'The Liberator', former Lord Mayor of Dublin, and Kerryman Daniel O'Connell is the subject of this week's episode of Talking History. Joining Patrick Geoghegan to discuss him is Professor Maurice Bric, Emeritus Professor of History at UCD and director of the Daniel O'Connell Summer School; Conor Dodd, a historian for Dublin Cemeteries Trust who manages its heritage and education department within the Experience Glasnevin visitor centre in Glasnevin Cemetery; Professor Christine Kinealy, Director of Ireland's Great Hunger Institute and Professor of History at Quinnipiac University; and Brian Crowley, OPW National Monuments Service.

In this episode of Talking History, Patrick Geoghegan explores the life and times of Roman emperor Septimius Severus. He's joined by Dr David Woods, Head of the Department of Classics at UCC; Prof Mark Humphries, Professor of Ancient History, Swansea University; and Dr Rebecca Usherwood, Assistant Professor in Late Antique and Early Byzantine Studies at Trinity College Dublin.

In this episode, we're finding out about the Lithuanian-born solicitor who was the legal advisor to Michael Collins, Arthur Griffith and Constance Markievicz, with Dr Barry Whelan; we'll also hear about Britain's very first women's movement, with Dr Susannah Gibson; and the changing world of Irish barristers after independence, with Dr Niamh Howlin.

On this episode of Talking History, we're looking at Gladstone and Ireland, and finding out how the Grand Old Man became a convert to Home Rule and tried to bring in justice for Ireland. Patrick Geoghegan is joined by Prof Matthew Kelly, Professor of Modern History, University of Northumbria; Dr Andrea Russell, Warden of Gladstone's Library; and Dr Caoimhe Nic Dháibhéid, Faculty Director of Education for Arts and Humanities and Senior Lecturer in Modern History at the University of Sheffield.

This week on Talking History:

Patrick explores the abdication of King Edward VIII with Adrian Phillips, author of 'The King Who Had to Go: Edward VIII, Mrs. Simpson, and the Hidden Politics of the Abdication Crisis' as well as 'The First Royal Media War: Edward VIII, the Abdication and the Press'; journalist and author, Emily Hourican; and Cathal Brennan, co-presenter of 'The Irish History Show Podcast'.

In this episode of Talking History, we explore the history of Dublin in books - O'Connell Street, its statues, monuments and buildings, with Nicola Pierce, author of ‘O’Connell Street – The History & Life of Dublin’s Iconic Street’, how we ended up with the Spire with historian Donal Fallon, and we'll also bring you the history of rugby in Leinster from the 19th century to present day, with historian Dr David Doolin.

In this episode of Talking History, we explore the life and music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and debate whether he was the greatest composer of all time, and assess his remarkable legacy.

In this Christmas episode of Talking History, we're visiting the White House to find out about Christmas traditions and tales there from the 19th century to the present day. We'll find out how Jackie Kennedy reshaped the holiday and how different presidents and their families viewed the festivities. Joining us is Lina Mann, Historian at The White House Historical Association.

In this episode of Talking History: the remarkable life of Mary-Jane O'Donovan Rossa and how she helped to secure the legacy of her Fenian husband; the mysterious logic of the world's first writing systems; and we'll explore Newgrange and why it was built and whether there might be a second chamber still to be discovered.

Patrick Geoghegan examines the life and death of Theobald Wolfe Tone - on the 225th anniversary of the 1798 Rebellion - and debates his remarkable legacy. He's joined by Professor Tom Bartlett, Emeritus Professor of Irish History, University of Aberdeen; Dr Catriona Kennedy, senior lecturer in the history department and member of the Centre for Eighteenth Century Studies at the University of York; Wolfe Tone relative William Atkins; and Dr Sylvie Kleinman, Visiting Research Fellow at the Department of History, Trinity College Dublin.