In this episode of Craic on the Coast, hosts Michael Schilling and Shaun Morgan sit down with Dr. Oonagh Walsh, Professor of Gender Studies at Glasgow Caledonian University, whose research bridges history and science. We dig into how the Great Irish Famine may have left not only cultural but biological footprints in subsequent generations via epigenetics.

Dr. Walsh helps us understand how trauma from the Famine continues to echo in health, identity, and memory. Topics include:

• What epigenetics is, in accessible terms

• How the horrors and deprivation of the Famine may register across generations

• Connections between inherited trauma, health outcomes, and family narratives

• Parallels between the Irish experience and other communities affected by famine, war, or genocide

• The significance of commemorations like the National Famine Way and the Brig St. John

• What’s next in her research, and how listeners can explore more

Show Notes & Links

• About Dr. Oonagh Walsh
  Glasgow Caledonian University Profile GCU

• Learn more about the Famine and its legacy
  National Famine Way
  Strokestown Park & Irish National Famine Museum

• Upcoming Events

  • Worcester Irish Cultural Festival — Saturday, October 4, 2025, Polar Park

  • Brig St. John Commemoration — Sunday, October 5, 2025, Cohasset, MA. Featuring Amy Elisabeth Day, writer/composer of In the Midst of Plenty, with performances by students from the Berklee Conservatory

• Stay Connected with Craic on the Coast
  Instagram: @craiconthecoast
  Email: craiconthecoast@gmail.com

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