Irish History Podcast

Fin Dwyer
  • 4.8 (1.3K)
  • HISTORY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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

  1. Liberty or Death: The South Falls to the Rebels

    5D AGO

    Liberty or Death: The South Falls to the Rebels

    As my series on the 1798 Rebellion returns, this is a great point to dive in to the story... In this episode we see major fighting break out as the south of Ireland erupts in revolt. Rebel forces sweep through the countryside in Co Wexford as loyalist strongholds fall one after another. However as the violence escalates carefully laid plans quickly unravel, and the first major battles left irish society reeling. This podcast explores how ordinary people found themselves caught up in events beyond their control, as the hopes of an Irish republic collided with the brutal reality of rebellion. From the streets of Dublin to the fields of Wexford, this episode traced how the southeast fell to the rebels in events that would transform Irish history. Written, Produced and narrated by Fin Dwyer Additional Research: Styewart Reddin Voice Actors:Aidan Crowe and Therese Murray. Sound by Kate Dunlea Support the show Patreon.com/irishpodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    50 min
  2. Broken Silence: The Murder of Mary Doherty

    NOV 5

    Broken Silence: The Murder of Mary Doherty

    In March 1844, the quiet community of Culdaff in north Donegal was rocked by the brutal murder of fourteen-year-old servant Mary Doherty. As the Great Hunger loomed on the horizon, Mary’s tragic death was soon overshadowed by famine and emigration, her story fading into fragments of local folklore. However, in recent years, historian Angela Byrne has brought renewed attention to Mary’s forgotten life and this dark chapter in our history. In this episode, Angela Byrne joins Fin Dwyer to discuss the history behind Mary’s murder, as detailed in her new book Finding Mary. Angela vividly reconstructs the community Mary grew up in, the background to her murder, and the reasons she was killed. The episode also explores the world of rural Donegal on the eve of the tragedy and asks why Mary Doherty’s story remained untold for generations. You can get Angela’s book, Finding Mary, at https://www.fourcourtspress.ie/books/2025/finding-mary. Sound by Kate Dunlea. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    40 min
  3. The Rebellion Begins: Plots, Spies, and Informers

    OCT 29

    The Rebellion Begins: Plots, Spies, and Informers

    In the early days of 1798, Dublin teetered on the edge of revolution. A shadow war raged between the United Irishmen and the British authorities, with the city’s fate hanging in the balance. This episode delves into the world of Edward Cooke, the spymaster at Dublin Castle, as he races to dismantle the revolutionary movement through a web of informers and secret agents. Meanwhile, leading rebels like Lord Edward Fitzgerald struggle to stay one step ahead, risking everything to keep the cause alive. As martial law is declared and terror sweeps across Ireland, the final days before the rebellion erupt into chaos, violence, and desperate gambles on both sides. Step into the heart of a city in crisis, where every shadow hides a secret and the first sparks of revolution are about to ignite. This is Episode 6 in my series on the 1798 Rebellion. The next installment, Part 7, will be available early and ad-free for show supporters next Monday week.Become a supporter today and get exclusive early and ad-free access at:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IrishpodcastSupercast: https://irishhistory.supercast.com/ Written, narrated and produced by Fin Dwyer Sound: Kate Dunlea Additional Research: Stewart Reddin Voice Actors: Aidan Crowe & Therese Murray Contact me with your questions at info(at)Irishhistorypodcast(dot)ie. A list of sources for the 1798 Rebellion is available here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/138580354 (the post is not paywalled) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    44 min
  4. Hugh O’Flaherty & The Vatican Escape Line in World War II

    OCT 23

    Hugh O’Flaherty & The Vatican Escape Line in World War II

    This special episode of the Irish History Podcast is made in partnership with An Post. In Nazi-occupied Rome, the Irish priest Hugh O’Flaherty risked everything to save thousands from certain death. By running a secret escape line, O’Flaherty became a lifeline for those facing persecution so much so that he became a wanted man by the Gestapo. Despite the danger, he managed to save thousands from the Nazis. In this episode, I share his remarkable story, with insights from novelist Joseph O’Connor, author of the Rome Escape Line Trilogy, Jerry O’Grady of the Hugh O’Flaherty Memorial Society, and filmmaker and O'Flaherty's grandniece, Catherine O’Flaherty. To mark Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty’s extraordinary life, An Post, Ireland's Postal Service, has released a new commemorative stamp and First Day Cover. They are available at anpost.com/shop or at selected post offices. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 12m
  5. The French Invasion: Ireland’s Year of Terror?

    OCT 21

    The French Invasion: Ireland’s Year of Terror?

    This episode covers one of the most famous events in our history. It’s part of the 1798 Rebellion series, but you can dive straight in if you don't want the gripping backstory! In the closing months of 1796, Ireland was gripped by fear and uncertainty. This episode sees an invasion force of battle-hardened French veterans arrive off the Irish coast, inspiring hope and fear in equal measure. Meanwhile, a brutal campaign of repression sweeps Ulster as the British authorities unleash state terror on the revolutionary movement during a campaign known as the Disarming of the North. This episode also marks the first major violence between Crown forces and the wider populace. This is Episode 5 in my series on the 1798 Rebellion. The next instalment, Part 6, will be available early and ad-free for show supporters next Monday.Become a supporter today and get exclusive early and ad-free access at:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IrishpodcastSupercast: https://irishhistory.supercast.com/ Written, narrated and produced by Fin Dwyer Sound: Kate Dunlea Additional Research: Stewart Reddin Voice Actors: Aidan Crowe & Therese Murray Contact me with your questions at info(at)Irishhistorypodcast(dot)ie. A list of sources for the 1798 Rebellion is available here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/138580354 (the post is not paywalled) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    39 min
  6. The Jackson Spy Affair: The Downfall of the Society of United Irishmen

    OCT 15

    The Jackson Spy Affair: The Downfall of the Society of United Irishmen

    This episode returns to the story of the 1798 Rebellion, but also stands alone as its own story. In 1793, war broke out between the British Empire and Revolutionary France. This episode explores what happened when a French spy, William Jackson, is caught in Ireland. After his capture, the authorities learned that Irish radicals in the Society of United Irishmen were in contact with Britain’s enemy, Revolutionary France. In this episode how the dramatic fallout pushed Ireland to the brink of rebellion. As sectarian violence and government repression escalate, Irish society polarises and radicalises at a breathtaking pace... This podcast launches my series on the 1798 Rebellion. The next instalment, Part 2, will be available early and ad-free for show supporters next Monday.Become a supporter today and get exclusive early and ad-free access at:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IrishpodcastSupercast: https://irishhistory.supercast.com/ Written, narrated and produced by Fin Dwyer Sound: Kate Dunlea Additional Research: Stewart Reddin Voice Actors: Aidan Crowe & Therese Murray Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    39 min
  7. Airbrushed from History: The Great Hunger in Dublin

    OCT 8

    Airbrushed from History: The Great Hunger in Dublin

    This week, we’re taking a break from our series on the 1798 Rebellion for a fascinating conversation about the Great Famine in Dublin and why this key chapter in the city’s history has been largely forgotten. When most people think of the Great Hunger, they picture rural Ireland and the suffering along the Atlantic coast. For years, it was widely believed that Dublin escaped the worst of the Famine. But is that really the case? In this episode, I’m joined by Dublin historian Maria Ball, who shares her unique insights into how the Famine impacted the capital and why its story has faded from memory. Drawing on her own family’s history in the Smithfield tenements, Maria reveals the hidden struggles faced by Dubliners during the 1840s. She also explains how institutions like the city workhouses and the Lock Hospital (which treated venereal disease) were overwhelmed during the crisis. Maria is also involved in organising a history festival in Cabra this week - you can find out more here. Sound by Kate Dunlea. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    32 min
  8. The French Revolution & the Society of United Irishmen

    OCT 1

    The French Revolution & the Society of United Irishmen

    While this episode fits into a bigger series on the 1798 Rebellion, it’s also designed to stand on its own. The French Revolution of 1789 electrified Ireland, inspiring hope and fear in equal measure. It would lead to the establishment of Ireland’s republican movement in 1791. Exploring the profound impact of the revolution in Ireland, this episode opens with the dramatic story of Henry Edgeworth, an Irish priest living in Paris, who would participate in one of the most famous executions of the revolution - an event with profound effects at home in Ireland. We then explore how the spread of revolutionary ideas led to the foundation of the Society of United Irishmen, who would spearhead Ireland’s revolution in 1798. As old certainties crumble, Ireland stood on the brink of a new, exciting but dangerous age. This is Episode 3 in my series on the 1798 Rebellion. The next instalment, Part 4, will be available early and ad-free for show supporters next Monday week.Become a supporter today and get exclusive early and ad-free access at:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IrishpodcastSupercast: https://irishhistory.supercast.com/ Written, narrated and produced by Fin Dwyer Sound: Kate Dunlea Additional Research: Stewart Reddin Voice Actors: Aidan Crowe & Therese Murray Contact me with your questions at info(at)Irishhistorypodcast(dot)ie. A list of sources for the 1798 Rebellion is available here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/138580354 (the post is not paywalled) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    45 min
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4.8
out of 5
1,270 Ratings

About

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

Information

  • Creator
    Fin Dwyer
  • Years Active
    2010 - 2025
  • Episodes
    437
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Fin Dwyer
  • Show Website
    Irish History Podcast

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