The Irish People

In the first episode of our two-part special, Eoghan Gardiner discusses the housing crisis in terms of the impact that it is having on the ground, asking a number of activists about the situations people are facing in their communities and the background behind it. 

In this episode we talk to historian and writer Liz Gillis about Women in Irish Revolution. 

Liz is from the Liberties. She is the author of six books about the Irish Revolution  including, ‘The Fall of Dublin’, ‘The Hales Brothers and the Irish Revolution’ ‘May 25: The Burning of the Custom House 1921’ and the one we are going to focus on today, the excellent ‘Women of the Irish Revolution’. 

Liz has worked as a researcher on numerous publications, television and radio documentaries covering the period.

In 2021, Liz was appointed Historian in Residence for Dublin South County Council for the Decade of Centenaries. She also works as a Researcher for the History Show on RTE Radio and lectures at Champlain College Dublin.  Liz was a Historical Consultant for the new Custom House Visitor Centre. She was a Curatorial Assistant in RTE, specialising in researching the Easter Rising and a tour guide for many years in Kilmainham Gaol.    

In 2018 Liz was a recipient of the Lord Mayor’s Award for her contribution to history. She is also the co-organiser of the annual conference on the burning of the Custom House in May 1921.

In this episode we focus on one of Irelands greatest revolutionaries, Anne Devlin. Anne is best knows as the housekeeper of Robert Emmet when in fact she was so much more than this. We are delighted to be joined by Mícheál O’Doibhilín. 

Mícheál is an expert on Anne. He has written an excellent book titled “Anne Devlin: The Bravest of the Brave” and runs an annual commemoration for Anne in Glasnevin. Mícheál also runs Kilmainham Tales (link below) which focuses on lesser known historical Irish Stories. 
Mícheál has been key to brining Annes story to the fore. 

https://kilmainhamtales.ie/

In this episode we focus on a woman who doesn’t always get the coverage she deserves, Elizabeth Gurely Flynn - the rebel girl. EGF was a member of the IWW, a Labour leader, an activist, a communist and founder of the American Civil Liberties Union. She was instrumental in the campaigns to save Joe Hill and Sacco and Vanzetti and was a fierce opponent of fascism throughout her life. 

We are joined by Professor Mary Anne Trasciatti who teaches rhetoric and is Director of Labor Studies at Hofstra University in New York. She is currently completing a book on the civil liberties activism of Elizabeth Gurley Flynn.

In this episode, Claire O’Connor is joined by Gareth Murphy, Head of Industrial Relations and Campaigns at the Financial Services Union (FSU), and Dr Daryl D’Art, researcher and lecturer in Industrial Relations and member of the Workers’ Party, for a discussion about trade union recognition and collective bargaining in the Republic of Ireland.

Daryl D’Art is the author of Workers’ Party pamphlet, A World still to Win: Union Recognition a Constitutional and Human Right: 
workersparty.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/A-World-Still-to-Win.pdf

Gareth Murphy is the co-author of the FSU’s recent discussion document on collective bargaining: fsunion.org/assets/files/pdf/fsu_unionising__collective_bargaining_final_version.pdf

In this episode we discuss the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association, it’s formation, the introduction of internment and the events of Bloody Sunday. 

We are joined by Kevin McCorry. Kevin is originally from Belfast and was organiser of the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association from 1969 until 1975. He was chief Stewart and on the lorry that fronted the civil rights march in Derry on “Bloody Sunday”, 30 January 1972, when the peaceful marchers were attacked by British paratroopers, leading to the deaths of 14 unarmed civilans.  A solicitor by profession, he has championed progressive causes in both parts of Ireland all his adult life. He is currently Director of the annual Desmond Greaves Weekend Summer School in Dublin. 

In this episode we discuss the Treaty and the Irish Civil War. We are joined by Dr Brian Hanley lectures in modern Irish history at Trinity College Dublin. He is the author of a number of books and articles on twentieth century Irish republicanism and is currently writing about the global impact of the Irish Revolution.

In a special episode of the Irish People podcast we discuss the recent and frankly shameful decision by the British courts to grant the United States extradition request for Julian Assange. 

We are joined by Chris Williamson, former Labour MP for Derby North, a close ally of Corbyn, one of the few MPs who fought against the fake anti semitism smears and who ultimately paid the price for opposing the right wing coup in Labour. Chris is a champion of Palestine, a committed internationalist and anti imperialist and passionate animal rights campaigner. Chris is helping build a left alternative across England. He has been central to the campaign to free Julian Assange and it’s fair to say a true champion of social justice. 

We are also joined by Phil Kelly activist and regular media commentator, Phil is a strong champion of Cuba  and a committed internationalist and anti-imperialist. 

In this episode we talk about the Behan family with particular focus on Brendan and Dominic, their upbringing, their writing and their politics. We are joined by actor and writer Paudge Behan, whose mother was Beatrice, artist, author and wife of Brendan and historian, writer and broadcaster Donal Fallen. There is plenty of discussion, chat and a few laughs. An episode not to be missed. 

In this episode we are focusing on a historical theme, ‘the life and times of Winfred Carney, Republican, Socialist, suffragette, trade unionist, revolutionary, close confidant of James Connolly and probably most famously ‘the typist with the Webley’.