The Irish Wake: A History

In 1973, just two people attended the lonely funeral of May O’Callaghan, an Irish emigrant in North London. Few could have imagined that this quiet woman from Wexford had once stood at the very heart of Soviet power. In the 1920s, May O’Callaghan worked in the Kremlin as the Soviet Union emerged, working alongside figures like Stalin, Trotsky, and the future Marshal Tito. For decades, her remarkable story was forgotten until historian Maurice Casey uncovered her story in his acclaimed book, Hotel Lux. In this episode, I interview Maurice about May's life and the extraordinary journey that took May from Ireland to the corridors of Soviet power. Get your copy of Hotel Lux: https://linktr.ee/hotelluxpreorders Check out Maurice's personal website: mauricejcasey.com Support The Irish History Podcast patreon.com/irishpodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This special episode of the Irish History Podcast, in partnership with An Post, marks the 250th anniversary of Daniel O’Connell’s birth. In this podcast, I explore the life and legacy of one of Ireland’s most influential figures. Known as 'The Liberator' O’Connell’s campaign for Catholic Emancipation in 1829 and his role in shaping modern Ireland are legendary, but his story is complex. From his early days in Kerry and his experiences during the French Revolution to the personal demons that haunted him, O’Connell is an intriguing figure. Although a pacifist, he killed a rival in a fatal duel. A founding father of Irish nationalism, O’Connell was also a monarchist. This episode teases out these contradictions. To mark the anniversary of his birth, An Post has released two commemorative stamps capturing pivotal moments in O’Connell’s story: his iconic ‘monster meetings’ and his release from prison in 1844. Check out the stamps at anpost.com/history. In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Brian Casey, historian and archives manager at the Dublin Cemeteries Trust, for a fascinating conversation recorded in Glasnevin Cemetery, just steps from O’Connell’s final resting place. Together, Brian and I explore the history behind this legendary figure. You can get the commemorative stamps now at anpost.com/history and in selected post offices across Ireland. Audio edit by Kate Dunlea. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do we decide who the most significant people in our history are? Whose story is worth telling? In this episode, I’m joined by Eoin Kinsella, managing editor of the Dictionary of Irish Biography, to explore how he and the team behind this remarkable resource tell the story of our island through biography. The DIB, a free to access to website has thousands of biographies on figures from Irish History. From Henry McCullough, the only Irish musician at Woodstock, to Ann Lovett, whose tragic death forced a nation to confront uncomfortable truths, and Brendan Hughes, whose life mirrored the turbulence of the Troubles, this conversation delves into the complexities of who gets remembered—and why. People mentioned in the episode. Ann Lovett  https://www.dib.ie/biography/lovett-ann-a10324 Eamon De Valera https://www.dib.ie/biography/de-valera-eamon-dev-a2472 Bang Bang https://www.dib.ie/biography/dudley-thomas-bang-bang-a2803 The Dice man https://www.dib.ie/biography/mcginty-thom-diceman-a5672 John Mitchel https://www.dib.ie/biography/mitchel-john-a5834 John Redmond https://www.dib.ie/biography/redmond-john-edward-a7602 Brendan Hughes https://www.dib.ie/biography/hughes-brendan-a9636 Dolours Price https://www.dib.ie/biography/price-dolours-a10048 Martin McGuinmess https://www.dib.ie/biography/mcguinness-james-martin-pacelli-a10375 Michael Collins https://www.dib.ie/biography/collins-michael-a1860 Daniel O’Connell https://www.dib.ie/biography/oconnell-daniel-a6555 Charles Stewart Parnell https://www.dib.ie/index.php/biography/parnell-charles-stewart-a7199 Francis Sheehy Skeffington https://www.dib.ie/biography/skeffington-francis-sheehy-a8105 Lady Mary Heath https://www.dib.ie/biography/heath-sophie-mary-lady-heath-nee-peirce-evans-other-married-name-eliott-lynn-a2963 Henry McCullough https://www.dib.ie/biography/mccullough-henry-campbell-liken-a10389 Eva Gore Booth https://www.dib.ie/biography/booth-eva-selina-gore-a0784   Do you have suggestion for entries. Contact the DIB at [email protected]   Sound by Kate Dunlea Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When we think of Ireland’s past, we usually envisage an island shaped by two languages: Irish and English. But hidden in the history of South Wexford is Yola, a unique dialect that survived for centuries after the Norman invasion, only to vanish almost without a trace. In this episode, I am joined by Sascha Santschi-Cooney to explore the fascinating story of Yola: where it came from, who spoke it, what it sounded like, and why it disappeared. From medieval settlers to the Great Vowel Shift and the impact of Cromwell, the history of this dialect is intriguing. Get a copy of Sascha's 2019 book The Forth & Bargy Dialect at your local library https://waterford.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/FULL/WPAC/BIBENQ/458376473/1314333,1 Follow Sascha's work on Linkedin https://ie.linkedin.com/in/sascha-santschi-cooney-76a885188 Sound by Kate Dunlea. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode continues the story of NORAID - the Irish American organisation who were the voice of the IRA in the US. Jamie Goldrick and I delve into the complicated history of wider Irish American involvement in the Troubles. It's a history full of contradictions on both sides of the Atlantic. In the Republic, many criticised NORAID’s actions, yet did little themselves. Meanwhile, NORAID had little to say about the Vietnam War or the Civil Rights Movement in America. Together, Jamie and I pick apart this complex and often uncomfortable chapter in Irish and Irish American history. Jamie Goldrick is the producer of NORAID: Irish America & the IRA which screens on RTE on July 9th & 16th. Check it out on https://www.rte.ie/player/ There are a limited number of tickets for my live podcast on Daniel O’Connell in Glasnevin Cemetery. It takes place on July 24th, entry is free but booking is essential. Contact [email protected] for your ticket today. Sound by Kate Dunlea Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.