logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2024
46m 42s

St Patrick: Pirates, Snakes and Goatees

History Hit
About this episode

He wasn't Irish. He didn't wear green. There were no snakes. So who was the real St Patrick? How did his myth grow? And how did he invent the goatee?


Podcaster and comedian Alison Spittle joins Maddy and Anthony today as we head back to 4th/5th century Ireland. Alison's tour dates (including Leake!) are here: http://alisonspittle.com/gigs/


Edited by Tom Delargy. Produced by Freddy Chick. Senior Producer is Charlotte Long.


Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Get a subscription for £1 per month for 3 months with code AFTERDARK sign up at https://historyhit/subscription/ 


You can take part in our listener survey here.

Up next
Today
The Truth About Frankenstein
Against a time of radical change, a gothic masterpiece was written by the teenage Mary Shelley.Published in 1818, Frankenstein takes us into a dark world where man and monster meet in mutual torment. A world of raw, animalistic fear.How was this story influenced by the tragedies ... Show More
48m 13s
Jul 7
How Bloody Was 'Bloody Mary'?
Last week we heard about Mary's formative years. Today we get to her reign, the infamous burnings and ask ourselves if Bloody Mary was as bad as people think.Edited by Tomos Delargy. Produced by Stuart Beckwith. Senior Producer is Charlotte Long.Please vote for us for Listeners' ... Show More
39m 59s
Jul 3
The Final Days of Anastasia Romanov
In the aftermath of the bloody Russian revolution, the Romanovs went from being a glittering royal family, to vulnerable everyday citizens who were soon murdered.In the wake of their deaths, the that one family member survived, began to gain traction.How do the claims of Princess ... Show More
51m 11s
Recommended Episodes
Mar 2022
164. Saint Patrick
Happy St. Patrick's Day!  No, Tom isn't turning Brixton's River Effra green, nor is Dominic distributing shamrocks throughout the Oxfordshire countryside, but they're here anyway with a very special pod on the mysterious Apostle of Ireland.  When was St. Patrick alive? Where was ... Show More
1 h
Mar 2022
Saint Patrick
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? In this episode, Tristan is joined by Professor Lisa Bitel of USC Dornsife to find out more about the true ... Show More
38m 45s
Mar 2024
Irish in America: Poverty to Power
At least 23 of the Presidents of the United States can have their ancestry traced back to Ireland. 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? We are finding out in this episode wi ... Show More
47m 1s
Apr 2022
Hitler, Copperfaced Jack & Bodysnatching - The real history of Stephens Green. 50/13
Stephen’s Green is one of Dublin’s well known areas. Located in the heart of the city centre, the Green is home to several prestigous instiutions and businesses including the Royal College of Surgeons, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Shelbourne Hotel.  It's history howe ... Show More
29m 43s
Apr 2023
The Artist Who Was Both Loved and Disdained
We bring you a special episode from Sidedoor, a podcast about the treasures that fill the vaults of the Smithsonian. This story is inspired by “Big Band,” a defining work by the painter LeRoy Neiman.  Neiman was a character, a cultural gadfly and an omnipresent artist who sat for ... Show More
37m 12s
May 2023
Who Owns the Tooth Fairy?
We pride ourselves on being grounded, rational beings, but flitting amongst us is a mystery: the Tooth Fairy. This flying piece of folklore is alive and well in the 21st century, handed down to kids in whatever way their parents see fit. In this episode, with the help of Tinkerbe ... Show More
38m 7s
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 d ... Show More
54m 47s
Dec 2023
King Arthur's Sex Life
The words "the man, the myth, the legend" can easily apply to King Arthur. Today we're looking past the round table, the sword in the stone, and his magician mate Merlin to explore what his love life can tell us about this man. Did his love Guinevere really do the dirty on him wi ... Show More
47m 58s
Mar 2021
Qui était Saint Patrick ?
Son vrai nom est Maewyn Succat. Écoutez l'histoire de Saint Patrick, l'homme à l'origine de la célèbre fête irlandaise ! Un récit à découvrir dans votre podcast Culture G. Aimez, partagez et... abonnez-vous (en activant les notifications). Hébergé par Acast. Visitez acast.com/pri ... Show More
2m 37s