The Irish people are a nation of talkers. There's nothing we love more than spinning a good yarn. With that in mind, we've compiled a list of some of our favourite podcasts for you to listen to and experience the 'gift of the gab' for yourself.
Here are 10 podcasts varying in topics from history, to tourism, and genealogy to climate change, so there's bound to be something for everyone.
Produced in Ireland, about Ireland, these podcasts explore the culture and craic of Irish people in a format that is accessible and easily digested, regardless of your current level of knowledge of Ireland and its people.
Running at about forty minutes every week, the Documentary on One is the biggest arena in Ireland to which listeners can tune in to hear radio documentaries. The 'Documentary on One' unit is currently the most successful radio department in the world - having collected over 200 national and international awards since 2008. Aside from its radio broadcasts, Documentary On One is also one of the most popular Irish podcasts. Their website, which has the most popular online presence of any programme strand across all of RTÉ Radio, now contains over 1,500 documentaries - easily the largest free online archive anywhere in the world.
Documentary on One productions are radio stories about real life. It's all about ideas, life, events, experiences, perspectives but most importantly - stories. Our fare is pretty eclectic and covers a diverse range of topics including life, sport, music, fun, family, health, politics, challenge, death and much much more.
The Documentary on One explores mostly Irish stories about mostly Irish people and events.
2. Irish History Podcast with Fin Dwyer
The Irish History Podcast brings you on a journey through Ireland’s fascinating past. This podcast is not just dates but an enthralling account of Ireland’s history, looking at daily life through the ages. The show is currently focused on the Great Irish Famine of the 1840s, while the archive contains the stories of Ireland’s ancient High Kings, Viking raiders and the Norman Invasion of the Middle Ages. The story of the Great Famine has proved the most popular to date,
Between 1845 and 1851, during one of the worst Famine’s in modern history once million Irish people died. The podcast looks at how this happened and who was responsible. The series also tells the story of the survivors. From rebellion to riots and evictions to emigration when you download the show you embark on a fascinating and vivid journey to the world your ancestors lived in. These events not only changed Ireland but also numerous other countries across the glove. Irish famine emigrants established communities in the USA, Britain, Canada, Australia, and further afield. This series is the story of your ancestors who lived through world changing events.
3. History of Ireland by Kevin Dolan
The Irish Republic’s foundation is one hell of a story, complete with spying secretaries, pig thieves, politicians, poets, school teachers and the world’s biggest empire. In quick, bite-sized episodes, this podcast is going to explore the causes, characters and aftermath of the Irish War of Independence.
Climate change is a man-made problem with a feminist solution! Join former Irish President Mary Robinson and comedian Maeve Higgins in this uplifting and fascinating new podcast, and meet a host of game-changing women fighting to save all our lives.
Behind the wall of grammar homework lies the amazing world of the Irish language, and Darach (that @theirishfor guy) wants to take you there.
With a crack team of the internet’s soundest Irish speakers, Darach will explore topics like differences between the Irish and English versions of the Constitution, silent letters, Gaeilge and technology, how new words get added to the dictionary and which old words have fallen out.
It’s an all slammer, no grammar half hour.
6. Herstory
HERSTORY is every woman's story.
Founded in 2016, the Herstory movement tells the stories of modern, historic, and mythic women.
The discovery that sparked a movement In contrast to the handful of women we learn about in Irish schools, Herstory discovered that there are over one thousand fascinating women featured in the Dictionary of Irish Biography. The amnesia of women’s stories is not just an Irish problem - this is a global phenomenon.
7. An Irishman abroad with Jarlath Regan
In each episode, comedian Jarlath Regan is joined by a well known Irish write, actor, performer, sportsperson, or public figure to discuss their life and shared experience of Ireland and abroad.
The Genealogy radio show is a long running radio show spanning 10 series to date that goes out weekly. The Genealogy Radio Show is presented by Lorna Moloney and various guest presenters week to week and aired from RCB in beautiful Kilkee, Co. Clare. There are now over 10 series of podcasts available and the shows focus on telling stories about family, genealogy research and assistance in tracing your Irish roots.
Every week you can expect to find a whole host of episodes focussed on the history of Irish families both great and small, as well as engaging episodes on the practise of genealogy itself, which are invaluable to anyone who wants to conduct some research into the history of their family. The topics covered on the show are as varied as they are interesting, and you are sure to find something that that you like in the ten series on offer at Radio Corca Baiscinn.
Lorna is a Professional Genealogist and Family Historian. She is a longstanding member of the Association of Professional Genealogist and is now a board member of the Virtual Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogist 2020. Lorna is the Resident Genealogist for Dromoland Castle in County Clare. Lorna worked as Project Genealogist for George Boole *200 genealogy project for University College Cork and is an excellent researcher for Irish family histories.
Travelling in Ireland podcast. Join Jody Halstead as she chats with the people you’ll meet as you travel through Ireland.Jody explores topics such as tracing your Irish family history, planning your trip to Ireland, and what you need to know to prepare for arriving on the shores of the Emerald Isle.
10. Ireland Loves
This podcast is dedicated to Ireland’s history and stories. It is part of Ireland Loves, which is a series of channels promoting the best of Ireland. Listen to tales from 1916, stories from the ancient Celtic world of interviews with Ireland’s leading voices.
The music for each episode is written, produced and performed by Ryhan O’Halloran.
There should be plenty here to keep even the most avid podcast fan occupied.
Do you know of an interesting Irish Podcast that is not featured here? Let us know on our facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/IrelandXO
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