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Irish History Podcast

Irish History Podcast

Fin Dwyer

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.

Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/irishhistory.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

396 - Why Was Life Expectancy So Low in Ireland Until 1900?
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  • 396 - Why Was Life Expectancy So Low in Ireland Until 1900?

    Life expectancy in Ireland has doubled over the past 200 years, but why was it so low for so long? In this podcast, I delve into the factors that kept life expectancy down in Ireland's history and what those numbers truly mean. Did people really only live to 40 in the past? During the Great Hunger, life expectancy plummeted to just 20 years—what does this reveal about society at the time? Join me as I explore these questions and discuss what I believe to be one of humanity's greatest achievements: the remarkable doubling of life expectancy in recent times.


    Support the show at https://patreon.com/irishpodcast

    Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/irishhistory.



    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Wed, 20 Nov 2024 - 37min
  • 395 - 1719: The Irish Rescue of the Polish Princess Bride

    In 1719, the 17-year-old Polish Princess Maria Clementina Sobieska was seized by the Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI. While the move shocked many in Europe, in the following months a group of Irish exiles plotted a daring rescue of Maria Clementina. This led to a dramatic 400-kilometer chase across 18th-century Europe.


    In this episode, I am joined by historian Richard Maher, an expert in the area, who explains why Irish exiles, known as the Wild Geese, risked their lives to rescue this Polish princess and how they hoped she might change the course of Irish history.


    You can follow Richard on Linkedin at https://ie.linkedin.com/in/richard-maher-a5ab8068


    Subscribe to my new podcast with historian Damian Shiels. Its called Transatlantic - An Irish American History Podcast. You can hear the latest episode here https://linktr.ee/transatlanticpod

    Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/irishhistory.



    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Tue, 12 Nov 2024 - 32min
  • 394 - Societal Collapse: Did It Happen in Irish History?

    In this episode, I explore the ruins of a Temple and the intriguing concept of societal collapse and its relevance to Irish history. Often depicted as dramatic and apocalyptic, societal collapse is a topic that has captured the imagination of historians and the public alike. But how accurate is this narrative especially when applied to Ireland's past? Join me as I explore if events like the Great Hunger can be considered a societal collapse!


    Check out my new podcast 'Transatlantic: An Irish American History Podcast' with Damian Shiels https://linktr.ee/transatlanticpod


    Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/irishhistory.



    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Wed, 06 Nov 2024 - 31min
  • 393 - Your Prehistoric Ancestors: More Sophisticated than you think!

    Check out my new podcast 'Transatlantic: An Irish American History Podcast' with Damian Shiels https://linktr.ee/transatlanticpod


    In this captivating episode, I explore the enigmatic world of prehistoric Ireland. I am joined by Professor Gabriel Cooney to discuss the lives of Ireland's earliest inhabitants. Our conversation challenges the stereotypes that often cloud our understanding of this distant past. We discuss what megalithic tombs can reveal about the societies that built them and what the latest DNA analysis has uncovered about life in prehistory.


    Spanning an incredible 8,000 years, this episode sheds light on the sophisticated societies that thrived long before the advent of written records. Drawing insights from Professor Cooney's acclaimed book, "Death in Irish Prehistory," this conversation offers a fresh perspective on what is often an overlooked aspect of our history.


    Gabriel's book Death in Irish Prehistory is available here https://shop.ria.ie/products/death-in-irish-prehistory https://shop.ria.ie/products/death-in-irish-prehistory


    Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/irishhistory.



    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Wed, 23 Oct 2024 - 31min
  • 392 - Stigma, Famine & Emigration: A History of Mental Health in Ireland

    By the late 1950s, over 20,000 individuals in the Republic of Ireland were confined in asylums—a staggering figure equivalent to 1 in every 133 Irish people at the time. This episode delves into how such a situation arose. Were Irish people inherently more susceptible to mental health issues, or was there something else at play?


    Centered around a single incident—a murder in Kilkenny in 1890—this episode uncovers how the Great Famine, emigration, and Victorian attitudes toward mental health created a society where anyone deemed to be suffering from mental ill-health was institutionalized.


    Originally released as Chapter 8 of my Irish Times bestseller, "A Lethal Legacy: A History of Ireland in 18 Murders," this episode marks the release of the book's paperback edition. I'm thrilled to share the audio of one of my favorite chapters with you. While it focuses on a murder, it offers profound insights into past and present attitudes toward mental health in Ireland.


    If you enjoy this episode, you can get your copy of "A Lethal Legacy" at linktr.ee/alethallegacy.

    Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/irishhistory.



    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Wed, 16 Oct 2024 - 32min
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