The Irish History Boys

In this special July episode of the Irish History Boys, hosts Tim McGarry and Cormac Moore set aside their usual news archives to explore "orange" history with Dr. Jonathan Mattison from the Museum of Orange Heritage. The discussion uncovers the complex international politics of the Glorious Revolution, including the surprising tactical support William of Orange initially received from Pope Innocent XI to counter the influence of the French King Louis XIV.

The episode highlights why the Siege of Derry was the most critical strategic engagement of the war and provides unique insights into the Battle of the Boyne, such as the international makeup of the armies and the story of William III being wounded the night before the fight. Beyond the battlefield, the hosts explore how the Williamite victory marked a massive shift in power from the monarch to Parliament, laying the constitutional groundwork for the Bill of Rights and even the American Constitution. The conversation also touches on the bloodier Battle of Aughrim and how the religious toleration of the initial settlement was eventually unpicked by penal legislation. The episode concludes with a recommendation to visit Schomberg House and a preview of part 2 on the 1795 founding of the Orange Order.
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This week’s episode of The Irish History Boys explores pivotal moments from 1926 and 1976, focusing on Ireland’s evolving sovereignty and security.

We discuss how the Irish Free State and other dominions like Canada began loosening the ties of the British Empire, eventually leading to full independence through agreements like the Statute of Westminster. The episode revisits a biting 1926 critique that deemed Éamon de Valera’s political future "hopeless" just as he was founding Fianna Fáil.

Shifting to 1976, we examine the Ulsterization of security and the British strategy to criminalise the IRA by treating the conflict as a policing issue rather than a war. Balancing high-stakes politics with local lore, we also share humorous accounts of egg smuggling across the border and highlight Sinn Féin’s 1976 efforts to internationalise their struggle through links with global movements like the PLO and the ANC.
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Join Tim McGarry and Dr. Cormac Moore for another episode of The Irish History Boys, where they dig into the archives of the Irish News to explore the stories that shaped Ireland 50 and 100 years ago.

In this episode, we dive into the year 1926, a time of historical quirks and radical social shifts. They discuss the surprising reality of the British government funding homes for heroes for WWI veterans within the newly independent Irish Free State, a policy move that sparked political tension and eventually led to a landmark court case where veterans won the right to live rent-free.

We look into the 1926 report from the Association of Head Mistresses regarding barriers women faced in the workforce eight years after the end of the war.

The dramatic story of a cross-border ambulance dash through a hailstorm after a workhouse master tried to block a life-saving operation based on the new border sparks an interesting discussion followed by a 1920s farmers debate on the Irish Language.

Lastly, Tim and Cormac jump to the year 1976 and examine the fracturing of unionist unity as the UUUC began to split, and discuss the little-known talks between the Official Unionist Party and the SDLP aimed at ending direct rule.
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In this episode of the Irish History Boys, we delve into the "lost memoir" of Seán Lemass, drawing on newly discovered tapes that provide a blunt and candid look at the man who transformed a failing state.

We reflect on Lemass’s rise as the "power behind the throne" during Éamon de Valera’s final years, a period where he transitioned the country away from an "existential threat" and the despair of mass emigration.

We examine Lemass’s radical shift in economic policy, moving Ireland from the "sterile arguments" of protectionism toward a modern, open economy. This includes a look at the First Programme for Economic Expansion and his partnership with TK Whitaker, which replaced "fantasy land" policies with a pragmatic plan for growth that doubled the size of the Irish economy.

Additionally, we explore Lemass’s groundbreaking approach to Northern Ireland. We discuss the historic 1965 meeting with Terence O’Neill—the first time the leaders of the North and South had met in 40 years—and his realistic assessment that partition could only end through reconciliation, not military force or British coercion.

We also highlight his remarkably "prescient" views on Britain's relationship with Europe, including his 1960s warning that the British might only join the EEC to "slow down its development".

To conclude, we tackle the domestic legacy of the Lemass era, specifically the revolutionary introduction of free secondary education, which sought to remove what was called the "darkest stain" on the country. We also address his complex relationship with his son-in-law, Charles Haughey, and his final, unsentimental reflections on a career that, unlike most in politics, did not end in failure.
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In this episode of the Irish History Boys, we delve into the "lost memoirs" of Seán Lemass, a man widely regarded as the architect of modern Ireland. Joined by author and editor Ronan McGrevy, we explore the significance of the rediscovered 1960s tapes that provide an unprecedented, first-hand account of Lemass’s 50-year public life.

We confront the hidden personal tragedies that were long "elided" from his official life story, most notably the accidental childhood shooting of his brother Herbert, an event that remained unknown to the public and even his own daughter for decades. We also reflect on the brutal state-sanctioned execution of his brother Noel in 1923, a vengeful killing by Free State agents that eventually propelled Seán into his own political career.

Additionally, we examine Lemass’s transition from revolutionary "poacher" to state "gamekeeper". We discuss his involvement in the 1916 Easter Rising and the controversial revelations found in his pension application regarding his role in the Bloody Sunday assassinations. We explore the tension between his militant Republican past and his later role as a pragmatic leader who helped found Fianna Fáil to move beyond "absolute abstentionism".

To conclude, we analyze the modernization of the Irish economy under Lemass’s vision, shifting the nation away from protectionism and toward free trade and the EEC. We tackle his legacy in creating essential semi-state bodies like Aer Lingus and Bord na Móna, while providing a glimpse into his private character—a hardworking, incorruptible, and deeply compartmentalised man who remains, to this day, Ireland's most respected Taoiseach.
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