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The Irish History Boys

The Irish History Boys
Northern Ireland
Boundary Commission
Irish Free State
IRA
The Troubles
Irish News
Sinn Féin
Éamon De Valera
Anglo-Irish Treaty
James Craig
Catholic Church
League Of Nations
Civil War
Irish History
Football
Michael Collins
Easter Rising
12th Of July
Free State
Fianna Fáil

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.

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PublishesWeeklyEpisodes66Foundeda year ago
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HistoryEducation

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Latest Episodes

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 comp... more

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 ... more

YouTube

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 ... more

YouTube

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... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Ronan McGrevy
Author of Sean Lemass, The Lost Memoir
Author/Editor
Episode: Rewriting Ireland's History - The Lost Memoirs of Sean Lemass
Chris Moore
award-winning journalist, author of Kincora, Britain Shame
The Irish News (investigative journalism)
Episode: Lifting the Rock: Journalist Chris Moore Reveals Northern Ireland’s Most Dangerous Cover-Up
George Shannon
Author of Rory O'Connor, To Defend the Republic
Author, book: To Defend the Republic
Episode: Defending the Republic: The Siege and Execution of Rory O'Connor
Jerry Shannon
Author of Rory O'Connor, To Defend the Republic
Author, Rory O'Connor biography
Episode: The Secret Bomb-Maker of Ireland: How Rory O'Connor Fueled the Revolution

Hosts

Tim McGarry
Host of The Irish History Boys with a background in comedy; co-host whose work centers on presenting Irish history in an accessible, entertaining style.
Cormac Moore
Historian and co-host who guides historical discussions with archival context and scholarly insight.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#131
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#103
Ireland/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Rewriting Ireland's History - The Lost Memoirs of Sean Lemass
Q: What does the book reveal about Lemass's approach to Fianna Fáil and governance?
The book paints Lemass as a pragmatic, non-ideological reformer who emphasized practical policy—economic development, tariffs, and state-led investment—while navigating internal party dynamics and external pressures, including relations with De Valera and the stance on abstentionism.
Rewriting Ireland's History - The Lost Memoirs of Sean Lemass
Q: How did the tapes come to light and what was the process of turning them into a published memoir?
The tapes were collected by Darren Ryan in the late 1960s and later handed to the Lemass family and then to UCD, where transcripts were prepared and eventually edited by Ronan McGrevy to produce the memoir, which presents Lemass's voice with Dermot Ryan providing external context.
Defending the Republic: The Siege and Execution of Rory O'Connor
Q: Why were the executions in December 1922 so controversial, and what legacy did they leave?
They were conducted as reprisal actions against anti-treaty leaders and were widely viewed as illegal at the time; they intensified bitterness, damaged the Free State's legitimacy in the long term, and remain a painful reminder of how political violence and retaliatory measures shaped Ireland's early statehood.
Defending the Republic: The Siege and Execution of Rory O'Connor
Q: What was the central issue that led to the split within the Irish Republican Army after the treaty was signed?
The core dispute centered on whether to accept the treaty and the status of the Irish Republic; anti-treaty leaders felt betrayed by London and the idea of a Free State with oaths to the British Crown, while pro-treaty leaders sought to establish a functioning government even if it meant compromising on the republic.
At the Crossroads: The London Agreement and the "Factory of Grievances"
Q: How did the Troubles impact Scotland?
There's definitely sectarian tensions, and while there were sympathizers on both sides, the situation didn't boil over into violence in Scotland like it did elsewhere.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Irish History Boys

What is The Irish History Boys about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Two hosts—Tim McGarry and Cormac Moore—combine sharp banter with historical analysis to bring archival Irish News stories to life, blending biography, political history, and cultural context with accessible humor. Recent episodes emphasize mid-20th-century Irish politics, the Troubles-era narrative, and landmark figures in Ireland's journey toward modern governance, while also exploring broader themes like state-building, media investigations, and cross-border relations. The show tends to spotlight historians and journalists who can illuminate archival material, turning dense history into engaging storytelling while signaling implications for contemporary understanding of Irish identity and politics. This mix of rigorous context, archival s... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Irish History Boys?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Irish History Boys:

1. Irish History Podcast
2. The BelTel
3. The Troubles Podcast
4. Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning
5. Red Lines

How many episodes of The Irish History Boys are there?

The Irish History Boys launched a year ago and published 66 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Irish History Boys?

Recent guests on The Irish History Boys include:

1. Ronan McGrevy
2. Chris Moore
3. George Shannon
4. Jerry Shannon

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