On January 13th 1358, John Rathcoul a merchant from Dundalk agreed to take on a young apprentice Nicholas O’Molaghallyn. The two made a contract where John agreed to teach Nicholas the ‘merchants arts’ while in return, Nicholas had to agree to several conditions. These included not revealing John’s secrets of the trade and agreeing not… Read more »
Irish history, medieval Ireland, Armagh, Sex, Scandal, Dundalk, Youghal, Milo sweteman, medieval Irish history
This is just a brief update on where the series has taken us so far, some problems encountered and what to expect next… http://traffic.libsyn.com/irishhistory/Update_on_the_Norman_Invasion.mp3
Landscapes hide their past well – Ireland’s tumultuous and violent medieval history is scarcely evident at all. However when driving north-west from Dundalk, the appearance of Roche Castle on the horizon reveals a tantilising glimpse into this regions violent and turbulent history written in stone. Built on a rocky outcrop, this fortification was clearly built… Read more »
Castleroche, Louth, Roche Castle, de Verdun, Roesia de verdun, medeival ireland
On the eve of the Norman Invasion, Ireland was divided into several rival kingdoms fighting a bloody and ruthless struggle to dominate the island. Much of this struggle is covered in the early episodes of my podcast series on the Norman Invasion. While most of the ancient boundaries of these kingdoms no longer exist, this… Read more »
Since starting my latest book on the Black Death “1348: A Medieval Apocalypse” I have been keen to involve you, the audience, as much as possible. Therefore when it came to funding and publishing the book, I felt trying something new made most sense. Rather than use a publishing house, I have decided to crowd-fund… Read more »
The Irish Times carried a story this morning about a 500 year old map of Ireland which has come to light. Drawn by the Venetian cartographer Grazioso Benincasa in 1468 it the first known map to depict Ireland without Britain. It also gives a unique insight into Ireland in the 15th century. While I have… Read more »
Last week as I stood in front of a camera shooting a promotional video for my new book, it really struck me how much the Internet has changed world of historical research and publication. When I started writing history about eight years ago the impact of the net was limited – I had never even… Read more »
audiobook, 1348, A medieval apocalypse, crowd funding, fundit, medieval history
In 1925 the Irish government denied 750,000 people faced famine, however in the West of Ireland several people had already starved to death, recently unearthed state files reveal the details of another disturbing cover up. In the early 1920s Ireland was in a ruinous state. The war of independence, the civil war and an economic… Read more »
famine, WT Cosgrave, 1925, independence, W.T. Cosgrave, Patrick Hogan, Guardian, Distress, Civil War, austerity
Tomorrow will see thousands converge on Dublin for a national demonstration against the Water Tax – the latest austerity measure imposed by the Irish government. This demonstration has come on the back of a growing wave of protests in recent weeks across Dublin which has seen direct action taken by residents across the city to… Read more »
“The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there” so said the novelist L.P. Hartley. While this is true of all history the medieval past is a very strange country indeed. I am currently writing my second book on the medieval period “1348 – A medieval Apocalypse – The Black Death in Ireland”.… Read more »
This is the Promotional Video for the crowding funding campaign
Culture Night takes place this evening across Ireland. This sees hundreds historic buildings open their doors late waiving their admission fees. Below I have compiled my top 5 list of things to do in Dublin. You can find a full list of events here. 1. Medieval Undercroft Dublin Castle This is an incredible experience little… Read more »
Maurice Fitz Thomas the first Earl of Desmond is one of my favourite characters in medieval Irish history. His life was a litany of violence, mayhem, murder and rebellion. You can hear the full story of Maurice’s life and deeds in my exclusive new podcast. However in this post I look a some locations associated… Read more »
Dublin Castle, Christchurch, Maurice FitzThomas, William de Bermingham, The Four Courts
[This had originally been intended as the basis for a chapter in my upcoming book on the Black Death but has since been edited from the final text] This 38 minute show looks at life of Maurice FitzThomas, the first Earl of Desmond. FitzThomas’ life at times seems more like fiction than fact. While his… Read more »
medieval Ireland, Black Death, Twyin Lannister, Maurice FitzThomas
The medieval town of Carcassonne in the south of France is stunning. Miles of walls, punctuated by towers and gates, enclose a beautiful town of narrow, cobbled streets. Even if some of the 19th-century restoration work leaves a little to be desired, it is still one of the most evocative late medieval fortified towns in… Read more »
In the summer of 1348 the medieval world was changed forever by a crisis of apocalyptic proportions. Never before or since has humanity experienced anything like the events that unfolded as the Black Death swept through Northern Europe. Within a year, between 30 and 50% of the population had died. As the plague advanced across… Read more »
The History of Coffee Part II (1845-2020)The History of Coffee Part I