Cormac and Tim consider the evils of dancing, yes dancing, as seen by the eyes of the top Catholic churchmen in Ireland a century ago. Drawing from the archives, they discover an editorial reporting on the terrible consequences being threatened on the faithful who allow themselves to be seduced by this new craze including full scale excommunication from the Catholic Church for those who failed to heed the warnings from the pulpit. "Dance halls, filthy newspapers and bad pictures threatened to ruin the Irish people. Things had come to such a pass that it had been said that in a few generations they would be as Pagan as the Ancient Romans,” were the reported words of one incandescent cleric. And fifty years ago the archives were reflecting on the formation of the new political force, the SDLP. Cormac and Tim consider the impact of the party then and now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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48:51
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48:51
Daniel O’Connell: The Liberator Who Shook an Empire
In this episode of The Irish History Boys, Cormac and Tim turn their attention to one of Ireland’s greatest political giants, Daniel O’Connell. . The lads explore how he became a towering figure on the world stage through his fight against the Penal Laws, securing Catholic Emancipation, and using the power of mass non-violent protest to challenge the British Empire itself. The Lads also discuss the often-overlooked Council of Ireland, the short-lived body intended to unite north and south. They also turn their attention to another towering figure, Michael Collins, following a distasteful speech by a Northern MP in the same year of his death. leading to a discussion on Collins legacy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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49:26
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49:26
The Anglo-Irish Treaty: Freedom or Betrayal?
In this episode of The Irish History Boys, Cormac and Tim dive into one of the most divisive moments in Irish history: the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921. Would they have signed it given the choice? The lads explore the impossible choices faced by Michael Collins and de Valera, and unpack the deal that split the country and sparked a brutal civil war. Later in the episode, the conversation turns global as they discuss the U.S. decision to drop nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II. What were the justifications, the consequences, and really moved on from the threat of nuclear warfare? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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52:57
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52:57
Miami Showband Massacre: A Tragedy That Shook Ireland
In this powerful episode of The Irish History Boys, Cormac and Tim revisit one of the most haunting tragedies of the Troubles, the Miami Showband Massacre.They unpack the horrifying night when band members were ambushed at a fake British Army checkpoint, and gunned down in cold blood. The guys explore how the attack unfolded, who was responsible, and how it highlighted the bleak reality of the Troubles. They also discuss who were the most influential Protestant and nationalist figures over the last century, sparking debate around Ian Paisley's legacy, asking why some are celebrated while others have been forgotten Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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44:18
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44:18
IRA Prison Escapes EXPLAINED: How Did They Pull It Off?
In this gripping episode of The Irish History Boys, Cormac and Tim unravel the most daring IRA prison escapes of the Troubles, from the legendary 1983 Maze breakout to the 1975 incident where three priests entered a prison but four walked out. Next, the lads dive into a bizarre 1925 court case where a teacher was nearly sued for punishing a student, a claim the judge swiftly dismissed, sparking a lively conversation about the brutal discipline of old-school Ireland. Cormac and Tim share their own jaw-dropping memories of schooldays that were anything but gentle, and debate whether any of that harsh culture could ever return. Finally, they turn to 1925 once more, where nationalist MPs entered the Northern Ireland Parliament for the first time, only to be met with hostility, resistance, and an outcome that would shape nationalist politics for decades. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Comedian Tim McGarry and Historian Cormac Moore select the stories from the archives of The Irish News that bring Irish history to life in enlightening and amusing ways. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.