The History and Heritage Podcast

Liam Blake
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Join Liam Blake on The History and Heritage Podcast as we uncover Ireland’s hidden stories, legendary figures, and rich cultural traditions—while connecting them to the wider world. From ancient Irish customs to pivotal global events, each episode brings history to life with expert insight, gripping narratives, and the fascinating links between Ireland’s past and the history that shaped us all. Perfect for history buffs, heritage lovers, and anyone curious about the secrets of Ireland and beyond—tune in and discover the stories you thought were lost to time.

  1. 21H AGO

    Ireland's Hidden Hands: Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington

    Arthur Wellesley is remembered as a British icon. In reality, he was Irish-born, Irish-shaped, and surrounded by Irish soldiers at every stage of his life. From his childhood at Dangan Castle in County Meath, through his years in the Irish Parliament, to India, the Peninsula, and finally Waterloo, this episode explores the hidden Irish foundations of the man known as the Duke of Wellington. Along the way: – disputed birthplaces and Irish memory – the violin, the red coat, and self-reinvention – Irish regiments at the heart of Europe’s greatest battles – and the political legacy that still echoes today. Not myth. Not symbolism. Just the real, complicated human story behind one of history’s most misunderstood figures.

    13 min

  2. FEB 11

    The Emerald Corridor: Ireland and Poland

    Ireland and Poland are usually linked in the modern imagination by EU migration and contemporary politics. But their relationship is far older — stretching back over 5,000 years. This episode traces the long, forgotten connections between the two countries, from Bronze Age DNA and Baltic trade routes, through medieval Irish monks in Krakow, Irish mercenaries fighting for Polish kings, Polish famine relief in the west of Ireland, Cold War solidarity, and finally the modern Polish community in Ireland today. Rather than treating Ireland and Poland as separate national stories, this episode argues that they are part of a shared European history — shaped by migration, empire, religion, and resilience. It’s a history of two small nations on the edge of Europe, repeatedly meeting across time, often without realising it.

    17 min

  3. FEB 4

    Entangled Emerald: Ireland and Egypt

    What if the "operating system" for ancient Irish spirituality was actually coded in the Egyptian desert? In this episode, we peel back the layers of a 3,500-year-old bilateral relationship that connects the Nile Valley to the Atlantic coast. This isn't just a story of myths and legends—it is a documentable history of moving people and power. We dive into the "3–2–1" of this extraordinary connection: three recurring systems (trade, religion, and empire), two things that always move (people and bodies), and one underlying pattern—that these two nations collide every time the global order reshapes itself. In this episode, we explore: • The Bronze Age "iPhone": How Egyptian faience beads ended up in a royal grave at Tara, proving that Irish elites were embedded in Mediterranean luxury trade 1,400 years before Christ,. • The Spiritual Operating System: Why Irish Christianity is structurally Egyptian, from ascetic practices to the literal Egyptian papyrus used to reinforce Irish scripture,. • The Literal Migration: Meet the seven Egyptian monks recorded living in Ulster in 800 AD—proof that the connection was made of real people, not just symbolic saints. • Empire & Counter-Insurgency: How the British Empire used Ireland as a "beta-testing lab" for policing methods and personnel that were later exported to Egypt to suppress revolution,. • From Myths to Modernity: How the relationship evolved from the medieval legend of Scota (an Egyptian ancestor used to claim political legitimacy) to Irish architects designing the Grand Egyptian Museum today,,. Whether it’s the Book of Kells adopting Coptic styles or a 1990 World Cup match that changed the rules of global football forever, discover why Ireland and Egypt are more "entangled" than you ever imagined,,. Listen now to uncover the physical reality of this ancient connection.

    15 min

  4. JAN 27

    Emerald Echoes: Ireland and South Korea

    Did you know South Korea is often called the "Ireland of Asia"? 🇮🇪🇰🇷 From shared struggles for independence to modern classroom innovations, our histories are more connected than you think. 📍 1920: The Tonga Ilbo reported on the massive funeral of Cork Mayor Tomás Mac Curtain, assassinated by British police on March 20, 1920. Just months later, the world mourned the death of hunger striker Terence MacSwiney. ⚔️ 1951: During the Korean War, the Royal Ulster Rifles and 8th King’s Royal Irish Hussars fought the legendary Battle of Happy Valley to protect Seoul. Some Irish soldiers spent over two years in "Bean Camp" before their release in August 1953. 🌱 1954: Father Patrick James McGlinchey arrived on Jeju Island, eventually founding St. Isidore Farm to help residents build self-sufficiency through modern farming. 📚 Today: South Korea’s Free Year Program, launched in 2013, was partially informed by Ireland’s Transition Year, helping students explore their dreams without the pressure of exams. History isn't just in the past—it’s the bridge to our future. 🕊️ #IrelandInKorea #SharedHistory #JejuIsland #HappyValley #GlobalConnections

    12 min

  5. JAN 20

    Emerald Roots: The Irish legacy in Argentina

    Emerald Roots: The Irish Legacy in Argentina Think you know the Irish diaspora? Think again. Argentina is home to the largest Irish-descended community outside the English-speaking world. From Tomas and Juan Farrell in 1536 to World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister, this episode uncovers the untold stories of Irish settlers, military heroes, rebellious flag-raisers, and cultural icons who shaped Argentina. Join me on The History and Heritage Podcast as we trace the rhythms of Irish life across the Pampas — sheep farmers, newspapers, shamrocks, and dance. Listen, discover, and fall in love with Ireland’s far-reaching legacy.

    13 min

  6. JAN 13

    Where are we going in 2026?

    Irish history did not stay in Ireland. This episode sets the direction for The History & Heritage Podcast in 2026 — not through announcements, but through intent. The year ahead explores Irish lives under pressure, at home and abroad. From Irish shepherds on the Argentine pampas, to songs that carried memory when language faded, to the often-unacknowledged Irish influence on British public life. It also opens space deliberately. Some episodes will be shaped by listener questions, family histories, local stories, and the kind of Irish history you only ever hear in passing — and never see written down. What travels? What stays? What survives? Same roots. Different soil.

    5 min

  7. 12/23/2025

    Irish Surnames — More Than a Name

    Irish surnames weren’t chosen. They were inherited long before birth — and they told the world exactly where you stood. Long before much of Europe had fixed family names, Ireland was already encoding kinship, obligation, protection, and memory into language itself. This episode looks at how Irish surnames actually worked, why they appeared so early, and how conquest and bureaucracy broke their grammar. It’s not a lesson in genealogy — it’s an attempt to relearn how to read a system that once held Irish society together.

    14 min

  8. 12/16/2025

    Surname Series: Leahy/Lahy

    This episode of The History and Heritage Podcast examines the Irish surname Leahy, along with variants such as Lahey and Leahey. Although often treated as a single family name, Leahy derives from two distinct Gaelic lineages with different meanings, social roles, and regional histories. The episode explores how anglicisation, regional pronunciation, and administrative record-keeping caused separate families to be recorded under the same spellings. A grounded exploration of language, identity, and the hidden complexity behind a familiar Irish name.

    13 min
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About

Join Liam Blake on The History and Heritage Podcast as we uncover Ireland’s hidden stories, legendary figures, and rich cultural traditions—while connecting them to the wider world. From ancient Irish customs to pivotal global events, each episode brings history to life with expert insight, gripping narratives, and the fascinating links between Ireland’s past and the history that shaped us all. Perfect for history buffs, heritage lovers, and anyone curious about the secrets of Ireland and beyond—tune in and discover the stories you thought were lost to time.

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