Hi Folks

I have finally finished the series I have been working on for the last few months. While this is a short promo, you will have exclusive early access to Episode 1 Nurtured by Violence here on Acast+ tomorrow.

Thanks so much for you patience

Best

Fin

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Over the last decade there has been countless events to mark the centenary of the Irish Revolution. However 2022 is also the 175th anniversary of Black ‘47, one of worst years of the Great Hunger. This has received little or no attention. This begs the question does the Great Famine matter anymore or is it fading in to the distant past?

In this podcast I looked at the impact of the Great Famine, asking what if any meaning it has for day to day life in the 21st century. 

Sources mentioned:

The school's folklore collection is available at https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes

My series on the great Famine is available here https://irishhistorypodcast.ie/category/podcast/the-great-famine/

The article on the Year of Slaughter - the Famine of the 1740s is available here https://irishhistorypodcast.ie/1741-the-year-of-slaughter/

The Special Supporters for this episode are 

S Steinkerchner

K Chapman

A Stewart-Mailhiot

K Samar

B O'Donovan

K Costello 

B Dunphy 

Tarabu

J Donelan

J.M. Culver

W Edwards

 D Lawall 

T McCool 

J Lavin

D Federman

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

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

Traditional music is central to Irish culture and identity in the 21st century. Contrary to what we might think, this is a relatively recent development. As late as the 1960s Trad was perceived as unfashionable and musicians were not allowed to play in pubs. 

60 years later it has become extremely popular and recognised the world over. So what happen?

Last weekend I sat down with Tom Mulligan, a legend in Trad scene to talk about the history of Trad over the century. Tom hales from a well known musical family and owns the Cobblestone, the best known traditional music pub in the country. Indeed it was become something of a cultural institution over the last 35 years. 

In this interview Tom explains the roots of modern trad from Poland, Africa, the USA and back to Ireland. He also elaborates on the intriguing story of how trad went from a marginal genre in Irish society to its contemporary popularity.

While Trad has enjoyed a resurgence in recent decades, it faces an uncertain future in the 2020s. Property speculation in Dublin has seen numerous live music venues close in recent years to make way for hotels. There are fewer and fewer spaces for musicians in the city. 

Last year saw Tom's pub the Cobblestone became the latest to be earmarked for 'development'. Given its historic role in developing and nurturing trad music, this provoked large demonstrations and a campaign #dublinisdying. While the plans to build a hotel on the site were withdrawn last week, Tom explains how the Cobblestone is not out of the woods yet.

Follow the Cobblestone on twitter and Insta 

Music by Liam Costello

Support the show at Patreon.com/irishpodcast or https://plus.acast.com/s/irishhistory

This week's special supporters are

T Troy 

S Lucas

Alexander

W McGuire

C Steuland

 T Higgins

R Spowart

D Bohan

Greg

P McKey

P Myers

B Brady

B McDonough

K Stauffer

M Mulvale

T Murray

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This live podcast pokes in to the darker corners of the past looking at life in Victorian Waterford. Recorded live in Katty Barry’s in Waterford, it's a strange journey through macabre inquests that took place in pubs through to dentists who peddled cocaine!

The second half of the podcast looks at a bizarre murder involving a veteran of the Famine.

Support your history

www.patreon.com/irishpodcast

This week's special supporters are

A Murphy

M Callaghan

E Kelleher

D Dwyer

A Rogers

M Malone

L O'Brien

WJ Murphy

C Doran

J O'Hagan

M Dwyer

S Quinn

R Morse

M Durkin

S Reddin

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Stephen’s Green is one of Dublin’s well known areas. Located in the heart of the city centre, the Green is home to several prestigous instiutions and businesses including the Royal College of Surgeons, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Shelbourne Hotel. 

It's history however is very different. Originally a swampy marshland, it was home to numerous brothels and the city gallows. In this podcast I am joined by historian Frank Hopkins to explore the history of St Stephen's Green. 

We begin on the gallows as Frank explains how public executions were a form of entertainment for many Dubliners. Then moving through the centuries Frank explains who the notorious bodysnatchers of Goat Alley were and the history behind Copperfaced Jack, the man after whom the famous night club is named.

The show ends by introducing a certain A Hitler who was regular sight around St Stephens Green in the early 20th century! 

You can find Frank’s excellent book St Stephen's Green: A History of the Green online and in all good bookshops. 

What does 50/13 mean? 

With your support I am planning on releasing 50 episodes this year. 13 is the number of episodes I have produced so far with your support so we are on track! You can support the show and get ad free episodes, early access to the show and exclusive episodes.

Each week I acknowledge listeners who support the show. This week's special supporters are

The week's special supporters are:

J Arbaugh 

D Eggleston 

M Fields 

W Tolan 

S Corbet 

R D Moore 

L Slavens 

J Reilly 

C Donoghue 

D D Rau 

J Bates

D Celment 

B Conneely 

J Looney

R Morahan 

B White

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Between 1845 and 1919 over four million Irish people left Ireland to escape poverty and hunger. Most would cross the Atlantic to forge new lives in the USA. However when the Irish War of Independence broke out in 1919, some of these emigrants decided to return to Ireland to fight for Irish independence from Britain.

In this exclusive show, only available for show supporters, Dr Regina Donlon joins me to discuss her new research on Irish emigrants who returned home to fight in the War of Independence. Regina explains how she tracked these clandestine revolutionaries and details their often overlooked role in the conflict.

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Irland Redaktion was a Nazi radio station established during the Second World War. It's sole purpose was to shape and influence Irish public opinion in favour of the Nazis. In this episode I am joined by William Quinlan, the winner of the Irish History Summit RSR competition. William, a stuident in St Jospeph's College Borrisoleigh, wrote his R.S.R. (Research Study Report) on Irland Redaktion. In this podcast he details the fascinating story of this little known station, explaining why it was initially broadcast in Irish, what the Nazis hoped to achieve and if it was successful.

The week's special supporters are:

R McCormick

I Wöstemeyer

A O'Brien

M Brady

J Ford

N Reilly

M Mullaney

N Feely

J FitzGerald

F D’Arcy

C T Morgan

C O’Neill

K Crossman

C Brennan

D Gleeson

A O'Brien

M Brady

J Ford

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What did Dublin look like before the authorities demolished the medieval city? 

How did Irish people address Queen Victoria during the Famine?

The answers to these questions lie in documents stored in Dublin City Library's archives which chronicles 800 years of life in the city. Until now the only way to access the archive and it's fascinating stories was to go in person to Pearse Street Library. 

That is all about to change. 

This week sees the launch of a ground breaking project as Dublin City Library and Archive publish 50,000 documents online. Better still they are asking history fans across the world to help transcribe this archive.

In this podcast librarian Padraic Stack brings you behind the scenes in the archive. He tells the fascinating stories of letters to the Queen during the Famine and how medieval Dublin was demolished. He also explains how you (yes you!) can get involved in transcribing these documents from the comfort of your home. 

Its a rare opportunity to get dirty in Dublin's archives! The link referenced in the show is here. 

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