.com/product/medieval-ireland-book-bundle-two-bestsellers-for-30
Support the show and get ad-free episodes at patreon.com/irishpodcast
Sound by Kate Dunlea
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
William the Conqueror has been dead for nearly a thousand years, and he never set foot in Ireland—so how did he end up at the centre of a modern Irish culture war?
With Normandy gearing up for “The Year of the Norman” in 2027, a celebration of William’s legacy has sparked fierce debate on this side of the Irish Sea. Should Ireland join in commemorating a figure whose impact here is so fraught and contested? What does this row reveal about how we remember the past, and who gets to decide what’s worth celebrating? In this episode, I explore how a medieval king became the unlikely flashpoint for Ireland’s latest history debate, and what it tells us about the way we use and sometimes misuse our history today.
Want to dive deeper into Ireland’s medieval past? You can get both of my bestselling books—Life in Medieval Ireland and 1348: A Medieval Apocalypse – The Black Death in Ireland—together for just €30. Grab the Medieval Ireland Book Bundle now at https://irishhistory.bigcartel.com/product/medieval-ireland-book-bundle-two-bestsellers-for-30
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In 1973, just two people attended the lonely funeral of May O’Callaghan, an Irish emigrant in North London. Few could have imagined that this quiet woman from Wexford had once stood at the very heart of Soviet power. In the 1920s, May O’Callaghan worked in the Kremlin as the Soviet Union emerged, working alongside figures like Stalin, Trotsky, and the future Marshal Tito.
For decades, her remarkable story was forgotten until historian Maurice Casey uncovered her story in his acclaimed book, Hotel Lux. In this episode, I interview Maurice about May's life and the extraordinary journey that took May from Ireland to the corridors of Soviet power.
Get your copy of Hotel Lux: https://linktr.ee/hotelluxpreorders
Check out Maurice's personal website: mauricejcasey.com
Support The Irish History Podcast patreon.com/irishpodcast
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This special episode of the Irish History Podcast, in partnership with An Post, marks the 250th anniversary of Daniel O’Connell’s birth.
In this podcast, I explore the life and legacy of one of Ireland’s most influential figures. Known as 'The Liberator' O’Connell’s campaign for Catholic Emancipation in 1829 and his role in shaping modern Ireland are legendary, but his story is complex.
From his early days in Kerry and his experiences during the French Revolution to the personal demons that haunted him, O’Connell is an intriguing figure. Although a pacifist, he killed a rival in a fatal duel. A founding father of Irish nationalism, O’Connell was also a monarchist. This episode teases out these contradictions.
To mark the anniversary of his birth, An Post has released two commemorative stamps capturing pivotal moments in O’Connell’s story: his iconic ‘monster meetings’ and his release from prison in 1844. Check out the stamps at anpost.com/history.
In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Brian Casey, historian and archives manager at the Dublin Cemeteries Trust, for a fascinating conversation recorded in Glasnevin Cemetery, just steps from O’Connell’s final resting place. Together, Brian and I explore the history behind this legendary figure.
You can get the commemorative stamps now at anpost.com/history and in selected post offices across Ireland.
Audio edit by Kate Dunlea.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How do we decide who the most significant people in our history are? Whose story is worth telling? In this episode, I’m joined by Eoin Kinsella, managing editor of the Dictionary of Irish Biography, to explore how he and the team behind this remarkable resource tell the story of our island through biography. The DIB, a free to access to website has thousands of biographies on figures from Irish History.
From Henry McCullough, the only Irish musician at Woodstock, to Ann Lovett, whose tragic death forced a nation to confront uncomfortable truths, and Brendan Hughes, whose life mirrored the turbulence of the Troubles, this conversation delves into the complexities of who gets remembered—and why.
People mentioned in the episode.
Ann Lovett https://www.dib.ie/biography/lovett-ann-a10324
Eamon De Valera https://www.dib.ie/biography/de-valera-eamon-dev-a2472
Bang Bang https://www.dib.ie/biography/dudley-thomas-bang-bang-a2803
The Dice man https://www.dib.ie/biography/mcginty-thom-diceman-a5672
John Mitchel https://www.dib.ie/biography/mitchel-john-a5834
John Redmond https://www.dib.ie/biography/redmond-john-edward-a7602
Brendan Hughes https://www.dib.ie/biography/hughes-brendan-a9636
Dolours Price https://www.dib.ie/biography/price-dolours-a10048
Martin McGuinmess https://www.dib.ie/biography/mcguinness-james-martin-pacelli-a10375
Michael Collins https://www.dib.ie/biography/collins-michael-a1860
Daniel O’Connell https://www.dib.ie/biography/oconnell-daniel-a6555
Charles Stewart Parnell https://www.dib.ie/index.php/biography/parnell-charles-stewart-a7199
Francis Sheehy Skeffington https://www.dib.ie/biography/skeffington-francis-sheehy-a8105
Lady Mary Heath https://www.dib.ie/biography/heath-sophie-mary-lady-heath-nee-peirce-evans-other-married-name-eliott-lynn-a2963
Henry McCullough https://www.dib.ie/biography/mccullough-henry-campbell-liken-a10389
Eva Gore Booth https://www.dib.ie/biography/booth-eva-selina-gore-a0784
Do you have suggestion for entries. Contact the DIB at Dib@rai.ie
Sound by Kate Dunlea
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
When we think of Ireland’s past, we usually envisage an island shaped by two languages: Irish and English. But hidden in the history of South Wexford is Yola, a unique dialect that survived for centuries after the Norman invasion, only to vanish almost without a trace.
In this episode, I am joined by Sascha Sanchi Cooney to explore the fascinating story of Yola: where it came from, who spoke it, what it sounded like, and why it disappeared. From medieval settlers to the Great Vowel Shift and the impact of Cromwell, the history of this dialect is intriguing.
Get a copy of Sasha's 2019 book The Forth & Bargy Dialect at your local library https://waterford.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/FULL/WPAC/BIBENQ/458376473/1314333,1
Follow Sasha's work on Linkedin https://ie.linkedin.com/in/sascha-santschi-cooney-76a885188
Sound by Kate Dunlea.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This episode continues the story of NORAID - the Irish American organisation who were the voice of the IRA in the US. Jamie Goldrick and I delve into the complicated history of wider Irish American involvement in the Troubles. It's a history full of contradictions on both sides of the Atlantic. In the Republic, many criticised NORAID’s actions, yet did little themselves. Meanwhile, NORAID had little to say about the Vietnam War or the Civil Rights Movement in America.
Together, Jamie and I pick apart this complex and often uncomfortable chapter in Irish and Irish American history.
Jamie Goldrick is the producer of NORAID: Irish America & the IRA which screens on RTE on July 9th & 16th. Check it out on https://www.rte.ie/player/
There are a limited number of tickets for my live podcast on Daniel O’Connell in Glasnevin Cemetery. It takes place on July 24th, entry is free but booking is essential. Contact irishhistorypodcast@acast.com for your ticket today.
Sound by Kate Dunlea
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.