The Irish Passport

A proposal for the smallest statue in the world to be built in Cork, in honour of the local mosquito that reputedly bit Oliver Cromwell ultimately causing his death, recently went viral. The idea inspired this episode discussing the diverging historical memory of Cromwell in Ireland, where he is remembered as a genocidal murderer, and in Britain, where he retains many admirers. We speak to Green party Cork Councillor Oliver Moran about the inspiration behind his statue proposal, a 'monument to the role of biodiversity in the national struggle' as one wag put it. Naomi and Tim then explore the stark divergences in Irish and British depictions of Cromwell in art and literature going back to the 16th century.

Granuaile or Grace O'Malley: a woman chieftain in 16th century Ireland who ruled the seas with a fleet of ships and was both respected and deeply feared.

Daughter of the seafaring Ó Máille Gaelic clan, Gráinne carved out a position of power for herself at a time when there was little recent precedent for doing so.

She found herself contending with the encroachment of English invaders, and ended up sailing to London to plead her case directly to Queen Elizabeth I - and she won.

Naomi and Tim delve into the remarkable life of Granuaile - the myths, the legends, but also first-hand historical accounts she and her contemporaries left behind - to chart a career that encapsulates the final days of Gaelic Ireland.

A Halfpint bonus debrief is available on PAtreon discussing how while written history forgot Granuaile, she was kept alive by oral and cultural traditions that made her an enduring symbol of Irish defiance.
https://www.patreon.com/posts/halfpint-debrief-158088547

Recommended reading: Grace O'Malley : The Biography of Ireland's Pirate Queen 1530-1603 by Anne Chambers, to whom we are much indebted for research that allowed for the making of this episode.

For the past week Ireland has been blockaded by protests that have been described as among the largest seen since independence. It's one ripple effect from the US-Israeli attack on Iran, which sent the price of fuel used by farmers, truckers and fishermen soaring. In response protesters blocked motorways, ports, Ireland's only oil refinery, and much of the capital Dublin, demanding the government intervene to lower prices. In this episode, Naomi and Tim dig into the politics behind the protests and the international context.

You can find some of previous reporting on the Healy Raes here https://soundcloud.com/theirishpassport/chaos-a-new-government-and-the

Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona daoibh! On this most turbulent of St Patrick’s Day, we cover some of the major events that are dominating news headlines: Gerry Adams in court in London, Mícheál Martin on the Taoiseach’s annual pilgrimage to the White House, and the how Ireland and Europe are reacting to the fallout of the US war with Iran.

We’ll be releasing a halfpint with further discussion exclusively for Patreon supporters later in the week. To gain access to more than 100 bonus content episodes, you can sign up today on www.Patreon.com/theirishpassport.

This month marks the official start of spring in Ireland and to mark it Naomi and Tim discuss the figure of Bridget, Brigid or Bríd. A goddess in Gaelic times who became Christianised into Saint Bridget, the stories about this figure reveal fascinating details about the society that produced them.

A bonus Halfpint debrief episode is available here for Patreon supporters: https://www.patreon.com/posts/halfpint-debrief-151451289

Here are links to some podcasts we mentioned in the episode that have delived into Bridget and her legacy in Ireland:

The Irish History Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7frXuuvcxGMDnDdim5Wv20?si=77qeFMbERYSyD5yP-crldw

Talking History: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7LY4tBxJRYSfM6VIwJ3eyn?si=MBNVncl0SuqBjCppl0miww