Murder under Gaslight

Don Mortell

True stories of murder in Victorian era Ireland. Come with us as we travel back to Victorian Ireland and delve into mysteries and murders that enthralled and terrified Ireland in a time where forensic science was in its infancy. Follow the trail of blood on the cobbled streets of Dublin, Cork, Galway and many other locations on this intriguing podcast.  A must for true crime lovers. 

Episodes

  1. 1D AGO

    Episode 11- Murdered by mistake-Maria Smythe and the Barbavilla Murder- 1882

    Send us Fan Mail In the spring of 1882, the quiet Westmeath estate of Barbavilla was shattered by a killing that sent shockwaves far beyond its gates. What began as a seemingly straightforward murder soon twisted into a tale of land disputes, secret loyalties, and a community caught between fear and suspicion. In the shadow of the Land War, nothing was simple—and nothing was as it first appeared. In this episode, we step back into that charged moment in Irish history, tracing the events that led to the Barbavilla murder and the forces that shaped its aftermath.

    21 min

  2. MAY 1

    Episode 10- 'I declare before my God'- The wrongful execution of Brian Seery-1846

    Send us Fan Mail In the summer of 1846, the town of Mullingar became the stage for a tragedy that should never have happened. A young man named Brian Seery was accused, condemned, and executed—swiftly, publicly, and, as many would later argue, wrongfully. His death was meant to bring closure to a frightened community. Instead, it left behind a legacy of doubt, injustice, and unanswered questions. In this episode, we return to that moment in Irish history—examining the evidence, the panic, and the power structures that shaped Seery’s fate, and asking how an innocent man could be led to the gallows in the heart of Westmeath.

    28 min

  3. APR 24

    Episode 9 - The frozen dead - The Donner - Reid party and the Irish connection. - 1846

    Send us Fan Mail Snow was already falling when the Donner–Reed Party reached the Sierra Nevada in the winter of 1846. What began as a hopeful journey westward—families, wagons, and the promise of California—slowly twisted into one of the most haunting survival stories in American history. Trapped by relentless storms, cut off from escape, and pushed beyond the limits of human endurance, the group faced choices no one should ever have to make. In this episode, we step into that frozen pass, tracing the decisions, the desperation, and the legacy of a tragedy that still echoes through the mountains today.

    23 min

  4. APR 17

    Episode 8- Changeling- The death of Bridget Cleary- 1895

    Send us Fan Mail In March of 1895, in a quiet corner of rural Tipperary, a young woman named Bridget Cleary vanished from the world of the living and stepped—at least in the minds of her neighbours—into something far stranger. Her death would become one of Ireland’s most haunting and contested stories, a collision of folklore, fear, and a society caught between old beliefs and a modernising world. This episode unravels the final days of Bridget Cleary, the so‑called “last witch burned in Ireland,” and asks what really happened in that small cottage near Ballyvadlea. It’s a story of superstition and control, of a community under pressure, and of a woman whose life—and death—still echoes through Irish history.

    30 min

  5. APR 10

    Episode 7- The Ballymote Slasher- 1861

    Send us Fan Mail In the summer of 1861, the quiet Sligo market town of Ballymote was shaken by a series of strange and unsettling attacks that left locals gripped by fear. This episode unravels the rumours, the newspaper reports, and the social tensions of the time, tracing how a rural community confronted a threat it barely understood. Was it the work of a lone assailant, a case of mass panic, or something more complex beneath the surface of Victorian Ireland? Step back into the shadows of 19th‑century Ballymote as we examine a mystery that has lingered for more than 160 years.

    25 min

  6. APR 3

    Episode 6- The mystery of Margaret Meagher- 1848

    Send us Fan Mail In the spring of 1848, as Ireland staggered under the weight of famine and fear, a young woman named Margaret Maher was found brutally murdered on the outskirts of Mullingar. Her death shocked a community already pushed to the edge, and the investigation that followed exposed simmering tensions, whispered scandals, and the fragile line between justice and survival in a desperate time. This episode unravels the known facts, the rumours that refused to die, and the legacy of a crime that still lingers in Westmeath’s collective memory.

    16 min

  7. MAR 25

    Episode 5- The Mullingar Station Murder- 1869

    Send us Fan Mail In the early hours of a spring morning in 1869, Mullingar Station was almost silent. Almost. Because somewhere between the shadows of the platform and the dim glow of the signal lamps, a man lay dying. His name was Thomas Anketell— on duty the night he was struck down. The violence was swift, the motive unclear, and the killer vanished into the darkness before anyone could raise an alarm. What followed was a tangle of suspicion, fear, and one of the most unsettling investigations in the history of the Midland Great Western Railway.

    16 min

  8. MAR 21

    Episode 4 The Castlepollard Massacre-1831

    Send us Fan Mail On this haunting episode of Murder Under Gaslight, we travel back to the early 19th century and to the quiet Westmeath town of Castlepollard — a place soon to be scarred by unimaginable tragedy. Under the flickering glow of gaslight, we uncover the chilling events of the Castlepollard Massacre — a tale of rage, despair, and injustice that shook Irish society to its core. Through eyewitness accounts, court records, and the echoes of the past, we bring to life the people and passions behind one of Ireland’s most shocking crimes.Join us as we step once more into the shadows of Victorian Ireland — where truth and horror walk hand in hand.

    18 min

  9. MAR 14

    Episode 3- The murder of Mary Walker- 1909

    Send us Fan Mail Under the quiet facade of an Edwardian market town, a single act of violence could leave a scar that lasted for generations. In 1909, the peaceful streets of Mullingar were shattered by the brutal murder of Mary Walker, a young post-office worker whose lifeless body was found along the banks of the Royal Canal. Her throat had been cut and the crime sent shockwaves through the town and the wider province, laying bare the fragile line between respectability and savagery.

    18 min

  10. MAR 7

    Episode 2- The Phoenix Park Murders- 1882

    Send us Fan Mail Dublin, May 1882. The warm, spring evening carried the scent of lilacs that fringed Phoenix Park, where lovers strolled and civilservants took the air. But beneath the soft glow of gaslights, two men waited- their purpose cold, deliberate and deadly.

    18 min

  11. FEB 28

    episode 1- The Maamtrasna Murders-1882

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we travel to the remote hills of Connemara- to the year 1882, when darkness fell not only over the village of Maamtrasna, but over the soul of a nation. In a small thatched cottage near the border of Mayo and Galway, 5 members of a single family were brutally murdered- a crime that sent shockwaves throughout Ireland and beyond.

    15 min

  12. FEB 28

    Murder Under Gaslight Introductory episode

    Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Murder Under Gaslight- The podcast where history meets the macabre. Step back into the dimly lit streets and parlours of 19th century Ireland, where the flicker of gaslight illuminates secrets, scandals and cold-blooded crimes. Here, we uncover the true stories behind some of Victorian era Irelands infamous murder cases- tales of betrayal, envy and obsession- drawn from the pages of history and brought vividly to life.

    13 min
  • 12 Episodes

About

True stories of murder in Victorian era Ireland. Come with us as we travel back to Victorian Ireland and delve into mysteries and murders that enthralled and terrified Ireland in a time where forensic science was in its infancy. Follow the trail of blood on the cobbled streets of Dublin, Cork, Galway and many other locations on this intriguing podcast.  A must for true crime lovers. 

Information

  • Creator
    Don Mortell
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    12
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Murder under Gaslight
  • Show Website
    Murder under Gaslight