The History of Ireland

Irish men blowing each other to smithereens – there's a reason March 1923 is often referred to as the month of terror. In this episode we explore the Ballyseedy Massacre and the other similarly gruesome events that occurred in Kerry towards the end of the Irish Civil War. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we look at the winter of 1922 into 1923 – time when the Civil War became increasingly bitter and the anti-Treaty side became more and more desperate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we join forces with Shite Talk History to tell the story of the amazing Harry Boland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we explore a friendship that ended in executions that was said to have "killed the new State at its birth.“ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we celebrate 1,000,000 downloads by going down the supernatural rabbit hole that is the history of Halloween. From druids to evil spirts, from Christianity to capitalism, Halloween is a fascinating mix of ancient folk traditions, religion and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we look at December 6th, the day the Irish Free State official came into being. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we look at the creation of Irish Free State constitution which was brought into law on December 6th 1922. Here's the Radiolab episode on the Irish electoral system that I mention in the show: https://radiolab.org/podcast/tweak-vote Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we look at how the Catholic Church worked to bring about peace in 1922, choosing the Treaty and turning against the anti-Treaty Republicans. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we look at the first series of executions carried out by the Free State in November 1922. The image used for this episode is of Erskine Childers and his wife Molly, on their yacht the Asgard. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we tell the sad story of Tadhg Kennefick and try to make sense of the horrific violence of the Irish Civil war. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we look at what has been described as one of the most draconian pieces of legislation ever to be passed in a liberal democracy and see how the Special Powers Act was just one of the many ways that Ulster Unionists held on to power. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we look at the second failed Craig-Collins pact and try to untangle the complicated web that was Michael Collins's approach to the North in 1922. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From CS Lewis's bourgeois Protestant upbringing to Seamus Heaney's beautiful attempts at understanding his home, this episode I interview Alexander Poots author of The Strangers' House: Writing Northern Ireland and ask what Northern Irish writers can teach us about the history of the area. Sign up to Patreon for the full interview. You can read more about the book, here: https://www.twelvebooks.co...

In this episode we look at the failed attempts to bring peace to Northern Ireland in 1922 and how this affected one poor family in particular. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What's this? A new episode! Finally! Thanks so much for baring with me. Happy to say the show is back and raring to go. This episode takes a look at how the Northern Irish border was drawn and explains how we landed on the six counties. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we investigate how the anti-Treaty IRA were coping, as well as the Army Emergency Power Resolution and its ramifications. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we take a look at WT Cosgrave – the conservative witty Dubliner who replaced Arthur Griffith and Michael Collins to become the leader of the fledgling state. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we examine the ramifications of Michael Collins death — his funeral the reprisals that followed, and who would take his place. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we explore one of the most tragic (and hotly debated) moments of the Irish Civil War, the death of Michael Collins. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A jam packed episode as we explore what was going on in and around the first week of August 1922. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Loved this chat with Gerard Shannon, a fascinating historian currently writing a book on Liam Lynch. Over the course of the interview we get deep into the minds of the two leading figures of the anti-Treaty IRA. As ever the full hour long interview is available to Patreon subscribers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After the Four Courts was blown to smithereens fighting continued for several days in and around Dublin. In this episode we imagine what it must have been like for those hold up in the hotels, shops and homes transformed into military bases — and what it must have been like for those attacking them. The image shows the Gresham Hotel in flames. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inform...

In this episode we look at the event traditionally viewed as the start of the Irish Civil War. These first unsteady and unwilling steps into civil war paved the way for the brutality that would soon follow. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today on the centenary of the death of Michael Collins I'm sharing excerpts from an interview with Anne Dolan and Will Murphy authors of Michael Collins: The Man & The Revolution and Days in the Life, Reading the Michael Collins Diaries 1918-1922. Reading the Michael Collins Diaries just came out last week and it was fascinating to unpack what Anne and Will learned while putting the new book t...

The death of Sir Henry Wilson is a complicated affair that gives us a fascinating insight into the intersectional nature of the Ireland at the time. Whether figuring out who ordered the hit or examining those involved — nothing is simple or straightforward. The photo is of Reginald Dunne. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.