The Irish Passport
The Irish Passport
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A podcast about the culture, history and politics of Ireland by Naomi O’Leary and Tim Mc Inerney. Taking on the knowledge gap since 2017.
Available episodes
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Nov 11, 2023
Ireland's Imposter Aristocrats
Tim published a book!
How does nobility work as a power strategy, why does it bear so many curious similarities to the construct of race, and what does all of this have to do with Ireland?
We delve into Tim's book, "Nobility and the Making of Race in Eighteenth-Century Britain", published by Bloomsbury Academic this autumn, and uncover the intricate power dynamics of Irish nobility in the eighteenth century. We find out how during this age of colonial expansion European naturalists began to classify global populations according to ancient traditions of blood hierarchy, reimagining white Europeans as the natural aristocracy of mankind. We also explore how the very idea of "natural nobility" in Ireland at this time brought up profound anxieties, revealing a dangerous power vacuum at the heart of colonial rule.
Listeners can buy "Nobility and the Making of Race in Eighteenth-Century Britain" on the Bloomsbury Publishing website: www.bloomsbury.com.
Patreon members benefit from early access to this episode -- thank you for keeping the show running! If you would like access to our 100+ episodes of extra content and support the continued making of show along the way, you can sign up at www.patreon.com/theirishpassport.
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Oct 12, 2023
Ireland and the Israel-Palestine conflict
As the world reels from the horrific Hamas attack on Israel and its deadly retribution on the Gaza Strip, Ireland has emerged as a prominent player in the European response to the worsening conflict.
In this episode, Naomi and Tim sum up the current situation and explain some of the historical context that explains why Ireland has traditionally been one of the most sympathetic western countries towards the Palestinian cause.
The two sides of this conflict have long been adopted by rival communities in Northern Ireland, with Irish republicans flying the Palestinian flag and British loyalists identifying with Israel. The episode reviews some of the lesser-known historical links between Ireland and the foundation of Israel, exploring the complexities of a time when the relationship between Zionism and Irish Republicanism was not the same as it is now.
Finally, Naomi describes her reporting on the confused European response and why Ireland has emerged as a prominent voice.
Tragically, after the recording of this episode we learned that the missing Irish citizen Kim Damti was confirmed dead. Our deepest condolences to her family.
Thank you so much to all our Patreon supporters for helping us make this podcast. You can support us on: https://www.patreon.com/theirishpassport
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Sep 7, 2023
What does the “Troubles Legacy Bill” mean for Northern Ireland?
We’re back and diving straight into breaking politics, as Naomi explains the chilling implications of the UK government’s new “Northern Ireland Troubles Legacy Bill”. This controversial new law has provoked outrage from across the communities of Northern Ireland, uniting unionist and nationalist political parties against it. But what does this law entail, how will it affect the people of Northern Ireland, and why does it represent a tense new chapter in British-Irish relations? We explain all.
Listeners to this episode might be interested in these previous instalments of the Irish Passport Podcast:
Collusion: https://www.theirishpassport.com/podcast/s3-episode-3-collusion/
Poetry and Pain: https://www.theirishpassport.com/podcast/s3-episode-4-poetry-and-pain/
Thanks as always to our Patreon supporters for keeping the podcast running. If you would like to access extra content from the Irish Passport, you can support the show at www.patreon.com/theirishpassport.
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Jul 27, 2023
Farewell Sinéad, we didn't deserve you
Hi everyone, Naomi here. Like many people I've been reeling since the news of the death of Sinéad O'Connor. I took a moment to share some of my thoughts and a little about Sinéad and who she was - the girl with towering musical gifts who broke out of a Magdalene Laundry to busk on the streets of Dublin and achieved worldwide fame while never losing her soul. Unfortunately, her life was cruel, and she paid the price.
Here are some of the links I mentioned:
Radio Sinéad, a Spotify playlist of 467 songs that she loved and put together to share publicly: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4tJNA0rDI3sdlO5fF2f4jW?si=goXEjQDBQiWD8lLpUopDbg
A tribute to Sinéad O'Connor by President Micheal D Higgins https://president.ie/en/media-library/news-releases/statement-by-president-higgins-on-the-death-of-sinead-oconnor
Black Boys on Mopeds (1990), by Sinéad O'Connor https://youtu.be/n14lwdpYkAA
Sinéad O'Connor explains why she ripped up the picture of the pope on Saturday Night Live https://youtu.be/b3CuF7B3tIY
Sinéad O'Connor faces down a booing crowd at Madison Square Garden, and stands by her remarks about child abuse in the days after her controversial Saturday Night Live Appearance https://youtu.be/GzxTDHMQza8
The Prayer of St Francis, 1993 https://twitter.com/KillianM2/status/1684302806067322883?s=20
You Made Me the Thief of your Heart (1994) https://youtu.be/X2SVsV7Wuh4
In her own words, Sinéad O'Connor recounts her experience in a Magdalene Laundry as a teenager http://web.archive.org/web/20230329225310/https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/sinead-o-connor-on-her-teenage-years-i-steal-everything-i-m-not-a-nice-person-i-m-trouble-1.4560611
A comeback performance in 2019 on RTÉ's Late Late Show in which Sinéad O'Connor proudly appeared in dress and headscarf reflecting the spiritual refuge she found in her conversion to Islam in 2018. https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2023/0727/1074429-sinead-oconnor-melts-hearts-on-late-late-show/
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Jul 15, 2023
How the wealthy and powerful muzzle reporting in Ireland
Ireland's strict libel laws and onerously expensive legal system is stacked against journalists and in favour of wealthy people who abuse the situation to censor reporting about them. That's when Naomi discovered in her research for a recent report for press freedom organisation the International Press Institute. She discusses what she found out, why property developers are particularly litiguous in Ireland, and what the impact is on ordinary journalists and media organisations from the largest broadcasters to the smallest magazines and podcasts.
As it happens, Tim was recording this episode in Paris, just as France was about to face another night of large-scale rioting following the shooting of a teenager by police. He explains what led to the situation.
To access more than 100 bonus episodes like this one, support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theirishpassport
Naomi's report can be read here: https://ipi.media/ireland-how-the-wealthy-and-powerful-abuse-legal-system-to-silence-reporting/
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Jun 4, 2023
Mapping Irelands DNA
What's in a gene? We wade into the world of genetics, to find out all about an extensive DNA mapping project called the Irish DNA Atlas and to see what it can tell us about the history of Ireland. We also take a look at the phenomenon that is at-home DNA ancestry tests, which have exploded in popularity in the past few years, as well as exploring the ethical or legal concerns they might bring up. Finally, we take a deep dive into our own genetic legacy, revealing the potential secrets hidden in our DNA...
Supporters of Patreon hear our episodes early and ad-free. You can sign up here: https://www.patreon.com/theirishpassport
A bonus episode discussing the making of this podcast and additional insights is available here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/after-show-dna-83901131
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Apr 30, 2023
Ireland's Lost Forests Pt 2: an Atlantic Rainforest
In the second part of our episode on Ireland's lost forests, Naomi travels to the Beara peninsula in Co. Cork to speak to sculptor and author Eoghan Daltun. Eoghan's award-wining book, An Atlantic Rainforest: a Personal Journey into the Magic of Rewilding, recounts how he has brought a sector of ancient Irish woodland back to life by simply making space for native ecosystems to thrive. We also hear about how E.U. policy has shaped woodland preservation in Europe, we discuss how big predators might be the key to restoring biodiversity, and we return to the mystery of the bare-bottomed Woodkernes - discovering the weird and ancient art of the Braigetóir, or professional flatulists.
A bonus episode will be available at https://www.patreon.com/theirishpassport
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Mar 31, 2023
The Lost Forests of Ireland
A rich political, social and economic history of Ireland can be told by an analysis of its landscape, and specifically through the history of its trees.
In this episode, Naomi and Tim delve into the history of deforestation and its tangled associations with colonialism and agriculture, and whether the 'green' image of Ireland is all that it seems.
Coming soon in part 2, we will visit a place where the ancient forest of Ireland is making a rebound: in the Irish Atlantic Rainforest restored on the Beara Peninsula by Eoghan Daltun.
Patreon supporters can access a bonus debrief episode over at https://www.patreon.com/theirishpassport in which Naomi and Tim discuss a genocidal Elizabethan poet who was banished to Cork, and why a blank and featureless lawn is considered an ideal to so many...
Thanks so much for listening!
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Feb 27, 2023
What is the Windsor Framework?
After years of deadlock, EU and UK leaders have declared a historic reset in their relations as they reach an agreement on Northern Ireland called the 'Windsor Framework'. Naomi and Tim unpick the details of what is in the deal on Northern Ireland's post-Brexit arrangements, intended to resolve the dispute over the so-called Protocol that came into force in 2021. What's the story with red and green channels? Why is everyone talking about the "Stormont Brake"? Will this finally be enough to get the Democratic Unionist Party back into power sharing? And why on earth was the British king involved? You'll find the answers to all these questions and more in this fresh-off-the-press Brexit update.
Check our our bonus episodes available for Patreon supporters and with our full archive of extra content over at: www.patreon.com/theirishpassport
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Jan 27, 2023
Mountbatten and the IRA
On the 27th of August 1979, the Provisional IRA assassinated one of the best known members of Britain's royal family as he holidayed in County Sligo. But this was just one of 25 killings that took place that day. The events of that afternoon soon came to represent a watershed in the history of Anglo-Irish relations, and a landmark moment of escalation in a Northern Ireland conflict that was now settling into what some referred to as the "Long War". Naomi and Tim unpick the wider context of this notorious episode of the Troubles, and explore how it encompassed so much more than the death of a celebrity royal.
This podcast is only mad possible by our patreon supporters. If you would like to sign up to support the podcast today, and gain access to over 80 pieces of bonus content along the way, you can sign up to our patreon page now at www.patreon.com/theirishpassport.
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Dec 19, 2022
Mystery tales of the strange and unexpected
From a mystery in rural Ireland that has persisted for over a century, to the little-known link between a World Cup star footballer and the town of Donabate, to the unexpected ways that Hiberno English is spreading in Europe... it's a story episode for you to enjoy over the holidays as Naomi and Tim share their favourite stories for 2022.
https://twitter.com/NaomiOhReally/status/1599362845942370304?s=20&t=aEc52pKN3a8a0w9sECahFw
Tim's image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dissolving_views#/media/File:Magiclantern.jpg
A bonus episode is available for Patreon supporters along with our full archive of extra content over at: www.patreon.com/theirishpassport
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Dec 17, 2022
Ireland and India's shared history, as Varadkar and Sunak lead the Irish and British governments
Today, Leo Varadkar takes over as Taoiseach. This means that both Britain and Ireland have governments led by people of Indian heritage, as in London Rishi Sunak took over as prime minister in October.
The coincidence has provoked renewed curiosity in these leaders, their backgrounds, and the complex shared history between Ireland and India under the British Empire.
To mark the day, we're reposting our episode about that very topic: 'Ireland and India: Assassins of Empire'.
Anarchist clubs, public assassinations, and secret rebel meetings in a notorious vegetarian restaurant – all these feature in this fascinating episode on the historical links between Ireland and India at the beginning of the 20th century. UCD’s Conor Mulvagh explains why Ireland and India were so symbolically important to the survival of the British Empire, and why the independence movements in both countries were often deeply intertwined. We hear how Indian law students in Dublin joined rebel militias, forged…
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Nov 26, 2022
Ireland and the United Nations
Ireland's dream as it emerged as an independent state was to 'take its place among the nations of the world'. The principle of international cooperation has therefore always been tightly bound up with Irish nationalism and how the country pursues its goals. In this episode, Naomi and Tim explore Ireland's quest for recognition, first at the League of Nations and then at its successor the United Nations. We speak to longtime UN staffer Niall McCann to hear the inside story of how Ireland is seen at the UN, and discuss the surprising role of the Irish government in pushing for radical reform of the intergovernmental body. Plus, Naomi discusses a story she broke that revealed how the outsized influence of the UN's five permanent security council members can warp its policy and disable the body from being effective-- in this case, on Ukraine.
A bonus episode is available for Patreon supporters in which Naomi and Tim debrief from this episode and discuss what stood out to them. It's availa…
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Oct 21, 2022
Goodbye Liz, Hello Chaos
As all Hell breaks loose in the halls of Westminster, Naomi and Tim break down what on earth has just happened in the UK. Why did Prime Minister Liz Truss resign after only 44 days? Who might take over her post? And what are the consequences of all this chaos for the island of Ireland? We hear commentary from Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, and discuss the potential fallout of the Tories’ chronic instability in the context of current global crises. Don’t miss out on this one!
Bonus episodes on https://www.patreon.com/theirishpassport
Follow us on Twitter at @PassportIrish
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Oct 19, 2022
War of Independence: The Treaty
In the final episode of our War of Independence mini-series, Tim and Naomi lay out the historical events that split the emerging Irish nation and led to a civil war. As we pick up on the story, global condemnation has pressured the British government into offering a truce. Following years of gruelling guerilla warfare against the might of the British army, an exhausted team of representatives from the rebel Irish government travel to London to negotiate peace terms. Tim and Naomi dig into the role of reluctant negotiator Michael Collins and consumate operator Éamon de Valera who remained back in Dublin, quoting from articles and speeches from the time to bring to life the events that would shape Irish history for decades.
Ps - what does enduring bitterness over partition have to do with a cherished Irish potato-based snack? Find out in this bonus Halfpint debrief episode made specially for Patreon supporters, in Naomi and Tim reflect on the making of this episode and discuss what sto…
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Sep 18, 2022
A looming crisis in Irish-British relations?
Tensions threaten to flare again between Ireland, Britain, and the EU with a new UK prime minister who has promised to take a hard line on the Northern Ireland Protocol. The death of Queen Elizabeth however put a pause on developments for the period of mourning, and produced some fascinating moments too as her successor King Charles met with Sinn Féin and acknowledged them as the biggest party in Northern Ireland. Naomi and Tim catch up on current events, discuss the Dublin drama turning heads in Brussels, and why the Irish government resembles a rotisserie chicken...
Patreon supporters can listen to a bonus debrief episode dissecting the complex Irish reaction to the death of Queen Elizabeth over on patreon.com/theirishpassport
You can follow us on Twitter at @PassportIrish
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Sep 2, 2022
War of Independence: Partition
The third installment in Naomi and Tim’s series on the War of Independence discusses a landmark of 20th century Irish history: the partition of the island.
Tim digs into the backstory to reveal how once again, an unhappy chapter of Irish history is linked to Winston Churchill. This episode lays out the thinking at the time and how the so-called ‘Irish question’ was shaped through parliamentary debates in Westminster, as a team of officials in London drew out the boundaries of the two new jurisdictions while Ireland was at war. We discuss how unionist movements evolved in relation to the question of Home Rule and partition, and the sense of betrayal particularly of southern unionists that led Dublin-born unionist leader Edward Carson to declare: “What a fool I was! I was only a puppet, and so was Ulster, and so was Ireland, in the political game that was to get the Conservative Party into power”. University College Dublin historian Dr Conor Mulvagh joins us again to lay out h…
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Jul 24, 2022
War of Independence: The Black and Tans
The second installment of Naomi and Tim’s series on Ireland’s War of Independence focuses on the Black and Tans: the brutal reinforcements sent by Winston Churchill to put down the forces of the revolutionary Irish republic in 1920. Historian Dr Conor Mulvagh of University College Dublin lays out the key role of the women’s movement, Cumann na mBan; dissects the tactics of the old Irish Republican Army forces that came together to defend independence; and explains how the guerilla tactics and reprisals by the Black and Tans fit in to the history of modern warfare. Meanwhile, Cork historian Michael Lenihan breaks down one of the most notorious incidents of the era that was to shape the fabric of Ireland in the decades to come: the Burning of Cork by British forces.
Two bonus episodes are available for Patreon supporters delving further into this topic and era of Irish history. Naomi and Tim have a debrief following the episode and discuss what stood out to them, including the sto…
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Jun 26, 2022
War of Independence The First Dáil
The War of Independence was the moment in which Ireland threw off British rule and emerged as a state. The dramatic events that took place and the beliefs that informed them would shape the emerging nation, and play a role up until the present day. Tim and Naomi break down the events of 1919-1921 in this series of episodes, starting with the establishment of Ireland’s revolutionary parliament: the First Dáil.
A bonus extra episode about this topic is available for Patreon supporters in which Naomi and Tim debrief, discuss what stood out to them in the making of the episode, and share their insights into this fascinating era of history. To hear it you can sign up here: https://www.patreon.com/theirishpassport
You can follow us on Twitter at @PassportIrish
Video footage from 1917 of the crowds in Dublin turning out to welcome back Countess Markievicz, after she was released from prison where she was serving time for her role in the Easter Rising:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Mi…
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May 29, 2022
A new balance of power in Northern Ireland
A seismic election in Northern Ireland returned the pro-Irish unity Sinn Féin as the largest party for the first time ever. The Alliance Party, identifying neither as nationalist nor unionist, surged to become the third force in northern politics in another historic first. Desite this, the power-sharing executive has yet to be formed due to the opposition of the unionist Democratic Unionist Party. They are demanding changes to the so-called Protocol as their price of going into power, though many suspect that behind it lies an inherent opposition to allowing nationalists to take the symbolic top post of First Minister. It's propelled Northern Irish politics onto the international stage once again, with the British government threatening to break international law to get what it wants from the European Union. Naomi and Tim sum it all up, and discuss what comes next. Featuring guests Stephen Farry, a member of parliament and Alliance's deputy leader, and Freya McClements, the Northern…
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Mar 27, 2022
Ireland's Response to the Ukraine Crisis
Since our last episode, Europe’s political landscape has been transformed – and that of Ireland along with it. Naomi lays out the facts about Ireland’s unique position in the international response to the Ukraine crisis. We find out why debates about military neutrality and NATO membership might once again be coming to the fore, and discuss why Ukraine’s president gave Ireland a less-than-glowing appraisal when it came to supporting his country. We also check back in with Nadia Dobrianska, whose life has been turned upside down in the weeks since the Russian invasion. Now safe in Co. Cork, she tells us what it was like to suddenly flee her home city of Kyiv, and how she managed to make it back to Ireland.
This episode is our Season 5 finale. We’ll be back in a few weeks with plenty more topics about Irish culture, history, and politics in a brand new Season 6!
If you want to hear more Irish Passport content and help support the show along the way, you can sign up to our Pat…
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Feb 22, 2022
Ukraine and Ireland a shared history
This weekend, a group of musicians gathered in O’Briens Irish pub in the Ukranian capital and belted out traditional Irish tunes as a distraction from the threat of war.
In this episode we uncover the surprisingly rich common history shared by Ireland and Ukraine, as told by a woman living through the dramatic recent events that have drawn the world’s attention to Kyiv as Russian troops advance.
Joining us is listener Nadia Dobrianska, who works in a human rights organisation in her native Kyiv and happens to be an afficionado in Irish culture and history. She unveils a hidden world of historical commonalities between the two countries, who both began asserting their nationhood in the same era, suffered domination from neighbouring power, and still bear the deep scars of famine from that experience.
Nadia also has a fascinating personal story to share. She experienced two revolutions in Kyiv before moving to Belfast in 2019 to pursue her love of Irish studies. There, she managed…
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Jan 24, 2022
An Teanga Bheo
From the streets of Brussels, to an office block in Greece, to a bus ride in San Francisco, the Irish language can pop up in some unexpected places. In this episode, we explore some of the new international frontiers of Irish. We speak to people whose knowledge of the language has launched them down far-flung career paths, ask why Irish-speaking mortgage experts are in demand in the Netherlands, and celebrate some of the people who have begun learning the language thousands of miles away from the island.
Huge thanks to our sponsors, Irish at Heart, for backing this episode. Sign up to receive surprise boxes of artisan Irish goods at irish-at-heart.com, and get a special 15% discount off your first box with the discount code IRISHPASSPORT. Here’s the link: https://irish-at-heart.com/
Bonus episodes are published for our supporters over at www.patreon.com/theirishpassport
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Dec 17, 2021
The Bishop, the Guns, and the Virgin Mary
Did you ever hear the one about the bishop and the airport? Or the unlikely group of Irish revolutionaries who ended up changing history through an ill-fated trip to Belgium on a yacht?
Hear all about it as Naomi and Tim tell some of their favourite, quirkiest stories from Irish history in this special seasonal story time episode.
Huge thanks to our sponsors, Irish at Heart, for backing this episode. Sign up to receive surprise boxes of artisan Irish goods at irish-at-heart.com, and get a special 15% discount off your first box with the discount code IRISHPASSPORT. The link is here: https://irish-at-heart.com/
Bonus episodes are published for our supporters over at www.patreon.com/theirishpassport
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Nov 25, 2021
Neutrality, part 2: Ireland's dubious defence
This summer, the chaotic fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban left Irish citizens stranded and exposed the state's lack of an aircraft large enough to conduct an evacuation. It highlighted the issue of Ireland's tiny and under-funded defence forces, which mean we rely on outside forces like Britain and the European Union for day-to-day security in areas like air and maritime patrols and cyber security. From this weak position, Ireland has increasingly been drawn over the last two decades into participating in international defence arrangements that arguably blur the lines of our neutral status. Naomi and Tim lay out what's at stake in an increasingly unstable global order and as the EU debates a shift in defence policy in response. Guest Tom Clonan shares his experience as a soldier and lays out the profound risks to Irish interests posed by gaping holes in national defence. Conor Gallagher of the Irish Times tells us the backstory of how Irish officials worked behind the scenes and lean…
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Oct 24, 2021
Neutrality, part 1: Churchill versus de Valera
In 1939, the young Irish state stood at a crossroads in its history. Europe was descending into war, and the deeply impoverished and weakly defended nation feared its strategic location on Britain's flank could mean invasion - by either side. In this episode, Naomi and Tim describe a moment when two towering figures of 20th century history came head-to-head and shaped the fates of Ireland, Britain, and Europe. The Irish revolutionary leader Éamon de Valera and Britain's wartime prime minister Winston Churchill had profoundly different starts in life and world views - and they hated each other. Their bitter personal relations led to a Second World War standoff, and a mysterious late-night telegram from Downing Street thats constitutes one of the great 'what if' questions of Irish history.
This is part one of a double episode on Irish military neutrality, explaining how the flagship Irish policy came to be. In part two, we'll dig into what Irish military neutrality means in practice to…
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Sep 27, 2021
Live Show: Place and Power
Live from Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland, Naomi and Tim discuss place and power: unpacking how place names, landscape, and architecture contain secret histories hidden within plain sight. Guest Linda Ervine, manager of the Irish language project Turas, explains how learning Irish is helping many in the unionist community to rediscover their own local histories, while writer and researcher Claire Mitchell explores how the covert history of the 1798 rebellion is etched into the landscape itself - if you know where to look.
This live show was produced as part of the 2021 Hillsborough Castle Centenary Talks programme. Many thanks to the staff and organisers at Hillsborough Castle for their support and warm welcome.
If you would like to support the podcast, you can become a Patreon subscriber today at www.patreon.com/theirishpassport
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Sep 20, 2021
Lady Lavery: the Face of Ireland
Who was the iconic woman depicted on Irish banknotes from 1927-1977? Why was she so integral to the story of Irish independence? And what lies behind her inscrutable stare? In our latest Halfpint episode, we discover the extraordinary life of Lady Lavery – a Chicago-born debutante who would go on to become the face of an independent Ireland.
This halfpint episode would not have been possible without the support of our wonderful patrons. You can find our full archive of Halfpint extra content over on www.patreon.com/theirishpassport, where you can help keep the podcast running by become a Patreon supporter today.
This episode features the music tracks “Hopeless Waltz” and “Just a Waltz” by Alena Smirnova.
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Sep 3, 2021
Brexit Update: Empty Shelves and Data Borders
Food shortages are hitting Britain hard, and things are set to get worse - but why are shelves still fully stocked in Northern Ireland? Naomi explains the ins and outs of Brexit’s effect on UK supply chains, and how traders and consumers are going to have to adapt to some new (and pricey) post-Brexit realities. We also look at how changes to data regulation could potentially open a new can of worms on Ireland's border, and we explain why the Tories' tendency to play to a domestic audience might be losing them credibility on the international stage
LIVE EVENT: The Irish Passport is delighted to be taking part in the Hillsborough Castle 2021 Centenary Talks Programme. Naomi and Tim will be appearing live as part of the programme at Hillsborough Castle, Co. Down, on the 25th September 2021. They'll be speaking to a selection of special guests to discuss the dynamics of place and power - how place names, landscape, and architecture contain secret histories hidden within plain sight. Ti…
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Aug 6, 2021
Irish music special
Special guests Naomi's sister Molly May O'Leary and her musical collaborator Fionn Ó hAlmhain visit the podcast to play songs from and discuss their new album, Lambent Flame. It was recorded with the famed Hothouse Flowers singer and multi-instrumentalist Liam Ó Maonlaí over a difficult period when the Covid-19 pandemic shut down much of the music industry. Molly May talks about how she began writing the songs inspired by Irish folklore and fairy traditions, building on her background in poetry. Fionn, a noted uilleann piper and singer with the Irish National Opera, takes us behind the scenes in the studio into the creative process of recording the album in the Dublin mountains.
You can find the album at: www.lambentflame.com
Songs featured from Lambent Flame, by Molly May O'Leary, Liam Ó Maonlaí, and Fionn Ó hAlmhain: Biddy Early, Fairy Queen, Cinderella, Aisling, Sun Child, California, Thank you Witches, Little Red Riding Hood, The Wild Swans of Coole.
You can check out our…
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Jul 29, 2021
Traveller exclusion: revealing an open secret
This year, a whistleblower revealed a shocking secret. A popular British holiday camp business kept a 'blacklist' of Irish surnames, distributed to staff to bar customers from booking. In this episode, Naomi and Tim dig into the incident to explore how a policy meant to exclude Travellers inadvertently swept up a large part of the general Irish population. We hear from a veteran campsite and holiday park worker who tells us the practice of excluding Travellers is rife in the industry across Britain and Ireland. And we speak to Martin Beanz Warde, a comedian, podcaster and host of the Haz Beanz Show about how systemic discrimination works and his own experience of exclusion from venues.
Check out the Haz Beanz Show here: https://thehazbeanshow.com/
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter at @PassportIrish.
If you enjoyed this episode, do give us a good review in your podcast app and share it with your friends.
Bonus episodes are published for our supporters over at www.patreon.com/theirishpas…
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Jun 21, 2021
Ireland and India: Assassins of Empire
Anarchist clubs, public assassinations, and secret rebel meetings in a notorious vegetarian restaurant – all these feature in this fascinating episode on the historical links between Ireland and India at the beginning of the 20th century. UCD’s Conor Mulvagh explains why Ireland and India were so symbolically important to the survival of the British Empire, and why the independence movements in both countries were often deeply intertwined. We hear how Indian law students in Dublin joined rebel militias, forged friendships with leaders of the Easter Rising, and later took inspiration from Irish nationalism to challenge the British Raj. Vikrant Sharma, founder of the international relations website The Global Telescope, tells us about the many parallels between Ireland and India’s history of British rule, and how both should perhaps be considered in a larger framework of colonial strategy and nationalist resistance.
The books mentioned in this episode are:
Conor Mulvagh, Irish Da…
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Jun 19, 2021
Halfpint: Drama in the DUP
Chaos hits the Democratic Unionist Party, Northern Ireland’s largest pro-British bloc, as new leader Edwin Poots is deposed in a revolt just 20 days after taking up the position. Naomi and Tim hear why the woman he usurped Arlene Foster is laughing, the Irish language dispute at the centre of Poots’ downfall, and what it all tells us about dynamically changing politics in the North.
This is a Halfpint bonus episode made specially to thank our Patreon supporters. To hear our full archive and support the podcast, head over to Patreon.com/theirishpassport.
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter at @PassportIrish.
If you enjoyed this episode, do give us a good review in your podcast app and share it with your friends.
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May 25, 2021
Jer O'Leary: a Dublin life
The Irish Passport brings you an interview with Jer O’Leary: actor, activist, artist, orator of Jim Larkin speeches and Dublin legend who recorded these tapes before he died in 2018. Jer discusses growing up in the Irish capital and how it changed over his life, and how he ended up in the national art college despite leaving school at 14, and his work creating banners for Ireland’s union movement, a body of work that led writer Fintan O’Toole to once describe Irish protest marches as moving exhibitions of Jer O’Leary’s art. O’Leary describes his route into theatre and film through political activism, and we hear from childhood friend Richard Collins about how Jer ended up behind bars for his role in an IRA holdup in the political turmoil of the 1970s – and how it changed his life.
If you haven’t heard it, listen to our episode to the 1913 Dublin Lockout, a prequel to this interview: https://www.theirishpassport.com/podcast/the-irish-left-legacies-of-the-lockout/
Some…
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Apr 26, 2021
The Dublin Lockout
A profound industrial dispute rocked Dublin in 1913, playing into a rising tide of nationalism and shaping the unique political landscape of Ireland of the following century. In this episode Naomi and Tim tell the story of the 1913 Dublin Lockout led by firebrand trade unionist Jim Larkin. We hear from Jer O'Leary, an artist and actor who portrayed Larkin throughout his life, on what the organiser meant to ordinary Dubliners and his enduring legacy today. And we reflect on the fate of the left following independence, when it struggled for significance against the dominant forces of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. Historian Dr Niamh Puirséil talks us through the difficult aftermath of the 1913 Lockout and why it contributed to Ireland's unique political divisions in the 20th century. Finally, Naomi and Tim reflect on the political dynamics of the present day and why a combination of nationalism and left-wing politics is shaking up the status quo once again.
We'll be posting extra content…
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Apr 23, 2021
Halfpints: What’s really going on in Northern Ireland?
Does the recent unrest in Northern Ireland betray a growing disconnect between the DUP, loyalist paramilitaries, and the communities they claim to represent? How have the protests been influenced by the international scrutiny of police oppression in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement? And why are class politics more central than ever to factional division in the north? In this excerpt from our latest Halfpint episode, our special reporter Jennifer Smith returns to the Village in Belfast to speak to residents Conor and Hannah, who explain how international media has tended to privilege digestible narratives about Brexit over the more complex issues that have plagued communities in the territory for generations.
If you want to hear the full episode, and gain access to our archive of Halfpint bonus episodes, you can head over to www.patreon.com/theirishpassport and become a supporter of the podcast today!
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Apr 7, 2021
Flags of Ireland
Harps, shamrocks, hands, crowns, swords, mythical female embodiments of Éire: all Irish symbols and all up for discussion in this episode, in which Tim and Naomi are joined by Darach Ó Séaghdha of the Motherfoclóir podcast to discuss Irish flags past, present, and future.
We consider the merits and perils of the different symbols as debate begins to stir on whether a new flag might be required if Northern Ireland were to ever unify with the Republic.
Tim runs through the history of flags and their association with the nation state, Darach explains why the colours of the Irish flag have special names in the Irish language, and Naomi talks through some international examples of countries that have debated changing their flag.
To see images of the flags we are discussing, follow this link: https://www.theirishpassport.com/2021/04/07/flags-discussed-in-our-latest-episode/
This is a bonus Halfpint episode made specially to thank our Patreon supporters. All our bonus episodes are ava…
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Mar 17, 2021
St Patrick's Day Special
The real history of the Irish pub, the backstory to the leprechaun, and what St Patrick’s Day has meant throughout the generations: Naomi and Tim sum it up in this St. Patrick’s Day special in honour of the national day.
If you are celebrating the holiday around the world, we have a special message for you this year. Take a look: https://youtu.be/qnLcat_eJBw
This episode was first published in 2018.
Check out our bonus Q&A on the US election and its impact on Ireland exclusively for Patreons over at https://www.patreon.com/posts/43683072
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter at @PassportIrish.
If you enjoyed this episode, do give us a good review in your podcast app and share it with your friends.
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Mar 17, 2021
Grattan and his Parliament
Surprise! While we continue to prepare Season 5, we’ve decided to make last month’s Halfpint episode freely available to all our listeners. In this edition, Tim builds on our recent Season 4 finale by delving deeper into the colonial Irish Parliament around the time of the Act of Union of 1801. If you haven’t heard that Season 4 finale yet, you can go back and listen to it here:
Part 1: https://www.theirishpassport.com/podcast/destructive-unionism-part-1-the-history/
Part 2: https://www.theirishpassport.com/podcast/destructive-unionism-part-2-the-current-day/
We make Halfpint extra content as a thank you to our Patreon supporters, who keep the podcast running. If you would like to support us too, and gain access to our full back catalogue of extra content along the way, you can become a supporter of the Irish Passport Podcast today at www.patreon.com/theirishpassport
This episode features music from Peter Rudenko: Stay 17; Sublime Melody; and Iced Spring Theme, from the album…
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Jan 24, 2021
Destructive Unionism: Part 2, The Current Day
New survey data suggests majorities in Scotland and Northern Ireland want referendums on whether to break with the union, and a majority across the United Kingdom expect Scotland to be independent within 10 years. With the bonds of the union under strain, Naomi and Tim sum up how the Brexit negotiations concluded, and explore the ways in which the deal pursued by the British government made people’s lives worse. Angry fishermen, queuing truck drivers, and the Irish government stepping in to pay for health insurance and Erasmus exchanges for people in the North: a snapshot of a period of Destructive Unionism.
You can listen to Part 1 here: https://www.theirishpassport.com/podcast/destructive-unionism-part-1-the-history/
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter at @PassportIrish.
If you enjoyed this episode, do give us a good review in your podcast app and share it with your friends.
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Jan 24, 2021
Destructive Unionism: Part 1, The History
With the fallout of Brexit straining the bonds of the United Kingdom, Naomi and Tim look back on a period of history with huge resonance for the current moment. The union that still perseveres today was forged in crisis, as an emergency response by the British government to a Protestant-led Irish rebellion that deeply shook the Westminster government. What followed was a century of betrayal, struggle, and strife, culminating in a desperate attempt by successive British governments to love-bomb the rebellious Irish populace into supporting the union. This was a strategy known as Constructive Unionism: are we seeing its destructive mirror image today?
You can listen to Part 2 here: https://www.theirishpassport.com/podcast/destructive-unionism-part-2-the-current-day/
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter at @PassportIrish.
If you enjoyed this episode, do give us a good review in your podcast app and share it with your friends.
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Dec 11, 2020
Christmas Reunion
Past guests including comedian Tara Flynn, Brendan Boyle, Caitríona Perry, Emma de Souza, Sarah Maria Griffin, Caelainn Hogan, Sarah Creighton, Ronan McCrea and Matthew O’Toole join us again for a Christmas reunion! It’s a bizarre one for many of us this year but we hear from people all around the world who are making it special where they are. Naomi and Tim tell some stories of hope as we approach the winter solstice: the darkest day of the year before the days get brighter, that has been celebrated as a turning point for millennia. Featuring some original (and very on point!) music by Michael Fry.
Music: Lockdown Christmas by Michael Fry, Christmas lights by TRG Banks, Let’s Just Get Through Christmas by Doctor Turtle. Huge thanks to all our contributors.
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter at @PassportIrish.
If you enjoyed this episode, do give us a good review in your podcast app and share it with your friends.
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Nov 10, 2020
The Most Irish US President Ever?
Self-described "Irish Catholic" Joe Biden has elected president of the United States after a momentous election that has the potential to transform international relations and potentially Ireland's fortunes as the post-Brexit talks reach their final moment. Naomi O'Leary and Tim Mc Inerney discuss the president-elect's Irish roots, what his Catholic identity means in this historical context, why British Conservatives are unhappy with his victory, and how the result is being received in the ancestral villages that claim Biden as their own.
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Oct 25, 2020
Electrifying Ireland
In this episode Naomi O'Leary and Tim Mc Inerney hear the voices of women who lived through a profound social transformation in Ireland: the coming of electricity. The ability to turn on a light or boil a kettle with just a switch came relatively late to large parts of Ireland, part of an ambitious project by the young state to economically transform Ireland and help it take its place among the nations of the earth. We explore the ways in which this changed people's lives, from the design of their houses to the food they ate, and how this transformation continues to inform social ideas about domestic work to this day. Featuring insights from design historian Sorcha O'Brien of Kingston University, the voices of ordinary women from around the Irish countryside who describe how electricity changed their lives, and material from the ESB archives.
Check our our full interview with Dr O'Brien over at: https://www.patreon.com/posts/43027994
We are grateful to the Electric Irish Homes projec…
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Oct 6, 2020
Gloves off, Washington to the rescue! Brexit update
It’s return of the clowns as Naomi and Tim dissect the latest Brexit drama and speak to Congressman Brendan Boyle, whose cutting criticism of the British government went viral after the government of Prime Minister Boris Johnson declared it would break international law. Where are we, how did we get here, and what lies ahead? We sum it up ahead of a crunch week in the talks between the European Union and Britain that have extremely high stakes for Ireland.
Featuring original music by Michael Fry, who is @BigDirtyFry on Twitter.
Support us on Patreon to gain access to our full library of bonus episodes and othe rextra content overat www.Patreon.com/theirishpassport
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter at @PassportIrish.
If you enjoyed this episode, do give us a good review in your podcast app and share it with your friends.
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Oct 6, 2020
Scandal! Can Ireland's government survive?
A golf society dinner for 81 people has thrown the Irish government into chaos. Attended by a host of senior political figures, many at the forefront Ireland’s COVID health strategy, the event appeared to flout the very social distancing regulations some of its guests had devised. This is just the latest in a series of disasters for the recently installed coalition government, which has been struggling to retain public confidence since its inception mere weeks ago. Naomi and Tim investigate why a scandal like this holds such high stakes in the current moment. We hear from listeners about how the restrictions have affected them, and speak to Dr Marc Scully of Mary Immaculate College, Limerick, about how the lives of hundreds and thousands of Irish emigrants have suddenly and dramatically changed in a way that has largely been ignored in Ireland’s public debate about travel restrictions and health policy.
You can find our full interview with Marc Scully over on Patreon, where you can…
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Oct 6, 2020
Who are the Celts
Celtic identity is politically powerful but historically nebulous, a subject of debate among historians and archaeologists, while being a source of inspiration to some and irritation to others. In this episode, Naomi and Tim visit a Celtic music festival in the Netherlands to explore why the concept has such international appeal. Tim explores the political use and abuse of the idea of the Celts in debates about identity and nationalism in Scotland and Ireland. Historian Adrian Martyn tells us why he finds the idea of Celticness insulting, while National Museum of Scotland curator Fraser Hunter breaks down the complex reality of early civilisations on the Atlantic islands and what we know about our ancient ancestors.
Check out our archive of bonus content over on Patreon: www.patreon.com/theirishpassport
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter at @PassportIrish.
If you enjoyed this episode, do give us a good review in your podcast app and share it with your friends.
Adrian Martyn’s webs…
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Oct 6, 2020
New Irish government Q&A livestream
After almost half a year of negotiations and political maneuvering, Ireland finally has a government. It’s unlike any that has come before it, and it doesn’t include the party that got the post votes in the last election, Sinn Féin. In this livestreamed podcast, Naomi and Tim answer listener questions with special guests Aoife-Grace Moore, political correspondent with The Irish Examiner, and Darach Ó Séaghdha of the Motherfoclóir podcast.
Is the new government’s policy programme really the greenest ever? Why are people calling this the end of the Civil War politics? Are the Green party falling into a trap, and will Sinn Féin ultimately benefit?
The new coalition is made up of old rivals Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, with the support of the Green party. The new Taoiseach is Micheál Martin, who is supposed to be in office until the end of 2022 when he will step aside to let outgoing Taoiseach Leo Varadkar assume the role.
Watch the video version of this live podcast here: ht…
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Oct 6, 2020
Ireland's Next Revolution
Young Black people in Ireland have taken to the streets to demand an end to racism and discrimination in the midst of a global uprising inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement. Documentary maker Amanda Adé explores the conversations and momentum for change that is happening in Ireland in the wake of the protests. We hear from Boni Odoemene, the co-founder of the Black and Irish Instagram page, which is unearthing a hidden part of Irish history. The curator of Ireland’s first Black Studies module Dr. Ebun Joseph discusses her research on the nature of racial stratification in Ireland. And Naomi and Tim dig into the complex and interesting crossovers of Black and Irish history, from the dark legacy of empire, to how the US civil rights movement inspired Catholics in 1960s Northern Ireland, to the tearing down of statues.
You can check out Black and Irish here: https://www.instagram.com/black_andirish/
Featuring the track BLM (I Can’t Breathe) by Jihfa http://dig.ccmixter.org/f…
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Oct 6, 2020
Bulelani Mfaco on Direct Provision
Protests against Ireland’s controversial system for housing asylum seekers Direct Provision have been re-ignited as demonstrations against racism sweep the United States. We interviewed Bulelani Mfaco where he lives in Knockalisheen Direct Provision centre on the border of Limerick and Clare for our episode on the system published in January. In this bonus episode made specially to thank our Patreon supporters, we publish the full interview. He tells us about his experience living within the system and why he sees Direct Provision as deliberate marginalisation of migrants and akin to racial segregation.
This bonus content was made possible by the continued support of our patrons! Sign up to support the podcast today at www.patreon.com/theirishpassport and gain access to our whole archive of Halfpint extra content.
For access to our full archive of bonus content, head on over on our Patreon page www.patreon.com/theirishpassport.
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook: @PassportIrish.
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Oct 6, 2020
Europe at a breaking point?
In this bonus episode made specially to thank our Patreon supporters, Naomi and Tim catch up on how Europe finds itself at a make-or-break moment. Fundamental questions of democracy and economics are in question, and Ireland will have its role to play in figuring them out as the European Union decides what exactly it wants to be. Plus: why are people still talking about Brexit, and what are the stakes for the island of Ireland? We break it down.
This bonus content was made possible by the continued support of our patrons! Sign up to support the podcast today at www.patreon.com/theirishpassport and gain access to our whole archive of Halfpint extra content.
For access to our full archive of bonus content, head on over on our Patreon page www.patreon.com/theirishpassport.
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook: @PassportIrish.
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Oct 6, 2020
Ireland and Australia
Ireland shares a fascinating history with the Australian continent – by the 19th century, in fact, about 25% of settlers in Australia were Irish-born. In this episode, we speak to Victoria University’s Diane Hall about the history of the Irish in Australia, Tim meets two generations of Irish Australians who explain what their unique identity means to them, and Naomi explores some of the major issues facing the Irish in Australia today.
If you liked this episode, why not give us a rating on whatever podcast app you use – It makes all the difference to us!
If you want more bonus content from the Irish Passport Podcast, you can become a Patreon supporter today and gain instant access to our archive of Halfpint episodes. Just head over to www.patreon.com/theirishpassport
The music featured in this episode is “Remember Love” by Lobo Loco.
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Oct 6, 2020
Irish and Native American Solidarity
As the Coronavirus hits the Native Americans hard, Irish people have taken the chance to repay a 173-year-old debt.
A fundraiser to help the Navajo and Hopi Nations fight one of the worst Covid-19 outbreaks in the United States has taken off in Ireland. Donations have been flooding in, in tribute to an act of kindness during the Great Hunger in Ireland that has never been forgotten. In the worst year of the famine, 1847, the Choctaw people raised what they could and sent it to Ireland as aid.
It’s not the only example of solidarity between Irish and Native American people throughout history. In this bonus episode made specially to thank our Patreon supporters, Naomi traces the history of links between Ireland and Native Americans. Did you know that during the struggle for independence, the Chippewa-Ojibwe people made future Irish President Éamon de Valera an honorary chief?
You can donate to the Navajo & Hopi Families COVID-19 Relief Fund here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/NHFC19Re…
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Oct 6, 2020
The Irish Accent
In our first episode of Season 4, we take on the Irish Accent: where did it come from? What secrets might it hide? And why is it so often an issue of contention? Tim speaks to accent expert Shane Walshe of Zurich University about how Irish accents are seen by the wider world, Naomi talks with Senator Lynn Ruane about why some Irish accents can lead to discrimination and marginalisation, and most importantly we hear from our own listeners about the complications, the poetry, and the personal histories contained in every individual accent.
In this episode we asked our listeners to take the “accent challenge”. Below is the list of words they were asked to pronounce:
Wash, Oil, Theater, Data, Crayon, Ruin, Spitting Image, Toilet, Syrup, Aunt, Salmon, Caramel, Fire, Water, Again, Both, Probably, Alabama, Lawyer, Coupon, New Orleans.
We’ve published a bonus episode featuring a full interview with Senator Lynn Ruane on class and inequality in Ireland over on our Patreon page www.patr…
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Oct 6, 2020
“Where are you From?” – National Identity in Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland, questions of national identity often come with some surprising answers. Our reporter Jennifer Smith catches up with two Belfast residents born around the time of the Good Friday Agreement. They explain their understanding of identity in Northern Ireland and how nationality there constitutes a complex and ever-changing web of politics, family history, and social class.
This bonus content was made possible by the continued support of our patrons! Sign up to support the podcast today at www.patreon.com/theirishpassport and gain access to our whole archive of Halfpint extra content.
For access to our full archive of bonus content, head on over on our Patreon page www.patreon.com/theirishpassport.
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook: @PassportIrish.
The music featured in this episode is “You get the Blues” by Lobo Loco.
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Oct 6, 2020
The good news!
In this bonus episode made specially to thank our Patreon supporters, we take a look at some of the good news coming out in the times of Coronavirus. We’ll be talking about drive-through testing centres in Dublin, mass volunteering efforts to help neighbours and the health service, EU officials embracing poetry, and some very promising statistics and real concrete help coming out of China.
You can sign up to join the Irish health service the HSE: hse.ie/oncall
If you need help or can offer help, like delivering groceries or subscriptions to your neighbours, the website to sign up is: https://localsupport.ie/ . Anyone who isn’t online can ask for help by text on 087 365 8233.
We make Halfpint episodes especially to thank our Patreon supporters. If you want to access our full archive of Halfpint episodes, you can become a Patron today at www.patreon.com/theirishpassport.
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook: @PassportIrish.
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Oct 6, 2020
Ireland v Coronavirus
How is Ireland dealing with the Coronavirus outbreak? In this freely available Halfpint episode, Naomi and Tim look into the way different countries in Europe have dealt with the unprecedented pandemic sweeping the world right now. We look at how the outbreak is affecting politics at home and abroad, and offer some advice for those who might be self-isolating right now.
We make Halfpint episodes especially to thank our Patreon supporters. If you want to access our full archive of Halfpint episodes, you can become a Patron today at www.patreon.com/theirishpassport
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Oct 6, 2020
The election that changed history
A seismic result has emerged in the Irish election: the left-wing nationalist Sinn Fe’in are the most popular party, sweeping away the traditional dominance of Fine Gael and Fianna Fa’il for the first time in the history of the republic.
What caused the political earthquake? And what happens now? Naomi joins Tim from the main voting count centre in Dublin to break down the results.
The housing crisis, what went wrong for Leo Varadkar, the peculiar nature of Irish nationalism, and options for the next government: it’s all up for discussion.
We speak to Dessie Ellis, who spent time in prison for his involvement with thetime Provisional Irish Republican Army, after he swept to the top of the poll in his constituency of Dublin North West.
Naomi brings context from the campaign trail as voters tell us their concerns. And we hear from Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin, Fine Gael’s Leo Varadkar, and Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald to tell you all you need to know about the e…
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Oct 6, 2020
The Rise of the Far Right What Can Ireland Learn with Political Scientist Cas Mudde
The global rise of radical right nativist parties seemed to skip Ireland. But the last 18 months have seen efforts to introduce anti-immigration politics to Ireland in a way not seen before, amid a backlash against the legalisation of abortion. We hear how a conspiracy theory elevated by US pundit Alex Jones has ended up on the streets of Cork, as protesters ambush an event by ruling party Fine Gael a week out from the election. Naomi speaks to Dutch political scientist Cas Mudde about what Ireland can learn from the experience of countries that have already seen similar trends. Mudde breaks down the evolution of the far right, new tactics at play, and the dubious role played by the media in the United States and the Netherlands.
This is an episode of Halfpints, the bonus content we make specially to thank our Patreon supporters. You can find a whole archive of extra content over at https://www.patreon.com/theirishpassport.
Share this episode and tag @PassportIrish to be in with a ch…
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Oct 6, 2020
Inside the housing cisis: the issue that could cost Leo Varadkar the election
Tech workers abandoning Dublin due to housing costs, an Airbnb maintenance worker who is himself homeless, and the woman battling to transform Ireland’s swathe of vacant properties into homes. This episode takes an inside look at the housing crisis from the point of view of people facing the hard edge of the issue in different ways. As polls ahead of the election on February 8th indicate Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s chance at a second term may be slipping away as support ebbs towards Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil, Naomi puts the appeal of promises to build social housing in context.
This is an episode of Halfpints, the bonus episodes of The Irish Passport podcast we make specially to thank our supporters on Patreon. You can find a whole archive of extra content over at https://www.patreon.com/theirishpassport.
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook: @PassportIrish.
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Oct 6, 2020
Six points that explain Ireland's 2020 election
Ireland goes to the polls on February 8th. We break down six points that explain the election. Who are the players? Why was the election called? What are the main issues? How will the election work? What are the likely results? And what do the Black and Tans have to do with it?
This is an episode of Halfpints, the bonus episodes of The Irish Passport podcast we make specially to thank our supporters on Patreon. You can find a whole archive of extra content over at https://www.patreon.com/theirishpassport.
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook: @PassportIrish.
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Jan 22, 2020
Direct Provision
In this season finale, The Irish Passport takes on one of Ireland’s most controversial issues: Direct Provision. The system for housing people who apply for refugee status in Ireland turns 20 this year. We speak to Bulelani Mfaco, who fled persecution of gay and LGBT+ people in South Africa to Ireland in 2017, and now campaigns for the rights of those seeking asylum. We visit the Direct Provision centre he lives in to take a look at life on the inside, and find out why Mfaco describes the system as deliberate marginalisation of migrants and akin to racial segregation. Irish Times journalist Sorcha Pollak explains how the system came to be, and discusses the evidence that the system was deliberately designed to be unpleasant. In the wake of a series of arson attacks on planned Direct Provision centres, Pollak’s reporting has revealed that a small group of far-right activists are hijacking community meetings all around Ireland in an attempt to exploit unhappiness about Direct Provisi…
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Jan 22, 2020
Home for Christmas
Every year, thousands of returning emigrants make their way through the sliding doors of Dublin airport arrivals to come home to Ireland for Christmas. Tim and Naomi record from the scene to bring you the stories of those who have travelled from far and wide and come back home to celebrate the holiday with their loved ones. We share funny stories, sad stories, moving stories, and discuss family quirks and pre-Christian traditions that make up the Irish Christmas experience.
For bonus episodes, support us on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/theirishpassport.
Featuring editing by Alan Meaney http://alanmeaney.ie/ .
Season 3 of The Irish Passport podcast is made with the kind support of Biddy Murphy, online sellers of genuine Irish goods. Check them out on www.biddymurphy.com.
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook: @PassportIrish.
Featuring the track “wound” by Jahzzar.
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Jan 22, 2020
UK Election What Next for Ireland
The UK has voted for a Boris Brexit, and the future of the union has never seemed so fragile. What does the biggest Conservative majority in a generation mean for Ireland north and south? Naomi and Tim dissect the election results, discuss how a number of upsets from the Democratic Unionist Party indicate the party seriously miscalculated on Brexit, and bring you fresh analysis from the election frontlines. Unionist political commentator Sarah Creighton tells us how Northern Ireland is reacting to the results and what it means for loyalism. Chatham House analyst Pepijn Bergsen tells us how the remaining members of the European Union are reacting. MEP and First Vice President of the European Parliament Mairead McGuinness tells us why Brexit is far from over and what lies ahead in the next phase of the negotiations.
For bonus episodes, support us on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/theirishpassport.
Featuring editing by Alan Meaney http://alanmeaney.ie/ .
Season 3 of The Irish Passport…
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Jan 22, 2020
Ireland's history of incarcerating women: interview with Caelainn Hogan
During the 20th century, a significant proportion of the Irish population was incarcerated in a network of institutions. These ranged from Magdalene laundries where ‘troublesome’ women were put into servitude, to industrial schools for children that were famed for their cruelty. Journalist Caelainn Hogan is the author of Republic of Shame: Stories from Ireland’s Institutions for ‘Fallen Women’. In this interview, Hogan explains how this dark side of Irish society is a much more recent phenomenon than commonly thought. She tells the story of one Mother and Baby home that was only founded in the 1980s, and closed in 2006. Born to unmarried parents herself, Hogan explains how her own family history gave what she discovered additional poignancy as she tells the story of women still searching for their lost children, and adopted people struggling to uncover their origins.
This is an episode of Halfpints, the bonus series we make to thank our supporters on Patreon. To gain access…
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Jan 22, 2020
Secret Dublin live show with Tara Flynn, Tonie Walsh, and Terry Fagan
Live from Dublin, the Irish Passport brings you the hidden history of the Irish capital. Comedian and author Tara Flynn discusses her favourite Dublin secrets. Tonie Walsh describes gay life in the city before the decriminalisation of homosexuality, and the furious anger at violence against gay people that fuelled the earliest Pride marches. Terry Fagan of the North Inner City Folklore Project recounts some of his favourite Dublin tales and takes us inside the lost red light district of The Monto.
This live show was held at the Button Factory as part of the Dublin Podcast Festival. It was a double bill with our friends over at the Motherfoclóir podcast. You can hear their show and our crossover Q&A session here.
Many thanks to Headstuff, to the brilliant Button Factory production team, and to Darach, Peadar, Gearóidín and Éimear.
Season 3 of The Irish Passport podcast is made with the kind support of Biddy Murphy, online sellers of genuine Irish goods. Check them out on www.bidd…
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Nov 7, 2019
Ireland and Japan
Islands on opposite sides of the world with deep differences, and surprising similarities! Naomi and Tim explore the thriving traditional Irish music scene in Tokyo, reporting from a session in a downtown pub where dozens of Japanese musicians meet to play jigs and reels, many of them speaking in Irish accents. Ireland’s ambassador in Tokyo Paul Kavanagh tells us why Japan is the biggest investor in Ireland in the Asia-Pacific and us why economic relations are set to get stronger. Featuring the voice of Sister Paschal O’Sullivan, the last Irish missionary nun in Japan, who taught generations of the Japanese elite including the current Empress of Japan. We interview her cousin France 24 journalist James Creedon, director of a recent documentary about her life, ‘Thanks to your Noble Shadow’. And how do you translate James Joyce’s Ulysses into Japanese? We hear from Professor Kazuo Oikawa, a teacher of Irish literature and culture to students of Waseda University and author of…
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Nov 7, 2019
Reinventing Ireland Live Show with Clare Bailey David Farrell and Sarah Maria Griffin
A century since a revolutionary Irish government declared the birth of a new nation, we ask how Ireland could be re-invented for the future. We are living in a moment of rapid change. Great geopolitical shifts are destroying old certainties. Climate change is poised to transform our way of life. In Ireland, landmark referendums have been a break with the Ireland of the 20th century and a beacon of democratic innovation. We take the opportunity to re-imagine what Ireland could be, with special guests Clare Bailey, leader of the Green Party Northern Ireland, award-winning science fiction writer Sarah Maria Griffin, and the political scientist who lead Ireland’s Citizens Assembly David Farrell. Unification? Votes at 16? Moving the capital out of Dublin? Banning cars? It’s all up for discussion.
Special thanks to our hosts the Centre Culturel Irlandais in Paris.
For bonus episodes, support us on: https://www.patreon.com/theirishpassport
Tote bags are available to buy on our website:…
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Nov 7, 2019
Returning diaspora, repeat referendums, and loyalists under unification - listener questions episode
The Irish Passport is opening up the floor to listeners in this episode, and taking questions on everything from recent Irish political history, to life as a returned member of the diaspora.
Several people got in touch with practical questions about a United Ireland. Is the republic prepared for the possibility of loyalist violence? And would people born in Northern Ireland still be able to claim British citizenship in a unification scenario? Naomi and Tim delve into the history of countries that broke off from the British empire to ask what we can learn from precedent.
Is it true that the Irish people were told to vote again after rejecting the European Union Nice and Lisbon Treaties? We speak to the Jean Monnet Professor of European Integration John O’Brennan and discover the complex truth of an argument often used in the Brexit debate.
A listener in the United States who is Irish by descent got in touch to say he was considering a move to Ireland, and would like to hear from pe…
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Nov 7, 2019
Where the Brexit Stakes are Highest Part 2
The second installment in two episodes bringing you the voices of those with the most at stake as a disastrous No Deal Brexit threatens the island of Ireland. We speak to Orla Smyth, a businesswoman who has invested everything she had in building Belfast’s thriving Kaffe O coffee chain, only to see the prospect of tariffs, the plummeting pound and delays at the border threatening all she has worked for. A man whose house is a mile from the border tells us what it was like growing up in militarized South Armagh and how the prospect of a return to the past drove him into activism. And border integration expert Caitríona Mullan talks us through life in a cross-border household, the work that has gone into building networks across the dividing line, and how she sees people reverting to old coping mechanisms from the time of conflict to deal with the atmosphere of uncertainty.
Part one of two episodes bringing you the voices of those for whom the Brexit stakes are highest. You can liste…
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Nov 7, 2019
Where the Brexit Stakes are Highest Part 1
With the threat of a cliff edge Brexit posing extremely serious consequences for the island of Ireland and the border, we bring you the voices of people with the most at stake. Featuring a doctor in Derry who is worried about his patients getting their essential medicines, young people in Belfast facing changes to their rights, and people who rely on a peaceful open border in their daily lives. We hear from Irish News security correspondent Allison Morris on why the Brexit uncertainty and talk of a hardened border has emboldened dissident republicans, with an increasing pace of shootings and bombings over recent months. Tim sums up the chaos and shenanigans in Westminster so far, and the government’s predictions of riots and shortages in the case of a No Deal. Naomi describes the view from Belfast’s loyalist Shankill Road, where she went to interview former paramilitaries about their dissatisfaction with the peace, why they hate the so-called “Backstop”, and the real risks of a…
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Aug 7, 2019
S3 Episode 6: Why can’t all Irish citizens vote?
Irish law in an international outlier in its restrictions on where its its citizens can vote. The franchise is limited to those resident inside the boundaries of the 26 counties of the republic, with almost no provision for early, postal or overseas voting. Ahead of a planned referendum to extend the right to vote for president to all Irish citizens, including in Northern Ireland and overseas, Naomi and Tim explore the political implications of the current voting system and weigh the arguments for and against change. We hear the case for reform from Irish people from the north, and from people who travelled back to Ireland in the famous ‘Home to Vote’ movements. This episode features a report from the campaign launch of Votes for Irish Citizens Abroad by contributor Michael Lanigan, as well as the voices of ordinary people in Dublin on their hopes and concerns about the proposal.
Editing by Alan Meaney http://alanmeaney.ie/
For bonus episodes, support us on Patreon https://www.pa…
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Jul 20, 2019
S3 Episode 5: Galway City of the Tribes
Fishermen kings, Spanish galleons, and fearsome pirate marauders – these are just some of the things that make the history of Galway City on the west coast of Ireland so intriguing. Take a tour around the medieval old town with historian Adrian Martyn, and find out all about the infamous ‘Tribes of Galway’ who presided over this western frontier-city for over five centuries. Who were they? Where on earth did they come from? And what’s left of them today?
For bonus episodes, support us on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/theirishpassport.
Season 3 of The Irish Passport podcast is made with the kind support of Biddy Murphy, online sellers of genuine Irish goods. Check them out on www.biddymurphy.com.
If you want to check out more from historian Adrian Martyn and order his book ‘The Tribes of Galway’, you can find his work here: https://adrianmartyn.ie/
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook: @PassportIrish.
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Jul 20, 2019
S3 Episode 4: Poetry and Pain
A Newry woman visits her big brother in Paris. The two share a drink and talk all night. The next morning, he leaves instructions for taking the metro, and disappears. His family never see him again.
The story of Anne Morgan’s 32-year search for her missing brother Seamus is just one told in this episode, the second in a two-part series on the theme of dealing with the past. We speak to Damien McNally of Belfast’s Wave Trauma Centre about how trauma can be passed down from one generation to the next, and the implications of providing front-line care while political deadlock prevents wider societal change. Historian Roy Foster of Oxford University discusses Ireland’s culture of dealing with the past and how it differs from the mood in Britain as Brexit looms. From historical inquiries to ‘Derry Girls’, we explore different routes to closure: through justice, truth-seeking, or creativity. This episode concludes with an exclusive reading by poet Gail McConnell of her poem about…
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Jul 20, 2019
S3 Episode 3: Collusion
A brutal mass shooting shocks the world. In its wake, leaders vow to find those responsible and bring them to justice. But instead, the investigation goes nowhere. Evidence mysteriously goes missing or is destroyed. Suspects are tipped off before they are questioned. Leads are allowed to go cold.
This episode delves into the murky history of collusion in Northern Ireland. We speak to investigative journalist Barry McCaffrey about the damning information he discovered linking the the infamous Loughinisland massacre to the British state’s so-called “Dirty War”. Naomi traces how Brexit has re-politicised Northern Ireland for the British right, and how modest progress in digging up the truth about the path has led to a backlash at the top of Westminster politics.
This is the first of a two-part series on the issue of dealing with the past, dedicated to the memory of murdered journalist Lyra McKee.
Editing by Alan Meaney http://alanmeaney.ie/
For bonus episodes, support us on Patr…
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Jul 20, 2019
S3 Episode 2: Travellers
Who are Irish Travellers? The answer is Ireland’s most hidden history: mistaught or not taught in schools, often invisible or misrepresented in the media, and abused by some for political gain. In this episode, three Irish Travellers explain who they are and what it means to be a Traveller. We hear from John Connors, the actor, screenwriter, and activist, who welcomes us into his home to tell us about his childhood, family history, and what his research has discovered about the origins of his community. Campaigner Eileen Flynn explains her journey in becoming a feminist, and her battles with health, housing and discrimination. Finally, Julia O’Reilly tells us how she overcame challenges in education, and how her conviction that things must be better for the next generation has led her to seek change by running for political office.
For bonus episodes, support us on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/theirishpassport.
Season 3 of The Irish Passport podcast is made with the kind suppo…
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Jul 20, 2019
S3 Episode 1: Women in Politics
In this first episode of Season 3, we explore the fascinating story of Irish women in politics from 1916 to the present day. We ask why women – integral to the foundation of the state – almost disappeared from the country’s political landscape until relatively recently, and why 2019 could represent a new era of revolutionary change. Historians Mary McAuliffe and Emma O’Toole explain why radical feminist politics was so central to the Irish Revolution, while journalist Martina Fitzgerald outlines the challenges faced by female politicians during the 20th century. Naomi speaks to Hazel Chu, who is vying to become the country’s first Irish-Chinese political representative, and Union of Student of Ireland representative Aisling Cusack tells us why things are changing, and changing fast …
For bonus episodes, support us on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/theirishpassport.
Season 3 of The Irish Passport podcast is made with the kind support of Biddy Murphy, online sellers of ge…
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Jan 27, 2019
S2 Episode 13: Nationalism
It’s the Season 2 finale of The Irish Passport podcast, and this one is a blockbuster. Naomi interviews Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald about her concept of progressive Irish nationalism, and she believes its anti-colonial roots makes it fundamentally different to the nationalisms of continental Europe. Tim speaks to leading historians Richard English and Aidan Beatty to trace how Irish nationalism developed in the wake of the French revolution, and its complex relationship with questions of race and gender. Featuring a report on one of the island of Ireland’s newer identities: Northern Irish, as reporter Michael Lanigan captures the tensions of history hanging over a Republic of Ireland versus Northern Ireland soccer match.
This episode is sponsored by Tigh Neachtain pub in Galway. This sponsorship allowed us to hire an audio editor for this episode: thank you very much to Alan Meaney.
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Jan 27, 2019
S2 Episode 12: The Mysterious Eviction
Strange things are happening in Co. Roscommon, where a controversial eviction has set the internet on fire. Who were the unidentified men who ejected an elderly family from their farm house last week? Why do ex-British soldiers appear to be involved? And where do the rumours stop and facts begin? Naomi and Tim uncover the dramatic story of this eviction and its deep historical resonances in the Irish cultural consciousness. They trace out the facts of what exactly happened in the townland of Falsk, how it inspired a vicious vigilante counter-attack that has gripped national headlines – and why you should pay very close attention to what happens next. This episode includes exclusive unreported revelations about security guards from Northern Ireland who carried out the eviction. Trust us, you’re going to want to listen to this one.
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Dec 7, 2018
Halfpints: Brexit Chaos
Brexit chaos has turned British politics upside down for the last few weeks. What’s actually going on and should you care? Naomi and Tim lay out what are the UK’s realistic options, what the various factions actually want, and how it all relates to the biggest Brexit roadblock of all: the Irish border. As the clock ticks down to Brexit day on the 29th of March, this is the summary you need to understand Brexit and its consequences for the island of Ireland.
This is a free edition of Halfpints, the extra series we make to thank our Patreon supporters. You can support the making of The Irish Passport podcast on www.patreon.com/theirishpassport, and get full access to our full archive of extra Halfpints episodes there.
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Dec 7, 2018
S2 Episode 11 Irish Politics And The Civil War
Ireland’s main political parties are not split on a traditional left-right model, but instead represent different sides of a bloody civil war in the 1920s. But why is this war spoken about so little today? Could it be that its memory is too painful? Or is it because it still so strangely dominant in modern Irish politics? In this episode, Tim traces the history of Ireland’s Civil War from 1922-23, and how it shaped the country’s political landscape. Meanwhile, Naomi pays a visits the Irish Senate in Dublin, where she meets two politicians who have been deeply influenced by Civil War politics, albeit in very different ways. One is Senator Mark Daly, a descendant from anti-treaty rebels still questing for a 32-county Ireland, and the other is Senator Ian Marshall, the first northern unionist ever to be elected to the Irish Seanad.
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Nov 12, 2018
Halfpints: Why the poppy divides Ireland
hundred years since the end of the First World War, the remembrance poppy remains a controversial symbol in Ireland. Why? Writer Kylie Noble explains what the poppy meant to her as a child growing up in Fermanagh in Northern Ireland, and how she reconciles it with her British and Irish identity today. Naomi traces the roots of Ireland's complex relationship with the poppy and how it intersects with her own family history, and interrogates what the fundraising appeal is for according to the accounts of the Royal British Legion. Should Taoiseach Leo Varadkar be wearing a shamrock poppy? You decide.
Featuring Cello Duet No. 1 by Chief Boima
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Oct 20, 2018
Halfpints: Ireland elects a president
Ireland votes for president on Friday October 26. Naomi and Tim break down the drama of the campaign. Featuring dragons, horses, and car-crash interviews (literally). We hit the campaign trail on the streets of Dublin, ask Sinn Féin candidate Liadh Ní Riada why she's running when she probably won't win, and tell the backstory to why Ireland has this peculiar position at all. This is a free sample of a new Halfpint, the bonus content we make for our Patreon supporters. To hear the whole episode, head over to The Irish Passport Patreon page to become a patron.
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Oct 1, 2018
S2 Episode 10: The Housing Crisis
Ireland's housing crisis is at boiling point, with homelessness at record levels and even well-paid people struggling to afford soaring rents and house prices. It's the political issue everyone is talking about -- but it's one with a long and dramatic history. Tim traces the backstory to how an agrarian revolt turned Ireland into a kind of property-based welfare state. We visit an 'occupation training' session by Take Back the City, the activists who are grabbing headlines by seizing empty buildings in Dublin and demanding they be turned into social housing. How did Ireland go from the excesses of the Celtic Tiger property boom, to bust and back again? Hear the whole story in this episode.
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Sep 11, 2018
S2 Episode 9: The Glorious Twelfth
Tim and Naomi travel to Belfast for the peak of Northern Ireland's marching season: the 11th and 12th of July, when unionists and British-identifying communities light enormous bonfires and parade through the streets to commemorate Protestant military victories of the 17th century. We speak to experts who explain the meaning of the tradition, and visit loyalist and republican communities in Belfast to understand what this time of year is like for them. We find many sides to the Glorious Twelfth: it can be a beloved community event, but it's intimidating enough that it drives most Catholics off the streets of Belfast. Naomi and Tim come face to face with the darker side, as they find themselves caught up in the thick of open sectarian celebrations.
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Sep 3, 2018
Halfpints: Pope Francis In Ireland
Pope Francis visits Ireland in the wake of the abortion referendum, as Church infighting over the legacy of abuse in Catholic institutions threatens to derail the trip. We hear from people who protested the papal visit, and feature a special guest who decided he wanted to hear what the pope had to say for himself. Naomi and Tim discuss what the low turnout tells us about how the country has changed, and whether the visit closes a chapter in modern Irish history.
This is a Halfpint episode, the extra content created to thank our Patreon supporters. Due to strong demand for an episode about the pope's visit, we've released this Halfpint to all listeners. You can listen to our full archive of Halfpints by signing up as a supporter on our Patreon page.
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Jul 26, 2018
S2 Episode 8: Derry: “Ireland’s Jerusalem”
Derry: ground zero for the outbreak of conflict in Northern Ireland. Is it once again being threatened with instability as Brexit causes deep uncertainty over the border? Naomi and Tim travel north just as unrest breaks out in the ancient city as Protestants and unionists prepare to mark the 12th of July: a yearly celebration of their culture. We chat to a man who lost his father in Bloody Sunday, speak to children building a bonfire about why they burn the Irish flag, and sketch out why this city of so much promise has been held back by decades of discrimination.
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Jul 7, 2018
S2 Episode 7: Brexit Update 2018
The British government has locked itself in a country mansion to debate Brexit, like a demented Agatha Christie novel. In Brussels, Irish and European leaders grimly start planning for a cliff-edge, no-deal outcome. What’s going on and what does it all mean? Naomi and Tim untangle the latest developments and discuss the implications for Ireland and the border. We speak to UK opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn about his Brexit border stance and his plans for Northern Ireland if he became prime minister. Meanwhile, Irishmen at the heart of Brussels Dara Murphy and Commissioner Phil Hogan explain the challenges of the negotiation and why Europe is preparing itself for the worst.
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Jul 3, 2018
Halfpints: Ireland And Scotland
Why are there two Scottish football clubs, one whose supporters wave the Irish tricolour, the other the Union Jack? The rivalry between Celtic and Rangers is just one aspect of a fascinating cultural interchange between Ireland and Scotland that goes back thousands of years. Naomi explores these ancient links and how they are still playing out in modern politics in this discussion with Professor Graham Walker, an expert on politics, sectarianism, culture and identity in Scotland and Northern Ireland at Queen’s University Belfast. We talk about how the bombshell of Brexit is alienating Scottish voters, and whether the quest for Scottish independence is making waves across the Irish sea.
This is a ‘Halfpint’ episode, a special series we create in addition to the main podcast to thank our wonderful Patreon supporters. You can get access to many more Halfpint episodes if you sign up to support us at www.patreon.com/theirishpassport.
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Jun 20, 2018
S2 Episode 6 The Gaelic Games
he most popular sports in Ireland are the Gaelic games: uniquely Irish sports with an ancient history and a dramatic political backstory that are finding increasing international success. Tim visits the Paris Gaels to hear why players who have never set foot in Ireland have taken to Gaelic football, while Naomi explores the importance of the intensely local amateur sports to communities in Ireland. We hear from sports historian Paul Rouse of University College Dublin on how the foundation of the Gaelic Athletic Association in 1884 was deeply linked to the nationalist politics of the time. From Bronze Age myths about hurling matches between ancient tribes, to a devastating massacre in Croke Park stadium in 1920, we hear why modern Ireland can't be understood without getting GAA.
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May 28, 2018
S2 Episode 5 After The Eighth Ireland Repeals Abortion Ban
Ireland has voted by a landslide to end its near-total abortion ban. We hear the voices of victorious campaigners in Dublin Castle in the moments when the result was announced. Naomi and Tim discuss the historic moment in a Dublin pub. We ask what this means for Ireland, what it means for the world, and whether Northern Ireland is next.
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May 22, 2018
Halfpints 3: Northern Ireland’s stake in the abortion referendum
Northern Ireland is watching the abortion referendum in the Republic of Ireland carefully. It's already forcing political parties in the north to debate their abortion policies, and the vote's outcome will have immediate repercussions in Belfast. Naomi speaks to David McCann, deputy editor of political commentary site Slugger O'Toole about why social issues are in sync north and south. We hear how young abortion rights activists are organising coaches to cross the border and campaign in the republic's referendum. Naomi traces how the two jurisdictions ended up with similarly strict abortion bans, for very different reasons.
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Apr 20, 2018
S2 Episode 3: 1916 And The Invention Of Ireland
The rebellion of a raggedy band of teachers, nurses and poets sent shock waves around the world and changed Ireland forever. But why does the Easter Rising of 1916 still cause controversy? Naomi and Tim introduce the countess, the grocer’s daughter, the carpenter and the ex-cobbler who all picked up guns on the morning of April 24 1916 and marched out to declare an independent Irish republic. Leading historians give their analysis of how the concept of Ireland was forged, and how the centenary celebrations in 2016 changed how the Easter Rising is remembered. This episode analyses how 1916 remains an intoxicating idea in Irish politics, and explores the cultural movement that created an ‘idea’ of Ireland so powerful, it was to die for.
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Mar 16, 2018
Season 2 Episode 2 St Patrick's Day Special
A bonus special episode in honour of our national day! We discuss the annual pilgrimage of Irish politicians to the White House that inevitably results in scandal. Tim tells us the surprising origins of the St. Patrick's Day festival and the murky history of the leprechaun mascot. Naomi investigates the global empire behind the viral spread of Irish Pubs from Hong Kong to Panama, but discovers how a friendly Irish bar can be a real asset for immigrants far from home.
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Mar 9, 2018
Season 2 Episode 1 A United Ireland
A United Ireland: the idea has been a political force in Irish and British politics for centuries, and it has been given fresh momentum by Brexit. Tim explains how the concept long pre-dates the partition of the island and was once championed by Protestant elites. Naomi visits a public meeting about unification in central Dublin, and asks why it matters to people -- and when they expect it to happen. We hear from expert Katy Hayward on the potential options for Northern Ireland after Brexit, and why she believes talk of a United Ireland should be avoided altogether.
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Dec 13, 2017
Episode 13 The Invisible War
It's the grand finale to the first season! Tim and Naomi examine how a standoff over the Irish border in the Brexit negotiations brought ignorance about Ireland among politicians and media to the surface. We review the biggest embarrassing moments on air from the past few weeks, quiz ordinary English people about what they know about Ireland, and give a quick and dirty roundup of the history you need to know to understand today's news. Tim hears from a group of Northern Irish podcasters about what it's like to be from the forgotten province, and Naomi meets the Irishman who worked in Downing Street in the thick of the Brexit campaign and tried in vain to warn his colleagues of the border problems that were coming. We speak to finance professor Brian Lucey about the myths about Ireland that Brexit has brought to the surface, and hear an audio essay by Gordon Guthrie about Britain's 'great forgetting'.
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Nov 15, 2017
Episode 12 Away With The Fairies
Just below the surface of modern Ireland, a parallel world exists with its roots in pre-Christian belief. Irish fairies aren't like Tinkerbell - they're more like a supernatural mafia. So be careful what you say, because as the story goes, they're probably listening. Tim talks to one of Ireland's last seanchaí or story-teller historians, who once managed to get a highway diverted to prevent the felling of a fairy bush. We also hear about modern traditions from the streets of Galway as the Celtic New Year Samhain festival is underway. Meanwhile, Naomi discovers that fairies can even make an appearance in modern politics, thanks to Ireland's unique clan of rural populists, the Healy Rae political dynasty of County Kerry.
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Oct 25, 2017
Episode 11 Abortion
Ireland has one of the strictest abortion laws in Europe. Banned unless the woman's life is in serious danger, it carries a 14-year prison sentence. Rumblings of change are beginning, but some a campaign could open up ugly political fault lines. Why is Ireland like this? Tim and Naomi explore the strange and surprising backstory to Ireland's constitutional abortion ban. Tim hears from a journalist who snuck contraband condoms into 1970s Dublin. We hear from Ireland's 31-year-old health minister on what change he wants to see, while Naomi meets a 17 year-old student who has swapped her textbooks for a megaphone in the pro-choice campaign. Just don't let her Catholic school find out...
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Sep 28, 2017
Episode 10 The Irish Slaves Myth
Have you heard that the Irish were slaves? If so, you may have been targeted with political propaganda from the American far right. Naomi speaks to actress and writer Azie Dungey about how Irish history is being abused for a political agenda in the United States, while Tim asks two experts in the topic about the truth behind the internet myth. We hear from American journalist Traci White who set out to investigate why the meme was appearing on her Facebook page, while Irish Senator Aodháin Ó Ríordáin tells us what the Trump administration needs to know about Irish-American history.
Featuring: ‘When the Wick is Gone’ by the Pangolins
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Sep 6, 2017
Episode 9: The Great Hunger
Ireland's great famine was the worst peacetime disaster in 19th century Europe. It shaped both Ireland and the world. And it remains such a political bombshell that people still can't agree on what to call it. We explore the hidden history of the mass starvation, from its little-known role in the origins of modern journalism to its surprising link to a Native American tribe. Tim discovers a piece of 1840s Ireland in the middle of Manhattan, while Naomi asks what lessons should be applied to current events today.
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Aug 16, 2017
Episode 8: The Brexit Irish
Applications for Irish passports surged in the last year, largely from people in Britain and Northern Ireland. Who are the new 'Brexit Irish'? We meet them in this new episode and hear their motivations for claiming their Irish identity. We also speak to the Irish ambassador who found himself in the eye of the storm as applications soared. Tim hits the streets of Galway to investigate what ordinary Irish citizens think of the newcomers -- and is taken aback by what he hears. Discover why Ireland has such a large diaspora in the first place, and the key role they played in the foundation of the state.
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Jul 26, 2017
Episode 7: Ireland and Europe
Ireland and Europe: what is Ireland's future in the EU now that its neighbour the United Kingdom is leaving? Is the so-called Irexit at all realistic? We explore Ireland's relationship with the continent now and in the future and unpick why Ireland differs so much from Britain in its history as part of Europe. We speak to Ireland's most, and perhaps only, well-known eurosceptic Ray Bassett, as well as Ireland's Minister for European Affairs and the ordinary people of Dublin to understand Ireland and Europe at this crucial moment in history.
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Jul 12, 2017
Episode 6: Elites
Who are Ireland's elites? That question was once easily answered, but not since independence upended the entire social order! In this episode, Naomi visits a castle in Dublin that has been the home of one family for 35 generations -- and finds the current heir still feels he's not accepted as one of Ireland's own. Tim investigates how his own ancestors went from being aristocrats' servants to rebels in one generation. Or perhaps they were rebels all along? We speak to an expert who says Ireland today is in denial about having elites, when they are hiding in plain sight. Find out who they are in our chat with elitism expert Dr. Ciaran O’Neill.
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Jun 28, 2017
Episode 5: The Catholic Church
For decades, Ireland was synonymous with Catholic state control - but the last 30 years have seen a new cultural climate take hold in the country, and a furious backlash has broken out against the legacies of the Church's institutional stranglehold. We'll be looking at how the Church became so powerful in the Irish Republic in the first place, and the reasons behind its dramatic fall from grace in recent times. We'll be talking to the formidable local historian Catherine Corless, who exposed institutional abuse and cover-ups on a massive scale in 2014, and we'll also interview journalists and doctors at the National Maternity Hospital in Dublin, which inspired public outrage when the state almost gave it over to an order of nuns with a very questionable past.
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Jun 21, 2017
Episode 4: The Knowledge Gap
Why is there a knowledge gap about Ireland in the UK? As journalists scrambled to put together basic facts about Northern Ireland in the wake of the 2017 UK election, the country's blind spot about one of its own constituent nations became painfully evident. The Brexit debate further highlighted that many were unaware of the sovereign independence of the UK's closest neighbour, the Irish Republic. We talk to journalists and authors about the phenomenon, while Naomi digs up some rather worrying evidence from a contemporary UK school history book.
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Jun 14, 2017
Episode 3: The Irish Language
Irish: a rare and ancient language that is spoken from the streets of Canada to the corridors of power in the European Union. This episode delves into why the language is such a powerful national symbol for Ireland, its fraught history, and how it's still a point of political strife today.
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Jun 9, 2017
Episode 2: UK Election Special - What Is The DUP
The dramatic UK election result has suddenly made Northern Irish politics more pressing than ever. Are you trying to figure out what the DUP is anyway and what all this means for Brexit? We answer all these questions and more in this special UK election edition of The Irish Passport. It includes a report from a loyalist pipe band event where we asked marchers what they thought of Brexit, and got some surprising answers....
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Jun 8, 2017
Episode 1: The Border
What will happen to the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland after Brexit? We discuss how Britain has ignored this problem, and speak to ordinary people on the border about their lives and their fears about any hardening of the border. Naomi reports from the border on how Brexit could affect a family of farmers and a man who has to cross the border four times in 10 minutes to get to his nearest town. We hear how talk of a united Ireland is on the rise, and a Sinn Fein councillor who is missing a few fingers from his struggles against a hard border in the past tells us a return to violence "depends on what conditions are created". Tim lays out how the border came to be in the first place, from the plantations, through religious wars, rebellions, and the war of independence that led to the emergence of the modern Irish state. What is Ireland anyway? This episode gets the facts straight.
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