Undercover Irish

Undercover Irish is a podcast about Ireland’s history, language, placenames and the stories that often get left out. Named one of the Irish Examiner’s Top 10 Irish Podcasts of 2025. Episodes explore everything from forgotten places and revolutionary history to Gaeilge, Irish words and names, emigration, folklore and the links between Ireland and the wider world. Undercover Irish; Uncovering Ireland’s Hidden Curriculum.

Cork's Kilmainham Ep. 6: Women Of The War Of Independence 10/08/2026

Cork's Kilmainham Ep. 6: Women Of The War Of Independence Cover Art is a photo of the iconic "Muriel" painting by artist Jeanette Collins. Free Download: Get the free booklet here on , exploring the history of Cork Military Detention Barracks , “Cork’s Kilmainham” ,and the extraordinary stories connected to the surviving site. In Cork’s Kilmainham Ep. 6: Women of the War of Independence, we turn to the women whose work surrounded the detention barracks, Victoria Barracks and Cork’s revolutionary struggle. From Cumann na mBan intelligence work and prison visits to spies inside British military headquarters, vigils outside the barrack gates, military courts, dispatch carrying and an audacious assassination attempt, this episode looks at the women who were far more than supporting figures in the Irish War of Independence. We revisit Ellen “Nellie” Carroll, Seán Allen’s fiancée, whose access to him inside Cork Military Detention Barracks became a channel for intelligence. We follow Josephine Marchment, who worked inside Victoria Barracks while secretly passing information to the IRA. We also return to Ballycannon, the suspected informer Cruxy O’Connor, and the extraordinary poisoning plot involving Nora Martin and Ethel Condon. Finally, we look at what happened after the revolution, when women such as Ellen Carroll were forced to fight for recognition through the Military Service Pension system — and how those files now preserve some of the richest evidence we have of women’s revolutionary service. All of these stories lead back to one place: Cork Military Detention Barracks, the surviving historic prison at the old Victoria Barracks, a site still under threat of demolition. Topics include: Cumann na mBan, women in the Irish War of Independence, Cork revolutionary history, Victoria Barracks Cork, Cork Military Detention Barracks, Seán Allen, Ellen Carroll, Josephine Marchment, Nora Martin, Ethel Condon, Ballycannon, Cruxy O’Connor, IRA intelligence, Military Service Pensions and women’s history in Cork. /episode/index/show/4092ed17-c4ef-4c8e-86d8-89689cf79c0e/id/43225543

Cork's Kilmainham Ep. 5: \"X\" Marks The Cell 09/29/2026

Cork’s Kilmainham Ep. 4: The Firing Squads Return 09/17/2026

Cork’s Kilmainham Ep. 4: The Firing Squads Return Cork’s Kilmainham continues. In Episode 4, the story moves into the darkest period yet for Cork Military Detention Barracks. Following the death of Terence MacSwiney and the introduction of martial law, the barracks moves to the centre of the conflict in Cork. Men captured across the county are brought here, court martialled here and, increasingly, condemned to death here. This episode tells the story of Con Murphy, the first man executed in Cork under the new martial law regime, before moving to the failed Dripsey ambush and the five IRA prisoners who were sentenced to death. We also look at Maria Lindsay, whose warning to the British helped expose the Dripsey ambush, her extraordinary letter to General Strickland, and the unlikely figures who came forward to speak on behalf of the condemned men. The episode culminates on 28 February 1921, when six men were executed by firing squad at Cork Military Detention Barracks while their families and supporters gathered outside the walls. This is also the story of how one building became a physical link between some of the most important moments in Cork’s revolutionary history. If you’re new to the series, start with the earlier episodes: Episode 1 explores the origins of Cork Military Detention Barracks, its links to Fenian prisoners and the extraordinary story that eventually connects Cork with the Catalpa rescue. Episode 2 follows the story of Thomas Kent, executed here after the 1916 Rising, his secret burial and the later discovery of his grave. Episode 3 tells the story of Terence MacSwiney, his arrest as Lord Mayor of Cork, his first night in the detention barracks wearing the mayoral chain and the hunger strike that would eventually shake the world. And now, in Episode 4, the firing squads return. If you enjoy Undercover Irish, please follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, leave a rating or review, and share the episode with anyone interested in Cork history, the Irish War of Independence or Ireland’s revolutionary period. You can also support the podcast on Patreon, where you’ll find extra material connected to the series, including the free Hidden in Plain Sight booklet on Cork Military Detention Barracks. Search terms: Cork Military Detention Barracks, Cork’s Kilmainham, Dripsey Ambush, Con Murphy, Maria Lindsay, Irish War of Independence, martial law Cork, Cork executions 1921, Terence MacSwiney, Thomas Kent, Irish revolutionary history. /episode/index/show/4092ed17-c4ef-4c8e-86d8-89689cf79c0e/id/42943553

Cork’s Kilmainham Ep. 3: The Chain, the Cell and the Hunger Strike 09/09/2026

Cork’s Kilmainham Ep. 3: The Chain, the Cell and the Hunger Strike Cork’s Kilmainham Episode 3: The Chain, the Cell and the Hunger Strike In Episode 3 of Cork’s Kilmainham, we follow the extraordinary story of Terence MacSwiney, from prisoner in the aftermath of the 1916 Rising to Lord Mayor of Cork, and finally back into British military custody at the Cork Military Detention Barracks. The episode begins in the shadow of Thomas Kent’s execution in May 1916, as Cork Volunteers were arrested, imprisoned and deported. Among them were Tomás MacCurtain and Terence MacSwiney, two men who would go from detention cells to Cork City Hall within four years. We trace the political transformation that followed: the 1918 general election, the establishment of Dáil Éireann, the Democratic Programme, the rise of the Republican courts, and Cork Corporation’s decision to recognise the authority of the Irish Republic. Then came the murder of Tomás MacCurtain in March 1920 and MacSwiney’s election as Lord Mayor. In August 1920, British forces raided Cork City Hall and arrested MacSwiney. He was brought directly to the Cork Military Detention Barracks, where he refused to surrender the Lord Mayor’s chain and began the hunger strike that would ultimately make his name known across the world. The episode also looks at the remarkable Prudential Assurance Company case, a powerful example of just how far Republican institutions had begun to exercise real authority in Cork by the summer of 1920. From Cork to Brixton Prison, the story then became international. MacSwiney’s hunger strike inspired protests, demonstrations and industrial action across Europe and the United States, from New York to Barcelona. After 74 days without food, Terence MacSwiney died in Brixton Prison on 25 October 1920. But the story began in Cork. Inside a building that still stands today. The Cork Military Detention Barracks was the place where Thomas Kent was executed, where Cork Volunteers were imprisoned and deported, and where Terence MacSwiney began the hunger strike that shook the world. This series is also an appeal to protect and preserve this extraordinary building before another piece of Cork and Irish revolutionary history is lost. If you haven’t listened to the first two episodes of Cork’s Kilmainham, go back and start the story from the beginning. Episode 1 explores the origins of Cork Military Detention Barracks, the Famine years, the Fenians and the extraordinary road to the Catalpa rescue. Episode 2 tells the story of Thomas Kent, his execution in 1916, his secret burial and Tadhg Barry’s remarkable discovery of his grave. If you enjoy Undercover Irish, please follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Ratings, reviews and shares genuinely help more people discover the show. Support Undercover Irish on Patreon: Follow Undercover Irish on Instagram: Topics covered: Terence MacSwiney, Tomás MacCurtain, Thomas Kent, Cork Military Detention Barracks, Cork’s Kilmainham, Cork City Hall, 1916 Rising, Irish War of Independence, Dáil Éireann, First Dáil, Democratic Programme, Republican courts, Prudential Assurance Company, Cork IRA, hunger strike, Brixton Prison, Cork history and Irish revolutionary history. Go raibh míle maith agaibh as éisteacht. () /episode/index/show/4092ed17-c4ef-4c8e-86d8-89689cf79c0e/id/42845045

Cork's Kilmainham Ep. 2: 1916, Thomas Kent, Tadhg Barry and the Hidden Grave 09/04/2026

Cork's Kilmainham Ep. 2: 1916, Thomas Kent, Tadhg Barry and the Hidden Grave When we think of the executions of 1916, we think of Kilmainham Gaol. But Cork has its own surviving 1916 execution site. In this episode of Undercover Irish, we return to Cork Military Detention Barracks and tell the story of Thomas Kent, the east Cork Volunteer executed there on 9 May 1916 and secretly buried within the military grounds. We trace Kent’s life from Castlelyons to Boston, where he became involved in Irish-language and cultural organisations, through the Land War and his imprisonment for land agitation, and into the Irish Volunteers in the years immediately before the Rising. We then follow the events of 1916 in Cork, the gun battle at Bawnard House, Kent’s court-martial and execution, and the decision to deny his family his body. The story then turns to another remarkable Cork revolutionary: Tadhg Barry — republican, socialist, trade unionist, journalist, Irish-language activist and major GAA figure. Imprisoned in the same military complex at Christmas 1916, Barry was shown the hidden burial place of Thomas Kent by a sympathetic guard. He marked the spot, fell to his knees, kissed the ground and later recorded the moment in a poem. That poem was published in 1921, the same year Barry himself was shot and killed while interned at Ballykinlar. We also look at the role of Cork railway workers in keeping Kent’s memory alive, the eventual identification of his remains, and his State reinterment in Castlelyons in 2015. And finally, we return to the question hanging over this entire series: What should happen to Cork Military Detention Barracks now? The grave marker remains. The execution site remains. The prison remains. And yet the building is under threat of demolition. If Kilmainham teaches us the importance of preserving the places where history actually happened, then Cork still has a choice to make. And Thomas Kent is only the beginning. Because thirteen other republicans were later executed within this military complex, while Terence MacSwiney spent the first night of his world-famous hunger strike here. That story continues in the next episode of Undercover Irish ,Uncovering Ireland’s Hidden Curriculum. Follow Undercover Irish on Instagram for more Irish history, heritage and hidden stories. Support the podcast on Patreon and help keep independent Irish history projects like this going. /episode/index/show/4092ed17-c4ef-4c8e-86d8-89689cf79c0e/id/42784750

Cork’s Kilmainham Ep. 1: From Famine to Fenians, From Cork to the Catalpa 08/27/2026

Cork’s Kilmainham Ep. 1: From Famine to Fenians, From Cork to the Catalpa Show Notes After far too long away from the podcast, Undercover Irish is back with a new series exploring the extraordinary history of Cork Military Prison, a building I have come to think of as Cork’s Kilmainham. Hidden in plain sight, this building has connections to the Great Famine, the Fenians, 1916, hunger strikes, courts martial, executions, the War of Independence and the Civil War. And now it is set to be demolished!!! In this first episode, we go back to the beginning. We look at the prison’s construction in the 1840s, the enormous British military presence in Ireland during the Famine years, and the Victorian ideas of discipline and punishment that shaped the building itself. We then explore an early controversy over the appointment of a Catholic chaplain, against the background of the Penal Laws, Protestant Ascendancy and Catholic Emancipation. From there, the story moves into the extraordinary world of Fenian infiltration of the British Army. At the centre of that story is Thomas Darragh, a decorated Protestant British soldier and former Orangeman who became a committed Fenian, recruited within the army, was arrested and sent to Cork, court-martialled and sentenced to death. His story takes us from Cork to transportation, Fremantle Prison in Western Australia, and ultimately to one of the most daring prison escapes in Irish history: the rescue of six Fenian prisoners aboard the Catalpa in 1876. This series is also part of my appeal to save Cork Military Prison. Before we can protect a place, we have to understand what happened there. And this story is only beginning. Follow Undercover Irish on Instagram for clips, images and updates on the campaign to save the building. And if you’d like to support the podcast and help me continue researching and producing stories like this, you can support Undercover Irish on Patreon. /episode/index/show/4092ed17-c4ef-4c8e-86d8-89689cf79c0e/id/42576365

What Irish Surnames Remember — Part 2: The Names That Came Ashore 06/18/2026

What Irish Surnames Remember — Part 2: The Names That Came Ashore Support on Patreon What Irish Surnames Remember — Part 2: The Names That Came Ashore Irish surnames are not only a story of Ó, Mac, Ní and Nic. They are also a story of arrival. In Part 2 of What Irish Surnames Remember, we look at the names that came into Ireland through conquest, sea-roads, settlement, exile, work and migration — and how many of them became part of the Irish story. From Norman names like FitzGerald, Burke, Power, Roche and Barry, to Norse-linked names like Doyle, MacAuliffe, MacManus, Cotter and MacIver, this episode explores how surnames can carry memory of contact across water. We also look at names like Lynch, where one spelling can hide more than one history, and Walsh and Joyce, names that show how yesterday’s outsider can become tomorrow’s local surname. Along the way, we ask: When does a name become Irish? Is it when it begins in Irish? When it has an Ó or a Mac? When it is spoken here? When it is written into records here? When it gathers Irish memory? This episode also touches on later names that came ashore: Huguenot names, Jewish names, German names connected to Ardnacrusha, and Dutch names connected to Verolme Dockyard — reminders that Irishness was never purity. It was layering. Core idea: A name does not have to begin in Ireland to become part of Ireland. In this episode: Norman names: Fitz, de, Burke, Power, Roche, Barry and FitzGerald “More Irish than the Irish themselves” Surnames and placenames: names as maps Norse and Viking traces: Doyle, MacAuliffe, MacManus, Cotter and MacIver Why Lynch is a warning against simple surname stories Walsh, Joyce and names crossing the Irish Sea Huguenot and Jewish names in Ireland German names at Ardnacrusha and Dutch names at Verolme Dockyard Why Irish surnames are about contact, not purity How Mac points us toward the upcoming Ireland–Scotland series Next series: After these two surname episodes, we cross the water into the Ireland–Scotland series: shared Gaelic worlds, language, myth, migration, colonisation, Highland and Irish experience, sectarian echoes, revolutionary links, and the sea-roads between the two places. Support the podcast: If you enjoy Undercover Irish, you can support the show on Patreon. Patreon helps keep the research, writing and production going, and I’ll be sharing bonus notes and extra material from the Ireland–Scotland series there. /episode/index/show/4092ed17-c4ef-4c8e-86d8-89689cf79c0e/id/41691520

What Irish Surnames Remember — Part 1: Ó, Mac, Ní & Nic 06/10/2026

When Ireland Speaks in a Woman's Voice: From Ériu to Elmes 06/05/2026

When Ireland Speaks in a Woman's Voice: From Ériu to Elmes When Ireland Speaks in a Woman's Voice: From Ériu to Elmes Ireland was named after a woman. Most of us know that Ireland is called Éire in Irish, but far fewer know about Ériu, the mythological figure whose name survives in the very name of the country itself. In this episode of Undercover Irish, we follow the women hidden in Ireland's landscape. From Ériu, Banba and Fódla, to Boann and Sinann, from the holy wells of Brigid and Gobnait to the modern commemorations of Mary Elmes and the women of Cumann na mBan, we explore how women have been remembered on Ireland's map for centuries. Along the way we delve into the Dindshenchas, Ireland's medieval "Lore of Places", uncover the stories behind some of our most famous rivers and placenames, and ask an important question: If women are everywhere in Ireland's oldest landscape, why do they seem so much less visible in the streets and public spaces of modern Ireland? This is a story about memory, mythology, language, landscape and the changing ways Ireland remembers its past. In this episode: Ériu, Banba and Fódla The Dindshenchas – Ireland's Lore of Places Boann and the River Boyne Sinann and the River Shannon Macha, Tailtiu and Carman Brigid and the female sacred landscape Holy wells Victorian commemorative culture The Ladies' Land League Cumann na mBan Mary Elmes, Rosie Hackett and modern public commemoration Support Undercover Irish If you'd like to support the podcast and gain access to bonus episodes, early releases, behind-the-scenes research and exclusive content, you can join us on Patreon: Patreon: This week's Patreon-exclusive episode: Why Some Irish People Don't Say "The Famine" A look at the language of memory, An Gorta Mór, and what the words we choose reveal about Irish history. Follow Undercover Irish Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and follow along on social media for updates, bonus content and upcoming episodes. Go raibh míle maith agaibh as éisteacht. Ní saoirse go saoirse na mban. /episode/index/show/4092ed17-c4ef-4c8e-86d8-89689cf79c0e/id/41550995

What Irish County Names Really Mean: Part 2 05/30/2026

What Irish County Names Really Mean: Part 2 Ireland’s county names are more than simple labels on a map. They are records of invasion, settlement, religion, trade, conquest, resistance, and survival. In Part 2 of What Irish County Names Really Mean, we explore how saints, Vikings, colonists, and mapmakers left their mark on Ireland’s counties — and how older Irish identities survived beneath those layers. Along the way we discover: Why Dublin’s Irish and English names describe two completely different places. How Viking settlements helped create Ireland’s first true cities. The story behind Waterford, Ireland’s oldest city. Why Wexford, Wicklow, and Donegal preserve both Irish and Norse identities. How Saint Brigid, Saint Cainneach, Saint Comán, and Saint Columba became immortalised in county names. The connection between Derry’s oak groves and Kildare’s sacred oak. Why Edmund Spenser believed language was key to conquering Ireland. How the Ordnance Survey transformed Ireland’s placenames. Why Irish placenames are some of the most important historical records we possess. Counties featured in this episode: County Dublin — Baile Átha Cliath / Dubh Linn County Waterford — Port Láirge County Wexford — Loch Garman County Wicklow — Cill Mhantáin County Donegal — Dún na nGall / Tír Chonaill County Kildare — Cill Dara County Kilkenny — Cill Chainnigh County Roscommon — Ros Comáin County Down — An Dún County Longford — An Longfort County Derry — Doire / Doire Cholmcille This episode also explores: Viking Ireland Early Christian Ireland Monastic learning The Plantation period Anglicisation of Irish placenames The Ordnance Survey Language, identity, and power If you enjoyed this episode, check out Part 1: What Irish County Names Really Mean – Gods, Tribes and Landscapes Before Ireland Had Counties Follow Undercover Irish wherever you get your podcasts, and if you know someone who's fiercely proud of their county, send them this episode. Because every county name tells a story — and some of those stories are over a thousand years old. /episode/index/show/4092ed17-c4ef-4c8e-86d8-89689cf79c0e/id/41473615

What Irish County Names Really Mean: Part 1 05/24/2026

Ireland and the Sea 05/21/2026

Ireland and the Sea Ireland has always faced the water. For thousands of years, the sea shaped life along the Irish coast — feeding communities, destroying harbours, carrying storms inland, and connecting the island to the wider world. But it also left something behind in the language itself. In this episode of Undercover Irish, we explore Ireland’s long relationship with the sea through the stories hidden in coastal placenames: from Port na Marbh — “the harbour of the dead” — to An Poll Báite, “the drowned pool,” and Carraig na Loinge, “the rock of the ship.” These names preserve memories of danger, survival, shipwrecks, crossings, invasion, emigration and loss. We travel from Atlantic fishing communities and the Night of the Big Wind… to Viking longships, Norman arrivals, Armada wrecks, the French landings of 1798, and the harbours that became departure points during An Gorta Mór. Because the Irish coastline was never simply the edge of the country. It was a meeting place between: land and sea, Ireland and the wider world, departure and return, memory and survival. This episode explores how the sea shaped Irish history, mythology and identity — and how the old coastal names still carry echoes of that conversation today. Featured Places & Names Port na Marbh — “Harbour of the Dead” (Donegal) Scoilt na Loinge — “Split/Cleft of the Ship” (Donegal) Scoilt na Máirnealach — possibly “Sailors’ Cleft” (Donegal) An Poll Báite — “The Drowned Pool” Carraig na Loinge — “Rock of the Ship” Carraig an Ancaire — “Rock of the Anchor” Trá na mBád / Boatstrand (Waterford) Mannin Bay / Cuan Mhanainn (Galway) Tory Island / Toraigh (Donegal) Cobh & Dún Laoghaire Themes Irish placenames • maritime folklore • Atlantic history • Vikings in Ireland • Irish mythology • emigration • An Gorta Mór • coastal memory • shipwrecks • Irish language • Irish history • Atlantic Ireland • Manannán mac Lir • Irish folklore • the Night of the Big Wind /episode/index/show/4092ed17-c4ef-4c8e-86d8-89689cf79c0e/id/41380250

Ireland’s Darkest Placenames II: Memory in the Landscape 05/20/2026

Ireland’s Darkest Placenames; The Landscape Remembers 05/12/2026

From Famine Ships to Maple Leafs: Irish Identity in Canadian Sport 05/07/2026

From Famine Ships to Maple Leafs: Irish Identity in Canadian Sport How Irish migrants shaped hockey, club names, and identity from Montreal through Toronto to Vancouver 🇮🇪 Episode Overview In this episode of Undercover Irish, we explore how Irish identity travelled across the Atlantic—and how it evolved through sport in Canada. From famine-era migration to the rise of hockey, from the Montreal Shamrocks to the Toronto St. Patricks (and eventually the Maple Leafs), and all the way to Vancouver’s modern Whitecaps and Greencaps, this is a story of identity, adaptation, and belonging. 🧭 What You’ll Learn How An Gorta Mór (1845–1852) shaped Irish migration to Canada The role of Grosse Île as a key arrival and burial site for Irish migrants Why Irish migrants were playing hurling in Canada as early as the 1830s–40s The idea of “ice hurley” and its possible influence on early hockey How the Montreal Shamrocks became early hockey champions (Stanley Cup winners in 1899 & 1900) The story of the Toronto St. Patricks and their transformation into the Maple Leafs The influence of the Orange Order in shaping Toronto’s political and social landscape How Irish Catholic migrants navigated identity and exclusion in 19th-century Toronto The significance of Ireland Park as a modern reflection of Irish migration Why Vancouver’s “Greencaps” represent a new form of Irish identity abroad 🧠 Key Themes Irish diaspora identity and adaptation Sport as a tool for community and belonging Sectarian division: Orange vs Green in Toronto The evolution from club identity → national identity → hybrid identity How Irish culture influenced (and was shaped by) Canadian sport 🏒 Key Locations & Teams Montreal — Irish migration, early hockey, Shamrocks Toronto — sectarian divide, St. Patricks, Maple Leafs Vancouver — Whitecaps and Greencaps 💬 Join the Conversation Have you come across Irish club names where you live? Do they reflect Ireland directly? Or have they adapted to their new surroundings? 👉 Share your thoughts in the comments or on social media ☘️ Support the Podcast If you enjoyed this episode and want to support Undercover Irish, you can do so here: 👉 Bonus content Early access to episodes Behind-the-scenes research and stories Your support helps keep the podcast going 🙌 ⭐ Enjoyed the Episode? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts / Spotify Share with someone interested in Irish history or sport Follow for more episodes exploring Irish identity, language, and culture 🔗 Related Episodes Irish club names: Celtic, Hibernian, and identity abroad The meaning behind Irish sporting symbols Language, identity, and Irish place names /episode/index/show/4092ed17-c4ef-4c8e-86d8-89689cf79c0e/id/41202370

London Irish, Boston Celtics & the Names We Carry 04/30/2026

London Irish, Boston Celtics & the Names We Carry 🎙️ London Irish, Boston Celtics & the Names We Carry In this episode of Undercover Irish, we follow a simple question—what’s in a name?—and uncover a global story of identity, memory, and survival. From the fields of Ireland to the streets of London and the arenas of Boston, this episode explores how Irish identity has been carried, rebuilt, and reimagined through the names of sporting clubs and institutions. We begin at home, with unusual GAA club names like the Four Masters, Cashel King Cormac’s, and the Geraldines—names that preserve history, assert legitimacy, and connect communities to Ireland’s past. From there, we cross the Irish Sea. In Britain, clubs like Hibernian, Celtic, and London Irish show how Irish migrants rebuilt identity in exile—using names not just to organise sport, but to declare presence and belonging. Then we travel further, across the Atlantic to Boston—one of the most Irish cities in the world. Here, identity doesn’t just survive. It becomes part of the mainstream. The Boston Celtics, with their name, colour, and symbolism, reflect how deeply Irish identity is embedded in the city itself. And finally, we arrive at Notre Dame, where the “Fighting Irish” show how identity moves beyond sport—into education, into institutions, and into the shaping of future generations. This episode is not just about sport. It’s about how identity travels. How it adapts. And how, when everything else is lost… it survives through names. 🔍 In This Episode: The meaning behind unusual GAA club names The Annals of the Four Masters and cultural preservation Irish identity in Britain: Hibernian, Celtic, and London Irish The Irish diaspora in Boston and the story behind the Boston Celtics Notre Dame and the evolution of the “Fighting Irish” How names act as memory, resistance, and belonging 🌍 Key Themes: Irish identity at home and abroad Sport as a vehicle for culture Migration and diaspora Naming as an act of memory and power 📢 Follow & Share If you enjoyed this episode of Undercover Irish, follow the podcast and share it with someone interested in Irish history, culture, and identity. /episode/index/show/4092ed17-c4ef-4c8e-86d8-89689cf79c0e/id/41076680

This Irish Town Name Means “Push Forward” - Here’s Why (Ngũgĩ, Spenser & Buttevant Explained) 04/22/2026

This Irish Town Name Means “Push Forward” - Here’s Why (Ngũgĩ, Spenser & Buttevant Explained) ⭐ Enjoying the podcast? If you’re liking Undercover Irish, please take a moment to leave a review on your podcast app—it really helps more people find the show and supports independent Irish storytelling. 🎧 Episode Overview Why is the town of Buttevant called Buttevant? In this episode, we uncover the story behind one of Ireland’s most unusual place names—tracing its origins from the Irish Cill na Mullach (“the church of the hilltops”) to the Norman French Boutez en avant (“push forward”). But this isn’t just a story about a name. It’s a story about how language, power, and place intersect—and how Ireland fits into a wider global pattern of colonisation. Drawing on the work of Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o and the writings of Edmund Spenser, we explore how language can be used not just to describe the world—but to reshape it. 🧭 What We Cover The meaning of An Abhainn Bheag (the Awbeg River) The original Irish name: Cill na Mullach The Norman origins of Buttevant (Boutez en avant) The role of the Barry family in shaping the town The survival of the motto at Fota Island Resort Edmund Spenser’s connection to north Cork and his writings A breakdown of his poem Colin Clouts Come Home Againe How A View of the Present State of Ireland outlines a strategy of cultural colonisation How Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o’s ideas help us understand what’s happening in Ireland 🔗 Related Episodes The Bata Scóir and Its International Reach https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/an-bata-sc%C3%B3ir-and-its-international-reach/id1813637585?i=1000710662443 How One Town with Four Names Maps Different Irelands ☘️ Support the Podcast If you’d like to support Undercover Irish and get access to bonus content, early releases, and behind-the-scenes material: 👉 https://www.patreon.com/UndercoverIrish 📲 Follow & Share If you found this episode interesting, share it with someone who loves Irish history, language, or place names—it really helps the podcast grow. /episode/index/show/4092ed17-c4ef-4c8e-86d8-89689cf79c0e/id/40980150

Cork vs Tipperary 1741 — The First Match Report Was A Poem in Irish 04/17/2026

Cork vs Tipperary 1741 — The First Match Report Was A Poem in Irish 🎙️ Show Notes LINK TO POEM https://www.patreon.com/posts/155883354?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_fan&utm_content=web_share Cork vs Tipperary 1741 — The First Match Report Was A Poem in Irish This Sunday, Cork and Tipperary meet again. But their rivalry goes back much further than modern hurling. In 1741, one of the earliest recorded clashes between the two was captured—not in a newspaper, not in English—but in a poem, written in Irish. In this episode of Undercover Irish, we explore that poem as one of the first “match reports” in hurling history. What does it tell us about the game? How did people understand rivalry, identity, and competition nearly 300 years ago? And how much of that still feels familiar today? From challenge and conflict, to momentum and belief, to respect in defeat—this isn’t just a story about a match. It’s a story about how sport is remembered. 🧠 What You’ll Hear The story of a 1741 Cork vs Tipperary clash How an Irish-language poem preserves one of the earliest match reports Why hurling was described in the language of warfare The role of identity—from the Barrys to modern county teams The psychology of sport: “taking the light from belief” Modern echoes, including: The 1919 Cork jersey story Bloody Sunday 1920 Babs Keating and the 1990 “donkeys don’t win derbies” quote 📍 Places Mentioned Ráth Chormaic (Rathcormac), Co. Cork Páirc Uí Chaoimh Semple Stadium 🗣️ Key Irish Phrase “tug solus bhur gcreidimh dhíbhse” → “we took the light from your belief” A powerful way of describing the moment a game turns. 🎯 Key Idea The jerseys have changed. The field has changed. But the story hasn’t. 📩 Follow / Support If you enjoyed this episode, follow Undercover Irish for more stories exploring the Irish language, history, and culture in unexpected places. /episode/index/show/4092ed17-c4ef-4c8e-86d8-89689cf79c0e/id/40916150

How The Great Hunger Brought Irish Sporting Identity Abroad; Liverpool, Celtic And More 04/16/2026

GAA Club Names Explained: Mythology, Rebels & Irish Identity 04/14/2026

The Mountains of Pomeroy: A Love Song from a Broken Land 04/08/2026

How One Town with Four Names Maps Different Irelands 03/27/2026

The Story Behind Óró, Sé do Bheatha Bhaile: From Jacobite Song to 1916 Rebel Anthem 03/16/2026

The Story Behind Óró, Sé do Bheatha Bhaile: From Jacobite Song to 1916 Rebel Anthem The Story Behind Óró, Sé do Bheatha ’Bhaile: From Jacobite Song to 1916 Rebel Anthem One of the most famous Irish rebel songs, Óró, Sé do Bheatha 'Bhaile, is closely associated with the Easter Rising and the revolutionary poetry of Pádraig Pearse. But the story of the song actually begins centuries earlier. In this episode of Undercover Irish, we explore how one melody travelled through three different political movements, transforming from a Jacobite welcome song into one of the best-known Irish rebel anthems. Originally, the song celebrated Charles Edward Stuart, known in Irish as Searlas Óg, during the Jacobite Rising of 1745. Irish supporters of the Stuart cause saw him as a potential liberator from the Protestant Ascendancy. Over time, the melody survived while the lyrics evolved, reflecting changing political struggles in Ireland. By the early twentieth century, Pearse rewrote the song entirely. In his version, the hero becomes Gráinne Mhaol, the legendary Gaelic leader who returns from across the sea with armed volunteers to free Ireland. Along the way, the episode explores some fascinating pieces of Irish language and cultural history, including: The meaning of the chorus “Óró, sé do bheatha ’bhaile” Ireland personified as the “sorrowful woman” in Irish poetry The phrase “an dord Féinne”, the roaring war-cry of the legendary warriors of Fionn mac Cumhaill How ancient Irish war horns influenced the imagery of the song Why Pearse wanted a marching song for the Irish Volunteers How the English word “slogan” actually comes from Irish (sluagh-ghairm, meaning a battle cry) We also look at the events of Easter Week 1916, Pearse’s role in the Rising, and his execution in Kilmainham Gaol, which helped transform the rebellion into a turning point in Irish history. As a bonus, supporters on Patreon can see the lyrics written in Cló Gaelach, the traditional Irish script used during the Gaelic revival, along with a full line-by-line explanation of Pearse’s lyrics. One melody. Three centuries. A song that welcomed revolution more than once. Topics Covered History of Óró, Sé do Bheatha ’Bhaile The Jacobite movement in Ireland Charles Edward Stuart and the 1745 Rising Pádraig Pearse and the Easter Rising Irish rebel songs and political symbolism The meaning of “an dord Féinne” Irish language and Gaelic revival culture The origin of the word slogan Patreon Bonus Patreon supporters get access to: The lyrics written in Cló Gaelach https://www.patreon.com/UndercoverIrish Follow Undercover Irish Exploring Irish history, language, and culture through the stories behind words, songs, and traditions. /episode/index/show/4092ed17-c4ef-4c8e-86d8-89689cf79c0e/id/40500265

Why Britain Still Owns Part of Cyprus — And What Ireland Has To Do With It 03/03/2026

Why Britain Still Owns Part of Cyprus — And What Ireland Has To Do With It 🎙️ Why Britain Still Owns Part of Cyprus — And What Ireland Has To Do With It When Cyprus appears in the headlines during a Middle East/West Asia war, most people ask: Why is Britain operating from there? The answer begins long before today’s conflict — and it doesn’t begin in Cyprus. It begins in Ireland. In this episode, we explore how Ireland’s partition and the retention of the Treaty Ports in 1921 reveal a broader imperial strategy — one that reappears in Cyprus in 1960, when Britain granted independence but retained sovereign military bases at Akrotiri and Dhekelia. This isn’t a conspiracy. It’s a pattern. From the Government of Ireland Act (1920) to the Anglo-Irish Treaty (1921), from the Treaty Ports to the Sovereign Base Areas, we trace how partition and retained military footholds shaped two islands — and how those decisions still echo in today’s geopolitics. Because sometimes empire doesn’t disappear. Sometimes it leaves behind: A line. A base. A constitutional fault line. In This Episode Why Britain still controls territory in Cyprus The Government of Ireland Act (1920) and partition The Anglo-Irish Treaty (1921) and the Treaty Ports Why Ireland didn’t control its full coastline until 1938 Cyprus under British rule (1878–1960) The Zurich & London Agreements (1959–1960) The creation of the Sovereign Base Areas The 1974 Turkish invasion and the Green Line How “minority protection” becomes political architecture What sovereignty really means Key Dates 1801 – Act of Union 1920 – Government of Ireland Act 1921 – Anglo-Irish Treaty 1922 – Irish Free State established 1938 – Treaty Ports returned 1878 – Britain assumes control of Cyprus 1960 – Cyprus independence & Sovereign Base Areas retained 1974 – Turkish invasion & effective partition 1983 – Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus declared Why This Matters Now Cyprus remains strategically vital in modern conflicts. But its importance isn’t new. It’s the continuation of a withdrawal strategy first visible in Ireland — where independence came with conditions, and sovereignty arrived in stages. Understanding Ireland helps us understand Cyprus. And understanding both helps us understand how empires leave. Support the Podcast If you enjoy Undercover Irish, please: Follow / Subscribe Leave a rating or review Share the episode with someone who thinks partition was inevitable /episode/index/show/4092ed17-c4ef-4c8e-86d8-89689cf79c0e/id/40300445

Henry Browne Hayes: From Vernon Mount to Vaucluse (Part 2) 02/14/2026

Henry Browne Hayes: Power, Privilege and The Abduction of Mary Pike (Part 1) 02/14/2026

Henry Browne Hayes: Power, Privilege and The Abduction of Mary Pike (Part 1) 🎙️ Henry Browne Hayes: Power, Privilege & the Abduction of Mary Pike Undercover Irish – Episode 1 In late 18th-century Cork, a wealthy magistrate named Henry Browne Hayes stood on the quay and watched Irish prisoners being transported to Australia. A decade later, he would join them. This episode explores one of the most extraordinary criminal cases in Irish history — the 1797 abduction of Mary Pike, a wealthy Cork heiress, and the fall of a man who believed the law existed to serve him. Set against the backdrop of the Protestant Ascendancy, the Penal Laws, and the social hierarchy of pre-Union Ireland, this is a story about power, gender, class, and what happened when privilege finally collided with consequence. 🔎 In This Episode Life in Cork under the Protestant Ascendancy Transportation from Ireland to Australia in the 18th century The case of Michael Lamb — poverty and exile Vernon Mount and the architecture of elite power Financial decline and social pressure among Ascendancy families The abduction of Mary Pike in 1797 The culture of “abduction clubs” among wealthy Irish men The pursuit led by Cooper Penrose The role of barber Coghlan and the Grand Parade reward houses The courtroom battle led by John Philpot Curran The precedent of Strange & Byrne The guilty verdict The sentence: transportation for life ⚖️ The Crime That Shocked Cork Mary Pike was not just any young woman. She was one of the wealthiest heiresses in Cork — connected to powerful mercantile families. When Henry Browne Hayes abducted her in an attempt to force a marriage, he assumed status would shield him. He was wrong. The case electrified Cork society. It raised uncomfortable questions about class, entitlement, and the treatment of women in 18th-century Ireland. If this could happen to an heiress — what happened to women without wealth or influence? 🏛️ Ireland Under the Protestant Ascendancy This episode also explores the wider social order that shaped Hayes: Land confiscation and elite control The Penal Laws The justice system’s uneven application The intersection of gender and class Henry Browne Hayes was not simply an individual criminal. He was a product of a political system that concentrated power — and protected its own. ⚓ Transportation to Australia Long before Hayes became a convict, he oversaw the transportation of others. Irish prisoners — many convicted for poverty-driven crimes — were sent to New South Wales as part of Britain’s expanding penal empire. In one of history’s sharpest ironies, Hayes would later be sentenced to the same fate. 📍 Locations Mentioned Vernon Mount, Cork Grand Parade (Sráid an Chapaill Buí), Cork Christ Church, South Main Street Shandon Street Early transport ships from Ireland to Australia 🎧 Why This Story Matters This is not just a tale of scandal. It is a case study in how power behaves when challenged. It forces us to ask: Was the law applied equally? Did wealth soften consequences? How were working-class women treated in the same society? And how much of that logic survives today? 🔔 Next Episode Henry Browne Hayes is found guilty and sentenced to transportation for life. But exile is not the end of his story. Next time: Australia, Freemasonry, the Rum Rebellion, a shipwreck in the South Atlantic — and the long shadow of Mary Pike. If you enjoy Undercover Irish and want to support independent Irish history storytelling, you can support the show on Patreon. /episode/index/show/4092ed17-c4ef-4c8e-86d8-89689cf79c0e/id/40107335

Courtaparteen: Ireland’s Lost Village Hidden in a Forest 01/29/2026

Spancil Hill: An Irish Ballad And The Heartbreak Of Emigration 01/16/2026

Spancil Hill: An Irish Ballad And The Heartbreak Of Emigration 👉 Support the show on Patreon: patreon.com/undercoverirish 📸 Follow on Instagram: @undercoverirish “Last night as I lay dreaming of pleasant days gone by…” That opening line has echoed for more than a century — from kitchens and pubs to ships, emigrant halls, and even the stands of Celtic Park. In this episode of Undercover Irish, we explore Spancil Hill, one of the most powerful emigrant ballads in the Irish tradition — not just as a song, but as a piece of living history. Ballads like this are history from the ground up. They preserve emotion, memory, and ordinary lives that never made it into official records. Using Spancil Hill as our guide, this episode looks at the aisling (dream-vision) tradition in Irish culture, the reality of forced economic emigration under colonial rule, and the folk process that turned one young man’s private grief into a song known across the world. Along the way, we uncover the real story behind the lyrics: how “Johnny” was really Michael Considine how “Ned the farmer’s daughter” was actually Mary MacNamara and how a dream of home became the only return an emigrant ever made Michael Considine left County Clare in the 1870s and died in California at just 23 years old — never returning home. But his song did. This episode is about longing, loss, and why some histories survive not in books, but in music. 🔎 In This Episode Why ballads matter as cultural memory Songs as oral history and emotional archives The aisling tradition in Irish storytelling Emigration as a product of colonial and economic pressure The real people behind Spancil Hill How folk songs change — and what gets lost along the way 🎶 Recommended Listening Spancil Hill — traditional versions Recordings by The Dubliners, Christy Moore... Not every emigrant got a monument. Some got a melody. Pic: Of The Green Brigade TIFO at Celtic Park. /episode/index/show/4092ed17-c4ef-4c8e-86d8-89689cf79c0e/id/39757945

Roy Keane And Bishop Brennan; Guerrilla Gaeilge 2 01/11/2026

Hunger, Gorta, Troscadh: Cultural Memory, Political Resistance, and Brehon Law 01/03/2026

Undercover Irish

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