Lost songs of Ireland Podcast

Bill O'Brien
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Here I will be collecting and sharing old songs I have recovered from folklore and history archives, piecing them back together and telling their stories. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. The Rescue of Sean Hogan at The Station of Knocklong

    FEB 12

    The Rescue of Sean Hogan at The Station of Knocklong

    The epic story of the rescue of IRA man of the Tipperary 3rd Battalion man Sean Hogan in 1919. Sean Hogan along with Dan Breen, Seamus Robinson and Sean Treacy were known as the Big Four and highly active in the Irish War of Independence. This story tells of how they rescued Hogan from the RIC while in transit to Cork after his arrest for taking part in the Soloheadbeg ambush which left two RIC men dead and is widely acknowledged as the event that triggered the War of Independence. This daring rescue took place in Knocklong Station situated in Co. Limerick close to the Tipperary border. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    28 min

  2. 12/26/2025

    Hunting The Wren

    A few songs and stories about the ancient custom of hunting the wren after midwinter, echoes of which still exist today around the country. Songs include: The Wren Song (Altar Co Cork) and When We Hunted The Wren In Tipperary written by George Denny of Ballypatrick. Take a look at my Kickstarter campaign to get my book Lost Songs of Tipperary printed https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/billthebard/lost-songs-of-tipperary Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    27 min
  3. The Burning of Bridget Cleary

    10/31/2025

    The Burning of Bridget Cleary

    Discussing the awful murder of Bridget Cleary known as the last woman burned as a with in Ireland in 1895. Told alongside court records, newspaper articles, songs and poems written around the time. Including the ballad The Witchcraft Murder, a woman roasted alive in Country Tipperary composed by Bridget Healy recorded for the first time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    43 min
  4. The Historic Persecution of Irish Artists by the British State

    07/05/2025

    The Historic Persecution of Irish Artists by the British State

    A brief overview of the historical persecution of Irish artists, singers, balladeers and song writers by the British state and it's crown forces. In recent news the Irish rap group Kneecap have been grabbing headlines and social media discussions for their unapologetic and unrelenting support for the people of Palestine as well as holding governments around the world to account for their funding and political support for the ongoing genocide we are seeing unfold day after day in Gaza. To those with an interest in Irish history this is not a new occurrence but a British tradition in this country that goes back to the early 1700s where under the apartheid system of Penal Laws enforced upon us, the Irish saw countless numbers of their singers and song writers heavily persecuted facing imprisonment, exile or the gallows for speaking out against injustices. Free Palestine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    43 min
  5. Fee and Flanagan - The Clones Murder Ballad

    06/05/2025

    Fee and Flanagan - The Clones Murder Ballad

    One day in April 1903 a young trader named John Flanagan arrived in Clones town with eggs to sell and to pay a debt to the local butcher John Fee. After following Fee to his slaughterhouse he was not seen again until 8 months later his body was found buried in a dung pile. These are the ballads of the murder of John Flanagan from Clones Co Monaghan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    24 min
  6. Irish Courting Customs

    05/26/2025

    Irish Courting Customs

    This episode we talk a little about folklore and songs about old Irish courting and marriage rituals and beliefs. Songs: McBreen's Heifer Tipperary Mans Courtship I Wish They'd Do It Now My Own Irish Rose Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    29 min
  7. The 1867 Uprising

    08/29/2024

    The 1867 Uprising

    The 1867 uprising was another failed uprising across Ireland organised by the Irish Republican Brotherhood. These few songs are about men who fell during the uprising including Peter O'Neill Crowley and a young lad by the name of Ned Kelly from Kilcash in Co. Tipperary. Both borrowed the air from Charles Kickam's Poor Blind Patrick Sheehan, based on an older Celtic air to which many laments for fallen rebels were written. Songs include: Poor Blind Patrick Sheehan - Charles Kickham The Ballad of Peter O'Neill Crowley - Edmond Houlihan (Rambling Jack) Rebel on the Run - John Ryan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    48 min
  8. Sarsfield's Ride to Ballyneety

    07/14/2024

    Sarsfield's Ride to Ballyneety

    An account of Sarsfield's ride to Ballyneety leading to the Siege of Limerick with a few poems and revived ballads Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    31 min
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Here I will be collecting and sharing old songs I have recovered from folklore and history archives, piecing them back together and telling their stories. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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