The French Invasion: Ireland’s Year of Terror?

This episode returns to the story of the 1798 Rebellion, but also stands alone as its own story. In 1793, war broke out between the British Empire and Revolutionary France. This episode explores what happened when a French spy, William Jackson, is caught in Ireland. After his capture, the authorities learned that Irish radicals in the Society of United Irishmen were in contact with Britain’s enemy, Revolutionary France. In this episode how the dramatic fallout pushed Ireland to the brink of rebellion. As sectarian violence and government repression escalate, Irish society polarises and radicalises at a breathtaking pace... This podcast launches my series on the 1798 Rebellion. The next instalment, Part 2, will be available early and ad-free for show supporters next Monday.Become a supporter today and get exclusive early and ad-free access at:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IrishpodcastSupercast: https://irishhistory.supercast.com/ Written, narrated and produced by Fin Dwyer Sound: Kate Dunlea Additional Research: Stewart Reddin Voice Actors: Aidan Crowe & Therese Murray Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we’re taking a break from our series on the 1798 Rebellion for a fascinating conversation about the Great Famine in Dublin and why this key chapter in the city’s history has been largely forgotten. When most people think of the Great Hunger, they picture rural Ireland and the suffering along the Atlantic coast. For years, it was widely believed that Dublin escaped the worst of the Famine. But is that really the case? In this episode, I’m joined by Dublin historian Maria Ball, who shares her unique insights into how the Famine impacted the capital and why its story has faded from memory. Drawing on her own family’s history in the Smithfield tenements, Maria reveals the hidden struggles faced by Dubliners during the 1840s. She also explains how institutions like the city workhouses and the Lock Hospital (which treated venereal disease) were overwhelmed during the crisis. Maria is also involved in organising a history festival in Cabra this week - you can find out more here. Sound by Kate Dunlea. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

While this episode fits into a bigger series on the 1798 Rebellion, it’s also designed to stand on its own. The French Revolution of 1789 electrified Ireland, inspiring hope and fear in equal measure. It would lead to the establishment of Ireland’s republican movement in 1791. Exploring the profound impact of the revolution in Ireland, this episode opens with the dramatic story of Henry Edgeworth, an Irish priest living in Paris, who would participate in one of the most famous executions of the revolution - an event with profound effects at home in Ireland. We then explore how the spread of revolutionary ideas led to the foundation of the Society of United Irishmen, who would spearhead Ireland’s revolution in 1798. As old certainties crumble, Ireland stood on the brink of a new, exciting but dangerous age. This is Episode 3 in my series on the 1798 Rebellion. The next instalment, Part 4, will be available early and ad-free for show supporters next Monday week.Become a supporter today and get exclusive early and ad-free access at:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IrishpodcastSupercast: https://irishhistory.supercast.com/ Written, narrated and produced by Fin Dwyer Sound: Kate Dunlea Additional Research: Stewart Reddin Voice Actors: Aidan Crowe & Therese Murray Contact me with your questions at info(at)Irishhistorypodcast(dot)ie. A list of sources for the 1798 Rebellion is available here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/138580354 (the post is not paywalled) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is part of a wider series on the 1798 Rebellion, but you can enjoy it as a stand-alone story. When the American Revolution broke out in the 1770s, it sent shock waves across the Atlantic, transforming Irish politics and society. To explore this enthralling story the episode begins with the arrival of Benjamin Franklin in Dublin - a visit that would have unexpected consequences for Ireland’s future. We explore how revolutionary ideas, economic hardship, and the threat of invasion combined to spark new demands for change in Ireland. The episode goes on to trace Ben the rise of the Patriot movement and the revolution of 1782, as Irish society starts to cleave apart. This is Episode 2 in my series on the 1798 Rebellion. The next installment, Part 3, will be available early and ad-free for show supporters next Monday. Become a supporter today and get exclusive early and ad-free access at: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Irishpodcast Supercast: https://irishhistory.supercast.com/ Written, narrated and produced by Fin Dwyer Sound: Kate Dunlea Additional Research: Stewart Reddin Voice Actors: Aidan Crowe & Therese Murray Contact me with your questions at info(at)Irishhistorypodcast(dot)ie. A list of sources for the 1798 Rebellion is available here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/138580354 (the post is not paywalled) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This podcast opens a broader series on the 1798 Rebellion, but also works as a stand alone episode. For over a century, Irish Catholics and Presbyterians were subjected to the Penal Laws. Although the vast majority of the population, they were banned from voting, sitting in parliament, bearing weapons, and entering many professions—the list goes on. This episode explores the deeply unequal society these laws created. By following the life of Emily Fitzgerald, who moved to Ireland in 1747, we gain a unique insight into this world. I explain how the Penal Laws emerged after a century of warfare, how Catholics resisted their brutal treatment, and how these laws created a deeply unequal and unstable society. To find our feet in this world, we begin in the harrowing winter of 1740, which led to the Year of Slaughter—the worst famine in Irish history. This podcast launches my series on the 1798 Rebellion. The next instalment, Part 2, will be available early and ad-free for show supporters next Monday.Become a supporter today and get exclusive early and ad-free access at:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IrishpodcastSupercast: https://irishhistory.supercast.com/Sound: Kate Dunlea Additional Research: Stewart Reddin Voice Actors: Aidan Crowe & Therese Murray A list of sources for the 1798 Rebellion is available here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/138580354 (the post is not paywalled) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.