The Irish Passport

Bridget: Saint, Goddess, Myth

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 11:50:05 +0000

This month marks the official start of spring in Ireland and to mark it Naomi and Tim discuss the figure of Bridget, Brigid or Bríd. A goddess in Gaelic times who became Christianised into Saint Bridget, the stories about this figure reveal fascinating details about the society that produced them.

A bonus Halfpint debrief episode is available here for Patreon supporters: www.patreon.com/posts/halfpint-debrief-151451289

Here are links to some podcasts we mentioned in the episode that have delived into Bridget and her legacy in Ireland:

The Irish History Podcast: open.spotify.com/episode/7frXuuvc…bERYSyD5yP-crldw

Talking History: open.spotify.com/episode/7LY4tBxJ…l0SuqBjCppl0miww

The checkout workers who boycotted apartheid South Africa and other stories

Sun, 14 Dec 2025 21:19:43 +0000

In this listener questions episode, Naomi and Tim take questions from listeners on everything from Gaelic Ulster, to nomadic patterns of land use, and the quirks of Ireland's postal system.

We discuss the long tail of an old law that forced women to quit their jobs as soon as they married. Tim tells the story of the supermarket workers who refused to handle goods from apartheid South Africa, and how they are still remembered today.

Listener questions episodes are made to answer the queries and suggestions of Patreon supporters who back us at the €5 level or above. We will release this one publicly in the coming days to let non-subscribers know about what they're missing.

Patreon has introduced gift memberships for the first time this year. So if you know someone who would love access to 100+ bonus episodes of the Irish Passport, you know what to do! A guide to how to get a gift membership is here: https://support.patreon.com/hc/en-us/articles/31344987943949-How-to-gift-memberships-to-other-fans

Thanks so much to all of you and a big shout out to those listeners who sent in their questions. We'll do another listener questions episode soon!

The Real History of Guinness

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 01:00:50 +0000

The famous 'pint of plain' has become one of the most recognisable commercial brands in the world, and is inextricably linked to the Irish pub. In light of a new Netflix series on the Guinness family, this episode dives into the real history of the 'Black stuff', and explores how the brand founded at St. James' Gate in 1759 has reinvented itself time and time again through the miracle of marketing.

Who will be Ireland’s New President?

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 18:00:00 +0000

Naomi and Tim take a look at the candidates who have put themselves forward for the highest office in the land and consider what the Irish presidency means in the 21st century. We look at the odd nature of presidential office in Ireland, how the role has changed significantly over recent mandates, and why that could potentially lead to a constitutional crisis in the future.

Bonus episodes are available for supporters over on www.patreon.com/theirishpassport

Rebel music: Kneecap and Gaza

Sun, 06 Jul 2025 18:20:36 +0000

An Irish language rap group has, improbably enough, become the focus of global media attention and political debate. Why? For describing Israel's actions in Gaza as a genocide and accusing the United States of complicity before an approving crowd at the music festival Coachella. In this episode, Naomi and Tim explain the origins of Kneecap in the movement for Irish language rights, the controversies about the band as its fame grew to ever greater heights, and why it now appears to be becoming a test case for the freedom of cultural figures to speak out about Palestine.

A new bonus episode in which Naomi and Tim take questions from listeners about the Irish language and generational trauma is available on patreon.com/theirishpassport.

You can also listen to our 2020 Halfpint about Kneecap and the politicisation of the Irish language here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/34241066

Conquest Pt 7: The Curse of Cromwell

Sun, 01 Jun 2025 02:00:00 +0000

In the grand finale of our Conquest series, Naomi and Tim dig into one of the most notorious episodes of Irish history, starring none other than Oliver Cromwell. We explore his rise to power as a major player in the puritan faction of England's civil war, and how he came to view the task of "pacifying" Ireland both as a way to solidify his support, and as a kind of holy war. Cromwell's actions in Ireland were genocidal. Nevertheless, we discuss how his actions in Ireland continue to be played down among historians in Britain to this day.

Naomi and Tim discuss more, including the uncomfortable resonances to current day news, in a bonus debrief episode over on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/posts/halfpint-debrief-130363450

Micheál Ó Siochrú's authorative work on Cromwell, 'God's Executioner', is available here: https://www.faber.co.uk/product/9780571218462-gods-executioner/?srsltid=AfmBOoqKEZw77QejfJJh-6OoFsKDvgeO55jZSaEZMvc665fFaNgx2SPE

Investigating a ruthless rental empire

Sun, 04 May 2025 22:32:38 +0000

Naomi spent months investigating a rogue landlord who built up an empire of rental properties in Ireland backed by family wealth in Luxembourg. In this episode, we tell the story of Marc Godart: his back story, the controversial evictions that brought him to prominence, and the unusual ways he runs his businesses. This is based on reporting by Naomi and her colleagues at the Irish Times that was recently awarded the Mary Raftery Prize for social affairs journalism.

The winning story is here: https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2024/01/13/under-the-eye-of-landlord-marc-godart-how-a-tenant-who-objected-to-cctv-surveillance-was-evicted/

https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2023/04/15/the-luxembourg-family-behind-an-irish-property-empire

Bonus episodes are available for supporters over on www.patreon.com/theirishpassport

Trump’s Tempestuous Tariffs: Ireland and the EU React

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 18:21:35 +0000

In the last 24 hours the global economic order may have transformed forever, as Donald Trump declares crushing tariffs for countries all over the world, not least the European Union. In this hot-off-the-press episode, Naomi explains what this might mean for Ireland and the EU, how the figures add up (or how they don't) and why the reasoning behind these new tariffs has experts all over the world scratching their heads ...

Conquest Pt 6: The Lost World of Gaelic Ireland

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 08:54:25 +0000

A very different cultural and political model dominated Irish society prior to the British conquest: Gaelic Ireland. This was a system that prevailed for thousands of years, right back into prehistory, protected by Ireland's geographic isolation. What norms did this society have? What laws, what economic system, in what buildings did people live? Naomi and Tim paint a picture of life in Ireland before the British conquest, in the lost world of Gaelic Ireland.

Naomi and Tim continue the discussion and delve into the enduring Gaelic dating practices around Irish horse fairs in a bonus episode now available for Patreon supporters! https://www.patreon.com/posts/halfpint-debrief-123678971

Deporting the Irish

Sun, 02 Feb 2025 23:08:29 +0000

Did you know that the United States' border policy and power to deport people was invented to get rid of famine-era immigrants from Ireland? It's a little-known chapter of history that challenges many current day stereotypes in anti-immigrant discourse. Naomi and Tim break it down in this new episode, featuring historian Hidetaka Hirota, whose book on the subject upended much of what was previously thought about the origins of US immigration policy. A surging nativist movement determined to root out the undocumented and deport immigrants deemed to be 'undesirable': it is a timely subject for the present day. We discuss how talk of raids and mass deportations by the new administration of Donald Trump is sparking fears among the thousands of undocumented Irish people living in the US.

Naomi and Tim dig deeper into this history in a bonus debrief episode available for supporters over on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/halfpint-debrief-121365055

"There is a hidden, unspoken assumption that European immigrants were always legal... I always argue that that is a really wrong association in the first place. Undocumented immigration has always involved European immigration." Patreon supporters can listen to the full interview with Hidetaka Hirota here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/deporting-poor-121367468

Chaos, a new government, and the Healy Raes

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Why did chaos disrupt the formation of a new Irish government? What has the government promised to do, and who's in it? We break it down in this new episode. We also a look back on some of our prior reporting on the Healy Raes: rural political dynasty from County Kerry who have chosen to go into government for the first time - with Michael Healy Rae even set for a ministerial position. What will this mean for them? We discuss the stakes.

For bonus episodes and early access, sign up to support the podcast over on patreon.com/theirishpassport

Classic Irish Passport: Santa Granted Access to Irish Airspace

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 08:00:00 +0000

Nollaig shona daoibh go léir! During this festive season please enjoy this short holiday episode which we originally recorded last year.

Every year the Irish government and national media lend their full attention to the arrival of Santa Claus on the island of Ireland, and discuss the various logistics of his visit to every child in the country. In this mini bonus episode, we bring you this most important news story of the year, and explain how, for a few days every December, Santa dominates the parliamentary agenda of Dáil Éireann.

Election Breakdown 2024: More of the Same, Please

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 12:56:09 +0000

Ireland went to the polls last week for the 2024 general election, and the results are beginning to build a picture of what the next government could look like. We break down what the vote means in this moment of international instability, and how the results compare to the previous election of 2020.

Many thanks to everyone who sent in questions for this episode.

You can find over 100 extra-content episodes, and support the continued making of the podcast, over on our Patreon page, at www.patreon.com/theirishpassport. A quick reminder that you can now gift Patreon subscriptions - a handy option for holiday presents this year! You can find out more here.

Conquest Pt 5: Daughter of the Antichrist

Tue, 19 Nov 2024 06:00:00 +0000

By the early 17th century England had finally gained political control over the island of Ireland, but within a few years the whole colonial project had once again collapsed into chaos and bloodshed. In this new edition of our Conquest mini-series, we examine the events leading up to the bloody rebellion of 1641, and explain how Ireland's colonial dynamics became central to the civil was that was breaking out in England. Warning, some of the primary sources quoted in this episode are extremely violent; listener discretion is advised.

We dig more into this topic in a bonus Halfpint debrief episode, now available for supporters at www.patreon.com/theirishpassport

Irish Peacekeepers On The Frontline Between Israel And Lebanon

Sat, 19 Oct 2024 07:00:00 +0000

The attention of people around the world has been captured by the presence of Irish soldiers standing in the way of the Israel Defence Forces as they launch an invasion of Lebanon in a bid to defeat militant group Hezbollah. In an area where Irish troops have been stationed so long that some locals have picked up Irish accents, personal ties go deep. The chief of staff of Ireland's defence forces has said Irish troops will "stay strong" in the face of Israeli orders to leave their positions following a spate of attacks on UN outposts. How did the peace force come to be there, and what comes next? Naomi and Tim speak to reporters on the ground and sum up how the conflict reached its present point, and Ireland's unique role in the region. We hear from Sally Hayden about her reporting on the ongoing bombing of Beirut, while Hannah McCarthy explains what the Irish peacekeepers have been facing, and what may lie behind Israel's tactics.

For bonus episodes and to support the podcast, join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theirishpassport

Trump versus the snail

Mon, 16 Sep 2024 17:58:24 +0000

On Ireland's west coast, far from the noise and fury of US partisan politics, presidential contender Donald Trump has been bested by a fearsome foe: a tiny snail no larger than a pin prick.

Naomi and Tim dig into the curious links between the Republican candidate and this windswept corner of Ireland, most notably the village of Doonbeg, where the development of a Trump golf course transformed local fortunes.

We speak to journalist Kate Demolder about her experience reporting in the town and the local tensions she discovered between economic dependence on Trump, and deep reservations about his politics.

Finally, Naomi and Tim consider what's at stake for Ireland in the coming US election and whether the relationship between Trump and Doonbeg is a microcosm of Ireland's policy towards the US.

Naomi recalls her experience reporting on Trump in Scotland in 2016 and the red flags that were evident then in our bonus debrief episode over on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/112180566/

Classic Passport Irish: The Gaelic Games

Thu, 15 Aug 2024 06:00:00 +0000

We're on holiday! So please enjoy this classic episode of the podcast first recorded back in 2018. We'll be back soon with all new episodes and Halfpint extra content.

The 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 the GAA. For bonus episodes, support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/theirishpassport.

Conquest Pt 4: The Ulster Plantation

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 06:00:00 +0000

In the fourth episode of our Conquest miniseries, we take on of the most defining moments in the history of Ireland: the mass-plantation of Ulster. We'll see how the arrival of thousands of colonial settlers in this erstwhile Gaelic stronghold transformed the geopolitical dynamics of Ireland, Scotland, and England alike. We'll look at how the Ulster project and the settlement of Virginia took inspiration from one another; we'll explain why the redistribution of land in Ireland became so important to the emerging concept of "Britain", and we'll find out why local Gaelic populations were never fully "replaced".

The texts from the Ulster Plantation Papers can be found here.

Patreon supporters enjoy early access to this episode and also have access to an exclusive after-show debrief where we delve into our topic in more detail. If you would like to support the continued making of the podcast and gain access to over 100 exclusive "halfpint" episodes along the way, you can sign up to be a Patreon supporter at www.patreon.com/theirishpassport

Halfpints: What the EU election results tell us about Ireland

Sun, 16 Jun 2024 19:21:01 +0000

We have made this halfpint bonus episode freely available to all our listeners. If you want to access more than 100 extra-content episodes just like this, you can sign up to support the continued making of the podcast at www.patreon.com/theirishpassport.

In this edition of halfpints, we answer questions about the recent EU and local elections in Ireland, and break down what the major consequences might be for the Irish and European political landscape.

Uppity Catholics

Thu, 06 Jun 2024 06:00:00 +0000

In February 2024, Michelle O'Neill assumed the position of first minister of Northern Ireland, making her the first person of an Irish-identifying, Catholic background to hold this most high-profile post in the devolved government. And yet, the difficulty O'Neill faced when trying to take her seat at Stormont highlighted the fact that, for a minority in the territory, Catholic nationalist are not seen as having a legitimate role in Northern Ireland's society. In this episode we look at the phenomenon of "uppity" Catholics - people who have been perceived to rise too far above their station, and who have thereby become targets for abuse and even violence. We speak to Pr Colin Harvey from the Human Rights Centre at Queens University Belfast about becoming a political target in the wake of Brexit, and we hear from Irish Times journalist and Author Martin Doyle about growing up in an aspirational Catholic family during the Troubles whose successes in local business fostered dark resentments in the local community ...

Martin Doyle's award-wining memoir, Dirty Linen, was published by the Irish Academic Press in 2023, and can be purchased here.

Irish Passport Patrons have access to an exclusive extended reading of Martin's essay, “A ghost estate and an empty grave”. If you would like to support the podcast and access over 100 pieces of extra content, you can become a patreon supporter at www.patreon.com/theirishpassport.

This episode featured ‘The Moon Got Tangled in the Branches’ by Aleksey Chistilin

Conquest Pt 3: Rise of the Gaels

Mon, 06 May 2024 06:00:00 +0000

The most expensive, most all-consuming war in Elizabethan England was not waged against France or Spain, but against Ireland. In the third instalment in our Conquest series, we see how the great clan chiefs of Ireland united under the banner of "Arch Traitor" Hugh O'Neill to stage a momentous uprising against the colonial English state. From Gaelic pirate ships sailing up the Thames to fearsome crowns of peacock feathers gifted by vengeful Popes, we follow the dramatic events that led to Ireland's disparate clans combining to form an unprecedented front of resistance - one so seemingly unbreakable that it threatened the financial ruin of England itself.

Special thanks to Gráinne Smyth, who sang "Óró sé do bheatha abhaile" for this episode.

Thank you to our Patrons who keep this podcast running. You can find our Patreon debriefs and 100+ more episodes of extra audio content at www.patreon.com/theirishpassport.

Who is Ireland’s incoming Taoiseach and why did Varadkar resign?

Mon, 01 Apr 2024 08:13:16 +0000

In this political update, Naomi and Tim sum up the background of the incoming new Taoiseach Simon Harris and discuss the sudden resignation of Leo Varadkar and the different factors behind it.

One of them was Ireland's two recent referendums aimed at changing some of the more Catholic-influenced conservative language in the 1937 constitution, which ended in a resounding defeat for the government. What were the proposed changes and why were they rejected by the public?

Finally, we look ahead to the bonanza of elections that are due in the coming year, and how the different parties sit in the polls.

What are your thoughts on the resignation of Leo Varadkar and the incoming Simon Harris? A bonus episode where we take listener questions is coming soon for supporters over on Patreon.

Conquest Pt 2: Scorching The Earth

Sat, 09 Mar 2024 11:00:00 +0000

Part two of our Conquest mini-series explores the violent occupation of Gaelic Ireland by Elizabethan adventurers between 1560 and 1590, heralding an age of terror and genocide that would ultimately lead to a full-scale war between the Gaelic clans of Ireland and the English crown. From the demise of the Old English Lordships to the tentative plantations of Ulster, this episode lays out the very foundations for the colonisation of Ireland.

A bonus debrief episode is available for Patreon supporters over on www.patreon.com/theirishpassport

You'll find a link to the book we mentioned in the show here: www.fourcourtspress.ie/books/2017/nine-years-war/

You can find a link to the London Irish Centre, here: londonirishcentre.org/

Conquest Pt 1: Making Ireland English

Tue, 06 Feb 2024 05:00:00 +0000

In the period from 1534 to 1653 Ireland was profoundly transformed. At the start, it was almost entirely Gaelic, ruled by Gaelic clans with an ancient way of life, and unique legal and political system. A hundred years later, Ireland was unrecognisable. In this first part of our new mini series, Conquest, Tim and Naomi set the scene for the profound transformation of the island of Ireland by colonial invasion.

A bonus episode in which Naomi and Tim discuss the making of this episode and what stood out to them is now available for Patreon supporters here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/after-show-97840308

Breaking: Santa Granted Acess to Irish Air Space

Wed, 20 Dec 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Ireland’s Imposter Aristocrats

Sat, 11 Nov 2023 07:00:00 +0000

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.

Ireland and the Israel-Palestine conflict

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 16:30:04 +0000

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: www.patreon.com/theirishpassport

What does the “Troubles Legacy Bill” mean for Northern Ireland?

Thu, 07 Sep 2023 17:13:06 +0000

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.

Farewell Sinéad, we didn’t deserve you

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 21:26:20 +0000

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/

How the wealthy and powerful muzzle reporting in Ireland

Sat, 15 Jul 2023 18:01:11 +0000

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/

Mapping Ireland’s DNA

Sun, 04 Jun 2023 07:00:00 +0000

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

Ireland’s Lost Forests Pt 2: an Atlantic Rainforest

Mon, 01 May 2023 02:00:00 +0000

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 www.patreon.com/theirishpassport

Ireland’s Lost Forests

Fri, 31 Mar 2023 13:45:12 +0000

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!

Classic Irish Passport: St. Patrick’s Day Special

Thu, 16 Mar 2023 18:58:52 +0000

Beannachtaí na féile Pádraig oraibh! To celebrate Ireland's national day, please enjoy this classic St. Patrick's Day episode from our archives, originally released in 2018.

What is the Windsor Framework?

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 23:26:17 +0000

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

Mountbatten and the IRA

Fri, 27 Jan 2023 23:09:00 +0000

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.

Mystery tales of the strange and unexpected

Mon, 19 Dec 2022 19:30:34 +0000

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. Naomi’s image: 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

Classic Irish Passport: Ireland and India’s shared history, as Varadkar and Sunak lead the Irish and British governments

Sat, 17 Dec 2022 10:06:07 +0000

This is a repeat of an Irish Passport classic episode, “Ireland and India: Assassins of Empire”, originally published on June 21 2021.

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 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 Days and Indian Memories: V. V. Giri and Indian Law Students at University College Dublin, 1913-1916. Published in 2016 by the Irish Academic Press.

Shereen F. Ilahi. Imperial Violence and the Path to Independence: India, Ireland and the Crisis of Empire. Published in 2016 by I.B. Tauris and Co.

You can find Vikrant Sharma’s website, The Global Telescope, here: linktr.ee/TheGlobalTelescope

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/theirishpassport

Ireland and the United Nations

Sat, 26 Nov 2022 20:47:15 +0000

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 available for subscribers along with our full archive of extra content over at: www.patreon.com/theirishpassport

Goodbye Liz, Hello Chaos: Another UK Prime Minister Resigns

Fri, 21 Oct 2022 13:47:28 +0000

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 over at: https://www.patreon.com/theirishpassport

You can follow us on Twitter at @PassportIrish

War of Independence: The Treaty

Thu, 20 Oct 2022 02:20:00 +0000

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 stood out to them: https://www.patreon.com/theirishpassport

You can follow us on Twitter at @PassportIrish

A looming crisis in Irish-British relations?

Sun, 18 Sep 2022 22:18:24 +0000

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

War of Independence: Partition

Fri, 02 Sep 2022 15:04:23 +0000

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 how the pro-independence forces in the south contended with the new entity that was created on the north east of the island, and the violence unleashed as whipped-up unionist crowds drove Catholics out of their homes and jobs in the north.

A bonus episode is available for Patreon supporters in which Naomi and Tim debrief from this episode and discuss what stood out to them - including the striking parallels with present day politics in a reckless Conservative Party wreaking havoc towards the island of Ireland. You can hear it at https://www.patreon.com/theirishpassport

You can follow us on Twitter at @PassportIrish

War of Independence: The Black and Tans

Sun, 24 Jul 2022 13:08:50 +0000

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 stories and scars left by the Black and Tans they encountered growing up. In a separate bonus episode, Dr Conor Mulvagh talks in full about his own research and the historical significance of Ireland’s War of Independence. To hear them you can sign up here: https://www.patreon.com/theirishpassport

You can follow us on Twitter at @PassportIrish

War of Independence: The First Dáil

Sun, 26 Jun 2022 10:49:17 +0000

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=1MiAxD12XMc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHXXLDIxmGQ

A new balance of power in Northern Ireland

Sun, 29 May 2022 14:11:10 +0000

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 editor of the Irish Times.

To hear our bonus episodes answering questions put by our Patreon supporters, sign up here: https://www.patreon.com/theirishpassport

You can follow us on Twitter at @PassportIrish

Ireland’s Response to the Ukraine Crisis

Sun, 27 Mar 2022 15:38:22 +0000

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 Patreon account at www.patreon.com/theirishpassport. We'll shortly publish a bonus episode featuring more of Nadia's story.

You can follow us on Twitter at @PassportIrish and Nadia at @NadiaDobryanska

Ukraine and Ireland: a shared history

Wed, 23 Feb 2022 03:57:49 +0000

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 to pick up fluent Gaeilge through lessons on the Falls Road. Now back in Ukraine, those language skills have come in handy: with the world's attention turned onto her country due to fears of a Russian invasion, Nadia has begun reporting on the situation in Irish for a range of Irish-language media outlets.

With her experience of living in Ireland, love for and deep knowledge of Irish culture and history, there's hardly a better person to explain the Ukranian perspective on the current situation and the country's unexpected but profound common heritage with Ireland.

Bonus episodes are published for our supporters over at www.patreon.com/theirishpassport

You can follow us on Twitter at @PassportIrish and Nadia at @NadiaDobryanska

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/

Music in this episode:

Maidan sings the anthem of Ukraine, 2013 https://youtu.be/lItPEbc6e-I

Nadia Dobrianska: https://twitter.com/NadiaDobryanska/status/1495383843666280453?s=20&t=_ZyNy3-uZBLyZKcEFeNm9A

Oy u Kyyevi and Ziydy ZIydy by Ukrainian Village Voices; Chief Boima, Cello Duet No 1 via the Free Music Archive

Choir sings hymn in Kyiv metro, captured by Jake Hanrahan https://twitter.com/Jake_Hanrahan/status/1495460993345933312?s=20&t=30yOxSEX42Pa3XrrftF2aw

An Teanga Bheo

Tue, 25 Jan 2022 03:43:31 +0000

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.

Bonus episodes are published for our supporters over at www.patreon.com/theirishpassport

The Bishop, the Guns, and the Virgin Mary

Fri, 17 Dec 2021 19:08:05 +0000

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?

Naomi and Tim tell some of their favourite, quirkiest stories from Irish history in this special seasonal story-time episode.

The music you heard in this episode is X-mas Carol by Jahazzar, from their album Sele

Bonus episodes are published for our supporters over at www.patreon.com/theirishpassport

Neutrality, Part 2: Ireland’s Dubious Defence

Thu, 25 Nov 2021 16:23:59 +0000

This summer, the chaotic fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban left Irish citizens stranded, exposing the state's lack of aircraft large enough to conduct an evacuation. It also highlighted the issue of Ireland's tiny and under-funded defence forces, which force the state to 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 into participating in international defence arrangements over the last two decades, which arguably blur the lines of its 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, leaning on old relationships with allies this summer to get Irish citizens out of Kabul.

This is part two of a two-part episode on Irish neutrality. In part one, we explained how Irelands' neutrality policy was born in the 20th century, at a time when the leadership feared that involvement in the Second World War could crush the fragile new Irish state. You can listen to the episode here: https://www.theirishpassport.com/podcast/neutrality-part-1-escaping-dominion/

We'll post the full version of our interview with Tom Clonan for our supporters over at www.patreon.com/theirishpassport

Neutrality, part 1: Churchill versus de Valera

Sun, 24 Oct 2021 08:28:36 +0000

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 that 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 today, and the opportunities and challenges ahead as Europe revisits its strategic security in an era in which the United States is in retreat.

Bonus episodes are published for our supporters over at www.patreon.com/theirishpassport

Live Show: Place and Power

Mon, 27 Sep 2021 16:54:13 +0000

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

Halfpints: Lady Lavery, the Face of Ireland

Sun, 19 Sep 2021 18:10:51 +0000

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.

Brexit Update: Empty Shelves and Data Borders

Thu, 02 Sep 2021 20:21:39 +0000

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. Tickets are available for purchase online here: https://www.hrp.org.uk/hillsborough-castle/whats-on/irish-passport-podcast-place-and-power/

See you there!

Bonus episodes are published for our supporters over at www.patreon.com/theirishpassport

Irish music special

Sat, 07 Aug 2021 05:00:00 +0000

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 prior interview with Molly about the 'wise woman of Clare' Biddy Early here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/44962226

Traveller exclusion: revealing an open secret

Thu, 29 Jul 2021 17:32:43 +0000

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/

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/theirishpassport

Ireland and India: Assassins of Empire

Mon, 21 Jun 2021 07:00:00 +0000

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 Days and Indian Memories: V. V. Giri and Indian Law Students at University College Dublin, 1913-1916. Published in 2016 by the Irish Academic Press.

Shereen F. Ilahi. Imperial Violence and the Path to Independence: India, Ireland and the Crisis of Empire. Published in 2016 by I.B. Tauris and Co.

You can find Vikrant Sharma's website, The Global Telescope, here: linktr.ee/TheGlobalTelescope

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/theirishpassport

Halfpints: Drama in the DUP

Fri, 18 Jun 2021 18:16:13 +0000

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.

If you enjoyed this episode, do give us a good review in your podcast app and share it with your friends.

Jer O’Leary: a Dublin life

Tue, 25 May 2021 21:53:58 +0000

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 images of Jer's life and work can be seen here: https://comeheretome.com/2018/12/26/goodbye-to-jer-oleary-actor-and-larkinite/

Jer O'Leary can be seen in My Left Foot here: https://youtu.be/CNFrixpsOAg

And in Game of Thrones here: https://youtu.be/MXGPgNp719k

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/theirishpassport

The Irish left: legacies of the Lockout

Mon, 26 Apr 2021 14:17:06 +0000

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 James Larkin. We hear from Jer O'Leary, an artist and actor who portrayed Larkin throughout his life, on what 'Big Jim' meant to ordinary Dubliners and his enduring legacy today. 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 including the full interview with Dr Niamh Puirséil over at www.patreon.com/theirishpassport

Some images discussed in this episode:

The statue of Jim Larkin at the GPO: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:James_Larkin_and_GPO_Easter_2016.jpg

Photograph of Jim Larkin giving a speech: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:James_Larkin_O%27Connell_Street.jpg

'Murphy must go': https://img2.thejournal.ie/inline/1043721/original/?width=630&version=1043721

Baton charge against union rally in 1913: https://dublintenementexperience.wordpress.com/2013/08/30/the-baton-charge-batons-from-the-national-museum/

If you enjoyed this episode, do give us a good review in your podcast app and share it with your friends.

Halfpints: What’s really going on in Northern Ireland?

Wed, 21 Apr 2021 12:59:42 +0000

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!

Halfpints: Flags of Ireland

Wed, 07 Apr 2021 12:58:29 +0000

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 available at Patreon.com/theirishpassport.

If you enjoyed this episode, do give us a good review in your podcast app and share it with your friends.

St Patrick’s Day special

Wed, 17 Mar 2021 13:26:00 +0000

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

If you enjoyed this episode, do give us a good review in your podcast app and share it with your friends.

Halfpints: Grattan and His Parliament

Tue, 09 Mar 2021 19:02:02 +0000

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 Inner Mechanics.

Destructive Unionism: Part 2, The Current Day

Sun, 24 Jan 2021 15:25:05 +0000

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/

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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