Irish History Podcast

The Golden Age of Irish Smuggling

The 18th century was a golden age of Irish smuggling. It's estimated that as many as one third of all luxury goods entering Ireland were brought in by smugglers. Far from

Why Did Nazi Germany Bomb an Irish Village in 1940?

Become a supporter at https://www.patreon.com/c/IrishpodcastOn 26 August 1940, two German aircraft crossed the coast of County Wexford and flew towards the small village

The Sinking of the Lusitania

On 7 May 1915, the passenger liner RMS Lusitania was torpedoed by the German submarine U-20 off the coast of County Cork. The enormous ship sank in just 18 minutes, killi

Ireland’s Shipwrecks: History from the Depths

Every year, fragments of long-lost ships wash ashore on Irish beaches. They are remnants of the thousands of shipwrecks scattered around our coast, dating from Prehistory

Broken Promises: Why Irish Independence Failed the Irish Language

In 1922, Ireland gained its independence. The new state promised to revive the Irish language. A century later, English still dominates daily life. What went wrong? In t

Progress at Any Cost? The Dark History Behind Ireland’s Electrification

In the 1920s, the newly established Irish Free State embarked on one of the most ambitious engineering projects in its history: the Shannon Scheme at Ardnacrusha. This w

Hitler’s Irish Relatives: The Strange True Story

A video version of this episode is available on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/irish-history-podcast/id363368392 On the day Hitler invaded Poland,

Living on the Wrong Side of History: My Family Secrets

Family history is often where the heroic version of the past falls apart. We like to imagine our ancestors standing on the right side of history. Someone in the GPO in 1

The Irish Crown Jewels Robbery: Ireland’s Crime of the Century?

In the summer of 1907, the Irish Crown Jewels were stolen from the heart of British power in Ireland, under the noses of the police, the military and the political establ

From White Settlers to Fascists: The IRA’s Troubling Allies

Irish republicans had many natural allies during the War of Independence. Irish communities in the United States offered vital support, while revolutionaries in India and

The Battle for Liverpool and New York: The Irish Revolution in the Atlantic World

Liverpool and New York haunt the story of Irish independence in a way few other places do. Though separated by more than 5,000 kilometres of ocean, both ports were part o

Ogham: The Mystery of Ireland’s Oldest Writing

Ogham is Ireland’s oldest known writing system, dating back more than 1,500 years. If you have ever seen strange lines carved along the edge of an old stone, you may have

Taking the War to England: The IRA in Britain

'We are doing this because you are doing it in Ireland'. These were the words of an IRA volunteer in Manchester explaining attacks in Britain during the Irish War of Ind

A Conspiracy of Fear & Silence: The Maamtrasna Murders

In August 1882, a brutal mass murder in a remote valley in the west of Ireland shocked the world. At Maamtrasna, a family, the Joyces, were attacked in their home. The vi

Daily Life in the Middle Ages: Worse Than You Think [Listener Favourite]

A recent hospital visit means there is no new episode this week, but it reminded me of this classic from early 2024! Tune in to find out more How difficult was life in

Dublin Port Has Seen It All: 1,200 Years of History.

Dublin is famous for its Georgian squares, medieval cathedral, castle and revolutionary history. But the cornerstone of Dublin's history is undoubtedly the port. Nearly

Solidarity, Suspicion and Conspiracy: Jews and the Irish Revolution

As the Irish Revolution broke out, Europe was gripped by political upheaval, fear of revolution, and rising antisemitism. In conservative and right-wing circles, the so-c

Drogheda & Beyond: The Terrifying Reality of Siege Warfare in Ireland

Between 1641 and 1653, Ireland was engulfed by devastating war. It was a period of extraordinary violence, famine and social collapse. The death toll was staggering. As m

Forgotten Allies: How Egypt and India Supported the Irish Revolution

During the Irish War of Independence, republicans in Ireland looked far beyond Britain and America for support. In Egypt and India, they found allies. Secret meetings too

Operation Green: Hitler's Plan for Ireland

In 1939, Ireland declared itself neutral in the Second World War. But neutrality did not mean the island was safe. Indeed, both Germany and Britain developed plans to occ