The Irish History Boys

Join hosts Tim McGarry and Cormac Moore as they dive into the colorful, tragic, and surprising history of the Irish border. In this episode, the team explores the origins of border enforcement following the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty and the rise of border smuggling. From women stuffing heavy "Ulster coats" with goods in 1930s Donegal to cattle swimming across Lough Erne during the Economic War, discover how ordinary citizens outsmarted customs barriers. The episode then turns to one of the darkest moments of 1976: the shocking hospital assassination of Provisional Sinn Féin Vice President Máire Drumm at Belfast's Mater Hospital. Finally, look back at John Hume's groundbreaking 1976 diplomatic mission to Washington D.C., which reshaped American involvement in Northern Ireland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to this week's The Irish History Boys podcast with Tim and Cormac. On this episode, they discuss the 1976 Irish Presidential Crisis, where President Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh referred new emergency powers legislation to the Supreme Court following heightened IRA violence in Dublin, creating severe friction with Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave’s coalition government. They examine how the crisis peaked when Defence Minister Patrick Donegan publicly insulted the President as a thundering disgrace. When the Taoiseach refused to discipline Donegan, Ó Dálaigh resigned to defend the dignity of his office, directly contributing to the government's landslide defeat in 1977. Finally, they cover how the government enforced Section 31 of the Broadcasting Act, banning RTÉ interviews with Provisional Sinn Féin and paramilitary groups, a controversial media prohibition that remained in place until 1994. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Tim McGarry and Dr. Cormac Moore on The Irish History Boys as they explore what British policy looked like towards Ireland between 1912 and 1921, including home rule. This episode focuses specifically on the chequered careers and legacies of two consecutive British Prime Ministers: Herbert Henry Asquith and David Lloyd George. They discuss Lloyd George's secret double-dealing with unionists and nationalists, the backfiring 1918 Conscription Crisis, and the passage of the 1920 Government of Ireland Act, which formally partitioned the six Ulster counties. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Tim McGarry and Dr. Cormac Moore on The Irish History Boys as they explore Ireland's diplomatic push for co-equality at the 1926 Imperial Conference and the Balfour Declaration. This episode also dives into a 1976 church initiative attempting to tackle 'them and us' politics in Northern Ireland, alongside a look at the 1926 Soviet power struggle that paved the way for Joseph Stalin's rise. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Irish History Boys, hosts Cormac Moore and Tim McGarry are joined by Dr Gavin Hughes to examine the bloody, highly complex tragedy of the 1798 Irish Rebellion. We reflect on the brutal counter-insurgency campaign led by General Gerard Lake—exploring horrific tactics like "pitch-capped" burning tar hats, widespread executions, and the sheer terror of the "dragooning of Ulster". We examine this chaotic uprising within the broader context of post-Atlantic radicalism, tracing how the ideals of Thomas Paine and the French Revolution inspired Wolfe Tone to unite "Catholic, Protestant, and Dissenter" in 1791. We unpack the strange paradoxes of the conflict—from Gaelic-speaking Catholic militias fighting for the Crown to soldiers telling "fibs" about their religion to secure army careers. Additionally, we detail the strategic collapse following the arrest of Lord Edward Fitzgerald, Wolfe Tone's foiled French invasion at Bantry Bay where ships were so close you could "throw a biscuit box", and Napoleon's fateful decision to head to Egypt instead of Ireland. We also explore the tragic human cost through local eyewitness accounts, including postmistress Mary Ledbetter's memories of the sacking of the pacifist Quaker village of Ballytore, as well as the horrific sectarian atrocities at Scullabogue and Carrick-na-Cessna. To conclude, we trace the campaign from the "Races of Castlebar" to the last stand at Vinegar Hill, examining how an estimated 50,000 casualties paved the way for the 1800 Act of Union and why figureheads like Daniel O'Connell—who served in the Kerry Yeomanry—distanced themselves from the rebellion's bloody legacy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Irish History Boys, we reflect on Oliver Cromwell’s brutal 10-month invasion of Ireland in 1649, a devastating campaign marked by the massacres at Drogheda and Wexford that left a 400-year shadow over the island. We examine these horrific sieges within the grim context of 17th-century European warfare, comparing Cromwell's relentless tactics to the atrocities of the Thirty Years' War and exploring how black propaganda surrounding the 1641 Rebellion fuelled sectarian revenge. Additionally, we dissect the paradox of Cromwell himself: was he a ruthless dictator, a cross between Stalin and Napoleon, or a disciplined military strategist who mastered supply lines and logistically bound his army together? To conclude, we tackle the tragic aftermath of the Commonwealth campaign, exploring the catastrophic loss of up to 20% of Ireland’s population, the forced transportation of 50,000 Irish men and women to Barbados, and why Cromwell's legacy continues to walk beside history on the island to this day. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Irish History Boys, we reflect on the September 1976 IRA bomb attack on the Belfast Telegraph offices and the tragic death of 60-year-old print worker Joe Patton. We examine how rival publications—including the nationalist Irish News —stood in unprecedented solidarity to defend a free press against paramilitary intimidation. We analyze this targeted attack within the context of 1976's grim violence, highlighting the rare targeting of journalists during the Troubles and the paper's defiance in publishing its famous four-page "Penny Marvel" edition straight from the rubble. Additionally, we explore Vanguard leader William Craig’s astonishing political U-turn in September 1976. We discuss his controversial proposal for a voluntary power-sharing coalition with the SDLP, his immediate expulsion from the unionist coalition, and the political paralysis that left Northern Ireland in a bleak stalemate. To conclude, we tackle the long history of British political disinterest in Ireland, tracing a pattern of neglect from G.K. Chesterton’s 1918 warnings to border visits in 1924 and modern Brexit confusion. We also answer listener questions regarding Ireland's World War II defense forces and diplomat Seán Lester's role leading the League of Nations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Irish History Boys , Tim McGarry and Dr. Cormac Moore reflect on the harrowing 1926 cinema fire in the County Limerick village of Dromcollogher, an appalling catastrophe that claimed nearly 50 lives. We examine how a makeshift cinema in a hardware store loft turned into a blazing inferno when unprotected film reels ignited, trapping moviegoers with only a single ladder exit. We examine the devastating impact of this tragedy, locally remembered as "The Burning", where one-tenth of the village perished, and analyse why the disaster sparked no official Dáil inquiry or formal parliamentary debate. Additionally, Tim shares a personal story of surviving a targeted 1981 arson attack on his family home in Belfast, drawing striking parallels to Dublin's Stardust fire. Moving to September 1976, we explore the historic heatwave and severe drought that led to widespread water rationing across Northern Ireland and southern divisions, drying up major reservoirs like Silent Valley and Stonyford. We discuss how this record heatwave was perceived at the time as a glorious summer rather than an early warning of climate change. To conclude, we unpack the landmark September 1976 Strasbourg report from the European Commission on Human Rights regarding the British military's interrogation methods against Northern Ireland internees. We dissect the controversial legal distinction between "torture" and "inhuman and degrading treatment" concerning the "Five Techniques", including hooding, wall-standing, white noise, sleep deprivation, and simulated helicopter drops. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Irish History Boys, we explore the "disease of pessimism" that gripped Ireland in September 1926. Drawing from contemporary accounts warning that this despair threatened to develop into a national characteristic of "moral decrepitude and mental stagnation," we dissect the psychological and economic scars left by the Civil War, the 1925 famine, and rampant emigration. We then fast-forward to the modern era to debate when and how Ireland finally transitioned from post-independence stagnation into a self-assured, highly confident nation. Additionally, we tackle the wild "Northern misconceptions" surrounding the Irish Free State in 1926, where border communities were led to believe that Dublin was in a state of absolute anarchy and gloom. We examine how unionist politicians and regional newspapers exaggerated southern lawlessness to discourage unity, how partition cemented two distinct cultures, and how these political schisms trickled down into everything from the historic 1921 soccer split to the bizarre division of local Morris Minor appreciation clubs along the border. To conclude, we reflect on the extraordinary rise of the Peace People in 1976—a spontaneous, working-class movement born out of a horrific August tragedy in which three innocent children were killed. We discuss the co-founders, Betty Williams and Maria Corrian, and examine the massive, cross-community rallies that saw tens of thousands of people cross the peace lines for the first time, including a highly symbolic demonstration on Derry's Craigavon Bridge. We also analyze whether this powerful, women-led crusade successfully drove down the horrific levels of sectarian violence during one of the grimmest years of the Troubles. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Irish History Boys, we unpack the dramatic political fallout of August 1976, when the Dublin government declared a shocking, post-WWII state of emergency to combat the rising tide of subversive violence. We examine the introduction of draconian legislation that suspended ordinary laws indefinitely, and the unprecedented constitutional crisis that saw Irish President Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh resign after being publicly branded a "thundering disgrace" by a government minister. We dive deep into the controversial debate over whether the Republic of Ireland was truly a "safe haven" for the IRA, or if the border was simply too porous to realistically police. Along the way, Tim shares his own tense—and highly sarcastic—1990 encounter with the British Special Branch under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Additionally, we trace the international dimension of the conflict, discussing the 1976 calls for US President Gerald Ford to intervene in Northern Ireland. We detail how John Hume tirelessly worked to internationalise the peace process, laying the groundwork for future US involvement even when Washington insisted the Troubles were strictly an internal UK matter. To conclude, we travel back to 1926 to explore a bizarre and controversial scheme by the Northern Ireland government to subsidise emigration. We look at how Sir James Craig's administration spent £5,000 of taxpayer money on Rich Hill Castle in County Armagh to train young people to leave for Canada, exposing the deep economic anxieties and inter-war decline of the industrial North. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Irish History Boys , we delve into the "forgotten pandemic" of the early 20th century: Encephalitis Lethargica, or "sleeping sickness". We discuss how this mystery disease left victims in virtual comas for decades, the high mortality rates that rivalled the Spanish Flu, and why it remains one of history’s most overlooked medical crises. We also profile the notorious Lord Haw-Haw (William Joyce), the American-born, Ireland-raised Nazi propagandist whose "Germany Calling" broadcasts made him a household name during WWII. We examine his controversial trial for high treason—despite his claims of American citizenship—and the 1976 campaign to have his remains finally buried in consecrated ground in Galway. To conclude, we revisit the social battlegrounds of Northern Ireland in 1976. We explore the "local indignation" caused by Newry and Mourne District Council's decision to open sports facilities on Sundays, a move that challenged the strict Sabbatarian traditions and the "Lord’s Day" restrictions that once dominated life in the North. This episode is sponsored by The Sober Irish. The Sober Irish is built on connection, conversation and community — a celebration of life lived fully present. Born in Belfast and growing fast, The Sober Irish is for anyone who wants to do things differently — who values experience, clarity and a bit of craic over chaos. It’s about being there for it all — the music, the sea dips, the laughter, the mornings after. Check out https://thesoberirish.com for more info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Irish History Boys , we examine the paradoxical year of 1976 in Northern Ireland —a year marked by the second-highest death toll of the Troubles, yet one that offered a fleeting "glimmer of hope" through a spontaneous, bottom-up peace movement. We recount the horrific tragedy that served as a catalyst: the deaths of the Maguire children in August 1976, which led Betty Williams to launch a "peace snowball" that saw tens of thousands of women from both the Shankill and Falls roads marching together in "hands across the barricade" rallies. We analyze the subsequent rise of the Peace People, their Nobel Peace Prize win, and the spectacular internal fallout that followed, fueled by disputes over prize money and accusations of being "tools of the British state". Additionally, we investigate the British government's high-stakes political gamble in 1976: the ending of "political status" for paramilitary prisoners. We discuss how this shift toward a "criminalisation" and "Ulsterisation" strategy—treating IRA and UVF members as ordinary criminals in the new Maze prison—backfired by radicalising prisoners and laying the groundwork for the 1981 hunger strikes. To conclude, we find a rare moment of levity by marking the 1976 passing of Robert May, the creator of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. We explore the surprising origins of this Christmas icon as a 1930s American department store promotion and the modest rewards given to the man who created a global phenomenon. This episode is sponsored by The Sober Irish. The Sober Irish is built on connection, conversation and community — a celebration of life lived fully present. Born in Belfast and growing fast, The Sober Irish is for anyone who wants to do things differently — who values experience, clarity and a bit of craic over chaos. It’s about being there for it all — the music, the sea dips, the laughter, the mornings after. Check out https://thesoberirish.com for more info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Tim McGarry and Dr Cormac Moore on the Irish History Boys as they explore Northern Ireland’s interwar economic collapse and the controversial 1976 internment debate. They analyse how the North’s industrial record evaporated after partition, leading to staggering unemployment and stinging criticism of government misgovernance compared to the modernisation efforts in the Irish Free State. The conversation also revisits Brian Faulkner’s 1976 call to bring back internment, examining Gerry Fitts's warning that the move would only boost the IRA’s standing and the eventual shift toward the policy of criminalisation. This episode is sponsored by The Sober Irish. The Sober Irish is built on connection, conversation and community — a celebration of life lived fully present. Born in Belfast and growing fast, The Sober Irish is for anyone who wants to do things differently — who values experience, clarity and a bit of craic over chaos. It’s about being there for it all — the music, the sea dips, the laughter, the mornings after. Check out https://thesoberirish.com for more info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Irish History Boys , we reflect on the curious "hairpin bend" of travel in Ireland during 1926, where strangers from abroad were welcomed with open arms while neighbors across the border remained strangers to one another. We examine the "othering" of the North and how early partition was reinforced by everything from "trip-tech" passes to customs barriers that turned a simple journey into a political statement. Additionally, we explore the grim reality of 1976—one of the deadliest years of the Troubles—and the near-impossible task of marketing Northern Ireland as a holiday destination while violence reached a horrifying peak. We discuss the dramatic "cliff-edge" drop in visitor numbers and the eventual, ironic rise of "Troubles tourism" and the famous black taxi tours of Belfast. To conclude, we tackle the struggle for equality in the workplace, analyzing why the 1976 Fair Employment Act was initially mocked as "weak as dishwater". We discuss Tim’s firsthand experience at the Fair Employment Commission and how the "carrot and stick" approach of the 1989 Act—enforced by Margaret Thatcher—finally began to dismantle systemic religious discrimination and move Northern Ireland toward a fairer playing field. This episode is sponsored by The Sober Irish. The Sober Irish is built on connection, conversation and community — a celebration of life lived fully present. Born in Belfast and growing fast, The Sober Irish is for anyone who wants to do things differently — who values experience, clarity and a bit of craic over chaos. It’s about being there for it all — the music, the sea dips, the laughter, the mornings after. Check out https://thesoberirish.com for more info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Irish History Boys, we reflect on the July 1976 assassination of the British Ambassador to Ireland, Christopher Ewart-Biggs , and his secretary Judith Cook . This "mid-morning outrage" occurred just 12 days into his tenure when a landmine exploded in Sandyford, a tragedy the hosts examine as a "spectacular" strike that intended to drive a wedge between the British and Irish governments. We examine the human cost of this violence through the eyes of the Ambassador's family—his daughter Kate, who was just eight years old at the time, and his wife Jane, who responded with a dignified crusade for reconciliation rather than bitterness, establishing the Christopher Ewart-Biggs Memorial Prize to promote North-South understanding. Additionally, we explore why rugby remained an all-Ireland sport while soccer succumbed to the pressures of partition. We discuss the 1926 debate over "entertainment taxes" in Northern Ireland that threatened to move international matches to Dublin and how the IRFU worked to "unshackle" the sport from political divisions by accommodating Ulster unionists through venue selection and the creation of neutral symbols. To conclude, we tackle the politics of flags and anthems on the pitch, examining the "bastardized" four provinces flag and the eventual creation of "Ireland's Call" as a neutral anthem. We also share the lighter side of sporting identity, from Tony Cascarino’s confusion over "Amhrán na bhFiann" to the complicated rules—or "laws"—that still baffle non-rugby fans today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Irish History Boys , Tim McGarry and Dr. Cormac Moore peel back the layers of Edward Carson , the man whose statue looms over Stormont but whose roots lie deep in Dublin’s Harcourt Street. We explore the irony of a southern lawyer becoming the face of Northern Ireland , his devastating courtroom destruction of Trinity classmate Oscar Wilde , and his early reputation as the fierce "Coercion Carson". Additionally, we delve into the high-stakes "treason" of 1913, examining how Carson helped bring the gun back into Ireland's political landscape through the Ulster Volunteer Force. To conclude, we reflect on Carson’s later years in 1926—a period marked by bitterness and his scathing condemnation of England’s "blackest page of treachery" in its treatment of Irish Loyalists. We ask the ultimate question: was he a principled leader, a master of political "play acting," or the reluctant architect of a partition he never truly wanted? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the second part of this special series on The Irish History Boys, hosts Tim McGarry and Cormac Moore continue their exploration of the Orange Institution with Dr Jonathan Mattison from the Museum of Orange Heritage. This episode moves beyond the Battle of the Boyne to examine the century of tension that followed, specifically how the unravelling of the Treaty of Limerick and the implementation of the Penal Laws by the Dublin Parliament influenced Protestant community identity. Dr Mattison discusses the unique reverence for King William III in Ireland, explaining that because the war for the 1688 settlement was fought on Irish soil, his image became seared into the psyche of the local Protestant population. The conversation provides a deep dive into the Battle of the Diamond in 1795, illustrating how the Orange Order emerged not just from sectarian rivalry, but from economic warfare between Protestant and Catholic weavers over land and the cottage linen industry. From its official formation at James Sloan’s pub in Loughgall, the episode details the Order's rapid growth as an egalitarian organization that eventually became the backbone of the unionist movement despite initial opposition to the Act of Union. Finally, the discussion addresses the modern role of the institution, its four pillars of faith, culture, charity, and fraternity, and the ongoing challenge of maintaining these traditions in an increasingly secular society. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special July episode of the Irish History Boys, hosts Tim McGarry and Cormac Moore set aside their usual news archives to explore "orange" history with Dr. Jonathan Mattison from the Museum of Orange Heritage. The discussion uncovers the complex international politics of the Glorious Revolution, including the surprising tactical support William of Orange initially received from Pope Innocent XI to counter the influence of the French King Louis XIV. The episode highlights why the Siege of Derry was the most critical strategic engagement of the war and provides unique insights into the Battle of the Boyne, such as the international makeup of the armies and the story of William III being wounded the night before the fight. Beyond the battlefield, the hosts explore how the Williamite victory marked a massive shift in power from the monarch to Parliament, laying the constitutional groundwork for the Bill of Rights and even the American Constitution. The conversation also touches on the bloodier Battle of Aughrim and how the religious toleration of the initial settlement was eventually unpicked by penal legislation. The episode concludes with a recommendation to visit Schomberg House and a preview of part 2 on the 1795 founding of the Orange Order. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s episode of The Irish History Boys explores pivotal moments from 1926 and 1976, focusing on Ireland’s evolving sovereignty and security. We discuss how the Irish Free State and other dominions like Canada began loosening the ties of the British Empire, eventually leading to full independence through agreements like the Statute of Westminster. The episode revisits a biting 1926 critique that deemed Éamon de Valera’s political future "hopeless" just as he was founding Fianna Fáil. Shifting to 1976, we examine the Ulsterization of security and the British strategy to criminalise the IRA by treating the conflict as a policing issue rather than a war. Balancing high-stakes politics with local lore, we also share humorous accounts of egg smuggling across the border and highlight Sinn Féin’s 1976 efforts to internationalise their struggle through links with global movements like the PLO and the ANC. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Tim McGarry and Dr. Cormac Moore for another episode of The Irish History Boys, where they dig into the archives of the Irish News to explore the stories that shaped Ireland 50 and 100 years ago. In this episode, we dive into the year 1926, a time of historical quirks and radical social shifts. They discuss the surprising reality of the British government funding homes for heroes for WWI veterans within the newly independent Irish Free State, a policy move that sparked political tension and eventually led to a landmark court case where veterans won the right to live rent-free. We look into the 1926 report from the Association of Head Mistresses regarding barriers women faced in the workforce eight years after the end of the war. The dramatic story of a cross-border ambulance dash through a hailstorm after a workhouse master tried to block a life-saving operation based on the new border sparks an interesting discussion followed by a 1920s farmers debate on the Irish Language. Lastly, Tim and Cormac jump to the year 1976 and examine the fracturing of unionist unity as the UUUC began to split, and discuss the little-known talks between the Official Unionist Party and the SDLP aimed at ending direct rule. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.