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Over a century after his death, Michael Collins remains one of Irish history's most iconic figures. Yet, his life and untimely death are still shrouded in myth and conspiracy. In this compelling episode, I am joined by historians Dr. Brian Hanley and John Dorney to peel back the layers of Collins' life to reveal the true history behind the myths.

Whether you view Collins as a hero or a controversial figure, this episode promises to challenge your perceptions and offer fresh insights into his complex legacy. It also explores how Neil Jordan's 1996 movie and various conspiracy theories continue to distort the history of this revolutionary leader.

Supporters of the show at Patreon.com/irishpodcast have exclusive access to two series with Dr. Brian Hanley:

• The Irish Civil War
• The Troubles
• 
  

Listen to a full episode with John Dorney on Henry Wilson's Assassination.

Check out John's website: The Irish Story. Brian also released a podcast series, 'The Dirty War,' available on Spotify.

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Margaretta Eagar is a little-known figure in Irish history. In the early 20th century, she worked as a governess to the last Romanov Tsars of Russia. Eagar was just one of thousands of Irish people who emigrated to Imperial Russia. In this episode, historian Angela Byrne joins me to discuss why these Irish emigrants went east. Our fascinating conversation takes you from 17th-century political exiles to 19th-century tourists and, of course, the gripping story of Margaretta Eagar.

Our discussion is based around Angela’s book Anarchy & Authority: Irish Encounters with Romanov Russia. You can get your copy

https://www.lilliputpress.ie/products/anarchy-and-authority?srsltid=AfmBOoqFNCTW-O6aWqZx2WSnQ_L9j9ZCKLSfk55XAz_BqJWs1_TKzK2y

Angela's website: www.historianka.com

Follow Angela on Instagram @angela_historianka

Support the Irish History Podcast and get an ad-free version of the show at https://patreon.com/irishpodcast

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St. Brigid is one of Ireland's most well-known saints. While Christian churches have experienced a crisis of faith in recent decades, she seems to buck the trend. People of all faiths and none can identify with this figure. In this short episode, I explore the history of St. Brigid, asking if she was a Christian saint or a pagan goddess and why she continues to relate in the 21st century.

Sound by Kate Dunlea.

Read more about St Brigid at https://www.dib.ie/biography/brigit-brighid-brid-bride-bridget-a0961

Support the show at https://patreon.com/irishpodcast

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In March 1939, James Murphy, a Cork man, became a wanted figure in Nazi Germany. As Europe hurtled towards war, Murphy published an unedited English translation of Hitler’s notorious book, Mein Kampf, which revealed Hitler’s long-held intentions to invade Eastern Europe. However, Murphy's story is complicated. Often presented as an opponent of the Nazis, he had also, for a time, worked in the Third Reich.

The full story behind the translation is intriguing. It reveals how Murphy was manipulated by a secret anti-Nazi group known as the Red Orchestra. It also explores why Murphy, who was aware of many of the darker aspects of the Nazi regime, did not draw attention to them.

Sound: Kate Dunlea

Additional Narrations: Aidan Crowe

Support the show and get an ad-free version of the episode at Patreon.com/irishpodcast.

Selected Sources:

Maume P. Murphy, James Vincent, Dictionary of Irish Biography https://www.dib.ie/biography/murphy-james-vincent-a6080

Barnes, J. & P. James Vincent Murphy: Translator and Interpreter of Fascist Europe, 1880-1946

Evans, R. The Hitler Conspiracies The Third Reich and the Paranoid Imagination

Murphy James: Adolf Hitler; the drama of his career https://archive.org/details/Bellerophon5685_yahoo_AHDC/page/n69/mode/2up?q=Jews

Murphy, John Why did my grandfather translate Mein Kampf?

 https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-30697262

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Over the past three decades, the Catholic Church has been engulfed by numerous sexual abuse scandals and accusations of power abuse. This has prompted many to question how it initially gained such influence in Ireland.

In this podcast, I delve into the history of the Catholic Church within modern Irish society. While its influence is often linked to the post-Irish Independence era of the 1920s, the foundations of Catholic power extend much further back. This episode charts the Church's dramatic rise since the 1780s, when it emerged from the Penal Laws and decades of repression. I reveal how it skillfully navigated through rebellions, the Great Hunger, and the struggle for independence, growing stronger with each crisis. Additionally, I explore the complex relationship between the Church and the British Empire, where bitter enmity in the 1700s transformed into a strategic partnership—a marriage of convenience that reshaped Irish history.

Support the show at Patreon.com/irishpodcast

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Winston Churchill is one of the most famous figures of the 20th century. Hailed in Britain as the man who won the war, his legacy in Ireland is far more complex. In this episode, I delve into history behind the celebrated war hero who saved Britain who was also a staunch imperialist with a controversial past. Join me as I navigate the contrasting narratives and attempt to reconcile these two sides of a towering historical figure.

Support the show at patreon.com/irishpodcast

Let me know what you think at info at Irishhisitorypodcast.ie

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Victorian London was a city of immense wealth, but also shocking poverty. The historian Jerry White described it as "a metropolis of wealth, grandeur, culture, and sophistication alongside a hell of starving, degrading, and heart-rending poverty." The largest city in the world at the time, London was also home to tens of thousands of Irish emigrants. While there was a wealthy Irish elite, the vast majority were poor labourers.

While surviving the daily grind of life in the slums of the Victorian city, they also faced suspicion and racism.

In this podcast, historian Breda Corish shares their stories based on her research in the Whitechapel area of the city.

A graduate of University College London, Breda's research focuses on the Irish in London over the centuries. You can read her work on her website www.irishlondonhistory.com. Follow her on social media at @N16Breda on Twitter and BlueSky @n16breda.bsky.social.

Support the show at www.patreon.com/irishpodcast

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During the Great Hunger of the 1840s, one million Irish perished from starvation and hunger-related diseases. However, Ireland is surrounded by some of the best fishing grounds in Europe. This begs the question: why didn't the Irish turn to the sea to survive?

Some have argued that our ancestors didn't know how to fish or that they didn't like fish. The answer is, unsurprisingly, a little more complicated.

This podcast delves into the complex historical, economic, and social factors that contributed to the tragic paradox of people starving in a sea of plenty.

All 23 chapters of my book Life in Medieval Ireland is available for show supporters on Patreon here https://www.patreon.com/posts/life-in-medieval-116757407.

(If you support the show on Acast+ I will post the book tomorrow. Its a little tricky to post 23 chapters without clogging up your feed!)

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Life expectancy in Ireland has doubled over the past 200 years, but why was it so low for so long? In this podcast, I delve into the factors that kept life expectancy down in Ireland's history and what those numbers truly mean. Did people really only live to 40 in the past? During the Great Hunger, life expectancy plummeted to just 20 years—what does this reveal about society at the time? Join me as I explore these questions and discuss what I believe to be one of humanity's greatest achievements: the remarkable doubling of life expectancy in recent times.

Support the show at https://patreon.com/irishpodcast

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In 1719, the 17-year-old Polish Princess Maria Clementina Sobieska was seized by the Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI. While the move shocked many in Europe, in the following months a group of Irish exiles plotted a daring rescue of Maria Clementina. This led to a dramatic 400-kilometer chase across 18th-century Europe.

In this episode, I am joined by historian Richard Maher, an expert in the area, who explains why Irish exiles, known as the Wild Geese, risked their lives to rescue this Polish princess and how they hoped she might change the course of Irish history.

You can follow Richard on Linkedin at https://ie.linkedin.com/in/richard-maher-a5ab8068

Subscribe to my new podcast with historian Damian Shiels. Its called Transatlantic - An Irish American History Podcast. You can hear the latest episode here https://linktr.ee/transatlanticpod

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