Talking History with Patrick Geoghegan

In this episode of Talking History, Patrick Geoghegan reflects on 240 years of the Bank of Ireland, the milestones in its history, its governors, and how the old parliament building in College Green came into the possession of the bank. He's joined by Newstalk Business Editor Joe Lynam; John McGrath, premises manager, Bank of Ireland; and Mick O’Farrell, employee with Bank of Ireland and published...

In this episode of Talking History, we're looking at the history of Irish wakes, and exploring Irish beliefs and practices about death over the centuries. Featuring: Éamonn McEneaney, Director of Waterford Treasures Museums, Donnchadh O Ceallachain and Rosemary Ryan, Curators at Waterford Treasures Museum, and John Thompson of Thompson Funeral Homes (established in Waterford in 1786), former Presi...

On this week’s Talking History, Patrick looks at the life and legacy of Katherine Mansfield, the New Zealand-born modernist writer, whose haunting and powerful works helped redefine the modern short story. Joining Patrick to discuss is: Sir Vincent Gerard O'Sullivan, Professor Emeritus, at Victoria University of Wellington, one of the world’s foremost Mansfield scholars and President of the Kather...

In this episode of Talking History: this summer marks the 225th anniversary of the outbreak of the 1798 Rebellion, a massive uprising inspired by the revolutions in France and America which attempted to create an independent Irish Republic, inspiring Irish nationalists up to 1916 and beyond. Patrick Geoghegan looks at what happened in Wexford in 1798 and how it is being commemorated this year, alo...

In this episode of Talking History: how Ireland became a founding member of the European Space Agency with space commentator Leo Enright; we'll explore Europe's old towns and find out what they hide about our continent's history with author Marek Kohn; and we'll hear about the 300 men, women and children buried in Dublin's Glasnevin Cemetery who died during the War of Independence and Civil War, f...

In this episode of Talking History, we meet 'The Last Viking', legendary warrior King Harald Hardrada, with author Don Hollway; we explore the history of watchmaking with designer, watchmaker, and historian Rebecca Struthers; and we'll learn about 'The Ugly Duchess' and how a Renaissance portrait challenges our views about beauty with the UK National Gallery's Emma Capron.

On this episode of Talking History, we'll preview a new film on the life and career of 18th century classic composer and violinist Joseph Bologne, with Julia I. Doe, Assistant Professor of Music at Columbia University; we'll hear the story of the first woman artist in Europe to achieve commercial success, Lavinia Fontana, from Dr. Aoife Brady, curator of the exhibition on her at the National Galle...

In this episode of Talking History, Dr Patrick Geoghegan looks at the life, death and legacy of the first English monarch to bear the name Charles and finds out how he ended up losing his throne and his head. Joining us are David Prior, Head of Public Services & Outreach at the UK Parliamentary Archives; Leanda de Lisle, author of “White King: Charles I – Traitor, Murderer, Martyr”; and Erin Griff...

Coming up on this episode of Talking History: we're exploring entertainment, culture, religion and society in Ancient Rome, with Dr Jonathan Coulston, Senior Lecturer at the School of Classics at The University of St Andrews; Dr Rebecca Usherwood, Assistant Professor in Late Antique and Early Byzantine Studies, at the Department of Classics, Trinity College Dublin; and Paul Chrystal, historian and...

On this episode of Talking History: when did Shakespeare become known as The Bard, and why does Macbeth still exert such a powerful hold on audiences hundreds of years later? Join Dr Patrick Geoghegan as he discusses witchcraft, murder and the influence of the Gunpowder Plot on the play with Prof Sandra Clark from the Institute of English Studies at the University of London, Dr. Abigail Rokison-Wo...

On this episode of Talking History, we discuss a number of new history titles, including 'Wedded Wife: A Feminist History of Marriage' by curator Rachael Lennon; 'Travels with Tocqueville Beyond America' by Jeremy Jennings, Professor of Political Theory at King’s College London; and 'Law and the idea of liberty in Ireland from Magna Carta to the present' by coeditor Peter Crooks. Presented by Dr P...

In this episode of Talking History, Dr Patrick Geoghegan reflects on the life and legacy of British prime minister Margaret Thatcher. Featuring: Clive Bloom, author of Thatcher's Secret War; June Purvis, Professor Emerita of Women's and Gender History at the University of Portsmouth; Richard Vinen, Professor of History at King's College London and the author of Thatcher's Britain; and Charles Moor...

On this episode of Talking History, as part of our series on the history of totalitarian dictators, we're looking at the rise and fall of Adolf Hitler and finding out why he lost the Second World War so spectacularly. Featuring: Prof Frank McDonough, specialist on the history of the Third Reich; R.T. Howard, author of the book 'Spying on the Reich: The Cold War Against Hitler'; and Prof Devin Pend...

In this episode of Talking History, we are looking at the history of The Tudors and finding out why the most notorious of all English dynasties continues to exert such a hold on the popular imagination. Dr Patrick Geoghegan is joined by Prof Richard Rex, Professor of Reformation History, University of Cambridge; Dr Natalie Mears, Reader/Associate Professor in Tudor and Early Stuart History at Durh...

In this episode of Talking History, Dr Patrick Geoghegan looks at the story of St Patrick through the centuries and finds out about the iconography and the legends surrounding the patron saint of Ireland with journalist Alannah Hopkin; he also investigates why civilisations collapse with archaeologist John Darlington, and hears about the copper beech tree Lady Gregory used to ask her guests to aut...

In this episode of Talking History, Dr Patrick Geoghegan and his panel are looking at the history of the most famous film awards in the world - the highs, the lows, the triumphs and the controversies of the Academy Awards. Featuring Dr Conn Holohan from the University of Galway, Gwenda Young, Lecturer in Film Studies at UCC, Dr Aaron Hunter, Teaching Fellow in Film Studies at Trinity College Dubli...

This episode of Talking History looks at the life and legacy of Joseph Stalin. Dr Patrick Geoghegan speaks with Professor Geoffrey Roberts, Professor of History at University College Cork, Professor James Harris, Professor of Modern European History at the University of Leeds, Dr Anna Toropova, School of Russian and Eastern European Studies at the University of Oxford, Professor Polly Jones, Profe...

On this week's episode of Talking History: Dr Patrick Geoghegan delves into a roundup of history books - the life of Julian of Norwich with Dr Claire Gilbert; Katherine MacInnes on her book 'Snow Widows: Scott's Fatal Antarctic Expedition by the Women Left Behind'; and we hear about 'The Death Census of Black '47 - Eyewitness Accounts of Ireland's Great Famine' from QUB's Professor Liam Kennedy.

'As I Remember It: Bertie Ahern & the Good Friday Agreement' is a new podcast that tells the story of the Good Friday Agreement as told by those who negotiated it and marks the first time all those involved have reunited to reflect on the negotiations in 25 years. Head to newstalk.com/goodfridayagreement.

In this week's episode of Talking History, we're looking at the history and making of modern Ukraine, exploring questions of identity and the roots of the ongoing conflict. Featuring Taras Kuzio, Professor in the Department of Political Science, National University of Kyiv Mohyla Academy; Dr Marnie Howlett, Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Oxford; Emeritus Pr...

In this episode, Dr Patrick Geoghegan explores the wondrous world of historical hairstyles with 'The Coiffured' exhibition curator and visual artist Amanda Jane Graham; looks at the world's first named author, Enheduanna, and the Women of Mesopotamia with Morgan Library exhibition curator Sidney Babcock; gets an insight into the People and Places of our past with the National Photographic Archive'...

To mark Ireland's new public holiday named after St Brigid, on this episode of Talking History we'll be exploring the life, legacy and legend of St Brigid and finding out how she became one of our patron saints. Joining Dr Patrick Geoghegan is Dr Edel Bhreathnach from the School of History at UCC, Dr Niamh Wycherley from Maynooth University, Laura Murphy from Herstory and behind the Bridget public...

100 years ago, WB Yeats won the Nobel Prize for Literature. Dr Patrick Geoghegan looks at his life and legacy, his politics and his love of the occult, joined by esteemed panel Dr Adrian Paterson, Lecturer in English at the School of English and the Creative Arts at the University of Galway; Dr Lucy Collins, Associate Professor of Modern Poetry, at University College Dublin; Professor Roy Foster,...

In this episode of Talking History, we explore the Clerys archive and find out how the iconic building in Dublin has been restored. Joining host Dr Patrick Geoghegan is public historian Caitlin White of Trinity College Dublin as well as George O'Malley who specialises in the conservation and restoration of lime plaster and stucco, and led the plasterwork restoration at Clerys. And later in the sho...

On this episode of Talking History, Dr Patrick Geoghegan reflects on the life and legacy of Eoin MacNeill, the man best remembered for issuing the countermanding order in 1916, but whose career was far more significant and enduring. He's joined by Dr Emer Purcell, medieval historian, publications officer for the National University of Ireland and coeditor of 'Eoin MacNeill: the Pen and the Sword';...