The first episode of our new season features the voices of 4 different women. That was a departure for Irish Stew as we've never had a podcast episode with that number of guests before and had to split up our recording session to accomodate everyone…
Spike Milligan 1990 Terence Alan Milligan, better known as Spike Milligan was born in Ahmednagar, India on April 16th, 1918 to a Sligo born Irish father and British mother. He was best known as a comedian, but also proved to be an adept writer, mus…
Peadar O'Donnell, a man whose life embodied the complexities of 20th-century Irish history, was born in Meenmore, Donegal on February 22nd, 1893. His background could best be described as one of economic impoverishment from which he escaped th…
Born Muiris Ó Súilleabháin on the 19th of Febuary 1904, Maurice O'Sullivan's life and work intertwined with the unique Gaelic culture of Ireland's remote Great Blasket Island. His experiences, deeply marked by the island's harsh…
George Johnstone Stoney (1826–1911) Irish physicist George Johnstone Stoney was born in clareen, Offaly on February 15th, 1826. He carved his niche in history not with a groundbreaking discovery, but with a name – electron. Though the p…
Ellen Hutchins (1775 - 1815) Botanical illustrations There are no paintings or drawings of Ellen Hutchins,. She lived before the time of photography and sadly died young, limiting the opportunities for an artist to record her likeness. Fortunately …
Marguerite Moore was born Marguerite Nagle in Waterford, Ireland in 1846. Her precise date of birth is unclear. Tragically by age 12 she had lost both her parents. The orphaned Marguerite was enrolled in the Sacred Heart Convent boarding school in R…
Born around 1748 in County Cork, Philip Cogan's early life remains obscure. His documented musical journey began as a choirboy at St. Fin Barre's Cathedral, later serving as a lay vicar. This foundation equipped him with skills that propelled him on…
From left to right: St. Brigid by by Patrick Joseph Tuohy;A Brigid cross rendered in stained glass;Brigid turning water into beer: 16th-century fresco by Lorenzo Lotto Febuary 1st marks the feast day of St. Brigid. Traditionally, feast days align w…
At Irish Stew, our podcast episodes are lengthy. We make no apology for that, we don't think we come to grips with a person's life in 15 minutes. In truth, it is ridiculous to believe that we can do so in an hour, which is roughly the duration of ti…
Jim Larkin Speaking in Dublin's O'Connell Street Jim Larkin (1874 - 1947), "Big Jim" and labor leader, was born in Liverpool to Irish parents on January 28th, 1874. His childhood was marked by poverty, beginning work at 7 years of age and leaving s…
At Irish Stew, our podcast episodes are lengthy. We make no apology for that, we don't think we come to grips with a person's life in 15 minutes. In truth, it is ridiculous to believe that we can do so in an hour, which is roughly the duration of ti…
At Irish Stew, our podcast episodes are lengthy. We make no apology for that, we don't think we come to grips with a person's life in 15 minutes. In truth, it is ridiculous to believe that we can do so in an hour, which is roughly the duration of ti…
At Irish Stew, our podcast episodes are lengthy. We make no apology for that, we don't think we come to grips with a person's life in 15 minutes. In truth, it is ridiculous to believe that we can do so in an hour, which is roughly the duration of ti…
Photo credit for Marybeth Shea: Chris Suspect At Irish Stew, our podcast episodes are lengthy. We make no apology for that, we don't think we come to grips with a person's life in 15 minutes. In truth, it is ridiculous to believe that we can do so …
1798 Print Depicting the Position of the English and French armies at Ballinamuck Prior to Surrender The last major military land engagement of the 1798 Rebellion took place on September 8, 1798 at Ballinamuck in Longford. A combined force of Frenc…
Podcast episodes on Irish Stew are long - we make no apologies for that. Originally when John Lee and I started Irish Stew, we decided to shoot for episodes which were 30 - 40 minutes in duration. Supposedly that is the optimal length for a show a…
William Parsons, astronomer and 3rd Earl of Rosse was born in York, England on the 17th of June 1800. Parsons is best remembered for his construction of the world's largest telescope at Birr Castle. Parsons was educated at both Trinity College Dubl…
Actor, Ray McAnally was born in Buncrana, Donegal on the 30th of Mar, 1926. He was the winner of 4 BAFTA awards for his work in both film and television. Playing Patrick Brown father of Christy Brown in the Award Winning My Left Foot Ray McAnall…
Note the racist depiction of Irish men with simian features - an ugly feature of many 19th century American publications On Sunday, June 11th, 1837, a shoving match transformed into a full-scale sectarian riot in Boston between Irish American Cat…
Sarah Grand, author, women's rights advocate, and suffragettist was born Frances Elizabeth Bellenden Clarke on the 10th of June 1854 at Donaghadee, Co. Down. On the death of her father in 1861, her mother moved the family to Yorkshire. While at fin…
Muriel Murphy MacSwiney, nationalist and left wing activist was born into a wealthy Irish brewing family in Cobh, Cork on the 8th of June 1892. Muriel had an uncomfortable relationship with her family's wealth and conservatism. Have you listened …
Kevin O'Higgins, Irish revolutionary, politician, and Irish Minister of Justice and External Affairs was born in Stradbally, Laois on the 7th of June 1892. Following service in the Irish War of Independence, O'Higgins sided with the pro-treaty forc…
Julia O'Faolain novelist, short story writer, and memoirist was born in London on the 6th of June 1932 to acclaimed short story writer Sean O'Faolain and children's book author Eileen Gould O'Faolain. O'Faolain was raised and educated in Dublin whe…