Talking History with Patrick Geoghegan
Talking History with Patrick Geoghegan is a lively history show that explores important political, social, and cultural events and the intriguing personalities behind them. Presented by Dr Patrick Geoghegan of Trinity College Dublin, the show delves into the gritty and sometimes uncomfortable side of the past, offering lessons for the present. It is produced by Newstalk, Ireland's national independent talk station for news, sport, analysis, and entertainment.
Episodes
Mussolini and Fascist Italy
In this episode, we look at Mussolini and Fascist Italy in myth and memory and explore the regime through the eyes of Mussolini's daughter Edda, once described as the most dangerous woman in Europe. Featuring: Prof Paul Corner, University of Siena, and author Caroline Moorehead.
The Rise & Fall of the Nazi Regime
In this episode, we discuss the rise to power of the Nazis and what it meant for ordinary Germans. Featuring Prof Nick Stargardt, Professor of Modern European History at Magdalen College, Oxford University, and Katja Hoyer, historian and journalist, Visiting Research Fellow at King’s College London and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.
Wellington and Ireland
In this episode, we explore the life and times of the Irishman who defeated Napoleon and went on to become the prime minister of Britain and find out his complicated relationship with this country. Featuring: Dr Síle McGuckian, historian and lawyer; Gareth Glover, military historian; and Prof Michael Broers, Emeritus Professor of Western European History at Oxford University.
Gulliver's Travels at 300
We mark the 300th anniversary of the publication of one of the most influential books ever written, Gulliver's Travels, & we find out how Jonathan Swift created one of the landmarks of world literature.Featuring Dr Jason McElligott, Director of Marsh’s Library; Prof Daniel Cook, Chair of English and Scottish Literature at the University of Dundee; Dr Clíona Ó Gallchoir, Head of English at Univ
Best of May Books
‘Seven Sisters: Captives and Rebels in Revolutionary Europe's First Family’ with Veronica Buckley, historical biographer; ‘Gothic: Building Castles in post-Union Ireland’, with Dr Judith Hill, architectural historian; and ‘Survivors: The Lost Stories of the Last Captives of the Atlantic Slave Trade’, with Dr Hannah Durkin, historian specialising in transatlantic slavery and African diasporic art a
Irish Emigration To Britain
We explore the economic and social history of the Irish in England, with our panel: Prof Louise Ryan, Senior Professor of Sociology, and Director of the Global Diversities and Inequalities Research Centre at London Metropolitan University, Prof Neil Cummins, Professor of Economic History at the London School of Economics, Cormac Ó Grada, economic historian and professor emeritus of economics at Un
William Blake
We're exploring the extraordinary world of visionary artist and poet William Blake and we'll be finding out how this radical thinker influenced writers and artists from WB Yeats to U2 and beyond. Featuring: Anne Hodge, the exhibition curator and Curator of Prints & Drawings at the National Gallery of Ireland; Alice Insley, Curator of British Art c. 1730–1850 at Tate and co-curator of the Willi
Proust & His Irish Connections
We discuss the life and work of Marcel Proust and explore his connections with Ireland. Featuring: Dr Max McGuinness, Postdoctoral Fellow at the School of Languages, Literatures and Cultural Studies at Trinity College Dublin, and co-editor of ‘The Irish Proust: Cultural Crossings From Beckett To McGahern’; Prof Patrick ‘Paddy’ O’Donovan, Emeritus Professor of French at University College
Samurai: the legendary Japanese warriors
Featuring: Dr Rosina Buckland, Curator of Japanese Collections in the Department of Asia at the British Museum and Lead Curator of the Samurai exhibition; Joe Nickols, curator in the Japan section of the British Museum, co-ordinating the Samurai exhibition; and Prof Oleg Benesch, Professor of Modern History and Head of the Department of History at the University of York, who specialises in the his
Rasputin
Rasputin rose from obscurity to become the most controversial figure at the court of Tsar Nicholas II. This episode features: Sir Anthony Beevor, writer and historian, and Dr Helen Rappaport, author, media consultant, and historian specialising in the British and Russian history from 1837 to 1918.
Mary, Queen of Scots
In this episode: An Accidental History of Tudor England - From Daily Life to Sudden Death, with historian Prof Steven Gunn; Exile: The Captive Years of Mary, Queen of Scots, with author Rosemary Goring; and Élie Bouhéreau: the collections and communities of a Huguenot refugee, by Amy Boylan, special collections librarian in Marsh’s Library.
Emily Brontë and Wuthering Heights
In this episode: we hear from Dr Claire O’Callaghan, Senior Lecturer in English at Loughborough University and Editor-in-Chief of Brontë Studies, the official journal of the Brontë Society; Prof Melissa Fegan, Professor of Irish and Victorian Literature at the University of Chester; and Dr Sophie Franklin, Postdoctoral Fellow at the School of English, Drama and Film at University College Dublin an
What Did Anne Boleyn Look Like?
In this episode: to mark International Women's Day, we discuss a number of prolific women across history - 'A History of France in 21 Women', by Katherine Pangonis, the author Maria Edgeworth and the 225th anniversary of her novel Belinda, and Hever Castle historian Dr Owen Emmerson tells us about how and why Anne Boleyn's image has changed over the centuries.
Steinbeck's Life and Times
In this episode: Dr Danica Cerce from the Steinbeck Review; Dr Susan Shillinglaw, Director of the Steinbeck Center, California; Dr Nicholas P Taylor, Cox Center for Steinbeck Studies, San Jose State University; and Dr Tara Guissin-Stubbs, Associate Professor in English Literature and Director of Studies in English Literature and Creative Writing at Oxford University.
De Valera And His Time In America
Featuring: Dr Bernadette Whelan, professor emeritus at the School of History and Geography at the University of Limerick; Dr Colum Kenny, Professor Emeritus, Dublin City University; and Prof Eunan O’Halpin, Fellow Emeritus in History at Trinity College Dublin.
Michael Davitt, Land League Founder
In this episode: Nationalist Michael Davitt and how he inspired reform movements around the world; the aristocrat who became a champion of Catholic emancipation; and the history of intelligence. Featuring Ciara Daly, curator of the Michael Davitt exhibition at Trinity College Dublin; Síle McGuckian, author of Anglesey in Ireland, 1828-1833: Worse Than War; and Dr David Brydan, King's College Londo
Best of February Books
In this episode, the 125th anniversary of the birth of Brendan Bracken, the Irish born adventurer who became Winston Churchill's greatest supporter, with biographer Charles Lysaght; the 400 year fight to end slavery in the Americas, with historian Carrie Gibson; and treasure and ghosts in the London clay, with author Victoria Shepherd.
America's Infamous Traitor, Benedict Arnold
We're looking at the life and legacy of one of the American Revolution's greatest villains, Benedict Arnold, and we'll find out how his name became synonymous with treachery and betrayal. Featuring: Dr Eliga Gould, Harmsworth Professor of American History at Oxford; Dr Tom Sebrell, history lecturer at University College London; Dr Charlene Boyer-Lewis, professor of history and director of American
The Plough And The Stars: 100 Years On
In this episode, we find out about the first staging of Seán O'Casey's play The Plough and The Stars 100 years ago and why it provoked such furious debate and even riots. Our panel features: Dr Ciara Murphy, Lecturer in Drama at TU Dublin and Vice President of the Irish Society of Theatre Research; Mairéad Delaney, Archivist at the Abbey Theatre Archive; Dr Bess Rowen, assistant professor of theat
Ancient Egypt's Innovation
In this episode, we're finding out about the making of Ancient Egypt - the makers, materials, and remarkable innovations of one of the most iconic civilisations in human history. Featuring Helen Strudwick, Lead Curator of the Made In Ancient Egypt exhibition at the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge; Prof Joyce Tyldesley, Professor of Egyptology at the University of Manchester; and Salima Ikram, Distin
David Bowie
10 years on from David Bowie's death, we reflect on the life and music of one of the most influential cultural figures of our age, and assess his remarkable legacy. Our panel is Prof Eoin Devereux, Co-Director for the Centre for The Study of Popular Music and Popular Culture at the University of Limerick, Dr Leah Kardos, Senior Lecturer in Music at Kingston University London, and Harriet Reed, Ass
1066 and The Norman Conquest
In this episode, we're going back to 1066 as we debate the Norman Conquest and what it meant for England and indeed Ireland. Featuring: · Prof Judith Green, Professor Emeritus at the School of History, Classics and Archaeology at the University of Edinburgh; Prof Clare Downham, Professor of Medieval History at the Institute of Irish Studies at the University of Liverpool and author of ‘Medieval Ir
Best of January Books
In this episode: The History of the DPP with UCD's Niamh Howlin; Siege in Ireland, 1641-53, by Pádraig Lenihan; and Irish Food History: A Companion, with Máirtín Mac Con Iomaire and Dorothy Cashman.
Celebrating Jane Austen at 250
Marking the 250th anniversary of the birth of Jane Austen, we'll discuss her life and legacy. Featuring: Lizzie Dunford, director of the Jane Austen House museum, John Mullan, author of the book What Matters in Jane Austen?, and Janet Todd of the University of Cambridge.
The Anglo-Irish Agreement: 40 Years On
Featuring: Dáithí O'Ceallaigh, former Irish diplomat who served as Irish Ambassador in London, involved in framing and operating the agreement; Eoin O’Malley, Associate Professor in Political Science at the School of Law and Government, Dublin City University and author of ‘Charlie Vs Garret: The rivalry that shaped modern Ireland’; and Daniel Mulhall, former Irish diplomat and a former Ambassador
Best of November Books
In this episode: 'Mitchell - Father of the Spitfire' by Paul Beaver; 'Wolfpack' by Roger Moorhouse; and 'Summer of Fire and Blood: The German Peasants' War' by Lyndal Roper.
Plato
In this episode, we look at the life, legacy and ideas of one of the most influential philosophers in human history, Plato, as we get to the heart of how we debate with each other. Featuring: Mary Margaret McCabe, Professor of Ancient Philosophy Emerita, King’s College London; Catherine Rowett, Emeritus Professor, School of Politics, Philosophy and Area Studies at the University of East Anglia; Dr
Best of October Books
Featuring: 'The First King of England: Æthelstan and the Birth of a Kingdom' by David Woodman, Professor and Fellow in History at Robinson College, University of Cambridge; 'Queer Georgians', by historian Dr Anthony Delaney; 'Ireland: Mapping The Island', with Joe Brady, co-author; and Changing Ireland at the National Museum of Ireland, with Dónal Maguire, Keeper of Art & Industry collections,
Orson Welles
We discuss one of the greatest figures in film history - Orson Welles - on the 40th anniversary of his death. We'll explore his genius, the myths around him, and his deep connections to Ireland.Featuring: Prof Ruth Barton of Trinity College Dublin, Dr David Clare of Mary Immaculate College in Limerick, and W. Joseph Campbell of American University in Washington DC.
Nelson and The Battle of Trafalgar
On its 220th anniversary, we're debating The Battle of Trafalgar, as we find out about strategy, sacrifice and victory on the high seas.Featuring Dr Katherine Gazzard from Royal Museums Greenwich, Dr Ciarán McDonnell, historian of 18th century war and society, and Prof Andrew Lambert, Professor of Naval History at King’s College London.
Ireland and the American Revolution
On the 250th anniversary of the start of the American Revolution, we'll discuss the Irish involvement in the conflict and the impact it had on our history.Featuring: Prof Finola O'Kane Crimmins, Professor at the School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy at UCD; Dr Joel Herman, Research Fellow at the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland, History Department at Trinity College Dublin; P
Irish STEM Lives
We explore Ireland's journey through science, engineering, technology and mathematics over the last four centuries.Featuring Dr Eoin Kinsella, managing editor of the Dictionary of Irish Biography; Prof Jane Grimson, a Member of the Royal Irish Academy and past president of Engineers Ireland and of the Irish Academy of Engineering; and Turlough O’Riordan, online and digital editor of the Dictionary
Best of September Books
In this episode: Dublin’s Industrial Heritage by Rob Goodbody; the Voices of the Showmen exhibition at the University of Galway; The Great Reversal - Britain, China and the 400-Year Contest for Power, by Kerry Brown; and Irish settlers’ roles in Native American history, in Éire agus Na Chéad Naisiúin on TG4, with producer Ronan McCloskey.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
We assess the life and legacy of US Supreme Court judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the fifth anniversary of her death.Featuring: Kelsi Brown Corkran, Supreme Court Director at the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection and a Senior Lecturer at Georgetown Law; Prof Aoife O'Donoghue, Professor at the School of Law at Queen’s University Belfast; and Prof David Kenny, Head of the School of L
Interrogating Historical Interpretation
In this episode, we're exploring how individuals experience history, and how lives are lived against the backdrop of conflict and revolutions.Featuring: Prof Dónal Hassett, Professor of History at Maynooth University; Dr Clodagh Tait, Lecturer in History at Mary Immaculate College; and Prof M’hamed Oualdi, Chair in European History, 19th and early 20th centuries, European University Institute.
Iconic Irish Presidential Elections: 1990 and 1997
In this episode, we'll be exploring two of the most iconic Irish presidential elections, 1990 and 1997.Featuring Dr John Walsh, School of Education, Trinity College Dublin, and Prof Kevin Rafter, Full Professor of Political Communication at DCU.
Thomas More
In this episode of Talking History, we discuss the life, death and legacy of author and statesman Thomas More, who was beheaded by Henry VIII.Featuring: Dr Joanne Paul, senior lecturer in early modern history at the University of Sussex, and author of ‘Thomas More: A Life and Death in Tudor England'; Prof Lucy Wooding, professor of history at the University of Oxford and author of ‘Tudor England:
Best of August Books
Featuring: Landscapes of Kingship in Early Medieval Ireland AD 400-1150, by Dr Patrick Gleeson, Senior Lecturer in Early Medieval Archaeology at Queen's University Belfast; Death to Order: A Modern History of Assassination, by Prof Simon Ball, Professor of International History and Politics at the University of Leeds; and After the Train: Irishwomen United and a Network of Change, by academic
Ellen Hutchins
In this episode, we hear about the remarkable life and legacy of Ireland's first female botanist, Ellen Hutchins.Featuring: Madeline Hutchins, who runs the Ellen Hutchins Festival and is Ellen's great-great-grandniece; Clare Heardman, co-founder and co-organiser of the Ellen Hutchins Festival; Virginia Teehan, CEO of The Heritage Council; Dr Colin Kelleher, keeper of the herbarium at the
Limerick and the British & Irish Lions
The life and legacy of one of Ireland's most influential historians, with Neasa MacErlean, author of ‘Telling the Truth is Dangerous: How Robert Dudley Edwards changed Irish history forever’; the memoirs of a maverick Republican, with Dr Owen O’Shea, historian and author of 'One Man’s Ireland – Memoirs of Dan Mulvihill'; and the origins of the Limerick Lions, with author Des Ryan.
Thomas Cromwell: His Final Years
In this episode of Talking History, we'll discuss the man who helped make Henry VIII, until Henry VIII turned on him - as we bring you the real Thomas Cromwell, on the 485th anniversary of his death.Featuring Gareth Russell, historian and author; Dr Laura Flannigan, Junior Research Fellow in History at St John’s College, Oxford University; Dr Joanne Paul, Honorary Associate Professor in Intellectu
The Irish Lumières
In this episode: Ireland's forgotten film pioneers, the Horgan brothers of Youghal, and how three visionary siblings captured a rapidly changing Ireland.Featuring: Darina Clancy, director and producer, and author of ‘The Horgan Brothers – The Irish Lumieres’; Prof Ruth Barton, Professor In Film Studies at Trinity College Dublin; and Dr Denis Condon, Lecturer in Film at the Departments of Engl
Daniel O'Connell: 250 Years On
To mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of Daniel O'Connell, Newstalk's Talking History debates his life, his legacy and how he should be remembered.Featuring: Prof Christine Kinealy, Professor of History at Quinnipiac University, and author of Daniel O'Connell and Anti-Slavery and an expert on O'Connell, Frederick Douglass, and the Famine; Prof Davide Mazzi, Professor of English Lang
How The Free State Won The Irish Civil War
In this episode: a profile of Ireland's longest-serving Minister for Justice, Gerald Boland, with Prof Stephen Kelly, Professor of Modern History and British Irish Relations at Liverpool Hope University; counter-insurgency strategies in the Civil War, with author Dr Gareth Prendergast; and how women changed the study of foreign languages in Ireland, with Dr Phyllis Gaffney, French Adjunct Research
Best of June Books
In this episode: Crusader Criminals - the knights who went rogue in the Holy Land, with Dr Steve Tibble, honorary research associate at Royal Holloway, University of London; the forgotten history of the occult, with Raphael Cormack, Assistant Professor of Modern Languages at Durham University; and how Ireland's sea connections brought new ideas, technologies and cultures to this land, with Geraldi
Jane Austen: 250 Years On
On the 250th anniversary of the birth of Jane Austen, we'll discuss her life and legacy.Featuring: Lizzie Dunford, director of the Jane Austen House museum, John Mullan, author of the book What Matters in Jane Austen?, and Janet Todd of the University of Cambridge.
Early Medieval Manuscripts
In this episode of Talking History: a roundup of exciting new exhibitions on the island of Ireland, including: the Irish manuscripts returning to the country for the first time in more than 1,000 years, with curator Matthew Seaver, Assistant Keeper at the National Museum of Ireland; the life, art and legacy of the husband of Constance Markievicz, with Dr Kathryn Milligan, Assistant Librarian at th
From That Small Island: The Story of the Irish
In this episode: from our earliest ancestors to today's global diaspora, we take a trip through 10,000 years of Ireland's history.Featuring Professor Jane Ohlmeyer, Erasmus Smith's Professor of Modern History, Trinity College Dublin; Professor Bríona Nic Dhiarmada, Thomas J. and Kathleen M. O'Donnell Professor of Irish Studies and Concurrent Professor of Film, Television, and Theatre, at the Unive
85 Years On: Operation Dynamo and the Battle of Dunkirk
In this episode of Talking History, we're debating one of the most dramatic episodes of the Second World War: Operation Dynamo, the incredible evacuation of Allied forces from Dunkirk in May 1940.Featuring: Prof Eunan O’Halpin, Emeritus Professor of Contemporary Irish History, Trinity College Dublin; Dr David Jordan, Co-Director of the Freeman Air and Space Institute and Senior Lecturer in Defence
Celebrating 10 Years of Marriage Equality in Ireland
In this episode of Talking History, we're going back in time 10 years to remember how Ireland became the first country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage by popular vote, as we debate what the passing of the marriage equality referendum really meant for Irish history.Featuring: Dr Mary McAuliffe, historian and Director of Gender Studies at UCD, co-editor of ‘The politics of gender and sexu
Best of May Books
In this episode of Talking History:The social history of death and dying, with historian and bereavement counsellor Molly ConisbeeVietdamned: How the World’s Greatest Minds Put America on Trial, with historian Clive WebbAnd Alexander The Great: Lives and Legacies, with Stephen Harrison of Swansea University.
The Most Unusual Conclaves
Talking History is searching for white smoke as we explore the history of the most unusual conclaves, including the one that lasted almost three years.Featuring Dr Celeste McNamara, Assistant Professor in Early Modern European History, DCU; Dr Patrick Houlihan, Associate Professor in History at TCD; and Dr Massimo Faggioli, Professor of Historical Theology at Villanova University in Pennsylvania.
Best of April Books
In this episode, we bring you a roundup of history books: we explore how New York was invented in the 17th century, with Russell Shorto, director of the New Amsterdam Project at the New York Historical and senior scholar at the New Netherland Institute; we chart the fall of civilisations with Paul Cooper, podcaster and historian; and discuss why Mary MacSwiney opposed the treaty, with Dr Leeann La
JMW Turner: 250 Years On
This week is the 250th anniversary of the birth of JMW Turner, so we are playing back our show on one of the greatest landscape artists of all time.Joining Patrick is Charlotte Topsfield, Prints & Drawings Curator, National Galleries of Scotland; Anne Hodge, Curator of Prints & Drawings, National Gallery of Ireland; and Niamh McGuinne, Paper Conservator, National Gallery of Ireland.
Anne Frank's Annex Recreated
In this episode, we explore some fascinating new historical exhibitions and curations taking place around the world.The recreation of Anne Frank's annex in New York, with Tom Brink, Head of Collections and Presentations at the Anne Frank House.Bilingual Dublin street signs and what they reveal about our cultural heritage, with Nicole Volmering of TCD.Mudlarking in London, with London Museum curato
The Great Gatsby's Centenary
In this episode, we mark 100 years since the publication of F Scott Fitzgerald's novel The Great Gatsby and explore how its themes are still relevant today.Featuring Prof Philip McGowan, School of Arts, English and Languages at Queen's University Belfast; Prof Kirk Curnutt, executive director of the F Scott Fitzgerald Society and Professor and chair at the Department of English at Troy Univer
Best of March Books
In this episode: this month's round-up of history books - 'Travellers in the Golden Realm' by Lubaaba Al-Azami, 'The Brutish Empire' by Des Ekin, and 'Dublin: The Irish Revolution, 1912−1923' by Brian Hughes.
King James VI and I: His Life and Loves
In this episode: our panel reflects on King James I & VI of Scotland - his life and loves - on the 400th anniversary of his death.Featuring historian Gareth Russell, Anna Groundwater, Principal Curator, Renaissance and Early Modern History at National Museums Scotland; Clare Jackson, Honorary Professor of Early Modern History at the University of Cambridge, and historian Lucy Hughes-Hallett, a
Arthur Guinness
In this episode, we meet the descendant of Arthur Guinness to discuss the early history of the brewery; we speak with Catherine Healy from Epic Irish Emigration Museum to discuss the stories of emigrants who wrote letters home; and how to start building your family tree, with the National Library of Ireland's Steven Skeldon.
Ireland & The Death Penalty
On this episode of Talking History: the history of Ireland's non-political executions, as we bring you the story of Annie Walsh, the only woman executed in independent Ireland.
The Oscars: The Early Days
In this episode of Talking History:The early days of the Oscars, with Cara O'Doherty, film critic and arts reporterIn search of Ireland's national poet in the 19th century, with author Bridget HouricanAnd medieval monasticism, with author Edel Bhreathnach.
40 Years On: Contraceptives Legalised In Ireland
We're marking the 40th anniversary of the legalisation of the sale of contraceptives in Ireland in this episode of Talking History. Our panel features: Dr Jennifer Redmond, Associate Professor in 20th Century Irish History, Maynooth University; Dr Mary McAuliffe, historian and Director of Gender Studies at UCD, specialising in Irish women's/gender history; Prof Caitriona Beaumont, Professor of Soc
Peter The Great
On the 300th anniversary of his death, we'll explore the life and legacy of the man who made Russia - Peter The Great - and how he got that title.Our panellists are Professor Judith Devlin, Emeritus Professor at the School of History at UCD, and Victoria Frede-Montemayor, Associate Professor at the Department of History at the University of California Berkeley.
The Princes In The Tower
It's one of the greatest murder mysteries in British history - the disappearance of the Princes in the Tower - and we'll debate whether they were killed by their uncle Richard III or indeed survived, with our guests Philippa Langley (behind the documentary 'The Princes In The Tower: The New Evidence') and Prof Tim Thornton (behind the documentary 'Princes in the Tower: A Damning Discovery’).
Best of January Books
In this episode: the unhappy early life and dangerous ambition of Eamon De Valera, with Colum Kenny; power and change in Rural Ireland, with editor Tomás Finn; and The Language Puzzle: How We Talked Our Way Out of the Stone Age, with Steven Mithen.
Churchill: His Life and Legacy
On the 60th anniversary of his death, we're debating whether Winston Churchill was an inspirational hero who led Britain through its darkest hours, or a deeply flawed man whose imperialist views and mistakes left a legacy of suffering.Joining Patrick is Allen Packwood, Director of Churchill Archives Centre at Churchill College, Cambridge; Prof Richard Toye, Director of Global Excellence at the Uni
JMW Turner
We mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of visionary artist JMW Turner. We debate his life and legacy and how he transformed the way we view art and nature. Joining Patrick is Charlotte Topsfield, Prints & Drawings Curator, National Galleries of Scotland; Anne Hodge, Curator of Prints & Drawings, National Gallery of Ireland; and Niamh McGuinne, Paper Conservator, National Gallery of Ire
Elvis at 90
Dr Mark Duffett, Associate Professor in the Division of Communication, Screen & Performance at the University of Chester, and editor of the upcoming book ‘Rethinking Elvis’; Prof Michael T. Bertrand, Professor of History at Tennessee State University, and author of ‘Race, Rock and Elvis’; and Prof Jack Hamilton, Associate Professor of Media Studies and American Studies at the University o
Gustav Mahler
We're looking at the life, legacy and music of the composer Gustav Mahler and how he tried to capture the breadth of human experience in his works.
Newgrange
In this episode: how Newgrange and the winter solstice have captivated the imagination for centuries, and the monument's connections to Irish mythology. Featuring Jessica Smyth, Associate Professor at the School of Archaeology at UCD; Leontia Lenehan, Supervisor Guide at Brú na Bóinne; and Anthony Murphy, mythologist and author of ‘Newgrange - Monument to Immortality’.
Best of December Books
Patrick Geoghegan chats to Prof Diarmaid Ferriter on how Ireland was transformed over the past 25 years, as told in his new book The Revelation of Ireland, 1995-2020; we also hear the untold story of the women on Wall Street and the misogyny they faced, from Paulina Bren's new book She Wolves: The Untold History of Women on Wall Street; and how the IRB changed the course of Irish history, with Joh
Notre Dame
As Notre Dame reopens after its catastrophic fire, Patrick Geoghegan looks at the construction and re-construction of one of the most iconic cathedrals in the world. Joining him are: Dr Emily Guerry, Senior Lecturer in Medieval European History at the University of Kent, Dr Caroline Bruzelius, Professor Emerita of Art and Art History at Duke University, Dr Jennifer M. Feltman, Associate Professor
Roman Emperor Septimius Severus
In this episode of Talking History - the story of Caracalla and Geta, the two emperors who share power in the new Gladiator 2 film, how their father Severus transformed Rome, and how their dynasty ended in violence and murder. Patrick Geoghegan is joined by Dr David Woods, Head of the Department of Classics at UCC; Prof Mark Humphries, Professor of Ancient History, Swansea University; and Dr Rebec
Oscar Wilde: His Rise And Fall
From Decadence To Despair: in this episode we discuss how Oscar Wilde went from the heights of literary fame to the depths of public scandal, as we debate his remarkable legacy.Joining Patrick Geoghegan is Caoimhe Ní Ghormáin, Manuscripts Curator, the Library of Trinity College Dublin; Martin Burns, creative director, Oscar Wilde House; and Jarlath Killeen, Head of the School of English at Trinity
The History of Gladiators
Marking the release of Gladiator 2, in this episode we explore the brutal world of gladiators - and how they rose from captivity to become icons of the Roman Empire. Featuring: Dr Jerry Toner, Director of Studies in Classics at Churchill College, University of Cambridge, Kathleen M. Coleman, James Loeb Professor of the Classics, Harvard University, and Dr Andrew Fear, Lecturer in Classics, Univers
The Fall Of The Berlin Wall
We're marking the 35th anniversary of one of the most seismic events of the 20th century: the fall of the Berlin Wall. We'll find out why it was built, how it fell, and how it brought an end to the Cold War.Joining Patrick Geoghegan is: Prof Patrick Major, Professor of Modern History at the University of Reading; Katja Hoyer, historian, author of ‘Beyond the Wall: East Germany, 1949-1990', and vis
Best of November Books
In this episode:Captive Queen: the Decrypted Story of Mary, Queen of Scots, by Dr Jade ScottWhen Courage Calls: Josephine Butler and the Radical Pursuit of Justice for Women, by Dr Sarah C. Williamsand Embers of the Hands: Hidden Histories of the Viking Age, by Dr Eleanor Barraclough
Bram Stoker and The Petty Sessions
This special Talking History episode, live from the Supreme Court in Dublin, in conjunction with Dublin City Council Bram Stoker Festival, centres on Bram Stoker and the ‘Petty Sessions: Weird and Wonderful Court Cases from Victorian Ireland’ . Hosted by Tommy Graham, editor of History Ireland.The Duties of Clerks of Petty Sessions in Ireland was Bram Stoker’s second book of nonfiction. For many y
Best of October Books
In this episode of Talking History, our October books special: when Britain became a republic and why it ended in failure, with Prof Alice Hunt of the University of Southampton; magic and religious controversy in the 16th century, with Dr Violet Moller, author of Inside the Stargazer’s Palace: The Transformation of Science in 16th-Century Northern Europe; and how the CIA became an instrument of a
The History of Modern Sinn Féin
In this episode, Patrick Geoghegan explores the history of modern Sinn Féin, alongside Prof. Agnès Maillot, Head of the School of Applied Language and Intercultural Studies at Dublin City University; Dr Brian Hanley, Teaching Fellow in Twentieth-Century Irish History, Trinity College Dublin; Dr Liam Weeks, Head of the Department of Government and Politics, University College Cork; Dr Matthew Whiti
