The Irish Passport
A podcast about the culture, history and politics of Ireland. Taking on the knowledge gap since 2017.
Episodes
The Garvaghy Road: Conflict Returns
Naomi and Tim explain the Drumcree conflict and why the current aspirations of the Orange Order to march through the Catholic neighbourhood of the Garvaghy Road are so laden with history.
Patreon supporters can watch this episode in video format on https://www.patreon.com/theirishpassport
Trump for a United Ireland?
It's been a spicy few weeks in politics: Ireland was blindsided by an unexpected endorsement of Irish unity by United States President Donald Trump while on a visit to the country. Meanwhile the pro-independence parties of Scotland and Wales signed a cooperation agreement with Sinn Féin, agreeing common interests and to share strategy, including regarding the European Union. Regarding which - is C
Going Wilde
In the latest installment of our Oscar Wilde series, Naomi and Tim discuss Oscar Wilde's move to Oxford, ascent as a star student, and launch in London to become one of the most famous figures of his day -- a kind of Victorian-era influencer. This is a period in which Wilde begins to emerge is a writer: of beautiful fables to be read to children, and of his book Dorian Gray, which would cause a sc
Oscar the Wilde Irishman
Before the world knew Oscar Wilde, Ireland knew Oscar Fingal O'Fflahertie Wills Wilde: the son of a famous nationalist poet mother and a pioneering surgeon who grew up at the heart of Ireland's cultural renaissance of the 19th century, between Dublin and famine-ravaged County Mayo.
We discuss how Ireland shaped the budding writer and how Irish politics and the context of the time are key to under
Racist riots in Belfast
Last week footage of a shocking stabbing in Belfast went viral. After it emerged that the perpetrator was an asylum seeker originally from Sudan, protests were called that soon devolved into a racist pogrom. Gangs of young men created checkpoints, burnt out cars, and set fire to the homes of people suspected to be migrants.
An old friend of the podcast, Matthew O'Toole, got a frontline view to th
The mosquito that bit Cromwell
A proposal for the smallest statue in the world to be built in Cork, in honour of the local mosquito that reputedly bit Oliver Cromwell ultimately causing his death, recently went viral. The idea inspired this episode discussing the diverging historical memory of Cromwell in Ireland, where he is remembered as a genocidal murderer, and in Britain, where he retains many admirers. We speak to Green p
Granuaile- warrior of the waves
Granuaile or Grace O'Malley: a woman chieftain in 16th century Ireland who ruled the seas with a fleet of ships and was both respected and deeply feared.
Daughter of the seafaring Ó Máille Gaelic clan, Gráinne carved out a position of power for herself at a time when there was little recent precedent for doing so.
She found herself contending with the encroachment of English invaders, and ended
Fuel protests blockade Ireland
For the past week Ireland has been blockaded by protests that have been described as among the largest seen since independence. It's one ripple effect from the US-Israeli attack on Iran, which sent the price of fuel used by farmers, truckers and fishermen soaring. In response protesters blocked motorways, ports, Ireland's only oil refinery, and much of the capital Dublin, demanding the government
St Patrick's Day News Update
Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona daoibh! On this most turbulent of St Patrick’s Day, we cover some of the major events that are dominating news headlines: Gerry Adams in court in London, Mícheál Martin on the Taoiseach’s annual pilgrimage to the White House, and the how Ireland and Europe are reacting to the fallout of the US war with Iran.
We’ll be releasing a halfpint with further discussion exclusively
Bridget: Saint, Goddess, Myth
This month marks the official start of spring in Ireland and to mark it Naomi and Tim discuss the figure of Bridget, Brigid or Bríd. A goddess in Gaelic times who became Christianised into Saint Bridget, the stories about this figure reveal fascinating details about the society that produced them.
A bonus Halfpint debrief episode is available here for Patreon supporters: https://www.patreon.com/p
Give me Greenland
A strategically-located island in the Atlantic circled by Russian ships and with few of its own defences... Greenland has caught the avaricious eye of the president of the United States and the result is destroying the assumptions that defined the post-WW2 era. As world leaders meet in Davos amid a crumbling world order, Naomi and Tim consider the tumultuous events of recent weeks and what it mean
The checkout workers who boycotted apartheid South Africa and other stories
In this listener questions episode, Naomi and Tim take questions from listeners on everything from Gaelic Ulster, to nomadic patterns of land use, and the quirks of Ireland's postal system.
We discuss the long effect of an old law that forced women to quit their jobs once they married. Tim tells the story of the supermarket workers who refused to handle goods from apartheid South Africa, and how
The Economic War
Naomi and Tim dig into the history of Ireland's Economic War, a challenging period for the early Irish state which ended up transforming the country as it shaped its new independence.
We hear from someone who lived through that difficult period of the 1930s, when Britain slapped high tariffs on Ireland and the Irish state retaliated in turn. "The English were starving the Irish people that time,
The Real History of Guinness
The famous 'pint of plain' has become one of the most recognisable commercial brands in the world, and is inextricably linked to the Irish pub. In light of a new Netflix series on the Guinness family, this episode dives into the real history of the 'Black stuff', and explores how the brand has reinvented itself time and time again through the miracle of marketing.
An extra-content debrief on this
Who will be Ireland's Next President?
Naomi and Tim take a look at the candidates who have put themselves forward for the highest office in the land and consider what the Irish presidency means in the 21st century. We look at the odd nature of presidential office in Ireland, how the role has changed significantly over recent mandates, and why that could potentially lead to a constitutional crisis in the future.
Bonus episodes are av
Rebel Music - Kneecap and Gaza
An Irish language rap group has improbably enough become the focus of global media attention and political debate. Why? For describing Israel's actions in Gaza as a genocide and accusing the United States of complicity before an approving crowd at the music festival Coachella. In this episode, Naomi and Tim explain the origins of Kneecap in the movement for Irish language rights, the controversies
Conquest Pt 7: The Curse of Cromwell
In the grand finale of our Conquest series, Naomi and Tim dig into one of the most notorious episodes of Irish history, starring none other than Oliver Cromwell. We explore his rise to power as a major player in the puritan faction of England's civil war, and how he came to view the task of "pacifying" Ireland both as a way to solidify his support, and as a kind of holy war. Cromwell's actions in
Investigating a ruthless rental empire
Naomi spent months investigating a rogue landlord who built up an empire of rental properties in Ireland backed by family wealth in Luxembourg. In this episode, we tell the story of Marc Godart: his back story, the controversial evictions that brought him to prominence, and the unusual ways he runs his businesses. This is based on reporting by Naomi and her colleagues at the Irish Times that was r
Trump's Tempestuous Tariffs: Ireland and the EU React
In the last 24 hours the global economic order may have transformed forever, as Donald Trump declares crushing tariffs for countries all over the world, not least the European Union. In this hot-off-the-press episode, Naomi explains what this might mean for Ireland and the EU, how the figures add up (or how they don't) and why the reasoning behind these new tariffs has experts all over the world s
Conquest Pt 6: The lost world of Gaelic Ireland
A very different cultural and political model dominated Irish society prior to the British conquest: Gaelic Ireland. This was a system that prevailed for thousands of years, right back into prehistory, protected by Ireland's geographic isolation. What norms did this society have? What laws, what economic system, in what buildings did people live? Naomi and Tim paint a picture of life in Ireland be
Deporting the Irish
Did you know that the United States' border policy and power to deport people was invented to get rid of famine-era immigrants from Ireland? It's a little-known chapter of history that challenges many current day stereotypes in anti-immigrant discourse. Naomi and Tim break it down in this new episode, featuring historian Hidetaka Hirota, whose book on the subject upended much of what was previousl
Chaos, a new government, and the Healy Raes
Why did chaos disrupt the formation of a new Irish government? What has the government promised to do, and who's in it? We break it down in this new episode. We also a look back on some of our prior reporting on the Healy Raes: rural political dynasty from County Kerry who have chosen to go into government for the first time - with Michael Healy Rae even set for a ministerial position. What will t
Classic Irish Passport: Santa Granted Access to Irish Air Space
Nollaig shona daoibh go léir! During this festive season please enjoy this short holiday episode which we originally recorded last year.
Every year the Irish government and national media lend their full attention to the arrival of Santa Claus on the island of Ireland, and discuss the various logistics of his visit to every child in the country. In this mini bonus episode, we bring you this most
Election Breakdown 2024: More of the Same, Please
Ireland went to the polls last week for the 2024 general election, and the results are beginning to build a picture of what the next government could look like. We break down what the vote means in this moment of international instability, and how the results compare to the previous election of 2020.
Many thanks to everyone who sent in questions for this episode.
You can find over 100 extra-con
Conquest Pt 5: Daughter of the Antichrist
By the early 17th century England had finally gained political control over the island of Ireland, but within a few years the whole colonial project had once again collapsed into chaos and bloodshed. In this new edition of our Conquest mini-series, we examine the events leading up to the bloody rebellion of 1641, and explain how Ireland's colonial dynamics became central to the civil was that was
Irish Peacekeepers On The Frontline Between Israel And Lebanon
The attention of people around the world has been captured by the presence of Irish soldiers standing in the way of the Israel Defence Forces as they launch an invasion of Lebanon in a bid to defeat militant group Hezbollah. In an area where Irish troops have been stationed so long that some locals have picked up Irish accents, personal ties go deep. The chief of staff of Ireland's defence forces
Trump Versus The Snail
On Ireland's west coast, far from the noise and fury of US partisan politics, presidential contender Donald Trump has been bested by a fearsome foe: a tiny snail no larger than a pin prick.
Naomi and Tim dig into the curious links between the Republican candidate and this windswept corner of Ireland, most notably the village of Doonbeg, where the development of a Trump golf course transformed loc
Classic Irish Passport: The Gaelic Games
We're on holiday! So please enjoy this classic episode of the podcast first recorded back in 2018. We'll be back soon with all new episodes and Halfpint extra content.
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The most popular sports in Ireland are the Gaelic games: uniquely Irish sports with an ancient history and a dramatic political backstory that are finding increasing international success. Tim visits the Paris Gaels to hear wh
Conquest Pt 4: The Ulster Plantation
In the fourth episode of our Conquest miniseries, we take on of the most defining moments in the history of Ireland: the mass-plantation of Ulster. We'll see how the arrival of thousands of colonial settlers in this erstwhile Gaelic stronghold transformed the geopolitical dynamics of Ireland, Scotland, and England alike. We'll look at how the Ulster project and the settlement of Virginia took insp
Halfpints: What the EU election results tell us about Ireland
We have made this Halfpint bonus episode freely available to all our listeners. If you want to access more than 100 extra-content episodes just like this, you can sign up to support the continued making of the podcast at www.patreon.com/theirishpassport.
In this edition of Halfpints, we answer questions about the recent EU and local elections in Ireland, and break down what the major consequences
Uppity Catholics
In February 2024, Michelle O'Neill assumed the position of first minister of Northern Ireland, making her the first person of an Irish-identifying, Catholic background to hold this most high-profile post in the devolved government. And yet, the difficulty O'Neill faced when trying to take her seat at Stormont highlighted the fact that, for a minority in the territory, Catholic nationalist are not
Conquest Pt 3: Rise Of The Gaels
The most expensive, most all-consuming war in Elizabethan England was not waged against France or Spain, but against Ireland. In the third instalment in our Conquest series, we see how the great clan chiefs of Ireland united under the banner of "Arch Traitor" Hugh O'Neill to stage a momentous uprising against the colonial English state. From Gaelic pirate ships sailing up the Thames to fearsome cr
Who is Ireland's incoming Taoiseach and why did Varadkar resign?
In this political update, Naomi and Tim sum up the background of the incoming new Taoiseach Simon Harris and discuss the sudden resignation of Leo Varadkar and the different factors behind it.
One of them was Ireland's two recent referendums aimed at changing some of the more Catholic-influenced conservative language in the 1937 constitution, which ended in a resounding defeat for the government.
Conquest Pt 2: Scorching The Earth
Part two of our Conquest mini-series explores the violent occupation of Gaelic Ireland by Elizabethan adventurers between 1560 and 1590, heralding an age of terror and genocide that would ultimately lead to a full-scale war between the Gaelic clans of Ireland and the English crown. From the demise of the Old English Lordships to the tentative plantations of Ulster, this episode lays out the very f
Conquest Pt 1: Making Ireland English
In the period from 1534 to 1653 Ireland was profoundly transformed. At the start, it was almost entirely Gaelic, ruled by Gaelic clans with an ancient way of life, and unique legal and political system. A hundred years later, Ireland was unrecognisable. In this first part of our new mini series, Conquest, Tim and Naomi set the scene for the profound transformation of the island of Ireland by colon
Breaking: Santa Granted Access To Irish Air Space
Every year the Irish government and national media lend their full attention to the arrival of Santa Claus on the island of Ireland, and discuss the various logistics of his visit to every child in the country. In this mini bonus episode, we bring you this most important news story of the year, and explain how, for a few days every December, Santa dominates the parliamentary agenda of Dáil Éireann
Dublin Riots: Will the Far Right Change Irish Politics?
We break down the political consequences of the recent far-right riots in Dublin, explaining how the violence began, who has been instigating movements like this, and how this could transform the country's political landscape. We see how members of the far right have failed in electoral gains, but have succeeded in disrupting the traditional political process, which until now has been remarkably a
Ireland's Imposter Aristocrats
Tim published a book!
How does nobility work as a power strategy, why does it bear so many curious similarities to the construct of race, and what does all of this have to do with Ireland?
We delve into Tim's book, "Nobility and the Making of Race in Eighteenth-Century Britain", published by Bloomsbury Academic this autumn, and uncover the intricate power dynamics of Irish nobility in the eigh
Ireland and the Israel-Palestine conflict
As the world reels from the horrific Hamas attack on Israel and its deadly retribution on the Gaza Strip, Ireland has emerged as a prominent player in the European response to the worsening conflict.
In this episode, Naomi and Tim sum up the current situation and explain some of the historical context that explains why Ireland has traditionally been one of the most sympathetic western countries t
What does the “Troubles Legacy Bill” mean for Northern Ireland?
We’re back and diving straight into breaking politics, as Naomi explains the chilling implications of the UK government’s new “Northern Ireland Troubles Legacy Bill”. This controversial new law has provoked outrage from across the communities of Northern Ireland, uniting unionist and nationalist political parties against it. But what does this law entail, how will it affect the people of Northern
Farewell Sinéad, we didn't deserve you
Hi everyone, Naomi here. Like many people I've been reeling since the news of the death of Sinéad O'Connor. I took a moment to share some of my thoughts and a little about Sinéad and who she was - the girl with towering musical gifts who broke out of a Magdalene Laundry to busk on the streets of Dublin and achieved worldwide fame while never losing her soul. Unfortunately, her life was cruel, and
How the wealthy and powerful muzzle reporting in Ireland
Ireland's strict libel laws and onerously expensive legal system is stacked against journalists and in favour of wealthy people who abuse the situation to censor reporting about them. That's when Naomi discovered in her research for a recent report for press freedom organisation the International Press Institute. She discusses what she found out, why property developers are particularly litiguous
Mapping Irelands DNA
What's in a gene? We wade into the world of genetics, to find out all about an extensive DNA mapping project called the Irish DNA Atlas and to see what it can tell us about the history of Ireland. We also take a look at the phenomenon that is at-home DNA ancestry tests, which have exploded in popularity in the past few years, as well as exploring the ethical or legal concerns they might bring up.
Ireland's Lost Forests Pt 2: an Atlantic Rainforest
In the second part of our episode on Ireland's lost forests, Naomi travels to the Beara peninsula in Co. Cork to speak to sculptor and author Eoghan Daltun. Eoghan's award-wining book, An Atlantic Rainforest: a Personal Journey into the Magic of Rewilding, recounts how he has brought a sector of ancient Irish woodland back to life by simply making space for native ecosystems to thrive. We also hea
The Lost Forests of Ireland
A rich political, social and economic history of Ireland can be told by an analysis of its landscape, and specifically through the history of its trees.
In this episode, Naomi and Tim delve into the history of deforestation and its tangled associations with colonialism and agriculture, and whether the 'green' image of Ireland is all that it seems.
Coming soon in part 2, we will visit a place whe
What is the Windsor Framework?
After years of deadlock, EU and UK leaders have declared a historic reset in their relations as they reach an agreement on Northern Ireland called the 'Windsor Framework'. Naomi and Tim unpick the details of what is in the deal on Northern Ireland's post-Brexit arrangements, intended to resolve the dispute over the so-called Protocol that came into force in 2021. What's the story with red and gree
Mountbatten and the IRA
On the 27th of August 1979, the Provisional IRA assassinated one of the best known members of Britain's royal family as he holidayed in County Sligo. But this was just one of 25 killings that took place that day. The events of that afternoon soon came to represent a watershed in the history of Anglo-Irish relations, and a landmark moment of escalation in a Northern Ireland conflict that was now se
Mystery tales of the strange and unexpected
From a mystery in rural Ireland that has persisted for over a century, to the little-known link between a World Cup star footballer and the town of Donabate, to the unexpected ways that Hiberno English is spreading in Europe... it's a story episode for you to enjoy over the holidays as Naomi and Tim share their favourite stories for 2022.
https://twitter.com/NaomiOhReally/status/15993628459423703
Ireland and India's shared history, as Varadkar and Sunak lead the Irish and British governments
Today, Leo Varadkar takes over as Taoiseach. This means that both Britain and Ireland have governments led by people of Indian heritage, as in London Rishi Sunak took over as prime minister in October.
The coincidence has provoked renewed curiosity in these leaders, their backgrounds, and the complex shared history between Ireland and India under the British Empire.
To mark the day, we're repostin
Ireland and the United Nations
Ireland's dream as it emerged as an independent state was to 'take its place among the nations of the world'. The principle of international cooperation has therefore always been tightly bound up with Irish nationalism and how the country pursues its goals. In this episode, Naomi and Tim explore Ireland's quest for recognition, first at the League of Nations and then at its successor the United Na
Goodbye Liz, Hello Chaos
As all Hell breaks loose in the halls of Westminster, Naomi and Tim break down what on earth has just happened in the UK. Why did Prime Minister Liz Truss resign after only 44 days? Who might take over her post? And what are the consequences of all this chaos for the island of Ireland? We hear commentary from Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, and discuss the pot
War of Independence: The Treaty
In the final episode of our War of Independence mini-series, Tim and Naomi lay out the historical events that split the emerging Irish nation and led to a civil war. As we pick up on the story, global condemnation has pressured the British government into offering a truce. Following years of gruelling guerilla warfare against the might of the British army, an exhausted team of representatives from
A looming crisis in Irish-British relations?
Tensions threaten to flare again between Ireland, Britain, and the EU with a new UK prime minister who has promised to take a hard line on the Northern Ireland Protocol. The death of Queen Elizabeth however put a pause on developments for the period of mourning, and produced some fascinating moments too as her successor King Charles met with Sinn Féin and acknowledged them as the biggest party in
War of Independence: Partition
The third installment in Naomi and Tim’s series on the War of Independence discusses a landmark of 20th century Irish history: the partition of the island.
Tim digs into the backstory to reveal how once again, an unhappy chapter of Irish history is linked to Winston Churchill. This episode lays out the thinking at the time and how the so-called ‘Irish question’ was shaped through parliamentary de
War of Independence: The Black and Tans
The second installment of Naomi and Tim’s series on Ireland’s War of Independence focuses on the Black and Tans: the brutal reinforcements sent by Winston Churchill to put down the forces of the revolutionary Irish republic in 1920. Historian Dr Conor Mulvagh of University College Dublin lays out the key role of the women’s movement, Cumann na mBan; dissects the tactics of the old Irish Republican
War of Independence The First Dáil
The War of Independence was the moment in which Ireland threw off British rule and emerged as a state. The dramatic events that took place and the beliefs that informed them would shape the emerging nation, and play a role up until the present day. Tim and Naomi break down the events of 1919-1921 in this series of episodes, starting with the establishment of Ireland’s revolutionary parliament: the
A new balance of power in Northern Ireland
A seismic election in Northern Ireland returned the pro-Irish unity Sinn Féin as the largest party for the first time ever. The Alliance Party, identifying neither as nationalist nor unionist, surged to become the third force in northern politics in another historic first. Desite this, the power-sharing executive has yet to be formed due to the opposition of the unionist Democratic Unionist Party
Ireland's Response to the Ukraine Crisis
Since our last episode, Europe’s political landscape has been transformed – and that of Ireland along with it. Naomi lays out the facts about Ireland’s unique position in the international response to the Ukraine crisis. We find out why debates about military neutrality and NATO membership might once again be coming to the fore, and discuss why Ukraine’s president gave Ireland a less-than-glowing
Ukraine and Ireland a shared history
This weekend, a group of musicians gathered in O’Briens Irish pub in the Ukranian capital and belted out traditional Irish tunes as a distraction from the threat of war.
In this episode we uncover the surprisingly rich common history shared by Ireland and Ukraine, as told by a woman living through the dramatic recent events that have drawn the world’s attention to Kyiv as Russian troops advance.
An Teanga Bheo
From the streets of Brussels, to an office block in Greece, to a bus ride in San Francisco, the Irish language can pop up in some unexpected places. In this episode, we explore some of the new international frontiers of Irish. We speak to people whose knowledge of the language has launched them down far-flung career paths, ask why Irish-speaking mortgage experts are in demand in the Netherlands, a
The Bishop, the Guns, and the Virgin Mary
Did you ever hear the one about the bishop and the airport? Or the unlikely group of Irish revolutionaries who ended up changing history through an ill-fated trip to Belgium on a yacht?
Hear all about it as Naomi and Tim tell some of their favourite, quirkiest stories from Irish history in this special seasonal story time episode.
Huge thanks to our sponsors, Irish at Heart, for backing this epis
Neutrality, part 2: Ireland's dubious defence
This summer, the chaotic fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban left Irish citizens stranded and exposed the state's lack of an aircraft large enough to conduct an evacuation. It highlighted the issue of Ireland's tiny and under-funded defence forces, which mean we rely on outside forces like Britain and the European Union for day-to-day security in areas like air and maritime patrols and cyber securi
Neutrality, part 1: Churchill versus de Valera
In 1939, the young Irish state stood at a crossroads in its history. Europe was descending into war, and the deeply impoverished and weakly defended nation feared its strategic location on Britain's flank could mean invasion - by either side. In this episode, Naomi and Tim describe a moment when two towering figures of 20th century history came head-to-head and shaped the fates of Ireland, Britain
Live Show: Place and Power
Live from Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland, Naomi and Tim discuss place and power: unpacking how place names, landscape, and architecture contain secret histories hidden within plain sight. Guest Linda Ervine, manager of the Irish language project Turas, explains how learning Irish is helping many in the unionist community to rediscover their own local histories, while writer and researcher
Lady Lavery: the Face of Ireland
Who was the iconic woman depicted on Irish banknotes from 1927-1977? Why was she so integral to the story of Irish independence? And what lies behind her inscrutable stare? In our latest Halfpint episode, we discover the extraordinary life of Lady Lavery – a Chicago-born debutante who would go on to become the face of an independent Ireland.
This halfpint episode would not have been possible wit
Brexit Update: Empty Shelves and Data Borders
Food shortages are hitting Britain hard, and things are set to get worse - but why are shelves still fully stocked in Northern Ireland? Naomi explains the ins and outs of Brexit’s effect on UK supply chains, and how traders and consumers are going to have to adapt to some new (and pricey) post-Brexit realities. We also look at how changes to data regulation could potentially open a new can of worm
Irish music special
Special guests Naomi's sister Molly May O'Leary and her musical collaborator Fionn Ó hAlmhain visit the podcast to play songs from and discuss their new album, Lambent Flame. It was recorded with the famed Hothouse Flowers singer and multi-instrumentalist Liam Ó Maonlaí over a difficult period when the Covid-19 pandemic shut down much of the music industry. Molly May talks about how she began writ
Traveller exclusion: revealing an open secret
This year, a whistleblower revealed a shocking secret. A popular British holiday camp business kept a 'blacklist' of Irish surnames, distributed to staff to bar customers from booking. In this episode, Naomi and Tim dig into the incident to explore how a policy meant to exclude Travellers inadvertently swept up a large part of the general Irish population. We hear from a veteran campsite and holid
Ireland and India: Assassins of Empire
Anarchist clubs, public assassinations, and secret rebel meetings in a notorious vegetarian restaurant – all these feature in this fascinating episode on the historical links between Ireland and India at the beginning of the 20th century. UCD’s Conor Mulvagh explains why Ireland and India were so symbolically important to the survival of the British Empire, and why the independence movements in bo
Halfpint: Drama in the DUP
Chaos hits the Democratic Unionist Party, Northern Ireland’s largest pro-British bloc, as new leader Edwin Poots is deposed in a revolt just 20 days after taking up the position. Naomi and Tim hear why the woman he usurped Arlene Foster is laughing, the Irish language dispute at the centre of Poots’ downfall, and what it all tells us about dynamically changing politics in the North.
This is a Hal
Jer O'Leary: a Dublin life
The Irish Passport brings you an interview with Jer O’Leary: actor, activist, artist, orator of Jim Larkin speeches and Dublin legend who recorded these tapes before he died in 2018. Jer discusses growing up in the Irish capital and how it changed over his life, and how he ended up in the national art college despite leaving school at 14, and his work creating banners for Ireland’s union movement,
The Dublin Lockout
A profound industrial dispute rocked Dublin in 1913, playing into a rising tide of nationalism and shaping the unique political landscape of Ireland of the following century. In this episode Naomi and Tim tell the story of the 1913 Dublin Lockout led by firebrand trade unionist Jim Larkin. We hear from Jer O'Leary, an artist and actor who portrayed Larkin throughout his life, on what the organiser
Halfpints: What’s really going on in Northern Ireland?
Does the recent unrest in Northern Ireland betray a growing disconnect between the DUP, loyalist paramilitaries, and the communities they claim to represent? How have the protests been influenced by the international scrutiny of police oppression in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement? And why are class politics more central than ever to factional division in the north? In this excerpt fro
Flags of Ireland
Harps, shamrocks, hands, crowns, swords, mythical female embodiments of Éire: all Irish symbols and all up for discussion in this episode, in which Tim and Naomi are joined by Darach Ó Séaghdha of the Motherfoclóir podcast to discuss Irish flags past, present, and future.
We consider the merits and perils of the different symbols as debate begins to stir on whether a new flag might be required if
St Patrick's Day Special
The real history of the Irish pub, the backstory to the leprechaun, and what St Patrick’s Day has meant throughout the generations: Naomi and Tim sum it up in this St. Patrick’s Day special in honour of the national day.
If you are celebrating the holiday around the world, we have a special message for you this year. Take a look: https://youtu.be/qnLcat_eJBw
This episode was first published in 2
Grattan and his Parliament
Surprise! While we continue to prepare Season 5, we’ve decided to make last month’s Halfpint episode freely available to all our listeners. In this edition, Tim builds on our recent Season 4 finale by delving deeper into the colonial Irish Parliament around the time of the Act of Union of 1801. If you haven’t heard that Season 4 finale yet, you can go back and listen to it here:
Part 1: https://w
Destructive Unionism: Part 2, The Current Day
New survey data suggests majorities in Scotland and Northern Ireland want referendums on whether to break with the union, and a majority across the United Kingdom expect Scotland to be independent within 10 years. With the bonds of the union under strain, Naomi and Tim sum up how the Brexit negotiations concluded, and explore the ways in which the deal pursued by the British government made people
Destructive Unionism: Part 1, The History
With the fallout of Brexit straining the bonds of the United Kingdom, Naomi and Tim look back on a period of history with huge resonance for the current moment. The union that still perseveres today was forged in crisis, as an emergency response by the British government to a Protestant-led Irish rebellion that deeply shook the Westminster government. What followed was a century of betrayal, strug
Christmas Reunion
Past guests including comedian Tara Flynn, Brendan Boyle, Caitríona Perry, Emma de Souza, Sarah Maria Griffin, Caelainn Hogan, Sarah Creighton, Ronan McCrea and Matthew O’Toole join us again for a Christmas reunion! It’s a bizarre one for many of us this year but we hear from people all around the world who are making it special where they are. Naomi and Tim tell some stories of hope as we approac
The Most Irish US President Ever?
Self-described "Irish Catholic" Joe Biden has elected president of the United States after a momentous election that has the potential to transform international relations and potentially Ireland's fortunes as the post-Brexit talks reach their final moment. Naomi O'Leary and Tim Mc Inerney discuss the president-elect's Irish roots, what his Catholic identity means in this historical context, why B
