{"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":"The Ulster Special Constabulary - A Troubled History","slug":"the-ulster-special-constabulary-a-troubled-history","published_at":"2026-02-04T04:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/irish-history-podcast-778168/the-ulster-special-constabulary-a-troubled-history","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/irish-history-podcast-778168","url":"https://shows.acast.com/irishhistory/episodes/the-ulster-special-constabulary-a-troubled-history","audio_url":"https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/irishhistory/e/6981fe364b12c3dd733dd664/media.mp3","summary":"The Ulster Special Constabulary was one of the most controversial forces in modern Irish history. Formed amid the violence and uncertainty of the early 1920s, it was viewed by many nationalists as a sectarian militia, while in parts of the unionist community it was remembered as a force that defended order during a time of upheaval. As debates around Irish unification return to the center of political life, the legacy of the past is once again intruding into the present. In this episode of the Irish History Podcast, Fin Dwyer is joined by historian Patrick Mulroe to examine the origins of the Ulster Special Constabulary, the conditions that led to its creation, and why its history remains so contested more than a century later. Drawing on his article ‘ Matters Best Forgotten’: The Ulster Special Constabulary in 1922 , Patrick explores how and why the force became associated with some of the worst violence of the decade, and why its story continues to provoke discomfort, silence and debate today. Support the show and get ad-free podcasts nd avideos Sound Kate Dunlea Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.","meta_description":"The Ulster Special Constabulary was one of the most controversial forces in modern Irish history. Formed amid the violence and uncertainty of the early 19…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2712,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/irish-history-podcast-778168/episodes/the-ulster-special-constabulary-a-troubled-history/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/the-ulster-special-constabulary-a-troubled-history.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}