The IRA's Great Escape: Mountjoy Jail, 1925

This special episode of the Irish History Podcast is made in partnership with An Post. In Nazi-occupied Rome, the Irish priest Hugh O’Flaherty risked everything to save thousands from certain death. By running a secret escape line, O’Flaherty became a lifeline for those facing persecution so much so that he became a wanted man by the Gestapo. Despite the danger, he managed to save thousands from the Nazis. In this episode, I share his remarkable story, with insights from novelist Joseph O’Connor, author of the Rome Escape Line Trilogy, Jerry O’Grady of the Hugh O’Flaherty Memorial Society, and filmmaker and O'Flaherty's grandniece, Catherine O’Flaherty. To mark Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty’s extraordinary life, An Post, Ireland's Postal Service, has released a new commemorative stamp and First Day Cover. They are available at anpost.com/shop or at selected post offices. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode covers one of the most famous events in our history. It’s part of the 1798 Rebellion series, but you can dive straight in if you don't want the gripping backstory! In the closing months of 1796, Ireland was gripped by fear and uncertainty. This episode sees an invasion force of battle-hardened French veterans arrive off the Irish coast, inspiring hope and fear in equal measure. Meanwhile, a brutal campaign of repression sweeps Ulster as the British authorities unleash state terror on the revolutionary movement during a campaign known as the Disarming of the North. This episode also marks the first major violence between Crown forces and the wider populace. This is Episode 5 in my series on the 1798 Rebellion. The next instalment, Part 6, 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 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 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.