The Irish Passport

Beannachtaí na féile Pádraig oraibh! To celebrate Ireland's national day, please enjoy this classic St. Patrick's Day episode from our archives, originally released in 2018.

After years of deadlock, EU and UK leaders have declared a historic reset in their relations as they reach an agreement on Northern Ireland called the 'Windsor Framework'. Naomi and Tim unpick the details of what is in the deal on Northern Ireland's post-Brexit arrangements, intended to resolve the dispute over the so-called Protocol that came into force in 2021. What's the story with red and green channels? Why is everyone talking about the "Stormont Brake"? Will this finally be enough to get the Democratic Unionist Party back into power sharing? And why on earth was the British king involved? You'll find the answers to all these questions and more in this fresh-off-the-press Brexit update. Check our our bonus episodes available for Patreon supporters and with our full archive of extra content over at: www.patreon.com/theirishpassport

On the 27th of August 1979, the Provisional IRA assassinated one of the best known members of Britain's royal family as he holidayed in County Sligo. But this was just one of 25 killings that took place that day. The events of that afternoon soon came to represent a watershed in the history of Anglo-Irish relations, and a landmark moment of escalation in a Northern Ireland conflict that was now settling into what some referred to as the "Long War". Naomi and Tim unpick the wider context of this notorious episode of the Troubles, and explore how it encompassed so much more than the death of a celebrity royal. This podcast is only mad possible by our patreon supporters. If you would like to sign up to support the podcast today, and gain access to over 80 pieces of bonus content along the way, you can sign up to our patreon page now at www.patreon.com/theirishpassport.

From a mystery in rural Ireland that has persisted for over a century, to the little-known link between a World Cup star footballer and the town of Donabate, to the unexpected ways that Hiberno English is spreading in Europe... it's a story episode for you to enjoy over the holidays as Naomi and Tim share their favourite stories for 2022. Naomi's image: https://twitter.com/NaomiOhReally/status/1599362845942370304?s=20&t=aEc52pKN3a8a0w9sECahFw Tim's image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dissolving_views#/media/File:Magiclantern.jpg A bonus episode is available for Patreon supporters along with our full archive of extra content over at: www.patreon.com/theirishpassport

This is a repeat of an Irish Passport classic episode, "Ireland and India: Assassins of Empire", originally published on June 21 2021. Today, Leo Varadkar takes over as Taoiseach. This means that both Britain and Ireland have governments led by people of Indian heritage, as in London Rishi Sunak took over as prime minister in October. The coincidence has provoked renewed curiosity in these leaders, their backgrounds, and the complex shared history between Ireland and India under the British Empire. To mark the day, we're reposting our episode about that very topic: 'Ireland and India: Assassins of Empire'. Anarchist clubs, public assassinations, and secret rebel meetings in a notorious vegetarian restaurant – all these feature in this fascinating episode on the historical links between Ireland and India at the beginning of the 20th century. UCD’s Conor Mulvagh explains why Ireland and India were so symbolically important to the survival of the British Empire, and why the independenc

Ireland's dream as it emerged as an independent state was to 'take its place among the nations of the world'. The principle of international cooperation has therefore always been tightly bound up with Irish nationalism and how the country pursues its goals. In this episode, Naomi and Tim explore Ireland's quest for recognition, first at the League of Nations and then at its successor the United Nations. We speak to longtime UN staffer Niall McCann to hear the inside story of how Ireland is seen at the UN, and discuss the surprising role of the Irish government in pushing for radical reform of the intergovernmental body. Plus, Naomi discusses a story she broke that revealed how the outsized influence of the UN's five permanent security council members can warp its policy and disable the body from being effective-- in this case, on Ukraine. A bonus episode is available for Patreon supporters in which Naomi and Tim debrief from this episode and discuss what stood out to them. It's availa

As all Hell breaks loose in the halls of Westminster, Naomi and Tim break down what on earth has just happened in the UK. Why did Prime Minister Liz Truss resign after only 44 days? Who might take over her post? And what are the consequences of all this chaos for the island of Ireland? We hear commentary from Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, and discuss the potential fallout of the Tories' chronic instability in the context of current global crises. Don't miss out on this one! Bonus episodes over at: https://www.patreon.com/theirishpassport You can follow us on Twitter at @PassportIrish

In the final episode of our War of Independence mini-series, Tim and Naomi lay out the historical events that split the emerging Irish nation and led to a civil war. As we pick up on the story, global condemnation has pressured the British government into offering a truce. Following years of gruelling guerilla warfare against the might of the British army, an exhausted team of representatives from the rebel Irish government travel to London to negotiate peace terms. Tim and Naomi dig into the role of reluctant negotiator Michael Collins and consumate operator Éamon de Valera who remained back in Dublin, quoting from articles and speeches from the time to bring to life the events that would shape Irish history for decades. Ps - what does enduring bitterness over partition have to do with a cherished Irish potato-based snack? Find out in this bonus Halfpint debrief episode made specially for Patreon supporters, in Naomi and Tim reflect on the making of this episode and discuss what s

Tensions threaten to flare again between Ireland, Britain and the EU with a new UK prime minister who has promised to take a hard line on the Northern Ireland Protocol. The death of Queen Elizabeth however put a pause on developments for the period of mourning, and produced some fascinating moments too as her successor King Charles met with Sinn Féin and acknowledged them as the biggest party in Northern Ireland. Naomi and Tim catch up on current events, discuss the Dublin drama turning heads in Brussels, and why the Irish government resembles a rotisserie chicken… Patreon supporters can listen to a bonus debrief episode dissecting the complex Irish reaction to the death of Queen Elizabeth over on patreon.com/theirishpassport You can follow us on Twitter at @PassportIrish

The third installment in Naomi and Tim's series on the War of Independence discusses a landmark of 20th century Irish history: the partition of the island. Tim digs into the backstory to reveal how once again, an unhappy chapter of Irish history is linked to Winston Churchill. This episode lays out the thinking at the time and how the so-called 'Irish question' was shaped through parliamentary debates in Westminster, as a team of officials in London drew out the boundaries of the two new jurisdictions while Ireland was at war. We discuss how unionist movements evolved in relation to the question of Home Rule and partition, and the sense of betrayal particularly of southern unionists that led Dublin-born unionist leader Edward Carson to declare: "What a fool I was! I was only a puppet, and so was Ulster, and so was Ireland, in the political game that was to get the Conservative Party into power". University College Dublin historian Dr Conor Mulvagh joins us again to lay out how the

The second installment of Naomi and Tim's series on Ireland's War of Independence focuses on the Black and Tans: the brutal reinforcements sent by Winston Churchill to put down the forces of the revolutionary Irish republic in 1920. Historian Dr Conor Mulvagh of University College Dublin lays out the key role of the women’s movement, Cumann na mBan; dissects the tactics of the old Irish Republican Army forces that came together to defend independence; and explains how the guerilla tactics and reprisals by the Black and Tans fit in to the history of modern warfare. Meanwhile, Cork historian Michael Lenihan breaks down one of the most notorious incidents of the era that was to shape the fabric of Ireland in the decades to come: the Burning of Cork by British forces. Two bonus episodes are available for Patreon supporters delving further into this topic and era of Irish history. Naomi and Tim have a debrief following the episode and discuss what stood out to them, including the stories

The War of Independence was the moment in which Ireland threw off British rule and emerged as a state. The dramatic events that took place and the beliefs that informed them would shape the emerging nation, and play a role up until the present day. Tim and Naomi break down the events of 1919-1921 in this series of episodes, starting with the establishment of Ireland's revolutionary parliament: the First Dáil. A bonus extra episode about this topic is available for Patreon supporters in which Naomi and Tim debrief, discuss what stood out to them in the making of the episode, and share their insights into this fascinating era of history. To hear it you can sign up here: https://www.patreon.com/theirishpassport You can follow us on Twitter at @PassportIrish Video footage from 1917 of the crowds in Dublin turning out to welcome back Countess Markievicz, after she was released from prison where she was serving time for her role in the Easter Rising: https://www.youtube.com/watch?

A seismic election in Northern Ireland returned the pro-Irish unity Sinn Féin as the largest party for the first time ever. The Alliance Party, identifying neither as nationalist nor unionist, surged to become the third force in northern politics in another historic first. Desite this, the power-sharing executive has yet to be formed due to the opposition of the unionist Democratic Unionist Party. They are demanding changes to the so-called Protocol as their price of going into power, though many suspect that behind it lies an inherent opposition to allowing nationalists to take the symbolic top post of First Minister. It's propelled Northern Irish politics onto the international stage once again, with the British government threatening to break international law to get what it wants from the European Union. Naomi and Tim sum it all up, and discuss what comes next. Featuring guests Stephen Farry, a member of parliament and Alliance's deputy leader, and Freya McClements, the Northern e

Since our last episode, Europe's political landscape has been transformed - and that of Ireland along with it. Naomi lays out the facts about Ireland's unique position in the international response to the Ukraine crisis. We find out why debates about military neutrality and NATO membership might once again be coming to the fore, and discuss why Ukraine's president gave Ireland a less-than-glowing appraisal when it came to supporting his country. We also check back in with Nadia Dobrianska, whose life has been turned upside down in the weeks since the Russian invasion. Now safe in Co. Cork, she tells us what it was like to suddenly flee her home city of Kyiv, and how she managed to make it back to Ireland. This episode is our Season 5 finale. We'll be back in a few weeks with plenty more topics about Irish culture, history, and politics in a brand new Season 6! If you want to hear more Irish Passport content and help support the show along the way, you can sign up to our Patreon

This weekend, a group of musicians gathered in O'Briens Irish pub in the Ukranian capital and belted out traditional Irish tunes as a distraction from the threat of war. In this episode we uncover the surprisingly rich common history shared by Ireland and Ukraine, as told by a woman living through the dramatic recent events that have drawn the world's attention to Kyiv as Russian troops advance. Joining us is listener Nadia Dobrianska, who works in a human rights organisation in her native Kyiv and happens to be an afficionado in Irish culture and history. She unveils a hidden world of historical commonalities between the two countries, who both began asserting their nationhood in the same era, suffered domination from neighbouring power, and still bear the deep scars of famine from that experience. Nadia also has a fascinating personal story to share. She experienced two revolutions in Kyiv before moving to Belfast in 2019 to pursue her love of Irish studies. There, she mana

From the streets of Brussels, to an office block in Greece, to a bus ride in San Francisco, the Irish language can pop up in some unexpected places. In this episode, we explore some of the new international frontiers of Irish. We speak to people whose knowledge of the language has launched them down far-flung career paths, ask why Irish-speaking mortgage experts are in demand in the Netherlands, and celebrate some of the people who have begun learning the language thousands of miles away from the island. Huge thanks to our sponsors, Irish at Heart, for backing this episode. Sign up to receive surprise boxes of artisan Irish goods at irish-at-heart.com, and get a special 15% discount off your first box with the discount code IRISHPASSPORT. Here’s the link: https://irish-at-heart.com/ Bonus episodes are published for our supporters over at www.patreon.com/theirishpassport

Did you ever hear the one about the bishop and the airport? Or the unlikely group of Irish revolutionaries who ended up changing history through an ill-fated trip to Belgium on a yacht? Naomi and Tim tell some of their favourite, quirkiest stories from Irish history in this special seasonal story-time episode. Huge thanks to our sponsors, Irish at Heart, for backing this episode. Sign up to receive surprise boxes of artisan Irish goods at irish-at-heart.com, and get a special 15% discount off your first box with the discount code IRISHPASSPORT. Here’s the link: https://irish-at-heart.com/ The music you heard in this episode is X-mas Carol by Jahazzar, from their album Sele Bonus episodes are published for our supporters over at www.patreon.com/theirishpassport

This summer, the chaotic fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban left Irish citizens stranded, exposing the state's lack of aircraft large enough to conduct an evacuation. It also highlighted the issue of Ireland's tiny and under-funded defence forces, which force the state to rely on outside forces like Britain and the European Union for day-to-day security in areas like air and maritime patrols and cyber security. From this weak position, Ireland has increasingly been drawn into participating in international defence arrangements over the last two decades, which arguably blur the lines of its neutral status. Naomi and Tim lay out what's at stake in an increasingly unstable global order and as the EU debates a shift in defence policy in response. Guest Tom Clonan shares his experience as a soldier and lays out the profound risks to Irish interests posed by gaping holes in national defence. Conor Gallagher of the Irish Times tells us the backstory of how Irish officials worked behind the

In 1939, the young Irish state stood at a crossroads in its history. Europe was descending into war, and the deeply impoverished and weakly defended nation feared its strategic location on Britain's flank could mean invasion - by either side. In this episode, Naomi and Tim describe a moment when two towering figures of 20th century history came head-to-head and shaped the fates of Ireland, Britain, and Europe. The Irish revolutionary leader Éamon de Valera and Britain's wartime prime minister Winston Churchill had profoundly different starts in life and world views - and they hated each other. Their bitter personal relations led to a Second World War standoff, and a mysterious late-night telegram from Downing Street that constitutes one of the great 'what if' questions of Irish history. This is part one of a double episode on Irish military neutrality, explaining how the flagship Irish policy came to be. In part two, we'll dig into what Irish military neutrality means in practice t

Live from Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland, Naomi and Tim discuss place and power: unpacking how place names, landscape, and architecture contain secret histories hidden within plain sight. Guest Linda Ervine, manager of the Irish language project Turas, explains how learning Irish is helping many in the unionist community to rediscover their own local histories, while writer and researcher Claire Mitchell explores how the covert history of the 1798 rebellion is etched into the landscape itself - if you know where to look. This live show was produced as part of the 2021 Hillsborough Castle Centenary Talks programme. Many thanks to the staff and organisers at Hillsborough Castle for their support and warm welcome. If you would like to support the podcast, you can become a Patreon subscriber today at www.patreon.com/theirishpassport