Best King S Church London Podcasts (2025)

1
Coffin Ships: What Famine Emigrants Endured [Classic Replay] 45:54

19m ago45:54

45:54

By 1855, over two million Irish people had fled Ireland to escape the devastation of the Great Hunger. The journeys of these emigrants were often harrowing, and the term "Coffin Ship" has become synonymous with their perilous crossings of the Atlantic. While the term evokes images of misery, what was the actual experience like? This episode, origin…

1
A History of Beer in Ireland 30:10

6h ago30:10

30:10

Being hard drinkers is one of the most common stereotypes of Irish people around the world. While Irish consumption of alcohol is nowhere near the highest in Europe, there is no question beer and pubs are deeply ingrained in our culture. In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Christina Wade, who recently published a book on the history of beer in Irel…

1
The Bloody Summer of 1170: An Epic of Siege, Invasion & Conquest in Medieval Ireland 1:01:30

16d ago1:01:30

1:01:30

In May 1170, a small group of mercenaries landed in a remote corner of County Wexford, setting the stage for a dramatic chapter in Irish history. Just fourteen miles away, in the medieval city of Waterford, their arrival sparked intense debate and uncertainty. How would the city react to this looming threat? What unfolded was a real-life medieval e…

1
1798, Magdalene Laundries, and Exploring an Irish bandit Country - Keeping You in the Loop! 4:53

14d ago4:53

4:53

Why is there no show this week? Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/irishhistory. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1
Michael Collins: History Masked by Myths and Conspiracies 42:18

27d ago42:18

42:18

Over a century after his death, Michael Collins remains one of Irish history's most iconic figures. Yet, his life and untimely death are still shrouded in myth and conspiracy. In this compelling episode, I am joined by historians Dr. Brian Hanley and John Dorney to peel back the layers of Collins' life to reveal the true history behind the myths. W…

501
Irish Emigrants in Tsarist Russia: A History 40:12

28d ago40:12

40:12

Margaretta Eagar is a little-known figure in Irish history. In the early 20th century, she worked as a governess to the last Romanov Tsars of Russia. Eagar was just one of thousands of Irish people who emigrated to Imperial Russia. In this episode, historian Angela Byrne joins me to discuss why these Irish emigrants went east. Our fascinating conve…

601
St Brigid: Pagan Goddess or Christian Saint? 12:57

1M ago12:57

12:57

St. Brigid is one of Ireland's most well-known saints. While Christian churches have experienced a crisis of faith in recent decades, she seems to buck the trend. People of all faiths and none can identify with this figure. In this short episode, I explore the history of St. Brigid, asking if she was a Christian saint or a pagan goddess and why she…

1
Hitler's Irish Translator: Nazi Sympathiser or Following Orders? 38:47

1M ago38:47

38:47

In March 1939, James Murphy, a Cork man, became a wanted figure in Nazi Germany. As Europe hurtled towards war, Murphy published an unedited English translation of Hitler’s notorious book, Mein Kampf, which revealed Hitler’s long-held intentions to invade Eastern Europe. However, Murphy's story is complicated. Often presented as an opponent of the …

1
The Irish Catholic Church: How did it become so powerful? 38:37

2M ago38:37

38:37

Over the past three decades, the Catholic Church has been engulfed by numerous sexual abuse scandals and accusations of power abuse. This has prompted many to question how it initially gained such influence in Ireland. In this podcast, I delve into the history of the Catholic Church within modern Irish society. While its influence is often linked t…

1
Winston Churchill: The Irish View on a British Legend 32:50

2M ago32:50

32:50

Winston Churchill is one of the most famous figures of the 20th century. Hailed in Britain as the man who won the war, his legacy in Ireland is far more complex. In this episode, I delve into history behind the celebrated war hero who saved Britain who was also a staunch imperialist with a controversial past. Join me as I navigate the contrasting n…

1
Irish Lives in Victorian London: History and Influence 44:45

3M ago44:45

44:45

Victorian London was a city of immense wealth, but also shocking poverty. The historian Jerry White described it as "a metropolis of wealth, grandeur, culture, and sophistication alongside a hell of starving, degrading, and heart-rending poverty." The largest city in the world at the time, London was also home to tens of thousands of Irish emigrant…

1
Why Didn't Irish People Eat Fish During the Great Hunger? 30:54

4M ago30:54

30:54

During the Great Hunger of the 1840s, one million Irish perished from starvation and hunger-related diseases. However, Ireland is surrounded by some of the best fishing grounds in Europe. This begs the question: why didn't the Irish turn to the sea to survive? Some have argued that our ancestors didn't know how to fish or that they didn't like fish…

1
Why Was Life Expectancy So Low in Ireland Until 1900? 37:25

4M ago37:25

37:25

Life expectancy in Ireland has doubled over the past 200 years, but why was it so low for so long? In this podcast, I delve into the factors that kept life expectancy down in Ireland's history and what those numbers truly mean. Did people really only live to 40 in the past? During the Great Hunger, life expectancy plummeted to just 20 years—what do…

1
1719: The Irish Rescue of the Polish Princess Bride 32:12

4M ago32:12

32:12

In 1719, the 17-year-old Polish Princess Maria Clementina Sobieska was seized by the Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI. While the move shocked many in Europe, in the following months a group of Irish exiles plotted a daring rescue of Maria Clementina. This led to a dramatic 400-kilometer chase across 18th-century Europe. In this episode, I am joined by…

1
Societal Collapse: Did It Happen in Irish History? 31:52

4M ago31:52

31:52

In this episode, I explore the ruins of a Temple and the intriguing concept of societal collapse and its relevance to Irish history. Often depicted as dramatic and apocalyptic, societal collapse is a topic that has captured the imagination of historians and the public alike. But how accurate is this narrative especially when applied to Ireland's pa…

1
Your Prehistoric Ancestors: More Sophisticated than you think! 31:16

5M ago31:16

31:16

Check out my new podcast 'Transatlantic: An Irish American History Podcast' with Damian Shiels https://linktr.ee/transatlanticpod In this captivating episode, I explore the enigmatic world of prehistoric Ireland. I am joined by Professor Gabriel Cooney to discuss the lives of Ireland's earliest inhabitants. Our conversation challenges the stereotyp…

1
Stigma, Famine & Emigration: A History of Mental Health in Ireland 32:54

5M ago32:54

32:54

By the late 1950s, over 20,000 individuals in the Republic of Ireland were confined in asylums—a staggering figure equivalent to 1 in every 133 Irish people at the time. This episode delves into how such a situation arose. Were Irish people inherently more susceptible to mental health issues, or was there something else at play? Centered around a s…

1
The Dirtiest City in Europe? Why Did Typhoid Thrive in Victorian Dublin? 30:20

5M ago30:20

30:20

In 1900, the life expectancy in Dublin was a mere 49 years, a stark indicator of the city's dire living conditions. The Victorian city was notorious for its filth and disease, which proved an ideal breeding ground for Typhoid. This episode explores how Dublin battled with this deadly disease for decades. This journey takes you through the Victorian…

1
Emily Anderson: The Forgotten Irish Woman of Bletchley Park 41:24

5M ago41:24

41:24

In this captivating episode of the Irish History Podcast, Jackie Ni Chionna joins me to discuss the remarkable but forgotten Irish woman, Emily Anderson. Emily was an Irish code breaker who played a pivotal role at Bletchley Park during World War II. Despite her significant contributions to the Allied war effort, Emily has been forgotten in the wid…

1
The Making of a Ghost Town - The Rise and Fall of the Irish Kings of Cotton 34:33

6M ago34:33

34:33

In the 1850s, Portlaw was Ireland's most successful town. The population had grown tenfold in the previous 30 years. The local Cotton Mill, built by the Malcomson Family, provided work for thousands of people. However, by the early 20th century, everything had changed. The Cotton Mill was silent, and many of the houses had been abandoned. This epis…

1
Who was the first Irish person to cross the Atlantic Ocean? 44:29

6M ago44:29

44:29

I am delighted to share the very first episode of Transatlantic: An Irish American History Podcast. It's a new show I am making with historian Damian Shiels which looks at Irish-American History. It's separate from the Irish History Podcast and Season 1 will be released each Monday. You can subscribe to Transatlantic: An Irish American History Podc…

1
Resisting Nazi Occupation: Ireland's Forgotten World War II Heroes 41:03

6M ago41:03

41:03

John Keany, Monica de Wichfeld, and Delia Murphy are not well-known figures, yet they are some of the most extraordinary people in modern Irish history. During the Second World War, they found themselves in Nazi-occupied Europe and took extraordinary risks to resist the Nazis. Some paid with their lives. This podcast tells their stories. The episod…

1
Ireland in World War II: Neutrality, Nazi Collaborators or Secret Allies? 37:28

7M ago37:28

37:28

At the outbreak of the Second World War, Ireland adopted a position of neutrality. However, throughout the conflict, senior figures in the United Kingdom and the United States suspected the government in Dublin harboured Nazi sympathies. While the Royal Navy believed German U-boats were refuelling along the West Coast, actions taken by the Irish go…

1
The Mystery Nazi Flight to Ireland - Who was really on board? 23:19

7M ago23:19

23:19

In this riveting episode I delve into one of the most intriguing and lesser-known stories of World War II: "The Mystery Nazi Flight to Ireland." On May 5th 1945, a German bomber unexpectedly landed in Ireland, sparking a media frenzy and wild speculation. Newspapers across the globe sensationalized the event, suggesting that Adolf Hitler and other …

1
Exploring a 5,000 year old Tomb 31:00

7M ago31:00

31:00

Portal Tombs are scattered across the Irish countryside. These monuments, around 5,000 years old, have been sites of ritual for millennia. Generation after generation, while spiritual beliefs changed, these ancient sites often remained sacred. In this podcast, I explore two of these tombs to understand how and why these mysterious tombs were built,…

1
The History of Guinness Explained: A more controversial beer than you think! 30:00

7M ago30:00

30:00

Guinness is the most iconic Irish brand of all time. A large part of its success is based on a history the company has carefully crafted around the beer. However like all histories, the actual history of Guinness is complicated. In this episode, I am joined by Eoin Tabb and DJ Walsh to explore some of the more controversial aspects of the history o…

1
Sex Magic, Divorce & Inforcing the Patriarchy - Brehon Law Explained [Classic Re-Release] 29:31

8M ago29:31

29:31

Brehon Law, the ancient legal system that ruled Ireland during the Middle Ages, is often romanticised as egalitarian and even feminist. But, in this riveting episode, Dr. Gillian Kenny shatters these myths. Join us as we delve deep into a world where sex magic and slavery were prevalent, and discover how Brehon Law actually reinforced a patriarchal…

1
1324: Ireland’s First Witchcraft Trial 49:00

8M ago49:00

49:00

Step back to 1324 and listen to the chilling story of Ireland’s first Witchcraft Trial in my latest episode. In 1324, the Bishop of Ossory, Richard Ledrede, accused Alice Kyteler, a wealthy and influential woman, of witchcraft and heresy. Alongside Alice's story, we explore the tragic fate of Petronilla de Meath, the first person in Ireland to be e…

1
Bonus: Legends of the Past - The History Behind Mythology (with Blindboy) 55:17

8M ago55:17

55:17

What does mythology teach us about the past? Where do these stories come from? In this podcast, I am joined by Blindboy to explore the origins of mythology and what it can reveal about history. Was there a Great Flood? Are these and other myths actually distant memories of ancient events? Our conversation takes us back thousands of years, from Anci…

1
Three Days in July Part III - The Hidden War, British Psy-Ops & The Troubles 54:22

8M ago54:22

54:22

In the early 1970s, the British Army engaged in psychological operations (psy-ops) and black propaganda to cover up their actions during the Falls Curfew. This episode reveals the shadowy tactics used to manipulate public perception and obscure the truth. In this third and final part of Three Days in July, I uncover how the security forces manipula…

1
Three Days in July Part II: The Battle of the Falls 37:05

9M ago37:05

37:05

On July 3rd 1970, months of rising tensions in Belfast erupted as the British Army laid siege to thousands of homes in the Lower Falls, a large working-class community. This event, known as the Battle of the Falls, became a key moment in the Troubles. While this is a well-known episode in the conflict, this podcast focuses on the forgotten story of…

1
Three Days in July Part I: A Forgotten Victim of The Troubles 44:55

9M ago44:55

44:55

In the summer of 1970, Belfast stood on the precipice of war. By June, months of rising tensions burst into violence, setting the stage for one of the most controversial British military operations of the Troubles – the Falls Curfew. This three-day siege of a large nationalist working-class community marked a point of no return for many. During the…

1
Beyond the Famine: A History of the Potato in Ireland 27:50

9M ago27:50

27:50

Throughout history, bread has consistently been one of the most popular foods across the world. For two centuries, Ireland was an exception. Indeed, by the early 19th century, some communities in the west of Ireland had lost all knowledge of how to bake bread. This was down to the remarkable history of the potato in Ireland. Our ancestors had an in…

1
Lord Haw Haw - Ireland's Most Notorious Nazi 33:50

10M ago33:50

33:50

William Joyce aka Lord Haw Haw was Ireland's most notorious Nazi. Raised in the west of Ireland he was an unlikely spokesman for Hitler's Third Reich. Nevertheless millions tuned in to his sinister broadcasts on behalf of the Nazi regime during the Second World War. This podcast follows his journey from Galway to Hitler’s Third Reich. In his teenag…

1
Breaking the Silence: Post-Famine Trauma in Ireland 30:30

10M ago30:30

30:30

In this episode I delve into the lasting impact of the Great Hunger on Ireland. Its often said that the Famine was a taboo subject and a 'Great Silence' surrounded the 1840s. In this podcast I challenge this myth and explore how grief, guilt, and trauma were expressed and processed by the survivors. Join me as I uncover the untold stories and voice…

1
The Rise of the Irish in New York 39:06

10M ago39:06

39:06

Within the space of a few years following the Great Hunger, hundreds of thousands of Irish emigrants settled in New York quickly becoming one of the largest communities in the city. These Irish emigrants are synonymous with slums, starvation, and misery; however, groundbreaking new research challenges this one dimensional stereotype. While poverty …

1
From Dublin to Devil's Island - The Life & Crimes of Vere Goold 31:14

11M ago31:14

31:14

In 1879 Vere Goold was a celebrity in Ireland. After winning Ireland’s first tennis championship, he reached the prestigious Wimbledon final later in the year. Exactly 30 years later he would die in the most notorious prison in the world – Devil’s Island. Known as the 'dry guillotine' the conditions in the French penal colony were horrendous. Howev…

1
Unsolved: The 1928 Disappearance of Arthur Poole 27:02

11M ago27:02

27:02

Arthur Henri Poole was one of the most celebrated photographers in early 20th-century Ireland. An Englishman by birth, he was also most well-known figures in the city of Waterford where he lived for over four decades. In 1928 Poole disappeared almost without trace. Even though he was well known in Waterford, it would be almost three years before ma…

1
Daily Life in the Middle Ages. Worse than you imagine... 38:28

11M ago38:28

38:28

How difficult was life in the Middle Ages? This is something archaeologists and historians have debated for decades. In recent years, new techniques, including genetic analysis, have given us new insights into the lives of our distant ancestors in the Medieval Era. Their findings are unsettling. Life in the Middle Ages was far more difficult than w…

1
Manipulating the Past - A History of Photography in Ireland 28:21

11M ago28:21

28:21

The camera never lies or does it? In this episode, I take a trip to the National Photographic Archive in Temple Bar, Dublin. Joining me is the archivist, Nora Thornton. Nora not only leads you through the history of photography from its earliest days but also delves into the murky history of image manipulation. It's much older than modern photoshop…

1
Strongbow & Aoife: The wedding that changed Ireland 36:29

12M ago36:29

36:29

In 1170, the Norman Lord Strongbow landed an army in Ireland. The following day, he launched a deadly assault on the nearby city of Waterford. Before the day was out, Strongbow had not only conquered Waterford in a brutal assault but also made time for his wedding. This marriage changed Ireland forever. Discover how the marriage of Aoife, a sevente…

1
Exiled: Irish Writers in the 1930s 28:01

12M ago28:01

28:01

The 1930s stood out as one of the most dramatic decades in modern history. Fascism was on the rise, and Europe was hurtling towards the Second World War. However, it was a peculiar time in Ireland. The Revolutionary Era was firmly in the rearview, and the optimism and hope it once inspired had long faded. Irish society was increasingly dominated by…

1
Ireland's Lost Generation - The Orphans of the Great Hunger 28:25

12M ago28:25

28:25

In 1851 there were nearly 90,000 orphans in Irish Workhouses. Many of these children had lost their parents to hunger and disease. Others had been abandoned. This podcast explores the lives of these resilient children as they turned into young adults and rebelled against a world that had forsaken them... Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/…

1
Time's Untold Tales: Life before clocks & Dublin's two time zones in the 1870s 31:10

1y ago31:10

31:10

Telling the time in hours and minutes seems so natural that we don’t even question where it came from. However it is a pretty recent development. For most of history our ancestors didn’t have clocks and understood time itself in a very different way. In this podcast we will journey back through the centuries to explore how our ancestors measured ti…

1
The IRA ambush in Central Park, New York 29:23

1y ago29:23

29:23

On April 13th, 1922, three IRA volunteers chased a man through Central Park in New York. In front of dozens of witnesses, they shot him four times before escaping. This event marked the culmination of an international manhunt as the IRA tracked an informer across the world. In this episode, I am joined by New York Times Senior Editor Mark Bulik. Du…

1
The Slaves who helped Ireland during the Great Hunger 30:42

1y ago30:42

30:42

During the Great Hunger of the 1840s, vast sums of money were sent to Ireland by people across the world. One of the most remarkable stories is that of the First African Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia. Even though many of the congregants were slaves, they still sent a donation. In this podcast, I interview Anelise Shrout, who shares this and …

1
Saving Ireland from Sin & Sex - Film Censorship in Ireland 27:15

1y ago27:15

27:15

Through most of the 20th century, authorities in Ireland operated a strict censorship regime when it came to film. At its height, around one in every three films was censored in Ireland. The reasons for this are often hard to fathom today. Scenes that showed a dancer's legs or even a long kiss were often edited out. Allusions to sex were considered…

1
What started The Troubles? 1:40

1y ago1:40

1:40

In the late 1960s, Northern Ireland erupted into major violence, marking the opening phase of The Troubles. Over three decades, this conflict would claim thousands of lives and continues to dominate life in Ireland today. In my new exclusive supporters series, I am joined by Dr. Brian Hanley to explore how and why The Troubles began. This fascinati…

1
Polygamy, the Pope or Politics. Why was 19th century Ireland so hostile to Mormonism? 34:48

1y ago34:48

34:48

In the mid 19th century Mormonism was one of the fastest growing religions in the world. However when Mormon missionaries arrived in Ireland in 1840 they failed to establish a foothold. Over time Ireland gained a reputation as the most hostile country on earth for Mormons. This podcast explores why this was the case. The answer is the complexities …

1
Shipwrecked: The Story of the Samson 27:16

1y ago27:16

27:16

The story of the Samson is one most bizarre shipwrecks in Irish history. When this enormous sea crane ship crashed into the Irish coast, it's owners got more than they bargained for. While an RAF helicopter rescued the crew, a local man battled mountainous seas to climb aboard and claim the ship as his own! This began a 40 day saga… Check out pictu…

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King S Church London Podcasts

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