About

The Irish History Show is presented and produced by Cathal Brennan and John Dorney. The show was originally broadcast on NEAR FM in Dublin.

John Dorney has a BA in Irish History and an MA in Early Modern Irish History from UCD and an MA in Journalism from Griffith College.  He has been an on screen contributor to Scannal (RTÉ), My Civil War (RTÉ), TV3’s live coverage of the 1916 Easter Rising Centenary and Who do you think you are? (RTÉ). John Dorney also runs, and writes for, The Irish Story website.

Cathal Brennan has third level qualifications in Media Production (Marino College), TV and Video Production (Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology), Research Skills for TV (Screen Training Ireland) and has a BA in Irish History from Trinity College, Dublin.  He has worked as a researcher on Who Do You Think You Are? (BBC, RTÉ and NBC versions), The Children of the Revolution (RTÉ) and The Great House Revival (RTÉ).  He also writes articles for The Irish Story.

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10 Comments

  1. Hi Cathal and John, Am quite keen to record something for the Show on my new book on the defence of TCD in the 1916 Rising (Four Courts Press). Am in my last week in Dublin, however, so time is tight. (I need to fly home to NZ and shout at the screen to ensure we win a third Rugby World Cup.)

  2. Hi Cathal and John, I’m a fan of the show. Been listening a lot during lockdown. If possible, would love to hear a show on women in post civil war Ireland, in particular how their role contrasted with their role in the revolution. How did Irish women’s position in society compare to the trajectory of their counterparts in other Western nations? For example, in the UK, WW2 had a profound effect on the role of woman. Did Irish women see this as well? Thank you, Muireann.

    1. Thanks very much for contacting us Muireann. We really appreciate the feedback and we are trying to organise guests at the moment for an episode covering a lot of those same topics so hopefully soon. If not before Christmas then early in the new year!

  3. Hi Cathal and John,absolutely love the show,listen to it on Spotify.Is there any way of adding your earlier shoes onto Spotify instead of having to access your website to listen to them?Again want to say how much I enjoy the show,it’s great to have such a good Irish history podcast. Robert Bannon,County Derry

  4. Just an email to let you know that our play ‘2 Days in September’ will be performed at the Miltown Malbay Community Centre on Saturday, October 8th at 8pm. I have included a poster of the play.

    The new Play ‘2 Days In September’ is the story of the Rineen ambush, where a British Army convoy was ambushed by the Mid Clare Brigade of the IRA. The aftermath of the ambush saw the revenge sacking, looting and burning of the villages of Ennistymon, Lahinch and Miltown Malbay by the Black and Tans on September 22nd & 23rd, 1920.

    ’2 Days in September’ is a new play by Clare writer Dermott Petty who was commissioned by the Clare County Council to write the play. Due to the ongoing Covid pandemic it is not possible to stage the play as it was intended, so instead we are doing a hybrid of Theatre & Film. The play ‘Two Days in September’ will be staged and Directed by Joan O’Hanrahan. The Music & soundscape will be by composer Barry Dillon, along with contributions by actors, friends and technicians of BallyCartoon Players, our theatre group based in Co Clare.

    This play received a Decade of Centenaries Arts Project Awards 2021as part of the Clare County Council Arts office 2021 Decade of Centenaries in association with the Community Strand of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media’s Commemorative Programs.

    All the best,
    Dermott
    0877993543
    https://youtu.be/Txn4UQGJG8Y

  5. This is most likely one of the strangest question you have received. On your first epsoide the civil war in Dublin and Cork you end the podcast with a few Irish songs. One is about Michael Collins. Do you know the and artist of that song.

    Thank you
    Maura Moriarty

      1. Thank you very much. I am a huge Irish Music Fan, and have never heard this version before.
        God Bless and have a health New Year.

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