logo
episode-header-image
Jun 2023
25 m

Irish Volunteers in the French Resistanc...

FIN DWYER
About this episode
tail spinning
Up next
Yesterday
Why Didn't the Romans Invade Ireland?
While the Roman Empire conquered much of western Europe and established a powerful presence in Britain, Ireland remained beyond its grasp. But why? In this episode, I am joined by Dr Jacqueline Cahill Wilson to explore how Ireland interacted with the Roman world. It is a complex ... Show More
55m 48s
Feb 4
The Ulster Special Constabulary - A Troubled History
The Ulster Special Constabulary was one of the most controversial forces in modern Irish history. Formed amid the violence and uncertainty of the early 1920s, it was viewed by many nationalists as a sectarian militia, while in parts of the unionist community it was remembered as ... Show More
45m 12s
Jan 28
The Mystery of St Brigid
Each February Ireland celebrates St Brigid, one of the most beloved figures in Irish history. She is woven into the landscape, the calendar and the culture, yet a simple question hangs over her story. Did she ever really exist?You may recall a very short episode on this topic las ... Show More
28m 43s
Recommended Episodes
Mar 2024
Irish in America: Poverty to Power
<p>At least 23 of the Presidents of the United States can have their ancestry traced back to Ireland.</p><br><p>So why did this diaspora come to America? What was their reception like? And how have they reached the top of the power structure so regularly?</p><br><p>We are finding ... Show More
47m 1s
May 2023
WW2: Last Letters of Resistance Fighters
It's 1943, you're part of the French resistance, and you've been sentenced to death. You're allowed to write one last letter before you're shot by the Nazis. Who do you write to? Friends? Family? Fellow comrades? How do you know if they'll even get it?Of the 10,000 or so executio ... Show More
1h 8m
Mar 2022
Saint Patrick
<p>Man, myth or legend... who was the real Saint Patrick? Did he really banish all the snakes from Ireland? Where does the shamrock tradition come from? And was he even Irish?</p><br><p>In this episode, Tristan is joined by Professor Lisa Bitel of USC Dornsife to find out more ab ... Show More
38m 45s
May 2024
War Stories: A Confederate Day of Fasting and Prayer (1863)
<p><em>In the runup to Memorial Day, we're bringing you some stories from the archives about war and the cost of war. We'll be back with new episodes next week!</em></p><p>It’s March 27th. This day in 1863, Jefferson Davis declared a “day of fasting and prayer” to support the Con ... Show More
19m 28s
Mar 2024
St Patrick (Repeat)
Though St Patrick is honoured by millions of revellers worldwide every year, few know more about him than the popular myths concerning shamrocks and snakes. The real story of St Patrick reads like an adventure story, involving kidnapping, enslavement, and daring escapes. But how ... Show More
51m 47s
Jun 2024
5. Crash Landing
In the dead of night, airborne troops become the first Allied soldiers to set foot in France. Engineless gliders carrying men and equipment crash-land behind enemy lines. A paratrooper lands on a church steeple… yet somehow survives the battle. And, with Pegasus Bridge in the cro ... Show More
45m 48s
Dec 2022
The First Britons
<p>67 million people currently inhabit the United Kingdom - but what do we know about the original, first Britons? It's no secret when looking back into pre-history that it was a time of mass migration for animals and people alike, but who were our early inhabitants, and what can ... Show More
49m 20s
Dec 2023
England & Portugal: The Oldest Alliance in the World
<p>If you’re enjoying a glass of port during the festive period, you have the world’s oldest treaty to thank.</p><br><p>Winston Churchill once described the Anglo-Portuguese alliance as ‘without parallel in world history.’ Forged in the backdrop of the Hundred Years War 650 years ... Show More
39m 37s
Jan 2023
The Irish Rebellion of 1798
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the momentum behind rebellion in Ireland in 1798, the people behind the rebellion and the impact over the next few years and after. Amid wider unrest, the United Irishmen set the rebellion on its way, inspired by the French and American revolutiona ... Show More
55m 25s