Talking History with Patrick Geoghegan

100 years ago, WB Yeats won the Nobel Prize for Literature. Dr Patrick Geoghegan looks at his life and legacy, his politics and his love of the occult, joined by esteemed panel Dr Adrian Paterson, Lecturer in English at the School of English and the Creative Arts at the University of Galway; Dr Lucy Collins, Associate Professor of Modern Poetry, at University College Dublin; Professor Roy Foster, University of Oxford, and the author of the authorized two-volume biography of Yeats; Professor Margaret Harper, Glucksman Professor in Contemporary Writing in English, University of Limerick, and formerly Director of the Yeats International Summer School and the President of the International Yeats Society; and Susan O'Keeffe, Director of Yeats Society Sligo.

In this episode of Talking History, we explore the Clerys archive and find out how the iconic building in Dublin has been restored. Joining host Dr Patrick Geoghegan is public historian Caitlin White of Trinity College Dublin as well as George O'Malley who specialises in the conservation and restoration of lime plaster and stucco, and led the plasterwork restoration at Clerys. And later in the show, we're looking at the legends surrounding Alexander The Great and hearing how his story inspired many for centuries, as part of a new exhibition at the British Library in London.

On this episode of Talking History, Dr Patrick Geoghegan reflects on the life and legacy of Eoin MacNeill, the man best remembered for issuing the countermanding order in 1916, but whose career was far more significant and enduring. He's joined by Dr Emer Purcell, medieval historian, publications officer for the National University of Ireland and coeditor of 'Eoin MacNeill: the Pen and the Sword'; Conor Mulvagh, coeditor of same, and Associate Professor of Modern Irish History at University College Dublin; Senator Michael McDowell, grandson of Eoin MacNeill; and Dr Elva Johnston, Associate Professor at the UCD School of History and author of 'By blood and by tradition’: race and empire in Eoin MacNeill’s interpretation of early Ireland.

In this episode of Talking History, Dr Patrick Geoghegan reflects on the careers of some of the most iconic and prolific sports players connected to Ireland, alongside Turlough O’Riordan, online and digital editor for the Dictionary of Irish Biography, and co-editor of ‘Irish Sporting Lives’; Terry Clavin, co-editor of ‘Irish Sporting Lives’; and Helena Byrne, who wrote about soccer player Anne O'Brien (1956-2016), and is a digital archivist and curator of web archives at the British Library, deeply versed in the emerging history of women's soccer in Ireland.

In this episode of Talking History, on the 50th anniversary of Ireland joining the EU (then European Communities), Dr Patrick Geoghegan is joined by Dr Mary C. Murphy, Jean Monnet Chair in European Integration, a senior lecturer in politics with the Department of Government and Politics, University College Cork; Professor John O'Brennan, Jean Monnet Professor of European Integration at Maynooth University; and Maria Walsh MEP, to reflect on the impact of this membership on Ireland over the last five decades.