Undercover Irish

Eolan Ryng

Undercover Irish is a podcast about Ireland's history, language, placenames and the stories that often get left out.

Named one of the Irish Examiner's Top 10 Irish Podcasts of 2025.

Episodes explore everything from forgotten places and revolutionary history to Gaeilge, Irish words and names, emigration, folklore and the links between Ireland and the wider world.

Undercover Irish; Uncovering Ireland's Hidden Curriculum.

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Thursday · 31 min
Cork's Kilmainham Ep. 4: The Firing Squads Return
Cork's Kilmainham continues. In Episode 4, the story moves into the darkest period yet for Cork Military Detention Barracks. Following the death of Terence MacSwiney and the introduction of martial law, the barracks moves to the centre of the conflict in Cork. Men captured across the county are brought here, court martialled here and, increasingly, condemned to death here. This episode tells the story of Con Murphy, the first man executed in Cork under the new martial law regime, before moving to the failed Dripsey ambush and the five IRA prisoners who were sentenced to death. We also look at Maria Lindsay, whose warning to the British helped expose the Dripsey ambush, her extraordinary letter to General Strickland, and the unlikely figures who came forward to speak on behalf of the condemned men. The episode culminates on 28 February 1921, when six men were executed by firing squad at Cork Military Detention Barracks while their families and supporters gathered outside the walls. This is also the story of how one building became a physical link between some of the most important moments in Cork's revolutionary history. If you're new to the series, start with the earlier episodes: Episode 1 explores the origins of Cork Military Detention Barracks, its links to Fenian prisoners and the extraordinary story that eventually connects Cork with the Catalpa rescue. Episode 2 follows the story of Thomas Kent, executed here after the 1916 Rising, his secret burial and the later discovery of his grave. Episode 3 tells the story of Terence MacSwiney, his arrest as Lord Mayor of Cork, his first night in the detention barracks wearing the mayoral chain and the hunger strike that would eventually shake the world. And now, in Episode 4, the firing squads return. If you enjoy Undercover Irish, please follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, leave a rating or review, and share the episode with anyone interested in Cork history, the Irish War of Independence or Ireland's revolutionary period. You can also support the podcast on Patreon, where you'll find extra material connected to the series, including the free Hidden in Plain Sight booklet on Cork Military Detention Barracks. Search terms: Cork Military Detention Barracks, Cork's Kilmainham, Dripsey Ambush, Con Murphy, Maria Lindsay, Irish War of Independence, martial law Cork, Cork executions 1921, Terence MacSwiney, Thomas Kent, Irish revolutionary history.
September 9 · 42 min
Cork's Kilmainham Ep. 3: The Chain, the Cell and the Hunger Strike
Cork's Kilmainham Episode 3: The Chain, the Cell and the Hunger Strike In Episode 3 of Cork's Kilmainham, we follow the extraordinary story of Terence MacSwiney, from prisoner in the aftermath of the 1916 Rising to Lord Mayor of Cork, and finally back into British military custody at the Cork Military Detention Barracks. The episode begins in the shadow of Thomas Kent's execution in May 1916, as Cork Volunteers were arrested, imprisoned and deported. Among them were Tomás MacCurtain and Terence MacSwiney, two men who would go from detention cells to Cork City Hall within four years. We trace the political transformation that followed: the 1918 general election, the establishment of Dáil Éireann, the Democratic Programme, the rise of the Republican courts, and Cork Corporation's decision to recognise the authority of the Irish Republic. Then came the murder of Tomás MacCurtain in March 1920 and MacSwiney's election as Lord Mayor. In August 1920, British forces raided Cork City Hall and arrested MacSwiney. He was brought directly to the Cork Military Detention Barracks, where he refused to surrender the Lord Mayor's chain and began the hunger strike that would ultimately make his name known across the world. The episode also looks at the remarkable Prudential Assurance Company case, a powerful example of just how far Republican institutions had begun to exercise real authority in Cork by the summer of 1920. From Cork to Brixton Prison, the story then became international. MacSwiney's hunger strike inspired protests, demonstrations and industrial action across Europe and the United States, from New York to Barcelona. After 74 days without food, Terence MacSwiney died in Brixton Prison on 25 October 1920. But the story began in Cork. Inside a building that still stands today. The Cork Military Detention Barracks was the place where Thomas Kent was executed, where Cork Volunteers were imprisoned and deported, and where Terence MacSwiney began the hunger strike that shook the world. This series is also an appeal to protect and preserve this extraordinary building before another piece of Cork and Irish revolutionary history is lost. If you haven't listened to the first two episodes of Cork's Kilmainham, go back and start the story from the beginning. Episode 1 explores the origins of Cork Military Detention Barracks, the Famine years, the Fenians and the extraordinary road to the Catalpa rescue. Episode 2 tells the story of Thomas Kent, his execution in 1916, his secret burial and Tadhg Barry's remarkable discovery of his grave. If you enjoy Undercover Irish, please follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Ratings, reviews and shares genuinely help more people discover the show. Support Undercover Irish on Patreon: patreon.com/UndercoverIrish Follow Undercover Irish on Instagram: instagram.com/UndercoverIrish Topics covered: Terence MacSwiney, Tomás MacCurtain, Thomas Kent, Cork Military Detention Barracks, Cork's Kilmainham, Cork City Hall, 1916 Rising, Irish War of Independence, Dáil Éireann, First Dáil, Democratic Programme, Republican courts, Prudential Assurance Company, Cork IRA, hunger strike, Brixton Prison, Cork history and Irish revolutionary history. Go raibh míle maith agaibh as éisteacht. (directory.libsyn.com)
September 4 · 37 min
Cork's Kilmainham Ep. 2: 1916, Thomas Kent, Tadhg Barry and the Hidden Grave
When we think of the executions of 1916, we think of Kilmainham Gaol. But Cork has its own surviving 1916 execution site. In this episode of Undercover Irish, we return to Cork Military Detention Barracks and tell the story of Thomas Kent, the east Cork Volunteer executed there on 9 May 1916 and secretly buried within the military grounds. We trace Kent's life from Castlelyons to Boston, where he became involved in Irish-language and cultural organisations, through the Land War and his imprisonment for land agitation, and into the Irish Volunteers in the years immediately before the Rising. We then follow the events of 1916 in Cork, the gun battle at Bawnard House, Kent's court-martial and execution, and the decision to deny his family his body. The story then turns to another remarkable Cork revolutionary: Tadhg Barry — republican, socialist, trade unionist, journalist, Irish-language activist and major GAA figure. Imprisoned in the same military complex at Christmas 1916, Barry was shown the hidden burial place of Thomas Kent by a sympathetic guard. He marked the spot, fell to his knees, kissed the ground and later recorded the moment in a poem. That poem was published in 1921, the same year Barry himself was shot and killed while interned at Ballykinlar. We also look at the role of Cork railway workers in keeping Kent's memory alive, the eventual identification of his remains, and his State reinterment in Castlelyons in 2015. And finally, we return to the question hanging over this entire series: What should happen to Cork Military Detention Barracks now? The grave marker remains. The execution site remains. The prison remains. And yet the building is under threat of demolition. If Kilmainham teaches us the importance of preserving the places where history actually happened, then Cork still has a choice to make. And Thomas Kent is only the beginning. Because thirteen other republicans were later executed within this military complex, while Terence MacSwiney spent the first night of his world-famous hunger strike here. That story continues in the next episode of Undercover Irish ,Uncovering Ireland's Hidden Curriculum. Follow Undercover Irish on Instagram for more Irish history, heritage and hidden stories. Support the podcast on Patreon and help keep independent Irish history projects like this going.
August 27 · 32 min
Cork's Kilmainham Ep. 1: From Famine to Fenians, From Cork to the Catalpa
Show Notes After far too long away from the podcast, Undercover Irish is back with a new series exploring the extraordinary history of Cork Military Prison, a building I have come to think of as Cork's Kilmainham. Hidden in plain sight, this building has connections to the Great Famine, the Fenians, 1916, hunger strikes, courts martial, executions, the War of Independence and the Civil War. And now it is set to be demolished!!! In this first episode, we go back to the beginning. We look at the prison's construction in the 1840s, the enormous British military presence in Ireland during the Famine years, and the Victorian ideas of discipline and punishment that shaped the building itself. We then explore an early controversy over the appointment of a Catholic chaplain, against the background of the Penal Laws, Protestant Ascendancy and Catholic Emancipation. From there, the story moves into the extraordinary world of Fenian infiltration of the British Army. At the centre of that story is Thomas Darragh, a decorated Protestant British soldier and former Orangeman who became a committed Fenian, recruited within the army, was arrested and sent to Cork, court-martialled and sentenced to death. His story takes us from Cork to transportation, Fremantle Prison in Western Australia, and ultimately to one of the most daring prison escapes in Irish history: the rescue of six Fenian prisoners aboard the Catalpa in 1876. This series is also part of my appeal to save Cork Military Prison. Before we can protect a place, we have to understand what happened there. And this story is only beginning. Follow Undercover Irish on Instagram for clips, images and updates on the campaign to save the building. And if you'd like to support the podcast and help me continue researching and producing stories like this, you can support Undercover Irish on Patreon.
June 18 · 35 min
What Irish Surnames Remember — Part 2: The Names That Came Ashore
Support on Patreon Undercover Irish — Podcasts on Irish History, Language, Songs and Story. | Patreon What Irish Surnames Remember — Part 2: The Names That Came Ashore Irish surnames are not only a story of Ó, Mac, Ní and Nic. They are also a story of arrival. In Part 2 of What Irish Surnames Remember, we look at the names that came into Ireland through conquest, sea-roads, settlement, exile, work and migration — and how many of them became part of the Irish story. From Norman names like FitzGerald, Burke, Power, Roche and Barry, to Norse-linked names like Doyle, MacAuliffe, MacManus, Cotter and MacIver, this episode explores how surnames can carry memory of contact across water. We also look at names like Lynch, where one spelling can hide more than one history, and Walsh and Joyce, names that show how yesterday's outsider can become tomorrow's local surname. Along the way, we ask: When does a name become Irish? Is it when it begins in Irish? When it has an Ó or a Mac? When it is spoken here? When it is written into records here? When it gathers Irish memory? This episode also touches on later names that came ashore: Huguenot names, Jewish names, German names connected to Ardnacrusha, and Dutch names connected to Verolme Dockyard — reminders that Irishness was never purity. It was layering. Core idea: A name does not have to begin in Ireland to become part of Ireland. In this episode: Norman names: Fitz, de, Burke, Power, Roche, Barry and FitzGerald "More Irish than the Irish themselves" Surnames and placenames: names as maps Norse and Viking traces: Doyle, MacAuliffe, MacManus, Cotter and MacIver Why Lynch is a warning against simple surname stories Walsh, Joyce and names crossing the Irish Sea Huguenot and Jewish names in Ireland German names at Ardnacrusha and Dutch names at Verolme Dockyard Why Irish surnames are about contact, not purity How Mac points us toward the upcoming Ireland–Scotland series Next series: After these two surname episodes, we cross the water into the Ireland–Scotland series: shared Gaelic worlds, language, myth, migration, colonisation, Highland and Irish experience, sectarian echoes, revolutionary links, and the sea-roads between the two places. Support the podcast: If you enjoy Undercover Irish, you can support the show on Patreon. Patreon helps keep the research, writing and production going, and I'll be sharing bonus notes and extra material from the Ireland–Scotland series there.
June 10 · 47 min
What Irish Surnames Remember — Part 1: Ó, Mac, Ní & Nic
Support the podcast: If you enjoy Undercover Irish, you can support the show on Patreon. Patreon helps keep the podcast going and supports the research, writing and production behind each episode. What Irish Surnames Remember — Part 1: Ó, Mac, Ní & Nic Irish surnames are not just family labels. In this episode of Undercover Irish, we look underneath familiar names like O'Brien, Sullivan, McCarthy, Maguire, O'Neill and McBride to explore the older Irish naming system hidden inside them. Before we cross the water into the upcoming Ireland–Scotland series, we pause to ask why names mattered so much: to families, to communities, and to colonial power. We explore how Ó and Mac carry ideas of descent, sonship, clann and lineage — and how women's forms like Ní, Nic, Uí and Mhic reveal a richer grammar of relationship than English surnames usually show. The episode also looks at the pressure of anglicisation: how Irish names were translated, shortened, misspelled, legally challenged, and pushed through English-speaking systems of law, schooling, census-taking and administration. From Edmund Spenser's hostility to the Ós and Macs, to the symbolic court cases around Irish names and lettering, this episode asks what happens when a naming system is treated as something to be controlled. Core idea: If placenames are memory on the map, surnames are memory in motion. In this episode: Why O'Brien is really Ó Briain What Ó / Ua means How Mac and Mag work Why Ní and Nic are not just "female versions" of surnames What Bean Uí, Bean Mhic, Uí and Mhic reveal How Irish names carry clann, kinship and memory How colonialism and anglicisation fogged, but did not erase, the Irish naming system Why this episode sets up the coming Ireland–Scotland series
June 5 · 34 min
When Ireland Speaks in a Woman's Voice: From Ériu to Elmes
When Ireland Speaks in a Woman's Voice: From Ériu to Elmes Ireland was named after a woman. Most of us know that Ireland is called Éire in Irish, but far fewer know about Ériu, the mythological figure whose name survives in the very name of the country itself. In this episode of Undercover Irish, we follow the women hidden in Ireland's landscape. From Ériu, Banba and Fódla, to Boann and Sinann, from the holy wells of Brigid and Gobnait to the modern commemorations of Mary Elmes and the women of Cumann na mBan, we explore how women have been remembered on Ireland's map for centuries. Along the way we delve into the Dindshenchas, Ireland's medieval "Lore of Places", uncover the stories behind some of our most famous rivers and placenames, and ask an important question: If women are everywhere in Ireland's oldest landscape, why do they seem so much less visible in the streets and public spaces of modern Ireland? This is a story about memory, mythology, language, landscape and the changing ways Ireland remembers its past. In this episode: Ériu, Banba and Fódla The Dindshenchas – Ireland's Lore of Places Boann and the River Boyne Sinann and the River Shannon Macha, Tailtiu and Carman Brigid and the female sacred landscape Holy wells Victorian commemorative culture The Ladies' Land League Cumann na mBan Mary Elmes, Rosie Hackett and modern public commemoration Support Undercover Irish If you'd like to support the podcast and gain access to bonus episodes, early releases, behind-the-scenes research and exclusive content, you can join us on Patreon: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/why-some-irish-160221927?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link This week's Patreon-exclusive episode: Why Some Irish People Don't Say "The Famine" A look at the language of memory, An Gorta Mór, and what the words we choose reveal about Irish history. Follow Undercover Irish Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and follow along on social media for updates, bonus content and upcoming episodes. Go raibh míle maith agaibh as éisteacht. Ní saoirse go saoirse na mban.
May 30 · 31 min
What Irish County Names Really Mean: Part 2
Ireland's county names are more than simple labels on a map. They are records of invasion, settlement, religion, trade, conquest, resistance, and survival. In Part 2 of What Irish County Names Really Mean, we explore how saints, Vikings, colonists, and mapmakers left their mark on Ireland's counties — and how older Irish identities survived beneath those layers. Along the way we discover: Why Dublin's Irish and English names describe two completely different places. How Viking settlements helped create Ireland's first true cities. The story behind Waterford, Ireland's oldest city. Why Wexford, Wicklow, and Donegal preserve both Irish and Norse identities. How Saint Brigid, Saint Cainneach, Saint Comán, and Saint Columba became immortalised in county names. The connection between Derry's oak groves and Kildare's sacred oak. Why Edmund Spenser believed language was key to conquering Ireland. How the Ordnance Survey transformed Ireland's placenames. Why Irish placenames are some of the most important historical records we possess. Counties featured in this episode: County Dublin — Baile Átha Cliath / Dubh Linn County Waterford — Port Láirge County Wexford — Loch Garman County Wicklow — Cill Mhantáin County Donegal — Dún na nGall / Tír Chonaill County Kildare — Cill Dara County Kilkenny — Cill Chainnigh County Roscommon — Ros Comáin County Down — An Dún County Longford — An Longfort County Derry — Doire / Doire Cholmcille This episode also explores: Viking Ireland Early Christian Ireland Monastic learning The Plantation period Anglicisation of Irish placenames The Ordnance Survey Language, identity, and power If you enjoyed this episode, check out Part 1: What Irish County Names Really Mean – Gods, Tribes and Landscapes Before Ireland Had Counties Follow Undercover Irish wherever you get your podcasts, and if you know someone who's fiercely proud of their county, send them this episode. Because every county name tells a story — and some of those stories are over a thousand years old.
May 24 · 33 min
What Irish County Names Really Mean: Part 1
Ireland's counties feel ancient — but the county system itself is surprisingly modern. In this episode of Undercover Irish, we go back before the maps, before English colonisation , and even before Christianity to uncover the real meanings behind Irish county names. From pagan gods and forgotten tribes to marshes, forests, ridges, and sacred landscapes, many Irish counties preserve fragments of a much older Ireland hidden in plain sight. In Part 1, we explore the counties whose names come from: mythology, tribal dynasties, landscape and geography, and ancient meanings now partly lost to history. Along the way we uncover: why County Armagh is named after a goddess, how County Tyrone preserves the legacy of the O'Neills, why County Cork is literally named after a swamp, how County Mayo may preserve a sacred yew landscape, and why nobody fully agrees on what County Limerick originally meant. Counties featured in Part 1: County Armagh County Louth County Kerry County Fermanagh County Tyrone County Offaly County Laois County Cavan County Clare County Cork County Galway County Leitrim County Mayo County Monaghan County Sligo County Meath County Westmeath County Antrim County Tipperary County Carlow County Limerick Part 2 will explore: saints, Vikings, colonial renaming, and the counties with layered Irish and Norse identities. If you enjoyed the episode, follow Undercover Irish wherever you get your podcasts — and send the episode to someone who's obsessed with their county.
May 21 · 25 min
Ireland and the Sea
Ireland has always faced the water. For thousands of years, the sea shaped life along the Irish coast — feeding communities, destroying harbours, carrying storms inland, and connecting the island to the wider world. But it also left something behind in the language itself. In this episode of Undercover Irish, we explore Ireland's long relationship with the sea through the stories hidden in coastal placenames: from Port na Marbh — "the harbour of the dead" — to An Poll Báite, "the drowned pool," and Carraig na Loinge, "the rock of the ship." These names preserve memories of danger, survival, shipwrecks, crossings, invasion, emigration and loss. We travel from Atlantic fishing communities and the Night of the Big Wind… to Viking longships, Norman arrivals, Armada wrecks, the French landings of 1798, and the harbours that became departure points during An Gorta Mór. Because the Irish coastline was never simply the edge of the country. It was a meeting place between: land and sea, Ireland and the wider world, departure and return, memory and survival. This episode explores how the sea shaped Irish history, mythology and identity — and how the old coastal names still carry echoes of that conversation today. Featured Places & Names Port na Marbh — "Harbour of the Dead" (Donegal) Scoilt na Loinge — "Split/Cleft of the Ship" (Donegal) Scoilt na Máirnealach — possibly "Sailors' Cleft" (Donegal) An Poll Báite — "The Drowned Pool" Carraig na Loinge — "Rock of the Ship" Carraig an Ancaire — "Rock of the Anchor" Trá na mBád / Boatstrand (Waterford) Mannin Bay / Cuan Mhanainn (Galway) Tory Island / Toraigh (Donegal) Cobh & Dún Laoghaire Themes Irish placenames • maritime folklore • Atlantic history • Vikings in Ireland • Irish mythology • emigration • An Gorta Mór • coastal memory • shipwrecks • Irish language • Irish history • Atlantic Ireland • Manannán mac Lir • Irish folklore • the Night of the Big Wind
May 20 · 25 min
Ireland's Darkest Placenames II: Memory in the Landscape
Ireland's Darkest Placenames II: Memory in the Landscape Irish placenames are far more than simple labels on a map. They preserve memory. In this episode of Undercover Irish, we explore how Ireland's landscape became a record of history, folklore, trauma, spirituality, and collective memory — hidden inside names most of us pass every day without noticing. From ancient burial landscapes and famine roads to gallows hills, disease sites, haunted coastlines, and places associated with rebellion and death, this episode looks at how the Irish language preserved stories long after the original events faded from memory. We explore places such as: Oileán na Marbh — the Island of the Dead Sliabh na Caillí — the Mountain of the Hag An Spidéal — "The Hospital" Bloody Bridge Bloody Foreland The Scalp Murder Hole Beach Famine Roads and Black '47 Roads Along the way, we look at: the importance of Irish placenames (logainmneacha) how anglicisation obscured older meanings the relationship between landscape and folklore how trauma becomes embedded in geography and why placenames may be one of Ireland's oldest surviving cultural archives Because in Ireland, history doesn't only survive in books. Sometimes it survives in the landscape itself. If you enjoy the podcast, please consider following, rating, and sharing Undercover Irish. You can also follow the project on social media for more Irish history, folklore, language, and placename content.
May 12 · 32 min
Ireland's Darkest Placenames; The Landscape Remembers
Ireland is full of placenames that seem ordinary until you translate them. Places called: "The Hill of the Gallows." "The Ford of the Dead." "The Gate of Tears." "The Hole of Death." In this episode of Undercover Irish, Eolan Ryng explores the darker side of the Irish landscape — where placenames preserve memories of execution, famine, exile, mythology, colonial violence, and ancient fear. From the Devil's Bit in Tipperary to the Bridge of Tears in Donegal… from famine graveyards to the Black Pig's Dyke… this episode uncovers how Ireland's landscape became a living archive of memory. Because Irish placenames don't just describe geography. They remember what happened there. Featured Places & Themes Bearnán Éile — The Devil's Bit Cnoc na Croiche — Hill of the Gallows Geata na nDeor / Bridge of Tears Famine graveyards & coffin roads Claí na Muice Duibhe — The Black Pig's Dyke Colonial violence & execution landscapes Irish mythology and fear in the landscape Placenames as cultural memory Themes Explored Irish placenames and folklore Colonialism and memory The Great Famine Execution and public punishment Emigration and exile The supernatural in Irish geography Mythology embedded in landscape The survival of memory through language You can support and follow Undercover Irish here: Instagram: @undercoverirish Patreon: Undercover Irish — Podcasts on Irish History, Language, Songs and Story. | Patreon
May 7 · 25 min
From Famine Ships to Maple Leafs: Irish Identity in Canadian Sport
How Irish migrants shaped hockey, club names, and identity from Montreal through Toronto to Vancouver 🇮🇪 Episode Overview In this episode of Undercover Irish, we explore how Irish identity travelled across the Atlantic—and how it evolved through sport in Canada. From famine-era migration to the rise of hockey, from the Montreal Shamrocks to the Toronto St. Patricks (and eventually the Maple Leafs), and all the way to Vancouver's modern Whitecaps and Greencaps, this is a story of identity, adaptation, and belonging. 🧭 What You'll Learn How An Gorta Mór (1845–1852) shaped Irish migration to Canada The role of Grosse Île as a key arrival and burial site for Irish migrants Why Irish migrants were playing hurling in Canada as early as the 1830s–40s The idea of "ice hurley" and its possible influence on early hockey How the Montreal Shamrocks became early hockey champions (Stanley Cup winners in 1899 & 1900) The story of the Toronto St. Patricks and their transformation into the Maple Leafs The influence of the Orange Order in shaping Toronto's political and social landscape How Irish Catholic migrants navigated identity and exclusion in 19th-century Toronto The significance of Ireland Park as a modern reflection of Irish migration Why Vancouver's "Greencaps" represent a new form of Irish identity abroad 🧠 Key Themes Irish diaspora identity and adaptation Sport as a tool for community and belonging Sectarian division: Orange vs Green in Toronto The evolution from club identity → national identity → hybrid identity How Irish culture influenced (and was shaped by) Canadian sport 🏒 Key Locations & Teams Montreal — Irish migration, early hockey, Shamrocks Toronto — sectarian divide, St. Patricks, Maple Leafs Vancouver — Whitecaps and Greencaps 💬 Join the Conversation Have you come across Irish club names where you live? Do they reflect Ireland directly? Or have they adapted to their new surroundings? 👉 Share your thoughts in the comments or on social media ☘️ Support the Podcast If you enjoyed this episode and want to support Undercover Irish, you can do so here: 👉 Support on Patreon www.patreon.com/undercoverirish Bonus content Early access to episodes Behind-the-scenes research and stories Your support helps keep the podcast going 🙌 ⭐ Enjoyed the Episode? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts / Spotify Share with someone interested in Irish history or sport Follow for more episodes exploring Irish identity, language, and culture 🔗 Related Episodes Irish club names: Celtic, Hibernian, and identity abroad The meaning behind Irish sporting symbols Language, identity, and Irish place names
April 30 · 28 min
London Irish, Boston Celtics & the Names We Carry
🎙️ London Irish, Boston Celtics & the Names We Carry In this episode of Undercover Irish, we follow a simple question—what's in a name?—and uncover a global story of identity, memory, and survival. From the fields of Ireland to the streets of London and the arenas of Boston, this episode explores how Irish identity has been carried, rebuilt, and reimagined through the names of sporting clubs and institutions. We begin at home, with unusual GAA club names like the Four Masters, Cashel King Cormac's, and the Geraldines—names that preserve history, assert legitimacy, and connect communities to Ireland's past. From there, we cross the Irish Sea. In Britain, clubs like Hibernian, Celtic, and London Irish show how Irish migrants rebuilt identity in exile—using names not just to organise sport, but to declare presence and belonging. Then we travel further, across the Atlantic to Boston—one of the most Irish cities in the world. Here, identity doesn't just survive. It becomes part of the mainstream. The Boston Celtics, with their name, colour, and symbolism, reflect how deeply Irish identity is embedded in the city itself. And finally, we arrive at Notre Dame, where the "Fighting Irish" show how identity moves beyond sport—into education, into institutions, and into the shaping of future generations. This episode is not just about sport. It's about how identity travels. How it adapts. And how, when everything else is lost… it survives through names. 🔍 In This Episode: The meaning behind unusual GAA club names The Annals of the Four Masters and cultural preservation Irish identity in Britain: Hibernian, Celtic, and London Irish The Irish diaspora in Boston and the story behind the Boston Celtics Notre Dame and the evolution of the "Fighting Irish" How names act as memory, resistance, and belonging 🌍 Key Themes: Irish identity at home and abroad Sport as a vehicle for culture Migration and diaspora Naming as an act of memory and power 📢 Follow & Share If you enjoyed this episode of Undercover Irish, follow the podcast and share it with someone interested in Irish history, culture, and identity.
April 22 · 30 min
This Irish Town Name Means "Push Forward" - Here's Why (Ngũgĩ, Spenser & Buttevant Explained)
⭐ Enjoying the podcast? If you're liking Undercover Irish, please take a moment to leave a review on your podcast app—it really helps more people find the show and supports independent Irish storytelling. 🎧 Episode Overview Why is the town of Buttevant called Buttevant? In this episode, we uncover the story behind one of Ireland's most unusual place names—tracing its origins from the Irish Cill na Mullach ("the church of the hilltops") to the Norman French Boutez en avant ("push forward"). But this isn't just a story about a name. It's a story about how language, power, and place intersect—and how Ireland fits into a wider global pattern of colonisation. Drawing on the work of Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o and the writings of Edmund Spenser, we explore how language can be used not just to describe the world—but to reshape it. 🧭 What We Cover The meaning of An Abhainn Bheag (the Awbeg River) The original Irish name: Cill na Mullach The Norman origins of Buttevant (Boutez en avant) The role of the Barry family in shaping the town The survival of the motto at Fota Island Resort Edmund Spenser's connection to north Cork and his writings A breakdown of his poem Colin Clouts Come Home Againe How A View of the Present State of Ireland outlines a strategy of cultural colonisation How Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o's ideas help us understand what's happening in Ireland 🔗 Related Episodes The Bata Scóir and Its International Reach https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/an-bata-sc%C3%B3ir-and-its-international-reach/id1813637585?i=1000710662443 How One Town with Four Names Maps Different Irelands https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/how-one-town-with-four-names-maps-different-irelands/id1813637585?i=1000757733061 ☘️ Support the Podcast If you'd like to support Undercover Irish and get access to bonus content, early releases, and behind-the-scenes material: 👉 https://www.patreon.com/UndercoverIrish 📲 Follow & Share If you found this episode interesting, share it with someone who loves Irish history, language, or place names—it really helps the podcast grow.
April 17 · 21 min
Cork vs Tipperary 1741 — The First Match Report Was A Poem in Irish
🎙️ Show Notes LINK TO POEM https://www.patreon.com/posts/155883354?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_fan&utm_content=web_share Cork vs Tipperary 1741 — The First Match Report Was A Poem in Irish This Sunday, Cork and Tipperary meet again. But their rivalry goes back much further than modern hurling. In 1741, one of the earliest recorded clashes between the two was captured—not in a newspaper, not in English—but in a poem, written in Irish. In this episode of Undercover Irish, we explore that poem as one of the first "match reports" in hurling history. What does it tell us about the game? How did people understand rivalry, identity, and competition nearly 300 years ago? And how much of that still feels familiar today? From challenge and conflict, to momentum and belief, to respect in defeat—this isn't just a story about a match. It's a story about how sport is remembered. 🧠 What You'll Hear The story of a 1741 Cork vs Tipperary clash How an Irish-language poem preserves one of the earliest match reports Why hurling was described in the language of warfare The role of identity—from the Barrys to modern county teams The psychology of sport: "taking the light from belief" Modern echoes, including: The 1919 Cork jersey story Bloody Sunday 1920 Babs Keating and the 1990 "donkeys don't win derbies" quote 📍 Places Mentioned Ráth Chormaic (Rathcormac), Co. Cork Páirc Uí Chaoimh Semple Stadium 🗣️ Key Irish Phrase "tug solus bhur gcreidimh dhíbhse" → "we took the light from your belief" A powerful way of describing the moment a game turns. 🎯 Key Idea The jerseys have changed. The field has changed. But the story hasn't. 📩 Follow / Support If you enjoyed this episode, follow Undercover Irish for more stories exploring the Irish language, history, and culture in unexpected places.
April 16 · 22 min
How The Great Hunger Brought Irish Sporting Identity Abroad; Liverpool, Celtic And More
🎙️ Show Notes In this episode of Undercover Irish, we explore how the Great Famine didn't just reshape Ireland—it carried Irish identity across the world. From the streets of Liverpool to the foundations of clubs like Celtic F.C. and Hibernian F.C., we look at how Irish communities used sport to rebuild identity in exile. We examine how club names reflected memory, resistance, and belonging—and how the Irish diaspora left a lasting mark on global sport. 🔍 In this episode: The impact of the Great Hunger on Irish migration Why Liverpool became a centre of Irish life abroad The origins of Irish-named football clubs How Celtic and Hibernian emerged from diaspora communities Sport as identity, survival, and expression in exile 🎯 Key Idea: Irish identity didn't disappear during emigration—it travelled, adapted, and took root in new places. 🎧 Listen if you're interested in: Irish history • GAA • Football history • Diaspora studies • Cultural identity ☘️ About the Podcast Undercover Irish explores the hidden curriculum of Irish history—uncovering stories, meanings, and connections you won't find in textbooks.
April 14 · 22 min
GAA Club Names Explained: Mythology, Rebels & Irish Identity
🔒 Get Early Access to the Next One Listen to Episodes 2 of this mini series now on Patreon: 👉 https://www.patreon.com/posts/how-great-hunger-155619855?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link In this episode of Undercover Irish, we explore the hidden meaning behind GAA club names—and what they reveal about Irish identity, history, and mythology. From rebels and outlaws to legendary heroes like Cú Chulainn, we uncover how names carry memory, culture, and meaning across generations. Because in Ireland… a name is never just a name. 🔍 In this episode: Why GAA clubs are named after places, patriots, and saints The story behind rebel names like the Rapparees and the Slashers How Irish mythology shapes club identity The meaning of names like Setanta, Fianna, and Cú Chulainn The role of female figures like Grace O'Malley and Deirdre 🎯 Key Idea: Every club name is a choice—about what to remember, what to honour, and what identity to carry forward. 🎧 Listen if you're interested in: Irish history • GAA • Irish mythology • Cultural identity • Language & storytelling ☘️ About the Podcast Undercover Irish explores the hidden curriculum of Irish history—uncovering stories, meanings, and connections you won't find in textbooks.
April 8 · 34 min
The Mountains of Pomeroy: A Love Song from a Broken Land
🎙️ Show Notes The Mountains of Pomeroy: A Love Song from a Broken Land At first listen, The Mountains of Pomeroy sounds like a simple love song — a quiet story of two people divided by circumstance. But beneath the romance lies something deeper. In this episode of Undercover Irish, we explore the world behind the song: The rapparees, outlaws shaped by dispossession and colonisation The story of Shane Bernagh, a real figure who moved through the same Ulster landscape The role of George Sigerson and the Gaelic Revival in reshaping Irish identity And how poets like John Montague help us understand what was lost — not just land, but language and memory From the hills of Tyrone to the terraces of GAA grounds, this episode traces how a song can carry history — even when we no longer fully understand it. 📚 Sources & Further Reading George Sigerson — writings and background John Montague — A Lost Tradition Shane Bernagh — historical accounts and folklore Background on rapparees and post-Plantation Ireland ☘️ Support the Podcast If you enjoy Undercover Irish and want to support the show, get bonus content, and help keep these stories going: 👉 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/UndercoverIrish 📲 Follow & Share If you enjoyed this episode: Share it with someone interested in Irish history Leave a rating or review Follow for more episodes exploring the hidden stories of Ireland
March 27 · 22 min
How One Town with Four Names Maps Different Irelands
🎙️ How One Town's Four Names Map Different Irelands 📝 Charleville isn't just one name. It's also An Ráth, Rathgogan, and Rathluirc — each one telling a different story about Ireland. In this episode, we follow those names through conquest, plantation, and revival, to see how one place can hold multiple pasts at once. 🎧 Support the Podcast If you're enjoying Undercover Irish, you can support the podcast here: 👉 Undercover Irish | Podcasts on Irish History, Language, Songs and Story. | Patreon

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