Talking History with Patrick Geoghegan

In this episode of Talking History on Newstalk, we're looking at the history of the Leaving Certificate - 100 years old this year - and debating its impact on Irish education . Featuring: Dr Orla McCormack, Senior Lecturer in the School of Education at the University of Limerick; Deirdre Mac Mathuna, Past President and now Public Relations Officer for the History Teachers’ Association of Ireland a...

In this D-Day special, Talking History explores the D-Day landings on the 80th anniversary of the Longest Day, and how they changed the course of the Second World War. Joining host Patrick Geoghegan is: Prof Richard Overy, professor of history at the University of Exeter, and author of ‘World War II: The Definitive Visual History Volume I: From the Munich Crisis to the Battle of Kursk 1938-43'; Dr...

Patrick Geoghegan and his panel explore the life, times and legacy of William The Conqueror. Was he a hero who instituted great changes, brought in legal and administrative innovations, and unified England, or a villain and invader who conquered it in a dramatic overthrow? Featuring Prof George Garnett, Professor of Medieval History at St Hugh’s College, University of Oxford; Prof Virginia Davis,...

In this episode, we're telling the story of Ireland through its records with Orlaith McBride, Director of the National Archives of Ireland; we'll also find out about the life and legacy of Roger Casement, with Roland Philipps, author of Broken Archangel: The Tempestuous Lives of Roger Casement; we'll discuss the formation of the RNLI 200 years ago and its key early personnel with Helen Doe, histor...

In this episode of Talking History, we're looking at the life and music of Tchaikovsky and debating his remarkable artistic legacy. Joining Patrick Geoghegan is Prof Philip Ross Bullock, Professor of Russian Literature and Music, University of Oxford; Dr Ciarán Crilly, Associate Professor, UCD School of Music, and Artistic Director of the UCD Symphony Orchestra; and Dr Tamsin Alexander, Senior Lec...

In this episode, we're exploring the Library of Alexandria and finding out how it became the ancient world's greatest repository of knowledge. Joining Patrick Geoghegan is Willeke Wendrich, Research Professor of Egyptian Archaeology and Digital Humanities, UCLA; Prof Islam Issa, Professor of Literature and History at Birmingham City University; and Dr Cynthia Johnston, Senior Lecturer in History o...

In a new mini-series over the next year, Talking History explores the history of Ireland's political parties, from their achievements in office, to their failures, leaders and legacy. In this first episode, we look back the history of Fianna Fáil: the good, the bad and the ugly of the party which has been in power in Ireland for longer than any other. Patrick Geoghegan is joined by Dr Eoin O’Malle...

Marking the international touring exhibition 'Imagine: 100 Years of International Surrealism', Patrick Geoghegan finds out what this movement meant to the art world and its global significance still today. Joining him is Dr Felicity Gee, Senior Lecturer in Modernism and World Cinema at the University of Exeter, and Vice President of the International Society for the Study of Surrealism; Dr Matthew...

In this April Books Special, we'll find out how the Oxford English Dictionary was crowdsourced from a surprising and diverse group of people from astronomers to murderers, with author Dr Sarah Ogilvie, Senior Research Fellow in Linguistics at the University of Oxford; we'll also explore one of the bloodiest periods in English history known as the Anarchy with author and historian Sharon Bennett Co...

In this episode of Talking History, we're remembering Abba's Eurovision win 50 years ago and finding out how the song Waterloo helped to propel them to global superstardom. Joining Patrick Geoghegan are: Carl Magnus Palm, historian and author of ‘Abba On Record', Ingmarie Halling, Creative Director and Curator at ABBA The Museum, Hedley Swain, CEO of Royal Pavilion and Museums Trust, on the Abba e...

On this week's Talking History, we're looking at the creation of the Irish courts system 100 years ago and exploring how our legal system came about. On Patrick Geoghegan's panel: Dr Niamh Howlin, Associate Professor at the UCD Sutherland School of Law and main organiser of the Dublin Castle event commemorating the Courts of Justice Act 1924; Dr Donal Coffey, Lecturer and Assistant Professor,...

In this World War Two-themed March Books Special, Patrick Geoghegan meets the nephew of Alan Turing to discuss the enigma traitors. We'll also hear about the travels of Winston Churchill from Robin Cross, and debate why the Luftwaffe lost the aerial war over Germany, with Jonathan Trigg.

Happy St Patrick's Day! In this episode, we chart the history of Taoisigh visiting the White House, how the tradition started and evolved, and why Ireland is the only country that gets this special treatment in the United States. Joining Patrick's panel is Marion R. Casey, Clinical Professor, Director of Undergraduate Studies and historian at New York University. She is the author of ‘The Green Sp...

On this week's episode of Talking History, Patrick Geoghegan traces the highs and lows of The Oscars, the underrated and underwhelming nominations of the past, and the trailblazers for Irish cinematic success. He's joined by Prof Mark Glancy, Professor of Film History, Queen Mary University of London; Dr Conn Holohan, Director of the Centre for Creative Technologies and lecturer in film and media...

In this episode of Talking History, we're looking at FDR and the New Deal as we debate the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt and his attempts to tackle the Great Depression. Joining Patrick Geoghegan is Iwan Morgan , Emeritus Professor of US Studies at UCL and author of FDR: Transforming the Presidency and Renewing America; Dr Bernadette Whelan, professor emeritus in the Department of History, U...

On this episode of Talking History, to mark the anniversary of the birth of George Harrison, we're looking at the music, history and legacy of The Beatles: the band that changed popular culture forever. Patrick Geoghegan is joined by Dr Holly Tessler of the University of Liverpool; Roag Best of the Liverpool Beatles Museum; Beatles superfan Terrie Colman-Black; and Kevin McManus, Head of UNESCO Ci...

In this episode of Talking History, Patrick Geoghegan reflects on the symbolism of Stormont and what we can learn about Northern Irish politics from studying the building, with Dr Suzanne O'Neill, adjunct assistant professor at the Department of Classics at Trinity College Dublin; why the Treaty is incorrectly blamed for partition, with author and historian Joe Connell; and the lessons we can lear...

'The Liberator', former Lord Mayor of Dublin, and Kerryman Daniel O'Connell is the subject of this week's episode of Talking History. Joining Patrick Geoghegan to discuss him is Professor Maurice Bric, Emeritus Professor of History at UCD and director of the Daniel O'Connell Summer School; Conor Dodd , a historian for Dublin Cemeteries Trust who manages its heritage and education department within...

In this episode of Talking History, Patrick Geoghegan explores the life and times of Roman emperor Septimius Severus. He's joined by Dr David Woods, Head of the Department of Classics at UCC; Prof Mark Humphries, Professor of Ancient History, Swansea University; and Dr Rebecca Usherwood, Assistant Professor in Late Antique and Early Byzantine Studies at Trinity College Dublin.

In this episode, we're finding out about the Lithuanian-born solicitor who was the legal advisor to Michael Collins, Arthur Griffith and Constance Markievicz, with Dr Barry Whelan; we'll also hear about Britain's very first women's movement, with Dr Susannah Gibson; and the changing world of Irish barristers after independence, with Dr Niamh Howlin.

On this episode of Talking History, we're looking at Gladstone and Ireland, and finding out how the Grand Old Man became a convert to Home Rule and tried to bring in justice for Ireland. Patrick Geoghegan is joined by Prof Matthew Kelly, Professor of Modern History, University of Northumbria; Dr Andrea Russell, Warden of Gladstone's Library; and Dr Caoimhe Nic Dháibhéid, Faculty Director of Educat...

This week on Talking History: Patrick explores the abdication of King Edward VIII with Adrian Phillips, author of 'The King Who Had to Go: Edward VIII, Mrs. Simpson, and the Hidden Politics of the Abdication Crisis' as well as 'The First Royal Media War: Edward VIII, the Abdication and the Press'; journalist and author, Emily Hourican; and Cathal Brennan, co-presenter of 'The Irish History Show Po...

In this episode of Talking History, we explore the history of Dublin in books - O'Connell Street, its statues, monuments and buildings, with Nicola Pierce, author of ‘O’Connell Street – The History & Life of Dublin’s Iconic Street’, how we ended up with the Spire with historian Donal Fallon, and we'll also bring you the history of rugby in Leinster from the 19th century to present day, with hi...

In this episode of Talking History, we explore the life and music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and debate whether he was the greatest composer of all time, and assess his remarkable legacy.

In this Christmas episode of Talking History, we're visiting the White House to find out about Christmas traditions and tales there from the 19th century to the present day. We'll find out how Jackie Kennedy reshaped the holiday and how different presidents and their families viewed the festivities. Joining us is Lina Mann, Historian at The White House Historical Association.