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- 🇬🇧GB · History#1605K to 30K
- 🇮🇪IE · History#119500 to 3K
- 🇻🇳VN · History#151500 to 3K
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1.8K to 11K🎙 Daily cadence·55 episodes·Last published 5d ago - Monthly Reach
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6K to 36K🇬🇧83%🇮🇪8%🇻🇳8% - Active Followers
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3.3K to 20K
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Recent episodes
The Machine That Ruled Ireland: How Fianna Fáil Conquered a Nation for 67 Years
May 7, 2026
Unknown duration
Defending the Republic: The Siege and Execution of Rory O'Connor
Apr 30, 2026
Unknown duration
The Secret Bomb-Maker of Ireland: How Rory O'Connor Fueled the Revolution
Apr 23, 2026
46m 06s
Ireland’s 100-Year Secret: What the 1926 Census Finally Reveals
Apr 16, 2026
42m 48s
The Irish Woman Who Shot Mussolini
Apr 9, 2026
45m 21s
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| Date | Episode | Topics | Guests | Brands | Places | Keywords | Sponsor | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5/7/26 | ![]() The Machine That Ruled Ireland: How Fianna Fáil Conquered a Nation for 67 Years | In this episode of the Irish History Boys, we mark the centenary of a political movement that would dominate the landscape of the southern state for nearly a century: Fianna Fáil. We revisit May 16, 1926, when Éamon de Valera addressed a crowded theater in Dublin to launch a party that promised to move away from animalistic formalism and toward the realities of power. We explore the massive risk this split from Sinn Féin represented and how the party transitioned from Civil War rebels to the most successful political organization in the history of the state.Our discussion highlights the heavy lifting of Seán Lemass, the great organizer who drove battered old Fords across the country to establish a cumann in every parish. We examine how this grassroots machine allowed the party to master the art of electioneering and eventually hold power for 67 of the last 95 years. We also delve into the dramatic events of 1927, including the assassination of Kevin O'Higgins and the pragmatic shift that saw de Valera dismiss the mandatory oath of allegiance as a mere empty formula to gain entry to the Dáil.To conclude, we tackle the party's complex legacy, ranging from its radical housing programs in the 1930s to the scandals of brown envelopes and corruption that later tarnished its reputation. We also reflect on the ineffective approach toward Northern Ireland and the slow evolution from hollow rhetoric to the pragmatic peace-making efforts of the modern era. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | — | ||||||
| 4/30/26 | ![]() Defending the Republic: The Siege and Execution of Rory O'Connor | In this episode of the Irish History Boys, we reflect on the momentous and tragic final year of Rory O’Connor, culminating in the "completely illegal" reprisal executions of O’Connor, Liam Mellows, Joe McKelvey, and Dick Barrett in December 1922. We examine these state-sanctioned killings—described as an act of "literal revenge" for the assassination of TD Seán Hales—as a pivotal and controversial moment in the birth of the Irish state.We examine O'Connor's role within the context of the Irish Civil War's escalating bitterness, tracing his journey from the IRA's head of engineering to the "most public face" of anti-Treaty opposition. We discuss the "split within a split" that saw former comrades turn their guns on one another and the ways in which the 1916 tradition of martyrdom influenced the fateful decision to occupy the Four Courts.Additionally, we explore the Irish Free State's struggle to legitimise its authority through the controversial "Army Special Powers Resolution". We discuss the tactical decision to avoid formal legislation—which would have required the British monarch's signature—in favour of a resolution that empowered military courts to hand down death sentences to Republican prisoners. This highlights the stark tension between the burgeoning state’s democratic aspirations and its descent into what some critics viewed as a "military dictatorship".To conclude, we tackle the deeply personal tragedy of the conflict, specifically the haunting story of Kevin O’Higgins sanctioning the execution of his own best man, Rory O’Connor. We reflect on the "moral" cost of the 81 state executions, debating whether the Free State's pursuit of stability through "vengeance" allowed it to win the war while ultimately "losing the peace". Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | — | ||||||
| 4/23/26 | ![]() The Secret Bomb-Maker of Ireland: How Rory O'Connor Fueled the Revolution✨ | Rory O'ConnorIrish Volunteers+3 | — | To Defend the Republicthe Irish Volunteers+7 | DamascusBritain+1 | radicalizationbiography+3 | — | 46m 06s | |
| 4/16/26 | ![]() Ireland’s 100-Year Secret: What the 1926 Census Finally Reveals✨ | 1926 CensusIrish history+5 | — | GPOFianna Fáil+6 | IrelandSouth | censusIrish life+4 | — | 42m 48s | |
| 4/9/26 | ![]() The Irish Woman Who Shot Mussolini✨ | integrated educationNorthern Ireland+4 | — | the Irish Newsthe Irish National Teachers' Organisation+5 | Northern IrelandDublin+1 | educationhistory+3 | — | 45m 21s | |
| 4/2/26 | ![]() The Mandela Connection: How a Global Icon Almost Changed Northern Ireland Forever✨ | Máire DrummNorthern Ireland+8 | — | Sinn FéinState+5 | Northern IrelandBelfast+5 | 1976loyalist violence+3 | — | 41m 40s | |
| 3/26/26 | ![]() Why Ireland Banned These Workers: The 1926 Donegal Scandal Revealed✨ | Donegal County CouncilBoundary Commission+5 | — | the Irish History BoysDonegal County Council+7 | IrelandDonegal+5 | 1926 Donegal Scandalpartitionist policy+3 | — | 40m 46s | |
| 3/19/26 | ![]() The Real-Life "Psycho": Why 3 Sisters Kept a Skeleton in Their Kitchen in Ireland✨ | Harold WilsonNorthern Ireland+4 | — | the Irish History Boysthe US Congress+3 | IrelandBritain+6 | politicshistory+3 | — | 48m 05s | |
| 3/12/26 | ![]() The 5-Vote Defeat That Changed Ireland✨ | 1976 UVF attackGolden Pheasant restaurant+8 | — | UVFGolden Pheasant+6 | IrelandSunningdale+1 | mass murder attemptpolitical vacuum+4 | — | 44m 29s | |
| 3/5/26 | ![]() The Irish "Football Team" That Was Actually an IRA Hit Squad✨ | Irish historySinn Féin+8 | — | IRAthe Irish History Boys+4 | MonaghanTyrone+2 | political historyIrish Republican movement+3 | — | 42m 15s | |
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| 2/26/26 | ![]() Northern Ireland in 1976: The Collapse of the Convention and the Move to Direct Rule✨ | Northern IrelandConstitutional Convention+3 | — | the British TreasuryIRA+2 | Northern IrelandNorth+4 | 1976violence+5 | — | 49m 32s | |
| 2/19/26 | ![]() Judicial Robes and Jazz Panics✨ | 1976 murdersIrish Free State+5 | — | the Irish Free State'sDáil+2 | — | barbarityTroubles+5 | — | 45m 24s | |
| 2/12/26 | ![]() Hunger Strikes and Splenetic Denunciations | In this episode of the Irish History Boys, we commemorate the 50th anniversary of Frank Stagg’s 1976 hunger strike—a 60-day ordeal that ended in a "cloud of controversy" and left his family deeply divided. We examine the harrowing physiological toll of the strike and the Irish government's extraordinary tactical decision to intercept Stagg's remains via helicopter to prevent the IRA from achieving a "propaganda coup".Additionally, we travel back 100 years to 1926 to analyze the "splenetic denunciation" of the Irish Free State by the Unionist press. We discuss how the Irish News exposed this as a "political trick" used by leaders to distract their own public from domestic grievances by focusing on the "business worries" of their neighbours.To conclude, we address the international stage of the mid-1920s, specifically Benito Mussolini’s aggressive "Italianization" of South Tyrol. We examine his defiant stance against the "toothless" League of Nations, a bold assertion of power that signaled the darkening political climate of early 20th-century Europe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | — | ||||||
| 2/5/26 | ![]() Asserting Irish Independence with Coins and Customs | In this episode of the Irish History Boys, we examine the poignant death and funeral of Anthony Reavy in 1976—the third brother in one family to perish following a loyalist shooting. We place this tragedy within the broader context of the era's relentless sectarian violence and the prevailing "political vacuum" of the time.Additionally, we highlight the growth of indigenous Irish commercial entities, such as IPB Insurance, as symbols of burgeoning statehood and the drive to move away from British-run systems.To conclude, we address a listener's strategic question regarding the partition of Ireland: specifically, whether the unionists' decision to secure six counties instead of four ultimately created the demographic conditions for a future reunification. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | — | ||||||
| 1/29/26 | ![]() Pacts and Prisoners: The 1926 Release and the death of Frank Stagg | his week we explore the fallout of the tripartite agreement of 1926, which led to the release of 33 political prisoners in Northern Ireland—though three "Derry prisoners" remained behind bars due to their roles in a fatal rescue attempt. We examine how political status served as a recurring bargaining chip, tracing the history of Republican resistance from the 1918 "German Plot" to the daring escapes of the Civil War.Finally, we discuss the harrowing death of hunger striker Frank Stagg in 1976 and the British government's "callous" refusal to grant him a transfer to a Northern Irish prison. We also look at the Irish government's extraordinary measures to prevent a Republican funeral, including the use of helicopters and concrete to secure his final resting place against his family's wishes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | — | ||||||
| 1/22/26 | ![]() Bans and Bandits: The GAA’s "Foreign" Struggle and the Stigma of "Bandit Country" | This week we explore the pivotal year of 1926 for the Gaelic Athletic Association, as delegates from Louth and Tipperary pushed for the removal of the compulsory ban on "foreign games" such as soccer, rugby, cricket, and hockey. We look at the systemic issues regarding the enforcement of these rules, including the 1938 removal of Ireland's first president, Douglas Hyde, as GAA patron and the deployment of vigilante committees to ensure members did not attend rival sporting events. We also discuss why Northern members were the strongest advocates for maintaining these bans, as they felt abandoned by the Free State and faced continued obstruction and British rule within the six counties. Finally, we chat about the controversial "bandit country" label applied to South Armagh in the 1970s, while examining a local citizen’s poignant letter protesting the "blackening" of their peace-loving community’s name. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | — | ||||||
| 1/15/26 | ![]() 1926 & 1976: Red Routes and the Darkest Days | Tim McGarry and Dr Cormac look back at the significant news stories of 1926 and 1976. Regarding 1926, they explore the complexities of the cross-channel postal service and the unionist desire for a "red route" to bypass the Irish Free State, highlighting Northern Ireland's unique status as a "polity". They also examine the legacy of the Belfast boycott—a counterproductive campaign that may have accelerated the start of the Civil War—and a prophetic letter to the Irish News bemoaning the "lost art of conversation" in the face of new technologies like radio and cinema.Moving to 1976, they reflect on a "bleak and miserable" period defined by "pure evil" and a "total political vacuum" following the collapse of the Sunningdale agreement. They delve into the horrific sectarian atrocities in South Armagh, specifically the Reevy and O'Dowd family murders and the retaliatory Kingsmill massacre. The hosts discuss the long-term impact on survivors like Alan Black, the lack of formal inquests, and the unsettling questions regarding potential British collusion and the mysterious role of Robert Nairac. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | — | ||||||
| 1/8/26 | ![]() 1925 & 1975: A Unionist Triumph and the Miserable Year | Tim McGarry and Dr Cormac look back at the significant news stories of 1925 and 1975. Regarding 1925, they delve into the Boundary Commission, which established the permanent border of Northern Ireland and was seen as a "triumph for unionism" under James Craig, alongside social issues like the emancipation of women smoking in public and a largely "forgotten" famine in the West of Ireland. Moving to 1975, they reflect on a "miserable year" defined by a political vacuum, horrific sectarian violence such as the Miami Showband murders, and the unexpected political conversion of hardliner William Craig to the idea of power-sharing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | — | ||||||
| 1/5/26 | ![]() At the Crossroads: The London Agreement and the "Factory of Grievances" | This week we explore the pivotal moment for Northern Catholics following the 1925 London Agreement, which firmly established the six-county border and left many feeling "stuck" and abandoned by the Free State. We look at the systemic issues that followed, including the "factory of grievances" born from gerrymandering, the removal of Proportional Representation, and the stark lack of Catholic representation in the judiciary and civil service. We also chat about the staggering unemployment figures of 1975 in border areas like Strabane and Newry, while answering a listener’s question regarding the Troubles' impact on Scotland Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | — | ||||||
| 12/18/25 | ![]() The Specials' Legacy: The 1925 Disbandment and the Survival of the B Specials | This week we explore the controversial legacy of the Ulster Special Constabulary, tracing its 1920 origins as a multi-tiered force. We look at the the group's involvement in sectarian violence and the subsequent disbandment of the A and C Specials following the 1925 London Agreement, despite vocal protests from members over their severance terms. We also chat about the B Specials long-term survival until 1970, while contrasting the era’s news with the political despair felt in Northern Ireland fifty years later. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | — | ||||||
| 12/11/25 | ![]() Ireland's Customs Barriers & Chaos: The 11-Plus Exam Scandal and 70 Years of Irish Partition | This week we dive into President WT Cosgrave’s reliance on neighbourly feeling rather than written guarantees for the safety of Northern Catholics and the establishment of customs barriers in 1923 and their controversial persistence for over 70 years. Illicit pig smuggling in the mid-1970s makes an appearance and Tim relives the 11-plus exam. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | — | ||||||
| 12/4/25 | ![]() The Tripartite Agreement and the Final Irish Border Settlement | Following the leak of the Boundary Commission's report, the high-stakes Tripartite Agreement of 1925 established that the border would remain unchanged, ensuring Northern Ireland conceded no territory. In exchange for accepting the existing boundary, the Irish Free State was relieved of its crippling obligation to pay a share of the UK's imperial debt, estimated at roughly £150 million. However, W.T. Cosgrave’s government faced severe backlash and a major political crisis for prioritising this financial reprieve over the interests of Northern nationalists, who were effectively abandoned by the deal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | — | ||||||
| 11/27/25 | ![]() Selling the Border for Financial Freedom | This episode centers on the crisis created by the leaked award of the Irish Boundary Commission in November 1925, which was abysmal for nationalists as it suggested the Free State would lose parts of Donegal and Monaghan, leading to the resignation of Free State Commissioner Eoin MacNeill and creating the biggest crisis Cosgrave’s government faced since the Civil War. President Cosgrave rushed to London to attend conferences with British Premier Stanley Baldwin and Northern Premier Sir James Craig, determined to bury the report because the findings were politically unacceptable, despite being in a weak negotiating position. Free State negotiators, particularly Kevin O'Higgins, leveraged the threat that their government’s collapse would result in a Republican regime to shift the negotiation focus towards shelving the boundary issue (Article 12) in exchange for waiving the Free State’s substantial financial contribution to imperial debt under Article 5. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | — | ||||||
| 11/20/25 | ![]() Eoin MacNeill's SHOCK Resignation and the Boundary Commission Collapse | This episode concentrates on the 1925 Boundary Commission crisis and its fallout for the Free State, triggered by the dramatic resignation of Free State representative Eoin MacNeill around November 22nd. We also discuss the concurrent debate among anti-Treaty Republicans, including Éamon De Valera, about whether to abandon their abstentionist policy and enter the Free State parliament amidst the political instability. Finally, we address a listener query on the distinct development of healthcare systems, particularly the role of religious hospitals, in Northern Ireland and the Free State following Partition. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | — | ||||||
| 11/13/25 | ![]() Ireland's Forgotten Sacrifice & How the First World War Changed Everything | The episode explores the immense influence of World War I on Irish history from setting the stage for the Easter Rising and War of Independence to motivating over 200,000 Irish volunteers (Catholic and Protestant) to enlist, often for economic reasons or in anticipation of Home Rule. Tim & Cormac discuss the 1918 anti-conscription campaign, which powerfully united nationalist Ireland against British rule. They also address the difficulties faced by returning veterans and the challenges confronting Protestant communities in the Free State post-partition, including antagonism and violence. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | — | ||||||
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Chart Positions
3 placements across 3 markets.
Chart Positions
3 placements across 3 markets.

























