What Were We Like

RTÉ

Diarmaid Ferriter and Catriona Crowe bring us on a journey through the hidden histories, humanity and humour of our past.

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  1. Political insults: From Communist to corner boy (Part 1)

    EPISODE 1

    Political insults: From Communist to corner boy (Part 1)

    Political insults part 1/2. Diarmaid Ferriter and Catriona Crowe look at the angriest and most bizarre Irish political insults of the last 100 years. In part one of this catalogue of mudslinging, the civil war dominates. Dev is a ‘Spanish Bastard’, TDs are jealous of Michael Collins’ fame, and one politician is accused of shooting off his own toe to commit pension fraud. It’s no holds-barred madness from start to finish. What Were We Like is a podcast from RTÉ about modern Irish history co-hosted by Diarmaid Ferriter and Catriona Crowe. It comes out every Monday morning on the RTÉ Radio Player app, and wherever else you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    32 min
  2. Political insults: F*ck you Deputy Stagg, F*CK YOU! (Part 2)

    EPISODE 2

    Political insults: F*ck you Deputy Stagg, F*CK YOU! (Part 2)

    Political insults part 2/2. The civil war is well in the past, but Irish politicians are still roaring at each other. From Paul Gogarty’s viral, foul-mouthed outburst during the economic crash, to Brian Lenihan Sr. being derided as the ‘13th stroke of Irish political clock’, and the ‘Bismarck of lobster pots’, Diarmaid and Catriona unearth more angry gems from the Dáil archive. What Were We Like is a podcast from RTÉ about modern Irish history co-hosted by Diarmaid Ferriter and Catriona Crowe. It comes out every Monday morning on the RTÉ Radio Player app, and wherever else you get your podcasts.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    36 min
  3. Fianna Fáil: Hard Men and Blood Sacrifices (Part 1)

    EPISODE 3

    Fianna Fáil: Hard Men and Blood Sacrifices (Part 1)

    Since the crash, Fianna Fáil has become 'just another political party'. But for nearly a century it was THE leading force in Irish politics, synonymous with power, influence and flash suits; and dominated by outsized personalities like Pee Flynn, Charlie Haughey and Bertie Ahern. In this series, From the Civil War to the Crash, marking the centenary of Fianna Fáil, Diarmaid and Catriona trace how The Soldiers Of Destiny built up one of the most successful election machines in the world, and how it fell apart. Part 1 looks at its foundation, when a gang of idealistic young men lead by Eamon De Valera formed the party out of the ashes of the Civil War.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    41 min
  4. Fianna Fáil: Take your seats, but no drinking in the Dáil bar (Part 2)

    EPISODE 4

    Fianna Fáil: Take your seats, but no drinking in the Dáil bar (Part 2)

    Having won instant success in their first election, the Soldiers Of Destiny are faced with an intractable dilemma – how to take their Dáil seats while also swearing a mandatory oath to the hated King of England. Cunning old Dev solves this by getting a letter from a friendly bishop, which he claims allows his TDs to take the oath without actually meaning it. They enter Leinster House in farcical and dramatic fashion in 1927. But Sean “No Craic” Lemass puts a major downer on things by banning his deputies from drinking in the Dáil bar. Diarmaid and Catriona have all the details from this momentous time for Irish politics. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    33 min
  5. Fianna Fáil: "The Devil" Takes Power (Part 3)

    EPISODE 5

    Fianna Fáil: "The Devil" Takes Power (Part 3)

    General election campaigns in the early years of the State were utterly vicious, with fresh cow dung, sticks, and nasty insults being hurled about as Fianna Fáil attempted to wrest power from the pro-Treaty Cumann na nGaedheal. Despite the shouts of “traitor”, “murderer” and “Spanish bastard” on the campaign trail, Dev and the Soldiers of Destiny take power for the first time in 1932. The Brits are not happy – Winston Churchill famously refers to Dev as the “devil”. But he assumes control of Ireland, dismantles the Treaty, introduces a new Constitution – yet his ultimate goal of uniting Ireland is stymied by the outbreak of World War Two. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    37 min
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Diarmaid Ferriter and Catriona Crowe bring us on a journey through the hidden histories, humanity and humour of our past.

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