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The Connaught Rangers were among the most famous regiments of the British Army raised in Ireland. In 1920 they were stationed in the foothills of the Himalayas in the Punjab, a province of British India. While stationed far from Ireland, tensions grew in the ranks of the Connaught Rangers over what other units of the British Army were doing in Ireland. In June 1920 at the height of the war of Independence, a mutiny began that lead to the deaths of four people and the courts martial of sixty-one soldiers.

The Cork revolutionary Muriel MacSwiney has been airbrushed from history. While she may be forgotten, her life story is both complex and fascinating. Born in 1892 into a wealthy Cork family she left all this behind when she became a republican activist & later a communist. She was a central figure in a hungerstrike in 1920 that was a pivotal moment in the war of Independence. This, the first of two episodes on MacSwiney, looks at her early life up until 1920. Next weeks show will look at her later life. www.patreon.com/irishpodcast

On October 17th, 1171 King Henry II of England landed near Waterford at the head of a vast army. He brought with him everythinga mediebval army could need from weapons to war harses. There were even prefabricated siege towers onboard the ships. So began the first and most important English royal visit to Ireland. This was in many ways began England's tumultous relationship with Ireland. In this podcast I look at what brought Henry to Ireland in 1171 and how it still affects the island today. https://patreon.com/irishpodcast

Oliver Cromwell landed in Dublin in August 1649 starting a conquest remembered for its brutality. Within a few short weeks his forces, the New Model Army, had perpetrated one of the most notorious massacres in Irish history when they sacked Drogheda. After this Cromwell marched south reaching Wexford in early October. The story of the following siege is fascinating... The backdrop to this podcast is gripping - the 17th century was unquestionably the most violent period in Ireland's long and tumultous history. The 1640s and early 50s were truly horrific as the island was ravaged by seemingly endless warfare. Although hard to believe, historians estimate the population fell by 20% between 1641 and 1652!   Tune in to find out more.   www.patreon.com/irishpodcast

On October 3rd 1750, one of the most famous Irish highwaymen of all time, James McLaine, was executed at Tyburn outside London. During his short life James McLaine was a larger than life character. This the first podcast in this new series looks at how McLaine, a Monaghan native, ended up on the gallows. www.patreon.com/irishpodcast www.twitter.com/irishhistory www.irishhistorypodcast.ie  

Assassinations, scandals, wars & rebellions - these are just some of the topics that will feature in Ireland’s newest podcast 'This Week in Irish history'. Made by Fin Dwyer (the creator of the Irish History Podcast) the series will be covering intriguing stories from our past on the week they took place. Check out this short episode for more details on what you can expect & details about the first four shows.