The Irish Crown Jewels Robbery: Ireland’s Crime of the Century?

The Irish Crown Jewels Robbery: Ireland’s Crime of the Century?

June 23, 2026 · 47 min

About this episode

This episode explores the infamous theft of the Irish Crown Jewels in 1907 and the subsequent scandal that ensued.

In the summer of 1907, the Irish Crown Jewels were stolen from the heart of British power in Ireland, under the noses of the police, the military and the political establishment. Worth £50,000 at the time, their disappearance made headlines around the world. It was also deeply humiliating for the British authorities, coming just days before King Edward VII was due to visit Dublin. On the surface, it seemed like the perfect crime. The jewels were never recovered, and more than a century later, it remains unclear exactly when the theft even took place. But behind the mystery lay something even more explosive. Within days, detectives uncovered a scandal the British government could not afford to make public. This would lead to a major cover-up. In this episode, I take you back to Edwardian Dublin to explore Ireland’s most infamous unsolved crime: a story of privilege, scandal and secrecy at the heart of British rule in Ireland. Sound by Kate Dunlea Support the podcast: patreon.com/Irishpodcast. Sources: Myles Dungan, The stealing of the Irish Crown Jewels: an unsolved crime…

People in this episode

Host: Fin Dwyer

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: British authorities

Books & works: The stealing of the Irish Crown Jewels: an unsolved crime, Vicious circle; the case of the missing Irish crown jewels

More episodes of Irish History Podcast

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Irish History Podcast podcast page.