{"podcast":{"title":"Irish History Podcast","slug":"irish-history-podcast-778168","podcast_index_feed_id":778168,"rss_url":"https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/9190bee0-95f3-400b-842d-3232974654ec","website_url":"https://www.irishhistorypodcast.ie/shop","image_url":"https://assets.pippa.io/shows/619566332eacc3a360702518/show-cover.png","author":"Fin Dwyer","episode_count":465,"summary":"From the Norman Invasion to the War of Independence, the Great Famine to the Troubles, the Irish History Podcast takes you on a journey through the most fascinating stories in Ireland's past. Whether it’s the siege of Dublin in 1171 or gun battles in the 1920s, the podcast vividly recreates a sense of time and place. Each episode is meticulously researched, creating character-driven narratives that are engaging and accessible for all. Since the first episode was released back in 2010, the podcast has covered scores of captivating stories. Major multi-part series have explored the Great Famine, the Norman Invasion, and Irish involvement in the Spanish Civil War. If you are looking for standalone episodes, there are lots of great interviews with leading Irish historians covering topics from medieval sex magic to Irish connections in the Jack the Ripper murders! Why not start with 'Three Days in July', an acclaimed mini-series from the summer of 2024. It explores the early years of the Troubles and the forgotten story of a young Londoner who was shot dead by the British Army in Belfast in 1970. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.","last_synced_at":null,"page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/irish-history-podcast-778168"},"episode":{"title":"Drogheda & Beyond: The Terrifying Reality of Siege Warfare in Ireland","slug":"drogheda-beyond-the-terrifying-reality-of-siege-warfare-in-ireland","published_at":"2026-05-13T03:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/irish-history-podcast-778168/drogheda-beyond-the-terrifying-reality-of-siege-warfare-in-ireland","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/irish-history-podcast-778168","url":"https://shows.acast.com/irishhistory/episodes/drogheda-beyond-the-terrifying-reality-of-siege-warfare-in-i","audio_url":"https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/irishhistory/e/6a0329ab5c981a357353ef27/media.mp3","summary":"Between 1641 and 1653, Ireland was engulfed by devastating war. It was a period of extraordinary violence, famine and social collapse. The death toll was staggering. As many as 25% of the population may have perished. At the heart of this conflict was siege warfare. Across Ireland, towns, castles, forts and fortified houses came under attack. Some were taken by storm, while others were blockaded until starvation and disease did their work. Defenders faced cannon fire, tunnelling, psychological warfare and the terrifying prospect of what might happen if the walls were breached. Meanwhile, thousands of civilians had no escape and suffered appallingly. In this episode, I’m joined by historian Padraig Lenihan to explore the brutal reality of siege warfare in 17th-century Ireland. We look at why these conflicts were so destructive, how sieges were fought, and why warfare in Ireland was often more violent than in Britain during the same period. We also examine the infamous massacre at Drogheda, placing it in the wider context of the wars in Ireland and Britain, and asking whether it was exceptional or part of a broader pattern of violence. You can get Padraig’s book, Siege Warfare in Ireland, 1641-1653 which offers a fascinating insight into one of the darkest periods in Irish history:  https://www.fourcourtspress.ie/books/2025/siege-in-ireland-1641-53 Sound: Kate Dunlea Request: My guest on the last episode, James Doherty, is looking for photographs of Irish Army soldiers in Kilkenny Castle during the Emergency. If you have any information, please get in touch at info@irishhistorypodcast.ie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.","meta_description":"Between 1641 and 1653, Ireland was engulfed by devastating war. It was a period of extraordinary violence, famine and social collapse. The death toll was…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2659,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/irish-history-podcast-778168/episodes/drogheda-beyond-the-terrifying-reality-of-siege-warfare-in-ireland/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/irish-history-podcast-778168/drogheda-beyond-the-terrifying-reality-of-siege-warfare-in-ireland.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}