Transatlantic: An Irish American History Podcast

Irish folklore often recalls an ancient past. However, in this episode Fin and Damian explore how America and the experiences of Irish emigrants had already become part of folklore by the early twentieth century. Set down almost 100 years ago, among the stories you will hear tales of ghosts that reflect a sense of loss and remembrance of emigrants, examples of how returned emigrants were sometimes seen as "other", and even find out about how Irish children had already become fascinated by the American West and Native Americans.Folklore Archive www.duchas.ieSeymour, S. True Irish ghost stories https://archive.org/details/trueirishghostst0000seym_s6t9Tait, C Spectres Across the Atlantic, c.1820-1940: Communicating with the Dead Over Space and Time https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14780038.2023.2258606Interview with Clodagh Tait acast.com/irishhistory/episodes/a-history-of-the-supernatural-in-ireland&ved=2ahUKEwjOxZbyoLCSAxWRW0EAHeZIC9sQFnoECDcQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3kmEFkBqKv1hnVAg6DtN7B Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The American Civil War was a defining moment for Irish Americans in the 1860s. Over 250,000 Irish Americans many of them Famine emigrants served in the Union army. Over the course of the war they played a key role in the defeat of the Confederacy.However their service has been dogged by stereotypes and myth for more than 160 years. In this episode Damian discusses his latest research published in his 2025 book Green and Blue. Fin and Damian explore the book that brings new perspectives to our understanding of the war. They examine the immense Irish contribution to the Union cause and what their experiences of the conflict were really like. They also address the darker aspects of Irish involvement. Damian explains how and why Irish attitudes to emancipation and racism were not what we might expect from a community that served the Union in such overwhelming numbers.Damian’s book “Green and Blue Irish Americans in the Union Military, 1861–1865” is a must read for anyone interested in the civil war of Irish America more broadly Get your copy https://www.amazon.com/Green-Blue-Americans-Conflicting-Dimensions/dp/0807183709 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How did Catholicism develop on America's West Coast during the 19th and 20th centuries, and how did it differ from the experience in the major Eastern cities? What role did Irish Americans Catholics, both women and men, play in the pioneering years of the Golden State's gold rush and the development of California's state capital over the century that followed? These are just some of the questions we explore in our latest episode of Transatlantic: An Irish American History Podcast, taking as our lens the Irish men and women who helped to build, develop and sustain the city of Sacramento. We are joined to discuss this by leading historian of Catholicism in America Father Steven Avella, formerly Professor of History at Marquette University in Wisconsin. Father Avella has written a number of volumes on the history of Sacramento and Catholicism in the city, including Sacramento: Indomitable City, Sacramento and the Catholic Church: Shaping a Catholic CIty and Indomitable Sacramentans: A Social History of Catholics in the State Capital. Father Steven M. Avella Books Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Transatlantic: An Irish American History Podcast, we’re joined by noted historian Dr. Terry Golway to explore the story of Tammany Hall, the famed New York political machine so long associated with Irish America. In this show you will hear about Tammany's origins, how and when it became a powerful force for Irish immigrants, and how the famed machine operated through its long existence.               Today, even the word "Tammany" is seen as a byword for corruption and excess. But is there more to Tammany’s story than scandal? Terry helps us to explore this, revealing how Ireland's politics influenced the development of Tammany's operations, and exploring Tammany's often overlooked positive contributions—demonstrating how this a story that is much more than just Boss Tweed and rampant corruption.Notes & Sources:Terry Golway. Machine Made: Tammany Hall and the Creation of Modern American Politics. Terry Golway Books Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1771 Benjamin Franklin spent more than six weeks traveling through Ireland at a moment when tensions between Britain and her colonies were rising. In this episode Damian and Fin trace his route from Dublin through the Irish countryside and explore the people he met and the conditions he witnessed. Despite being laid low with food poisoning on his first day he quickly became absorbed in what he saw. The poverty of rural Ireland the restrictions placed on Irish trade and the political frustrations of the Protestant elite all left a deep impression on him. These experiences helped shape the ideas he carried back to America and influenced his thinking in the years before the Revolution.Further Reading Carla Mulford, Benjamin Franklin and the Ends of EmpireJames B. Nolan, Benjamin Franklin: In Scotland and Ireland 1759 and 1771 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the most enduring stereotypes of early US history is the Mountain Man. This figure often appears as the tough and resourceful frontiersman familiar from films like The Revenant. The stereotype is rooted in fact and in recent months Damian has been researching the Irish men who found themselves in the American West during the early nineteenth century. Fin and Damian explore this history along with who these men were and what brought them into the Rocky Mountains. They also look at how they interacted with Native American tribes in the region. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What can a micro-history of emigration, the story of a single townland, or even a single family, reveal about the wider Irish emigrant experience? In this episode, we trace the remarkable journey of the Clune family of Tyredagh Upper, Co. Clare, whose multigenerational migration to Norwalk, Connecticut offers insight into how local origins shaped settlement patterns in America.We’re joined by Dr. Jane Halloran, historian, genealogist, and founder of Dalcassian Origins, to discuss her research on this chain migration and the powerful community networks that carried families like the Clunes across the Atlantic. Through their story, we uncover how one family’s path could influence patterns of migration from Ireland, and shed light on the wider 19th and early 20th century Irish emigrant experience.Further Reading Dr Jane Halloran Dalcassian Origins: http://www.dalcassianorigins.com/Tyderagh Upper: https://www.townlands.ie/clare/tulla-upper/tulla/newgrove/tyredagh-upper/Norwalk Connecticut: https://www.townlands.ie/clare/tulla-upper/tulla/newgrove/tyredagh-upper/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael Phelan, born in Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny, rose to prominence as one of America's most gifted billiards player and showmen. In New York he encountered Hugh Collender, from Cappoquin, Co. Waterford, an exiled Irish nationalist who decided to turn his talents to business after the failed rising of 1848.Phelan’s flair and Collender’s enterprise combined into one of the great economic successes of 19th century Irish America. Together they built Phelan & Collender, a company that revolutionised billiard-table manufacture and helped define an American leisure industry. This episode traces how two Irishmen, shaped by different beginnings but united by drive and ingenuity--and eventually by close family ties--carved out a partnership and business empire that became a household name in Gilded Age America. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wisconsin isn't the first state that springs to mind when it comes to the Irish American Diaspora. But though often more associated with Germans (and German beer!), Wisconsin had a notable Irish presence. Today, Milwaukee is even home to Irish Fest, the largest Irish festival in the United States. In this episode, we’re joined by Professor Tim McMahon of Marquette University to uncover the fascinating history of the Irish communities who made Wisconsin their home.We chart their stroy from the early arrivals of the nineteenth century to their lasting influence in the twentieth, tracing how Irish immigrants shaped places like Milwaukee — building neighborhoods, parishes, and a distinct Irish-American identity in the heart of the Midwest.We explore dramatic moments like the tragic Lady Elgin disaster- a maritime catastrophe for both Wisconsin and the Milwaukee Irish- and the later political and cultural connections maintained with Ireland. Tim also discusses Éamon de Valera’s visit, and the story behind that iconic photograph of De Valera in a Native American headdress.Dr Tim McMahon: https://www.marquette.edu/history/directory/timothy-mcmahon.phpMilwaukee Irish Fest: https://irishfest.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Fin and Damian trace the Irish legacy scattered across the American map through the placenames they left behind. The journey takes them from Brooklyn’s Vinegar Hill, named for a Wexford battlefield in hopes of attracting Irish immigrants, to Menlo Park, California, the major tech hub with roots in a Galway inspired ranch. They uncover how Irish immigrants, Irish Americans and Irish politicians and miners left their mark — through places like Glendalough State Park (in Minnesota, not Wicklow!), Roscommon and the "Irish" counties of Michigan, and the Texas ghost town in Texas that came to be called “Ireland.” From Avoca, Nebraska to "Dublin Gulch" in the California desert, we pick some of our favourite American Irish placenames to explore. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the early 1880s, crates of California dynamite found their way to London — not for trade, but for terror. Irish revolutionaries in the United States were plotting bombings in the heart of the British Empire, and San Francisco, with its deep Irish roots, became a key outpost in the transatlantic campaign.In this episode, we speak with renowned author and historian Dr Myles Dungan about his new historical novel The Red Branch, set in 1883 San Francisco and inspired by these real-life dynamiters, secret societies, and British spies. We explore the real history and real characters behind the fiction--along the way charting the story and experience of Irish immigrants in the City by the Bay.Sound by Kate Dunlea.ShownotesMyles Dungan. The Red Branch (Etruscan Press, 2025)The History Show RTÉ Radio OneMyles Dungan WebsiteMyles Dungan Publications  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1878, one of the most infamous crimes in Gilded Age America stunned and captivated the nation: the corpse of Alexander Turney Stewart — an Irish immigrant turned millionaire merchant — was stolen from its grave in Manhattan and held for ransom.What followed was a drawn out saga that dragged another Irishman into the spotlight: Patrick Henry Jones — a Civil War general, lawyer, and public servant — who found himself forced to act as reluctant go-between for the body snatchers and Stewart’s grieving widow. This is a story of grave robbing, coded newspaper ads, and the high-stakes politics of class, loyalty, and legacy in 19th-century New York. And at the centre of it all were two Irishmen — one dead, one in danger of losing everything.We’re joined by historian Mark Dunkelman, biographer of Patrick Henry Jones and expert on the Stewart body snatching case, to dig into the truth behind the scandal that rocked Gilded Age America. AT Stewart Dictionary of Irish BiographyMark Dunkelman's Website: The Hardtack RegimentMark Dunkelman. Patrick Henry Jones- Irish American, Civil War General, and Gilded Age Politician (LUS Press, 2015).  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When most people think of American heiresses marrying into the British or Irish aristocracy, they might picture Cora Crawley from Downton Abbey—the wealthy American who brought her fortune (and a bit of drama) to an English estate. But Cora’s story wasn’t entirely fiction. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, scores of American women crossed the Atlantic, bringing their wealth to some of Ireland’s most iconic estates.In this episode, Fin and Damian explore the real-life stories behind these transatlantic marriages, as the elite of the Gilded Age wed into Victorian Ireland in its twilight years. We focus on three remarkable families who made their homes in mansions along the Wild Atlantic Way: Glenveagh Castle in Donegal, Kylemore House in Galway and Muckross House in Kerry.Sound by Kate Dunlea. ShownotesFurther ReadingIta M. Murphy. Ladies of the Country House: Irish Aristocratic Women, 1870-1918.Muckross House & GardensKylemore AbbeyGlenveagh Castle Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We had an unplanned break in the show, but we’re back with a streamlined Transatlantic, having finally unlocked the secrets of recording across several time zones. Tune in to find out what we have planned! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the most famous Irish American organisations is the Fenians. In this episode, Damian and Fin are joined by Brennan MacDonald to explore the history of this enigmatic group. Brennan reveals how the Fenians harnessed the military experience gained in the US Civil War to challenge British rule in Ireland, and how their transatlantic networks shaped the struggle for Irish independence.Further reading and sourceJohn O'Mahony: Dictionary of Irish BiographyJames Stephens: Dictionary of Irish BiographyThomas Sweeny: Dictionary of Irish BiographyJohn O'Neill: Dictionary of Irish BiographyJeremiah O'Donovan Rossa: Dictionary of Irish BiographyPatrick Egan: Dictionary of Irish Biography1867 Fenian ProclamationBook Chapter: Caleb Richardson: "'The Failure of the Men to Come Up": The Reinvention of Irish AMerican Nationalism" in David Prior (ed.) Reconstruction in a Globalizing WorldBook: Brian Jenkins: Fenians and Anglo-American Relations During ReconstructionBook: Jack Morgan: Through American and Irish Wars: The Life and Times of General Thomas SweenyArticle: Michae Kane:  “American Soldiers in Ireland, 1865–1867.” The Irish Sword 23 (Summer. 2002)Book: Jermiah O'Donovan Rossa: Rossa's Recollections on archive.orgBook: David Brundage: Irish Nationalists in America: The Politics of Exile, 1798-1998Book: Susannah Ural: The Harp and the Eagle: Irish American Volunteers and the Union Army, 1861-1865Book: Lucy Salyer: Under the Starry Flag: How a Band of Irish Americans Joined the Fenian Revolt and Sparked a Crisis in American CitizenshipBook: Francis Carroll: America and the Making of an Independent Ireland Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over the course of the 19th century, hundreds of thousands of Irish people moved to New York, leaving a lasting impact on the city. In this episode, Damian and Fin are joined by Dr. Elizabeth Stack and Danny Leavy to explore the legacy of these immigrants in the streets of NYC today. Danny and Elizabeth are historians and Irish immigrants living in New York, and they share unique insights into the city’s Irish past from the notorious Five Points to St. Peter's Church.You can virtually follow along to the stops we feature in this episode by using our episode map- click on the arrows beside each stop to see a dropdown list of each location we visited which will be highlighted as you click on them. Find the map here: https://maphub.net/irishacw/transatlantic-podcast-s2-episode11-new-york-irish Resources and Sources:In Search of Cornelius Heeney- Video with Danny Leavy & Dr Ciarán ReillyA.T. Stewart in the Dictionary of Irish BiographyWilliam "Boss" Tweed in BritannicaTerry Golway Book: Machine Made: Tammany Hall and the Creation of Modern American PoliticsTyler Anbinder Book: Five PointsTyler Anbinder Book: Plentiful CountryJacob Riis Profile & Images via International Center for PhotographyRonald Bayor & Timothy Meagher Book: The New York IrishLouis Eisenstein & Elliot Rosenberg Book: A Stripe of Tammany's Tiger Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gettysburg stands as one of the most iconic battles in American history, with thousands of Irish men fighting on both sides of the conflict. In this episode, Fin and Damian are joined by historian Harry Smeltzer to delve into the dramatic three days of the battle. Together, they uncover the pivotal roles played by Irish soldiers, share gripping stories from the front lines, and paint a vivid picture of what life was like on a Civil War battlefield.Follow the story around the battlefield with this map (Click the arrow beside "Locations Mentioned" and "Monuments Mentioned" on the right of screen to expand the legend so you can see all the points mentioned in the show. You can follow along while listening and by clicking on each name will see where it is on the field.)Harry Smeltzer Bull Runnings WebsiteAmerican Battlefield Trust Overview and Maps of Battle of GettysburgVideo of 69th Pennsylvania Infantry Position at GettysburgPhotograph of James McKay RortyIn Our Time: The Gettysburg AddressSound: Kate Dunlea Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1881, Isabella Nugent wrote, “If having sexual intercourse made us man and wife, we were married.” Intimate, candid insights like this into the private lives of Irish people—both at home and abroad—are rare gems from the 19th century. Yet the private sex lives of our ancestors are just one of the many fascinating topics revealed in US Military Pension Files from that era.After 15 years of research, Damian shares how you can unlock these invaluable resources to uncover the hidden stories of the past. From personal relationships to everyday struggles, these files offer a unique window into 19th-century lives that Irish history books often overlook.The Forgotten Irish: Irish Emigrant Experiences in AmericaGreen & Blue: Irish Americans in the Union Military, 1861-1865Ordering Pension Files from the United States National Archives Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ordinary people's letters provide the most immediate and intimate window into the lives of past Irish emigrants. In them are preserved their hopes, their fears and their stories. Now a new database brings thousands of these letters, written across four centuries, to our fingertips for the first time. In this episode, Damian chats with Breándán Mac Suibhne and Daniel Carey from the University of Galway's Imirce Project, discussing how it came about, how you can explore it, and what these letters reveal about the epic story of Irish migration.Imirce Project WebsiteKerby A. Miller. Emigrants and Exiles: Ireland and the Irish Exodus to North AmericaProfessor Breandán Mac SuibhneProfessor Daniel Carey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The American Revolution had a profound and lasting impact on Ireland. While thousands of Irish people fought in the conflict and Cork Harbour served as a vital British logistics hub, the repercussions were felt far beyond the battlefield. The ideals and upheavals of the war helped radicalise Irish society, pushing it towards its own age of revolution. In this episode, Damian and Fin explore how the tensions unleashed by the American Revolution set Ireland on a path toward rebellion, and reveal the unexpected ways the conflict influenced the Catholic Church in Ireland.Sound by Kate Dunlea Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.