Highlights From Talking History

On this episode of Talking History, to mark the anniversary of the birth of George Harrison, we're looking at the music, history and legacy of The Beatles: the band that changed popular culture forever. Patrick Geoghegan is joined by Dr Holly Tessler of the University of Liverpool; Roag Best of the Liverpool Beatles Museum; Beatles superfan Terrie Colman-Black; and Kevin McManus, Head of UNESCO City of Music for Liverpool.

In this episode of Talking History, Patrick Geoghegan reflects on the symbolism of Stormont and what we can learn about Northern Irish politics from studying the building, with Dr Suzanne O'Neill, adjunct assistant professor at the Department of Classics at Trinity College Dublin; why the Treaty is incorrectly blamed for partition, with author and historian Joe Connell; and the lessons we can learn about leadership by looking at historical figures, with Prof Martin Gutmann of the Lucerne School of Business and author of The Unseen Leader: How History Can Help Us Rethink Leadership.

'The Liberator', former Lord Mayor of Dublin, and Kerryman Daniel O'Connell is the subject of this week's episode of Talking History. Joining Patrick Geoghegan to discuss him is Professor Maurice Bric, Emeritus Professor of History at UCD and director of the Daniel O'Connell Summer School; Conor Dodd, a historian for Dublin Cemeteries Trust who manages its heritage and education department within the Experience Glasnevin visitor centre in Glasnevin Cemetery; Professor Christine Kinealy, Director of Ireland's Great Hunger Institute and Professor of History at Quinnipiac University; and Brian Crowley, OPW National Monuments Service.

In this episode of Talking History, Patrick Geoghegan explores the life and times of Roman emperor Septimius Severus. He's joined by Dr David Woods, Head of the Department of Classics at UCC; Prof Mark Humphries, Professor of Ancient History, Swansea University; and Dr Rebecca Usherwood, Assistant Professor in Late Antique and Early Byzantine Studies at Trinity College Dublin.

In this episode, we're finding out about the Lithuanian-born solicitor who was the legal advisor to Michael Collins, Arthur Griffith and Constance Markievicz, with Dr Barry Whelan; we'll also hear about Britain's very first women's movement, with Dr Susannah Gibson; and the changing world of Irish barristers after independence, with Dr Niamh Howlin.

On this episode of Talking History, we're looking at Gladstone and Ireland, and finding out how the Grand Old Man became a convert to Home Rule and tried to bring in justice for Ireland. Patrick Geoghegan is joined by Prof Matthew Kelly, Professor of Modern History, University of Northumbria; Dr Andrea Russell, Warden of Gladstone's Library; and Dr Caoimhe Nic Dháibhéid, Faculty Director of Education for Arts and Humanities and Senior Lecturer in Modern History at the University of Sheffield.

This week on Talking History: Patrick explores the abdication of King Edward VIII with Adrian Phillips, author of 'The King Who Had to Go: Edward VIII, Mrs. Simpson, and the Hidden Politics of the Abdication Crisis' as well as 'The First Royal Media War: Edward VIII, the Abdication and the Press'; journalist and author, Emily Hourican; and Cathal Brennan, co-presenter of 'The Irish History Show Podcast'.

In this episode of Talking History, we explore the history of Dublin in books - O'Connell Street, its statues, monuments and buildings, with Nicola Pierce, author of ‘O’Connell Street – The History & Life of Dublin’s Iconic Street’, how we ended up with the Spire with historian Donal Fallon, and we'll also bring you the history of rugby in Leinster from the 19th century to present day, with historian Dr David Doolin.

In this episode of Talking History, we explore the life and music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and debate whether he was the greatest composer of all time, and assess his remarkable legacy.

In this Christmas episode of Talking History, we're visiting the White House to find out about Christmas traditions and tales there from the 19th century to the present day. We'll find out how Jackie Kennedy reshaped the holiday and how different presidents and their families viewed the festivities. Joining us is Lina Mann, Historian at The White House Historical Association.

In this episode of Talking History: the remarkable life of Mary-Jane O'Donovan Rossa and how she helped to secure the legacy of her Fenian husband; the mysterious logic of the world's first writing systems; and we'll explore Newgrange and why it was built and whether there might be a second chamber still to be discovered.

Patrick Geoghegan examines the life and death of Theobald Wolfe Tone - on the 225th anniversary of the 1798 Rebellion - and debates his remarkable legacy. He's joined by Professor Tom Bartlett, Emeritus Professor of Irish History, University of Aberdeen; Dr Catriona Kennedy, senior lecturer in the history department and member of the Centre for Eighteenth Century Studies at the University of York; Wolfe Tone relative William Atkins; and Dr Sylvie Kleinman, Visiting Research Fellow at the Department of History, Trinity College Dublin.

In this episode of Talking History: the end of the Hundred Years War and the pivotal role played by the 17-year-old Joan of Arc, with Jonathan Sumption; corruption and skullduggery in the Irish House of Commons in the 17th century with Dr Brid McGrath; and the history of the RCSI with Dr Ronan Kelly.

In this episode of Talking History, we're debating Ireland and empire as we explore how being a colony shaped our history and our own involvement in imperial pursuits. Joining Patrick Geoghegan is: Professor Jane Ohlmeyer, Erasmus Smith's Professor of Modern History at Trinity College Dublin, and author of ‘Making Empire: Ireland, Imperialism and the Early Modern World’; Professor Brian McGing, Emeritus Professor of Greek at TCD; and Professor Micheál Ó Siochrú, Professor in Modern History and Head of the School of Histories and Humanities, Trinity College Dublin.

Was Napoleon a ruthless tyrant or the greatest Frenchman of all time? Patrick Geoghegan looks at his life, legacy and legend with Dr Sylvie Kleinman, who assisted in the establishment of the Napoleon Society of Ireland; Hugh Gough, Emeritus Professor of History at University College Dublin; Dr Rafe Blaufarb, specialist in Revolutionary and Napoleonic France and professor of history, director and Ben Weider Eminent Scholar in Napoleonic Studies at Florida State University; and Dr Joseph Clarke, Associate Professor in European History, Trinity College Dublin.

In this episode of Talking History, Patrick Geoghegan explores how revolutionary ideas were translated into landscape design in the 18th century, looking at the houses and homes of figures such as George Washington and Lord Edward Fitzgerald, with Finola O’Kane, landscape historian, architect, and professor at the School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy, UCD. We'll also be finding out about the fight for change in Britain with Preeti Dhillon, researcher, writer and historian, and uncovering the contradictions in economic nationalism around the world, with Marvin Suesse, Assistant Professor of Economics at Trinity College Dublin and author of ‘The Nationalist Dilemma’.

Coming up on this week's episode of Talking History: astronaut Tim Peake joins Patrick Geoghegan to explore the history of astronauts in space; we hear about James VI's relationship with Irish policy from Prof Clare Jackson from the University of Cambridge; and historian Donal Fallon shares the story of the Phoenix Park lamplighters.

On this episode of Talking History: Patrick Geoghegan hosts a special Halloween edition where we find out about how Dracula was created, the character and the book's remarkable longevity, and why we have such a fascination with horror. Joining Patrick to discuss is the great-grandnephew of Bram Stoker, Dacre Stoker.We also trace back the Irish origins of Halloween with Dr. Catherine Healy, Historian-in-residence, EPIC Museum.

Marking a new NGI exhibition on artist Sarah Purser, who played a pivotal role in the development of modern Irish art, Patrick Geoghegan explores her life, work and legacy alongside panellists Dr Caroline Campbell, Director of the National Gallery of Ireland, Dónal Maguire, Curator of the Sarah Purser exhibition (and former Curator of the ESB Centre for the Study of Irish Art and Keeper of Art and Industry, National Museum of Ireland), and Clodagh Finn, journalist and author of 'Through Her Eyes: a new history of Ireland in 21 women'.

On this episode of Talking History: host Patrick Geoghegan delves into the shelves of the National Archives with its director Orlaith McBride; follows the trials and triumphs of building Adare Manor with author, archivist and architectural historian Anna-Maria Hajba; and charts the story of one of the most ambitious, and one of the most contentious, international organizations ever created, the EU, with Professor Dermot Hodson, Professor of Political Economy and Digital Technologies, Loughborough University in the UK.