The Irish History Boys

By The Irish History Boys

Comedian Tim McGarry and Historian Cormac Moore select the stories from the archives of The Irish News that bring Irish history to life in enlightenin... more

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FAQs about The Irish History Boys:

How many episodes does The Irish History Boys have?

The podcast currently has 24 episodes available.

The Irish History Boys episodes:

September 04, 2025 Customs History: Beyond Brexit Borders
Tim McGarry and Dr. Cormac Moore delve into the surprising history of trade barriers and customs forms between Northern Ireland and Great Britain – a century before Brexit and the Protocol! Discover how, in September 1925, Northern Ireland goods faced "vexatious restrictions and impediments," requiring detailed declarations and even chemical analysis for items like silk and artificial silk, a stark contrast to trade within other parts of the UK.

Watch the full episode on YouTube.
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40min
August 28, 2025 Éamon de Valera
This episode of the Irish History Boys offers an in-depth and often critical look at Éamon de Valera, a "titan of Irish political life" and a "very divisive figure" who died 50 years ago on 29th August 1975. Tim and Cormac explore the pros and cons to some of his actions over his long and prolific career, moving beyond simplistic portrayals often seen in popular culture, such as the film Michael Collins.
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57min
August 21, 2025 Dancing, excommunication & the SDLP
Cormac and Tim consider the evils of dancing, yes dancing, as seen by the eyes of the top Catholic churchmen in Ireland a century ago. Drawing from the archives, they discover an editorial reporting on the terrible consequences being threatened on the faithful who allow themselves to be seduced by this new craze including full scale excommunication from the Catholic Church for those who failed to heed the warnings from the pulpit. "Dance halls, filthy newspapers and bad pictures threatened to ruin the Irish people. Things had come to such a pass that it had been said that in a few generations they would be as Pagan as the Ancient Romans,” were the reported words of one incandescent cleric. And fifty years ago the archives were reflecting on the formation of the new political force, the SDLP. Cormac and Tim consider the impact of the party then and now.
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49min
August 14, 2025 Daniel O’Connell: The Liberator Who Shook an Empire
In this episode of The Irish History Boys, Cormac and Tim turn their attention to one of Ireland’s greatest political giants, Daniel O’Connell. . The lads explore how he became a towering figure on the world stage through his fight against the Penal Laws, securing Catholic Emancipation, and using the power of mass non-violent protest to challenge the British Empire itself. The Lads also discuss the often-overlooked Council of Ireland, the short-lived body intended to unite north and south. They also turn their attention to another towering figure, Michael Collins, following a distasteful speech by a Northern MP in the same year of his death. leading to a discussion on Collins legacy.
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50min
August 07, 2025 The Anglo-Irish Treaty: Freedom or Betrayal?
In this episode of The Irish History Boys, Cormac and Tim dive into one of the most divisive moments in Irish history: the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921. Would they have signed it given the choice? The lads explore the impossible choices faced by Michael Collins and de Valera, and unpack the deal that split the country and sparked a brutal civil war. Later in the episode, the conversation turns global as they discuss the U.S. decision to drop nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II. What were the justifications, the consequences, and really moved on from the threat of nuclear warfare?
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53min
July 31, 2025 Miami Showband Massacre: A Tragedy That Shook Ireland
In this powerful episode of The Irish History Boys, Cormac and Tim revisit one of the most haunting tragedies of the Troubles, the Miami Showband Massacre.
They unpack the horrifying night when band members were ambushed at a fake British Army checkpoint, and gunned down in cold blood. The guys explore how the attack unfolded, who was responsible, and how it highlighted the bleak reality of the Troubles. They also discuss who were the most influential Protestant and nationalist figures over the last century, sparking debate around Ian Paisley's legacy, asking why some are celebrated while others have been forgotten

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45min
July 24, 2025 IRA Prison Escapes EXPLAINED: How Did They Pull It Off?
In this gripping episode of The Irish History Boys, Cormac and Tim unravel the most daring IRA prison escapes of the Troubles, from the legendary 1983 Maze breakout to the 1975 incident where three priests entered a prison but four walked out. Next, the lads dive into a bizarre 1925 court case where a teacher was nearly sued for punishing a student, a claim the judge swiftly dismissed, sparking a lively conversation about the brutal discipline of old-school Ireland. Cormac and Tim share their own jaw-dropping memories of schooldays that were anything but gentle, and debate whether any of that harsh culture could ever return. Finally, they turn to 1925 once more, where nationalist MPs entered the Northern Ireland Parliament for the first time, only to be met with hostility, resistance, and an outcome that would shape nationalist politics for decades.
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49min
July 17, 2025 Partition's Other Victims: Protestants in the South
In this episode of The Irish History Boys, Cormac and Tim uncover a lesser-known chapter of Ireland’s partition: the forced displacement and discrimination faced by Protestants and Loyalists in the South. While history often focuses on the oppression of Catholics in the North, this episode asks a provocative question — were Southern Protestants also victims of violence, boycotts, and cultural erasure? Plus they also dig into the cultural shifts that followed independence and how both sides of the island shaped — and silenced — different versions of Irishness.

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37min
July 10, 2025 The 12th of July & the Orange Order: History, Controversy & Culture Wars
In this episode of The Irish History Boys, Cormac and Tim explore the deep history and controversy behind the 12th of July, Orange Order parades, and the ongoing battle over flags and identity in Northern Ireland. From sectarian tensions to cultural traditions, they unpack how these issues still shape Irish life today. They also answer your questions on two major historical moments: the influence of Charles Stewart Parnell and the significance of the often-overlooked 1780 Rebellion.

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📧Mailing list - https://shorturl.at/BX6fu
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48min
July 03, 2025 The Forgotten Famine and Faith in Football
In this revealing episode of The Irish History Boys, Tim and Cormac revisit the ever-controversial Boundary Commission, explore the fall of the Sunday football ban in 1970s Northern Ireland, and uncover the forgotten famine that struck the West of Ireland in 1925.

🎟️Live show tickets - https://shorturl.at/AbQKn
📧Mailing list - https://shorturl.at/BX6fu
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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42min

FAQs about The Irish History Boys:

How many episodes does The Irish History Boys have?

The podcast currently has 24 episodes available.