The History of Ireland

S3 EP20 – How the Tuatha Dé Evolved into Fairies

The old gods of Ireland never really died — they went under the hills, and people learned not to say their name. We follow the Tuatha Dé into folklore, where they become the fairies, the Sídhe, the Good People — and take the first step towards the changeling and the 1895 killing of Bridget Cleary.The episode cover image is a hawthorn tree, famously associated with fairies in Ireland. (Wikimedia Commons/Robin Somes) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S3 EP19 - The Children of Lír in the Classroom

In today's episode we finish off the last section of The Fate of the Children of Lír and explore how really it was the Christian Brothers who cemented it in the Irish psyche. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S3 EP18 — Why The Children of Lír Was The Perfect Story For 19th Century Nationalists

In this episode we look at how the Children of Lír slowly gained popularity over the 19th century and see what happens when you turn someone's children into swans. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S3 EP17 — The Lie Behind The Children of Lír

In this episode we look at The Fate of the Children of Lír and explore how Ireland's most famous myth is not a myth at all. In fact, it's a Christian parable in a shape of myth. A bit like a child who's been turned into a swan.The artwork for this episode is THE CHILDREN OF LIR. THE ENCHANTMENT by Jim FitzPatrick. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Black & Tans in Palestine

A slight diversion from our current series on mythology to look at a unique connection between Ireland and Palestine. If you'd like to donate to support the people of Palestine you can do so here: https://www.savethechildren.org/us/where-we-work/west-bank-gazaAs this could be a contentious episode, I wanted to ensure I shared all my sources. If it's something people find interesting, I'll keep doing for episodes moving forward. Seán W. Gannon, “The Formation, Composition, and Conduct of the British Section of the Palestine Gendarmerie, 1922–26,” The Historical Journal (2013). Cambridge University Press & AssessmentSeán W. Gannon, “‘Our Irish Constabulary’: The British Palestine Gendarmerie, 1922–1926,” in The Irish Imperial ServiceRichard A. Cahill, “The Image of ‘Black and Tans’ in Late Mandate Palestine,” Jerusalem Quarterly 40 (2009).Richard A. Cahill, “Going Berserk: ‘Black and Tans’ in Palestine,” Jerusalem Quarterly 38 (2009). Palestine StudiesUCC, The War of Words: Propaganda and Moral Force. University College Cork Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.