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The Spanish Armada: Myths and Misconceptions
The Spanish Armada. By Michael Barry The Spanish Armada was a hugely important event in world history. In this article I begin by giving a summary of the Armada story, from beginning to end. Next, I...
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The 100th Irish History Show Episode
An anniversary podcast with Cathal Brennan and John Dorney, celebrating the 100the episode of the Irish History Show. Many thanks to all guest and listeners over the years. the podcast was first...
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Podcast: Gerry Healy and the Workers Revolutionary Party
Interview with Aidan Beatty on his new book ‘The Party is Always Right’, the Untold Story of Gerry Healy and British Trotskyism’, with Cathal Brenna and John Dorney. First broadcast on the Irish...
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Podcast: Pogrom in Belfast and the McMahon Murders, with Edward Burke
Cathal Brennan and John Dorney inteview Edward Burke about his new book Ghosts of a Family on the McMahon murders in Belfast in 1922. First broadcast on the Irish History Show. The MacMahon murders...
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‘Conducive to the improvement of the country’, The Coolattin...
Coolattin House and grounds (Courtesy of Irish Central). By John Dorney Coolattin estate, located in southern County Wicklow, once sprawled across nearly half of the county, taking in thousands of...
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Podcast: The Birmingham bombings, 1974 and the Birmingham Six
The aftermath of one of the Birmingham pub bombings. Interview by Cathal Brennan and John Dorney with Chris Mullin and Michael Flavin. First broadcast on the Irish History Show. On 21 November 1974,...
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David Tormey: IRA Volunteer, Garda, Nazi.
Sean MacEoin’s reference for David Tormey. (C/O Irish Military Archives) By Brian Hanley During October 1946 the Fine Gael TD and former Longford IRA leader Seán MacEoin received an appeal for help. It...
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Podcast: Irish Genealogy
https://irishhistoryshow.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Irish-Geneaology-Episode.mp3 On this episode of the Irish History Show we have combined five episodes of a podcast series we made for Timeline...
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The Irish Story Top Ten Articles of 2024
IRA Civil War memorial in Kerry, in this case for John Lawlor, killed in 1922. Happy New Year to all! These are our top ten most read articles of 2024. Top Ten Articles The UCC Civil War Fatalities...
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‘A bad fight, a disgraceful fight’, Tom Barry in the Civil War
Tom Barry on IRA active service c. 1921. By John Dorney Tom Barry was a most headstrong and abrasive young man in 1922. Aged 25, he had fought in both the Great War and the Irish War of Independence,...
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Podcast: Elections in Ireland from Middle Ages to Penal Laws
A 16th century Lord Deputy leaves Dublin Castle Cathal Brennan and John Dorney discuss the origins of the Irish Parliament from its foundation in the medieval lordship through the early modern period....
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When three American journalists visited ‘Paddy the Cope’ in Dungloe, 1919-1922
Paddy ‘The Cope’ Gallagher pictured outside his cooperative in Dungloe. By Mark Holan Dungloe (An Clochán Liath) in County Donegal is 170 miles northwest of Dublin, about a three-and-a-half-hour drive...
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‘An indelible imprint’ – Irish Penal Transportation to Australia
The first convicts arrive in Bottany Bay. By John Dorney On 26 September 1791, two convict ships landed at Bottany Bay, at Sidney, Australia. One was the Active from England and the other the Queen...
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Podcast: Elections in Ireland from the Treaty of Limerick to Catholic...
The Irish House of Commons; Leeds Museums and Galleries; By Francis Wheatley (Source) Cathal Brennan and John Dorney discuss election to the Irish Parliament between 1691 and 1829. First broadcast on...
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Book Review: The Enchanted Bay – Tales and Legends from Ernie O’Malley’s...
Edited by Cormac K.H. O’Malley & Patrick J. Mahoney Published by Irish Academic Press, 2024 Reviewer: Pádraig Óg Ó Ruairc ISBN: 9781785375286 Ernie O’Malley is one of the most fascinating figures...
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The Economic War, 1932-38
A contemporary cartoon lambasts the idea of an ‘economic war’. By John Dorney In 2025, the world has once again become acutely aware of the use of tariffs as an instrument of economic and political...
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Podcast: Elections in Ireland from Catholic Emancipation to 1918
John Redmond addresses a Home Rule rally in 1912. In part three of our series on elections in Ireland, from medieval times until Irish indepedence and partition. First broadcast on the Irish History...
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Attorney General versus Tom Barry: The Curious Tale of Tom and the Tommy Gun
Tom Barry By Aaron Ó Maonaigh On 4 May 1934 the contemporary press reported that Thomas ‘Tom’ Barry, ‘one of the most famed and colourful guerrilla fighters of the Anglo-Irish war’, had been tried and...
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Podcast: Padraig O Ruairc on the history of Fascism in Ireland
Eoin O’Dully inspects some Blueshirts, 1933. John Dorney interview Padraig O Ruairc on his new book Burn Them Out, A History of Fascism and the far right in Ireland. We talk about: small groups such as...
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