Best Damian Shiels Podcasts (2025)

1
Annie Moore: The First Immigrant through Ellis Island 53:44

12d ago53:44

53:44

The Irish woman Annie Moore was the first person processed at the famous Ellis Island immigration station after it opened in 1892. Over the following 62 years nearly 12 million emigrants were processed there but Annie embodied this immigrant experience but who was this Irish woman? In this episode, Fin and Damian interview Megan Smolenyak, a geneal…

1
Irish Emigrant Nuns: What was convent life like? 51:01

18d ago51:01

51:01

Irish nuns are one of the enduring stereotypes of Irish emigrant communities. Thousands of Irish women joined these religious communities often erving as educators and nurses. In these roles they embedded themselves deeply in the communities they served leaving a lasting memory. In this episode, Damian and Fin interview Dr. Sophie Cooper of Queen’s…

1
The Titanic: Irish Connections 52:43

26d ago52:43

52:43

The Titanic is unquestionably one of the most famous ships in history. Since it sank in 1912, it has been the focus of an endless stream of books, movies, and documentaries. In this episode, recorded in Titanic's final port of call—Cobh—Fin and Damian explore the Irish connections. It was not only built by Irish workers in an Irish shipyard, but ma…

1
Who Did the Irish Support in the American Revolution? 1:06:24

1M ago1:06:24

1:06:24

America won its independence from the British in the 1770s. Although not widely known, the Irish played a significant role in the conflict. They fought in several key battles, and numerous signatories of the Declaration of Independence were Irish – it was even printed by an Irishman. However, that’s not the full story, as many Irish also fought in …

1
The Irish in Pennsylvania Coal Country 1:01:38

1M ago1:01:38

1:01:38

Pennsylvania has a long history of coal mining. In the late 19th century, the conditions in the coalfields were atrocious leading to major conflict between the miners and the mine owners. The most notorious incident involved the execution of twenty Irish immigrants for their role in what was dubbed the Molly Maguires, a secret society of miners. Wh…

1
Typhoid Mary: Victim or Villain 1:13:42

2M ago1:13:42

1:13:42

'Typhoid Mary' is one of the most recognisable names in 20th-century American history, but the history behind this Irish woman is often lost in sensationalism. Born Mary Mallon in County Tyrone in 1869, she emigrated to the USA, where she enjoyed a successful career as a cook. However, in 1907, she found herself at the center of a public health sca…

1
Season II is coming on Monday March 24th! 6:08

2M ago6:08

6:08

Damian and Fin have been busy recording a new season! In this short episode they share what you can expect! Subscribe to the show at https://linktr.ee/transatlanticpod If you have any ideas for episodes get in touch at @[email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

1
Special Episode: The Irish language in the USA 43:22

4M ago43:22

43:22

Through 19th century hundreds of thousands of native Irish speakers emigrated to the USA. In this bonus episode Fin and Damian explore the history of the Irish language in the USA. Season 2 is coming in late Feb - subscribe to get the first episode when it drops https://linktr.ee/transatlanticpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more info…

1
Your Questions Answered: Christmas Special 1:02:52

5M ago1:02:52

1:02:52

In a special episode, Fin and Damian delve into the intricacies of 19th-century emigration, answering listeners' questions about this pivotal era. Discover how people managed to reconnect with relatives and friends after leaving Ireland during the Great Hunger. Learn about the ingenious methods used to send money home long before the days of Revolu…

1
The Irish in New Orleans 56:07

6M ago56:07

56:07

New Orleans is one of the most famous cities in the American South. World-renowned for Mardi Gras, the city has a unique history. Founded by the French, it was also an outpost of the Spanish, today, it is famous for its Creole and Cajun culture. However, the city also became home to tens of thousands of Irish emigrants in the 19th century. In this …

1
Coffin Ships & Famine Emigrants: Surviving the American Journey 1:18:31

6M ago1:18:31

1:18:31

Many Irish Americans trace their roots back to the Famine emigrants who escaped the death and disease that ravaged Ireland in the 1840s. In this episode, we delve into the harrowing journeys these emigrants faced aboard the infamous "Coffin Ships." Join us as we explore the stories of these resilient individuals, uncovering who they were and the co…

1
Mother Jones: The Most Dangerous Woman in America? 1:14:00

6M ago1:14:00

1:14:00

In this episode, Fin and Damian explore the life of one of the most renowned Irish American women in history: Mother Jones. Known as a fearless labour organiser at the turn of the 20th century, she played a pivotal role in the often violent struggles between workers and employers. Her very name instilled fear in the authorities, with one prosecutor…

1
We Share a History: But Are Irish Americans Really Irish? 56:58

7M ago56:58

56:58

In this episode, Fin and Damian explore the intriguing question: Are Irish Americans truly Irish? This complex inquiry challenges the reasons behind the strong protectiveness many Irish people feel over Irish identity. Is this protectiveness legitimate, or does it create barriers to a broader understanding of what it means to be Irish? We delve int…

1
From Ireland to Jamestown, Virginia: The Bloody Blueprint For English Colonialism 52:40

7M ago52:40

52:40

Fin and Damian explore the connections between English colonial settlements and the bloody conflicts of Tudor Ireland. They reveal how the violent plantation systems of 16th-century Ireland served as a blueprint for English colonial strategies in North America. The episode also highlights how many of the early English colonists in Virginia had prev…

1
Civil War, Slavery & Irish America 55:14

7M ago55:14

55:14

Join historians Fin Dwyer and Damian Shiels as they explore the road to Civil War in the United States. Irish emigrants fought in huge numbers, but their motives were complex. Many assume that the Irish, who had endured oppression at home, would identify with African Americans struggling for emancipation from slavery. This was not always the case. …

1
Pioneers of Irish America: Irish Emigration before the Great Famine 1:07:56

7M ago1:07:56

1:07:56

The stereotypical Irish emigrant is often seen as a famine exile from the west of Ireland. However, in the decades before the Great Hunger of the 1840s, over one million Irish people had already crossed the Atlantic. These early 19th-century emigrants, who laid the foundations of modern Irish American communities, differed significantly from the co…

1
1917: The American Invasion of Ireland 1:01:00

8M ago1:01:00

1:01:00

In 1917, the USA entered the First World War. Some of the first Americans to arrive in Europe were stationed in Ireland. However, this did not go entirely to plan. While Irish American sailors based in Cork were excited to see the land of their forefathers for the first time, many in Ireland were less than enthused. The island was hurtling towards …

1
The Irish Witch of Boston: The Prelude to Salem 1:00:39

8M ago1:00:39

1:00:39

Ann Glover was a poor Irish woman who lived in late 17th century Boston. Although she is a largely forgotten figure, she played a significant role in the famous Salem witchcraft trials. In 1688, Ann was accused of being a witch. Her trial and execution would shape the harrowing events that played out in nearby Salem just a few years later. In this …

1
Who Was the First Irish Person in the Americas? 41:48

8M ago41:48

41:48

In the first episode of Transatlantic: An Irish American History Podcast, historians Fin Dwyer and Damian Shiels embark on a quest to uncover the identity of the first Irish person to reach America. Was it St. Brendan, the intrepid Irish monk who is said to have voyaged across the Atlantic centuries before Columbus? Could it have been an Irish woma…

1
Transatlantic - A History of Irish America 5:50

9M ago5:50

5:50

Transatlantic, the new podcast from Fin Dwyer and Damian Shiels, explores the history between Ireland and North America. Today, over 30 million Americans claim Irish ancestry. While many trace their origins to emigrants during the Great Hunger of the 1840s, Ireland's complex relationship with North America stretches back centuries. In this brand ne…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Damian Shiels Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

1
Transatlantic: An Irish American History Podcast

Fin Dwyer & Damian Shiels

1
Annie Moore: The First Immigrant through Ellis Island 53:44

1
Irish Emigrant Nuns: What was convent life like? 51:01

1
The Titanic: Irish Connections 52:43

1
Who Did the Irish Support in the American Revolution? 1:06:24

1
The Irish in Pennsylvania Coal Country 1:01:38

1
Typhoid Mary: Victim or Villain 1:13:42

1
Season II is coming on Monday March 24th! 6:08

1
Special Episode: The Irish language in the USA 43:22

1
Your Questions Answered: Christmas Special 1:02:52

1
The Irish in New Orleans 56:07

1
Coffin Ships & Famine Emigrants: Surviving the American Journey 1:18:31

1
Mother Jones: The Most Dangerous Woman in America? 1:14:00

1
We Share a History: But Are Irish Americans Really Irish? 56:58

1
From Ireland to Jamestown, Virginia: The Bloody Blueprint For English Colonialism 52:40

1
Civil War, Slavery & Irish America 55:14

1
Pioneers of Irish America: Irish Emigration before the Great Famine 1:07:56

1
1917: The American Invasion of Ireland 1:01:00

1
The Irish Witch of Boston: The Prelude to Salem 1:00:39

1
Who Was the First Irish Person in the Americas? 41:48

1
Transatlantic - A History of Irish America 5:50