Shows
The Medieval Irish History PodcastIsabel de Clare (d.1220) with Dr John Marshall"I have no claim to anything here save through her". These are the reputed words of one of the most famous knights in English history, William Marshal, describing his wife Isabel, daughter of Aoife and Strongbow. In honour of St Valentine's Day Dr John Marshall (Lancaster University) gives us the full story of Isabel de Clare — a fascinating noblewoman, whose life, inheritance and influence crossed multiple (shifting) territorial boundaries. Dr Marshall offers complex and sometimes poignant insights, explaining to us how, being "born to an English father from the Welsh March and an Irish royal mother, Isabel's life crossed ge...2025-02-1458 min
The Thinking TravellerRomeo & Juliet - Finding Truth in VeronaEverybody knows the story of Romeo and Juliet. They are arguably the most famous lovers in literature. Their story has been told and retold through countless interpretations, from classical Shakespearean tragedies to Stephen Sondheim's West Side Story! But what is the real story behind these star-crossed lovers?Joining us for this episode is Dr Eireann Marshall, who herself lives not far from fair Verona. Eireann explains the truth behind the story of Romeo and Juliet as she uncovers if they were ever even real...Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing...2024-06-2229 minThe Thinking TravellerThe Lombards in Northern ItalyThe Lombardy region of Italy, bordered on the north by Switzerland and south by the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna, has a fascinating and complex history. But where did the name Lombardy originally come from? The Lombards were a Germanic tribe who fought their way across Europe during the Early Middle Ages, before settling on the northern part of the Italian Peninsula where they would establish a powerful kingdom that grew rapidly. In the process, the Lombards became a major thorn in the side of the Byzantine Empire and its capital Constantinople.In the first episode fo...2024-01-2026 min
New Books in British StudiesFrancis M. Carroll, "America and the Making of an Independent Ireland: A History" (NYU Press, 2021)On Easter Day 1916, more than a thousand Irishmen stormed Dublin city center, seizing the General Post Office building and reading the Proclamation for an independent Irish Republic. The British declared martial law shortly afterward, and the rebellion was violently quashed by the military. In a ten-day period after the event, fourteen leaders of the uprising were executed by firing squad.In New York, news of the uprising spread quickly among the substantial Irish American population. Initially the media blamed German interference, but eventually news of British-propagated atrocities came to light, and Irish Americans were quick to respond.2023-02-0834 min
New Books in MathematicsChris Bleakley, "Poems That Solve Puzzles: The History and Science of Algorithms" (Oxford UP, 2020)As algorithms become ever more significant to and embedded in our everyday lives, ever more accessible introductions to them are needed. While several excellent technical and critical treatments have emerged in recent years, i had not come across a book for the general public that would provide a deep sense for the intuitions and motivations behind their development. Chris Bleakley's new book offers this and more: conceptual rigor woven into historical vignettes in a style that i believe general readers will find truly enjoyable to read.Poems that Solve Puzzles: The History and Science of Algorithms (Oxford UP...2021-09-271h 24
A Conversation WithA Conversation With Ian Marshall 2Former Ulster Farmers Union President Ian Marshall joins us this week to discuss his omission from the 26th Seanad Eireann. Ian has been a Unionist voice in the previous Seanad, picked by Leo Varadkar. Ian was a proponent and promoter of cross border cooperation and building bridges. Despite Taoiseach Martin advocating a "Shared Island", Ian was unceremoniously omitted from the Taoiseach picks.2020-07-0633 min