The Irish Passport

By The Irish Passport

What's The Irish Passport about?

A podcast about the culture, history and politics of Ireland by Naomi O’Leary and Tim Mc Inerney. Taking on the knowledge gap since 2017.

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The Irish Passport episodes:

05.06.2024
Conquest: Rise Of The Gaels
The most expensive, most all-consuming war in Elizabethan England was not waged against France or Spain, but against Ireland. In the third instalment in our Conquest series, we see how the great clan chiefs of Ireland united under the banner...
04.01.2024
Who is Ireland's incoming Taoiseach and why did Varadkar resign?
In this political update, Naomi and Tim sum up the background of the incoming new Taoiseach Simon Harris and discuss the sudden resignation of Leo Varadkar and the different factors behind it. One of them was Ireland's two recent referendums aimed...
03.09.2024
Conquest: Scorching The Earth
Part two of our Conquest mini-series explores the violent occupation of Gaelic Ireland by Elizabethan adventurers between 1560 and 1590, heralding an age of terror and genocide that would ultimately lead to a full-scale war between the Gaelic clans of...
02.06.2024
Conquest: Making Ireland English
In the period from 1534 to 1653 Ireland was profoundly transformed. At the start, it was almost entirely Gaelic, ruled by Gaelic clans with an ancient way of life, and unique legal and political system. A hundred years later, Ireland...
12.20.2023
Breaking: Santa Granted Access To Irish Air Space
Every year the Irish government and national media lend their full attention to the arrival of Santa Claus on the island of Ireland, and discuss the various logistics of his visit to every child in the country. In this mini...
12.11.2023
Dublin Riots: Will the Far Right Change Irish Politics?
We break down the political consequences of the recent far-right riots in Dublin, explaining how the violence began, who has been instigating movements like this, and how this could transform the country's political landscape. We see how members of the...
11.11.2023
Ireland's Imposter Aristocrats
Tim published a book! How does nobility work as a power strategy, why does it bear so many curious similarities to the construct of race, and what does all of this have to do with Ireland? We delve into Tim's book,...
10.12.2023
Ireland and the Israel-Palestine conflict
As the world reels from the horrific Hamas attack on Israel and its deadly retribution on the Gaza Strip, Ireland has emerged as a prominent player in the European response to the worsening conflict. In this episode, Naomi and Tim sum...
09.07.2023
What does the “Troubles Legacy Bill” mean for Northern Ireland?
We’re back and diving straight into breaking politics, as Naomi explains the chilling implications of the UK government’s new “Northern Ireland Troubles Legacy Bill”. This controversial new law has provoked outrage from across the communities of Northern Ireland, uniting unionist...
07.27.2023
Farewell Sinéad, we didn’t deserve you
Hi everyone, Naomi here. Like many people I've been reeling since the news of the death of Sinéad O'Connor. I took a moment to share some of my thoughts and a little about Sinéad and who she was - the...
07.27.2023
Farewell Sinéad, we didn't deserve you
Hi everyone, Naomi here. Like many people I've been reeling since the news of the death of Sinéad O'Connor. I took a moment to share some of my thoughts and a little about Sinéad and who she was - the...
07.15.2023
How the wealthy and powerful muzzle reporting in Ireland
Ireland's strict libel laws and onerously expensive legal system is stacked against journalists and in favour of wealthy people who abuse the situation to censor reporting about them. That's when Naomi discovered in her research for a recent report for...
06.04.2023
Mapping Irelands DNA
What's in a gene? We wade into the world of genetics, to find out all about an extensive DNA mapping project called the Irish DNA Atlas and to see what it can tell us about the history of Ireland. We...
06.04.2023
Mapping Ireland’s DNA
What's in a gene? We wade into the world of genetics, to find out all about an extensive DNA mapping project called the Irish DNA Atlas and to see what it can tell us about the history of Ireland. We...
05.01.2023
Ireland’s Lost Forests Pt 2: an Atlantic Rainforest
In the second part of our episode on Ireland's lost forests, Naomi travels to the Beara peninsula in Co. Cork to speak to sculptor and author Eoghan Daltun. Eoghan's award-wining book, An Atlantic Rainforest: a Personal Journey into the Magic...
04.30.2023
Ireland's Lost Forests Pt 2: an Atlantic Rainforest
In the second part of our episode on Ireland's lost forests, Naomi travels to the Beara peninsula in Co. Cork to speak to sculptor and author Eoghan Daltun. Eoghan's award-wining book, An Atlantic Rainforest: a Personal Journey into the Magic...
03.31.2023
Ireland’s Lost Forests
A rich political, social and economic history of Ireland can be told by an analysis of its landscape, and specifically through the history of its trees. In this episode, Naomi and Tim delve into the history of deforestation and its tangled...
03.31.2023
The Lost Forests of Ireland
A rich political, social and economic history of Ireland can be told by an analysis of its landscape, and specifically through the history of its trees. In this episode, Naomi and Tim delve into the history of deforestation and its tangled...
03.16.2023
Classic Irish Passport: St. Patrick’s Day Special
Beannachtaí na féile Pádraig oraibh! To celebrate Ireland's national day, please enjoy this classic St. Patrick's Day episode from our archives, originally released in 2018.
02.27.2023
What is the Windsor Framework?
After years of deadlock, EU and UK leaders have declared a historic reset in their relations as they reach an agreement on Northern Ireland called the 'Windsor Framework'. Naomi and Tim unpick the details of what is in the deal...
01.27.2023
Mountbatten and the IRA
On the 27th of August 1979, the Provisional IRA assassinated one of the best known members of Britain's royal family as he holidayed in County Sligo. But this was just one of 25 killings that took place that day. The...
12.19.2022
Mystery tales of the strange and unexpected
From a mystery in rural Ireland that has persisted for over a century, to the little-known link between a World Cup star footballer and the town of Donabate, to the unexpected ways that Hiberno English is spreading in Europe... it's...
12.17.2022
Ireland and India's shared history, as Varadkar and Sunak lead the Irish and British governments
Today, Leo Varadkar takes over as Taoiseach. This means that both Britain and Ireland have governments led by people of Indian heritage, as in London Rishi Sunak took over as prime minister in October. The coincidence has provoked renewed curiosity in...
12.17.2022
Classic Irish Passport: Ireland and India’s shared history, as Varadkar and Sunak lead the Irish and British governments
This is a repeat of an Irish Passport classic episode, "Ireland and India: Assassins of Empire", originally published on June 21 2021. Today, Leo Varadkar takes over as Taoiseach. This means that both Britain and Ireland have governments led by people...
11.26.2022
Ireland and the United Nations
Ireland's dream as it emerged as an independent state was to 'take its place among the nations of the world'. The principle of international cooperation has therefore always been tightly bound up with Irish nationalism and how the country pursues...
10.21.2022
Goodbye Liz, Hello Chaos
As all Hell breaks loose in the halls of Westminster, Naomi and Tim break down what on earth has just happened in the UK. Why did Prime Minister Liz Truss resign after only 44 days? Who might take over her...
10.21.2022
Goodbye Liz, Hello Chaos: Another UK Prime Minister Resigns
As all Hell breaks loose in the halls of Westminster, Naomi and Tim break down what on earth has just happened in the UK. Why did Prime Minister Liz Truss resign after only 44 days? Who might take over her...
10.20.2022
War of Independence: The Treaty
In the final episode of our War of Independence mini-series, Tim and Naomi lay out the historical events that split the emerging Irish nation and led to a civil war. As we pick up on the story, global condemnation has...
09.18.2022
A looming crisis in Irish-British relations?
Tensions threaten to flare again between Ireland, Britain, and the EU with a new UK prime minister who has promised to take a hard line on the Northern Ireland Protocol. The death of Queen Elizabeth however put a pause on...
09.02.2022
War of Independence: Partition
The third installment in Naomi and Tim’s series on the War of Independence discusses a landmark of 20th century Irish history: the partition of the island. Tim digs into the backstory to reveal how once again, an unhappy chapter of Irish...
07.24.2022
War of Independence: The Black and Tans
The second installment of Naomi and Tim’s series on Ireland’s War of Independence focuses on the Black and Tans: the brutal reinforcements sent by Winston Churchill to put down the forces of the revolutionary Irish republic in 1920. Historian Dr...
06.26.2022
War of Independence The First Dáil
The War of Independence was the moment in which Ireland threw off British rule and emerged as a state. The dramatic events that took place and the beliefs that informed them would shape the emerging nation, and play a role...
06.26.2022
War of Independence: The First Dáil
The War of Independence was the moment in which Ireland threw off British rule and emerged as a state. The dramatic events that took place and the beliefs that informed them would shape the emerging nation, and play a role...
05.29.2022
A new balance of power in Northern Ireland
A seismic election in Northern Ireland returned the pro-Irish unity Sinn Féin as the largest party for the first time ever. The Alliance Party, identifying neither as nationalist nor unionist, surged to become the third force in northern politics in...
03.27.2022
Ireland's Response to the Ukraine Crisis
Since our last episode, Europe’s political landscape has been transformed – and that of Ireland along with it. Naomi lays out the facts about Ireland’s unique position in the international response to the Ukraine crisis. We find out why debates...
03.27.2022
Ireland’s Response to the Ukraine Crisis
Since our last episode, Europe's political landscape has been transformed - and that of Ireland along with it. Naomi lays out the facts about Ireland's unique position in the international response to the Ukraine crisis. We find out why debates...
02.23.2022
Ukraine and Ireland: a shared history
This weekend, a group of musicians gathered in O'Briens Irish pub in the Ukranian capital and belted out traditional Irish tunes as a distraction from the threat of war. In this episode we uncover the surprisingly rich common history shared by...
02.23.2022
Ukraine and Ireland a shared history
This weekend, a group of musicians gathered in O’Briens Irish pub in the Ukranian capital and belted out traditional Irish tunes as a distraction from the threat of war. In this episode we uncover the surprisingly rich common history shared by...
01.25.2022
An Teanga Bheo
From the streets of Brussels, to an office block in Greece, to a bus ride in San Francisco, the Irish language can pop up in some unexpected places. In this episode, we explore some of the new international frontiers of...
12.17.2021
The Bishop, the Guns, and the Virgin Mary
Did you ever hear the one about the bishop and the airport? Or the unlikely group of Irish revolutionaries who ended up changing history through an ill-fated trip to Belgium on a yacht? Hear all about it as Naomi and Tim...
11.25.2021
Neutrality, part 2: Ireland's dubious defence
This summer, the chaotic fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban left Irish citizens stranded and exposed the state's lack of an aircraft large enough to conduct an evacuation. It highlighted the issue of Ireland's tiny and under-funded defence forces, which...
11.25.2021
Neutrality, Part 2: Ireland’s Dubious Defence
This summer, the chaotic fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban left Irish citizens stranded, exposing the state's lack of aircraft large enough to conduct an evacuation. It also highlighted the issue of Ireland's tiny and under-funded defence forces, which...
10.24.2021
Neutrality, part 1: Churchill versus de Valera
In 1939, the young Irish state stood at a crossroads in its history. Europe was descending into war, and the deeply impoverished and weakly defended nation feared its strategic location on Britain's flank could mean invasion - by either side....
09.27.2021
Live Show: Place and Power
Live from Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland, Naomi and Tim discuss place and power: unpacking how place names, landscape, and architecture contain secret histories hidden within plain sight. Guest Linda Ervine, manager of the Irish language project Turas, explains how...
09.20.2021
Lady Lavery: the Face of Ireland
Who was the iconic woman depicted on Irish banknotes from 1927-1977? Why was she so integral to the story of Irish independence? And what lies behind her inscrutable stare? In our latest Halfpint episode, we discover the extraordinary life...
09.19.2021
Halfpints: Lady Lavery, the Face of Ireland
Who was the iconic woman depicted on Irish banknotes from 1927-1977? Why was she so integral to the story of Irish independence? And what lies behind her inscrutable stare? In our latest Halfpint episode, we discover the extraordinary life of...
09.03.2021
Brexit Update: Empty Shelves and Data Borders
Food shortages are hitting Britain hard, and things are set to get worse - but why are shelves still fully stocked in Northern Ireland? Naomi explains the ins and outs of Brexit’s effect on UK supply chains, and how traders...
09.02.2021
Brexit Update: Empty Shelves and Data Borders
Food shortages are hitting Britain hard, and things are set to get worse - but why are shelves still fully stocked in Northern Ireland? Naomi explains the ins and outs of Brexit’s effect on UK supply chains, and how traders...
08.07.2021
Irish music special
Special guests Naomi's sister Molly May O'Leary and her musical collaborator Fionn Ó hAlmhain visit the podcast to play songs from and discuss their new album, Lambent Flame. It was recorded with the famed Hothouse Flowers singer and multi-instrumentalist Liam...
07.29.2021
Traveller exclusion: revealing an open secret
This year, a whistleblower revealed a shocking secret. A popular British holiday camp business kept a 'blacklist' of Irish surnames, distributed to staff to bar customers from booking. In this episode, Naomi and Tim dig into the incident to explore...

What's The Irish Passport about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

The Irish Passport episodes:

Conquest: Rise Of The Gaels

Who is Ireland's incoming Taoiseach and why did Varadkar resign?

Conquest: Scorching The Earth

Conquest: Making Ireland English

Breaking: Santa Granted Access To Irish Air Space

Dublin Riots: Will the Far Right Change Irish Politics?

Ireland's Imposter Aristocrats

Ireland and the Israel-Palestine conflict

What does the “Troubles Legacy Bill” mean for Northern Ireland?

Farewell Sinéad, we didn’t deserve you

Farewell Sinéad, we didn't deserve you

How the wealthy and powerful muzzle reporting in Ireland

Mapping Irelands DNA

Mapping Ireland’s DNA

Ireland’s Lost Forests Pt 2: an Atlantic Rainforest

Ireland's Lost Forests Pt 2: an Atlantic Rainforest

Ireland’s Lost Forests

The Lost Forests of Ireland

Classic Irish Passport: St. Patrick’s Day Special

What is the Windsor Framework?

Mountbatten and the IRA

Mystery tales of the strange and unexpected

Ireland and India's shared history, as Varadkar and Sunak lead the Irish and British governments

Classic Irish Passport: Ireland and India’s shared history, as Varadkar and Sunak lead the Irish and British governments

Ireland and the United Nations

Goodbye Liz, Hello Chaos

Goodbye Liz, Hello Chaos: Another UK Prime Minister Resigns

War of Independence: The Treaty

A looming crisis in Irish-British relations?

War of Independence: Partition

War of Independence: The Black and Tans

War of Independence The First Dáil

War of Independence: The First Dáil

A new balance of power in Northern Ireland

Ireland's Response to the Ukraine Crisis

Ireland’s Response to the Ukraine Crisis

Ukraine and Ireland: a shared history

Ukraine and Ireland a shared history

An Teanga Bheo

The Bishop, the Guns, and the Virgin Mary

Neutrality, part 2: Ireland's dubious defence

Neutrality, Part 2: Ireland’s Dubious Defence

Neutrality, part 1: Churchill versus de Valera

Live Show: Place and Power

Lady Lavery: the Face of Ireland

Halfpints: Lady Lavery, the Face of Ireland

Brexit Update: Empty Shelves and Data Borders

Brexit Update: Empty Shelves and Data Borders

Irish music special

Traveller exclusion: revealing an open secret