Best The Royal Irish Academy Podcasts (2025)

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Sin and Penance with Dr Elaine Pereira Farrell 55:28

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13d ago55:28

55:28

Welcome to the last episode of season two! Thank you everyone for their continued support. Today we chat to one of the foremost experts on the Penitentials, Dr Elaine Pereira Farrell, who explains how these prescriptive documents list various sins and the corresponding recommended penances (e.g. fasting, prayers, fines). We learn how the Penitentia…

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National Museum of Ireland Part 2 with Maeve Sikora and Matthew Seaver 54:57

27d ago54:57

54:57

We are back this week in the National Museum of Ireland, Archaeology, on Kildare Street, in Dublin City centre, which is open 7 days a week and free to the public. We are joined by Maeve Sikora, Keeper of Irish Antiquities, and Assistant Keeper Matt Seaver. In addition to chatting more about the Words on the Wave exhibition, Maeve and Matt tell us …

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ARINS podcast 45: European Perceptions of Scottish Independence Before and After Brexit 51:11

1M ago51:11

51:11

This is episode 45 of a podcast series that provides evidence-based research and analysis on the most significant questions of policy and public debate facing the island of Ireland, north and south. Host Rory Montgomery, MRIA, talks to authors of articles on topics such as cross border health co-operation; the need to regulate social media in refer…

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Ireland and St Gallen in Early Medieval Europe with the National Museum of Ireland 58:11

1M ago58:11

58:11

This week Matt Seaver, Assistant Keeper of Irish Antiquities and Dr Diarmuid Ó Riain, curatorial researcher, welcomed us in to the National Museum of Ireland, Kildare St. to see the unique new exhibition: Words on the Wave. This is an incredible display of precious manuscripts from the Abbey of St Gall, Switzerland — some returning to Ireland for t…

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Historical early meteorological observations from Ireland in the archives of the RIA (1783-1854) 48:08

1M ago48:08

48:08

As part of Biodiversity Week 2025, Dr Carla Mateus delivered a lunchtime lecture in the Royal Irish Academy on the topic of historical meteorological records held in the Academy Library's archive collections. Historical meteorological observations are crucial to better assess past climate variability and trends and the frequency, intensity, duratio…

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ARINS My Identity: Episode 5 with Claire Mitchell 1:10:10

2M ago1:10:10

1:10:10

In the fifth episode of ‘My Identity’ Professor Colin Graham (Maynooth) is in conversation with Claire Mitchell. Claire Mitchell is a writer and researcher from Belfast. She writes about people and everyday politics in Northern/Ireland, using interviews, memoir, archives and storytelling. Her latest book, The Ghost Limb: Alternative Protestants and…

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The Royal Irish Academy Library with Barbara McCormack 49:09

2M ago49:09

49:09

In this episode, we chat about the incredible academic and public resource that is the Library in the Royal Irish Academy. Academy Librarian Barbara McCormack tells us all about the collection of medieval manuscripts including some of Ireland's oldest manuscripts the Cathach of Columba and the Stowe Missal. Please visit the library yourself or chec…

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Castles in Medieval Ireland with Dr Victoria McAlister 54:21

2M ago54:21

54:21

Dr Victoria McAlister from Towson University, Maryland, on everything you ever wanted to know about castles! Featuring all the big hits, Maynooth Castle, Bunratty, Blarney, Trim, the Rock of Dunamase, Clonard castle, Ferrycarrig, Carrickfergus, Irish castles, Anglo-Norman castles, Tower houses, colonialism, we cover it all. Dr McAlister busts some …

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ARINS: Reform of Stormont, Options for Discussion 58:57

2M ago58:57

58:57

In this month’s ARINS podcast, host Rory Montgomery discusses the recent UCL Constitution Unit report ‘Reform of Stormont: Options for Discussion’ with its authors, Conor Kelly, Alan Renwick and Alan Whysall.This is episode 44 of a podcast series that provides evidence-based research and analysis on the most significant questions of policy and publ…

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ARINS My Identily: Episode 4 with Lata Sharma 1:00:25

3M ago1:00:25

1:00:25

This is episode 4 of the My Identity podcast series hosted by Professor Colin Graham, Maynooth. In this series, Colin is in conversation with a range of people whose ideas, work and life experiences shed light on the topic of identity on the Island of Ireland. My Identity is part of the ARINS project. Colin Graham is Professor English and formerly …

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Dicuil and Irish scholars at the Carolingian Court with Dr Christian Schweizer 52:25

3M ago52:25

52:25

This week we are delighted to talk to the always enlightening Dr Christian Schweizer about his Research Ireland funded research on Dicuil, an Irish scholar who was prominent in the Carolingian Court in Aachen in the early 9th century. Dicuil wrote many fascinating texts covering a variety of disciplines including geography, astronomy and computisti…

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ARINS: The SDLP, Politics and Peace 56:19

3M ago56:19

56:19

In this month’s ARINS podcast, former Deputy First Minister and leader of the SDLP, Mark Durkan discusses his political career with host Rory Montgomery. The conversation focuses on the recent book by Professor Graham Spencer, The SDLP, Politics and Peace: the Mark Durkan interviews which was published in 2024 by Peter Lang.This is episode 43 of a …

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Slavery in Medieval Ireland with Dr Janel Fontaine 52:39

3M ago52:39

52:39

Apologies for the poor sound quality in this episode! This week Dr Janel Fontaine (Treasure Trove Officer, National Museums Scotland) talks us through some of the evidence for slavery in medieval Ireland. From the accounts of St Patrick in the 5th century to Gerald of Wales in the 12th century she explains how slavery was built into the social and …

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ARINS My Identity: Episode 3 with Manchán Magan 55:35

4M ago55:35

55:35

In the third episode of ‘My Identity’ Professor Colin Graham (Maynooth) is in conversation with Manchán Magan. This episode is a recording of a public conversation which took place in Dublin on 4 February 2025.Manchán Magan has written books on his travels in Africa, India and South America. He writes occasionally for The Irish Times, and presents …

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The 'Story' of St Patrick with Dr Elizabeth Dawson 56:50

4M ago56:50

56:50

It's time for our annual discussion of the man responsible for our national holiday in Ireland, Fáilte Ireland's global greening campaign and J. D. Vance wearing shamrock socks in the White House! Dr Elizabeth Dawson (Carlow College) is the perfect expert guide through over 14 centuries of stories celebrating St Patrick. She explains how Patrick be…

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A Walnut Wound 15:07

4M ago15:07

15:07

A Walnut Wound is set in July 1795. A young girl is brought to the Grangegorman House of Industry when her family becomes homeless following their eviction.This is the third episode of the Flighty Creatures trilogy of short stories for podcast by Wexford-based writer, Sylvia Cullen. Inspired by women who dwelt in the Grangegorman Asylum, Penitentia…

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Evidence for Policy and University Structures 2:58:09

4M ago2:58:09

2:58:09

Held on 21 January 2025, and jointly organised by the Royal Irish Academy and the Maynooth University Social Sciences Institute, this seminar looked to add impetus to the implementation of the national policy approach being advanced by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.…

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ARINS: ARINS/Irish Times survey results discussion 1:00:03

4M ago1:00:03

1:00:03

In this month’s ARINS podcast, Professor Brendan O’Leary (UPenn), Professor John McGarry (QUB), Dr Dawn Walsh (UCD) and Dr James Pow (QUB) together with host Rory Montgomery MRIA discuss the recently published results of surveys conducted in 2024. The discussion covers opinions on membership of NATO and the Commonwealth, attitudes towards immigrati…

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By the Spider's Bed 20:00

4M ago20:00

20:00

By the Spider's Bed is the story of an older inmate of the Women’s Penitentiary, awaiting transportation to Van Diemen’s Land.This is the second episode of the Flighty Creatures trilogy of short stories for podcast by Wexford-based writer, Sylvia Cullen. Inspired by women who dwelt in the Grangegorman Asylum, Penitentiary and Workhouse, these stori…

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Women's Power and Patronage with Tiago Veloso Silva 42:43

4M ago42:43

42:43

Due to popular demand our podcast producer Tiago de Oliveira Veloso Silva has finally come on to the other side of the mic as one of our expert guests! We chat ‘soft power’, definitions of patronage, Agnes Ní Máelsechlainn ‘An Caillech Mór’ (d.1196), St Mary’s Arrouaisian monastery, Clonard, & reflections on the study of medieval Irish history. Tia…

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The Holding Room 21:16

5M ago21:16

21:16

The Holding Room follows Attendant Muriel Hill, facing a quandary when her patient refuses to have her image captured by the asylum photographer. This is the first episode of the Flighty Creatures trilogy of short stories for podcast by Wexford-based writer, Sylvia Cullen. Inspired by women who dwelt in the Grangegorman Asylum, Penitentiary and Wor…

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My Identity: Naomi Long, MLA 1:10:00

5M ago1:10:00

1:10:00

In the second episode of ‘My Identity’ Professor Colin Graham (Maynooth) is in conversation with NI Justice Minister and Leader of the Alliance Party, Naomi Long MLA. This episode is a recording of a public conversation which took place in Dublin on 6 December 2024.A lifelong resident of East Belfast, and politically active since her early twenties…

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Isabel de Clare (d.1220) with Dr John Marshall 58:48

5M ago58:48

58:48

"I have no claim to anything here save through her". These are the reputed words of one of the most famous knights in English history, William Marshal, describing his wife Isabel, daughter of Aoife and Strongbow. In honour of St Valentine's Day Dr John Marshall (Lancaster University) gives us the full story of Isabel de Clare — a fascinating noblew…

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Bonus episode: Interpreting the 'Anglo-Norman' Invasion with Dr Colin Veach 24:09

5M ago24:09

24:09

As a follow up to our episode on the English Conquest with Dr Colin Veach (University of Hull) we examine the bias inherent in the contemporary sources, including the famous Laudabiliter papal bull, the works of Gerald of Wales (Giraldus Cambrensis/Gerald de Barri) , and the 'Song of Dermot and the Earl'. We also discuss how historians can best app…

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ARINS: Southern Irish Protestants 58:20

5M ago58:20

58:20

In this month’s ARINS podcast, Dr Ida Milne and Dr Ian d’Alton, with host Rory Montgomery, discuss the lives of Southern Irish Protestants, including their own experiences. The conversation focuses on their 2019 co-edited collection of essays, Protestant and Irish: The minority’s search for place in independent Ireland, https://bit.ly/3Cous3i and I…

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The Asylum Workshop: a performers perspective 9:44

5M ago9:44

9:44

The Asylum Workshop: a performers perspective is the fourth in the Grangegorman Histories podcast series exploring the histories of the Grangegorman area of north, inner-city Dublin.Evie O’Brien is an actor and performer. As a drama student at the Grangegorman campus of TU Dublin. Evie played a central role in the Asylum Workshop play, a documentar…

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1169: The English Conquest of Ireland with Dr Colin Veach 54:22

5M ago54:22

54:22

Happy St Brigit's weekend! (For links to Brigit content see below). Instead of Brigit we were eager to release an episode we recorded just before Christmas with the brilliant Dr Colin Veach, from the University of Hull, on the English colonisation of Ireland, which may be known to some of you as the Anglo-Norman Invasion. Today’s episode mostly foc…

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My Identity: Gail McConnell 48:18

6M ago48:18

48:18

In the first episode of ‘My Identity’ Professor Colin Graham (Maynooth University) is in conversation with Dr Gail McConnell (QUB). Gail discusses her identity, and her uneasiness around discussing identity. The conversation explores themes including queerness, parenting, religion and the murder of Gail’s father and its resultant influence on her w…

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Fashion and clothing with Mairéad Finnegan 34:32

6M ago34:32

34:32

In this episode, Niamh Wycherley interviews Mairéad Finnegan, a PhD researcher in Maynooth University, about dress, clothing and fashion in late medieval Ireland (12th to 16th centuries). Mairéad brilliantly paints a vivid picture of how a medieval Irish person would express their ethnic identity, status, gender or community through their clothes a…

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St Columbanus and the Merovingians with Dr Alexander O'Hara 52:32

6M ago52:32

52:32

Happy New Year! To soothe fragile minds after the Christmas break we are easing you in to 2025 with St Columbanus part 2 — a further, more relaxed, reflection, on the career and legacy of Irish monastic founder Columbanus with Dr Alexander O'Hara. Do listen to our previous episode from November 22nd first if you get the chance. In this episode, we …

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Law and Society with Prof. Liam Breatnach 58:45

7M ago58:45

58:45

Happy Christmas everyone! In today's episode, Professor Liam Breatnach (Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies), one of Ireland's leading experts on the Old/Middle Irish language, medieval Irish law (so-called Brehon Law), poets and the Irish language, explains what the law tracts can tell us about medieval Irish society, the intellectual networks a…

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ARINS: Education Across the Island of Ireland 1:00:40

7M ago1:00:40

1:00:40

In this month's ARINS podcast Stephen Roulston and Martin Brown, with host Rory Montgomery, discuss education systems in Ireland. Their recent paper is 'A Century of Growing Apart and Challenges of Coming Together: Education Across the Island of Ireland'. Read the article in full here: https://bit.ly/3BCCZyXThis is episode 40 of a podcast series th…

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The Material World of Medieval Ireland with Dr Sharon Greene 56:39

7M ago56:39

56:39

Today, Dr Sharon Greene tells us how archaeologists explore how people lived in the past, what they believed and so on through the material remains they left behind. This can sometimes confirm or deny what the written records tell us – but most often it adds another layer to our understanding medieval Ireland. We chat about disciplinary challenges,…

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ARINS: Law and Religion 59:05

7M ago59:05

59:05

Religion has played a huge role in the history of Ireland and Northern Ireland. There has been little comparative analysis, however, of the legal elements of this topic. Prof Oran Doyle, Prof David Kenny & Prof Christopher McCrudden discuss, with host Rory Montgomery, their recent paper on the convergence and divergence in religious law on the Isla…

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St Columbanus with Dr Alexander O'Hara 54:27

8M ago54:27

54:27

Happy anniversary to St Columbanus, famous as a monastic founder, and a symbol of a united Europe, who is remembered as having died on Nov 23rd in the year 615! (Happy birthday also to Dr O'Hara's wife! More info in episode). Columbanus aficionado Dr Alexander O'Hara brings us through Columbanus' auspicious beginnings as a handsome aristocrat in Le…

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Medieval Irish Manuscripts with Dr Chantal Kobel 56:07

8M ago56:07

56:07

In this episode, we are joined by Dr Chantal Kobel (Department of Early Irish, Maynooth University) to chat all about medieval Irish manuscripts (literally documents written by hand) and the various specialists skills and tools needed to read these precious historical sources. From palaeography (the study of old handwriting and writing systems) to …

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ARINS: Continuity and Change in NI's Trading Relationships 59:12

8M ago59:12

59:12

This episode, Birnie Esmond, Senior Economist in the Ulster University Business School discusses his recent paper 'Trading Places: Continuity and Change in Northern Ireland's Trading Relationships' with John FitzGerald, Adjunct Professor of the Department of Economics Trinity College Dublin, and host Rory Montgomery. The paper is available to read …

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Muirchertach Ua Briain with Anthony Candon 55:48

9M ago55:48

55:48

This week we chat to Anthony Candon about one of the greatest men in Irish history — Muirchertach Ua Briain (c.1050–1119), king of Munster, arguably king of all Ireland, and great-grandson of Brian Bóru. Tony tells us all about Muirchertach's reputation as a great military leader, his influence on the Irish Church, his international status outside …

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An Introduction to Medieval Irish Literature with Dr Elizabeth Boyle 57:18

9M ago57:18

57:18

Welcome back to the second season of The Medieval Irish History Podcast! We are very excited to be back with you all! Today, in our very first episode of the new season, we are back with Dr Elizabeth Boyle to talk little bit about Early Irish Literature. You have probably heard about some key figures of medieval Irish literature, such as Cú Chulain…

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Edmund Spenser’s View of the Present State of Ireland (1596): Re-Appraised 46:01

9M ago46:01

46:01

On Monday, 7 October, Nicholas Canny MRIA delivered this lecture as part of the Dublin Festival of History in the Royal Irish Academy.Spenser’s View has, for centuries, been treated variously as a trove of prejudiced antiquarian lore useful for disparaging Irish people at moments of crisis, and as a store house of evidence that the English governme…

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ARINS: Beyond Nationalism and Unionism 45:13

9M ago45:13

45:13

In this month's ARINS podcast host Rory Montgomery discusses the paper 'Beyond unionism and nationalism: do the ‘neithers’ want a border poll and a United Ireland?' with one of its authors, Jon Tonge,Professor of Politics at the University of Liverpool. Read the article in full here: https://bit.ly/3XPHHkb This is episode 37 of a podcast series tha…

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Elections and their Consequences - The EU Elections 37:16

9M ago37:16

37:16

Panel discussion on the consequences of the European Parliament elections that took place on the 24th of September 2024.The members of the panel were Francis Jacobs (former head of the European Parliament Office, Dublin), Sarah Collins (Brussels correspondent, Business Post) and Professor Ben Tonra, MRIA (UCD). It was chaired by Iulia Siedschlag (E…

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REPEAT — Adomnán of Iona (St Columba Part 2 with Prof. Thomas Owen Clancy) 49:35

10M ago49:35

49:35

ICYMI! In order to celebrate the anniversary of Adomnán on the 23rd of September, we are re-uploading the episode discussing saint Adomnán, one of the successors of Columba and writer of the Vita Columbae, with Prof. Clancy (Professor of Celtic, University of Glasgow). In this episode we focus on his primary monastic foundation, Iona, and his succe…

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Richard J. Ussher: Chronicling the Birds of Ireland 41:01

10M ago41:01

41:01

On Wednesday 21 August 2024, ecologist and author, Richard Nairn, delivered a lunchtime lecture in the Royal Irish Academy as part of National Heritage Week 2024 entitled 'Richard J. Ussher: Chronicling the Birds of Ireland'. Richard John Ussher MRIA, 1841-1913, was a speleologist, ornithologist and the main author of Ussher & Warren, The Birds of …

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Bonus episode: Saint Brigid at 1500 22:31

10M ago22:31

22:31

This episode is excerpted from RTÉ Radio One's The History Show with Myles Dungan September 8th, 2024: https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/22430394/ Thanks a million to Myles, producer Lorcan & the whole team for having Dr Niamh Wycherley on to talk about St Brigid’s legacy, medieval Irish history, women in medieval Ireland, how medieval historia…

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ARINS: Nationality and Citizenship in Ireland, North and South 52:40

10M ago52:40

52:40

Host Rory Montgomery is joined by Brice Dickson and Aoife O'Donoghue in this month's ARINS podcast. They discuss the topic of Dickson's recent paper (written with Tom Hickey) on how British and/or Irish nationality is currently acquired and lost, first under the law in Northern Ireland and then under the law in Ireland. This paper also looks at som…

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SUMMER REPEAT - Sitric Silkenbeard, King of Dublin, with Prof Alex Woolf 53:24

11M ago53:24

53:24

In case you missed it! Inspired by the summer sun and tourist queues at Christchurch Cathedral, Dublinia, the Viking Splash Tour and the National Museum of Ireland (Kildare Street) etc, we bring you a REPEAT of our episode from May 24th dedicated to the man (partly) responsible for it all. In this episode, Dr Niamh Wycherley interviews Prof Alex Wo…

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Medieval Queens and Queenship with Anne Connon 59:41

12M ago59:41

59:41

! Apologies for the poor sound quality! Unfortunately, this was recorded online, but we promise to fix this problem for Season 2 which should begin at the end of September. In the last episode of the season, Dr. Niamh Wycherley interviews Anne Connon on queens and queenship in medieval Ireland, a subject that has underpinned many episodes this seas…

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Queens of Medieval Ireland — Gormlaith (d. 948) with Prof. Máire Ní Mhaonaigh 57:35

12M ago57:35

57:35

In our penultimate episode of season 1 we were incredibly lucky to get Prof. Máire Ní Mhaonaigh (Professor of Celtic and Medieval Studies, Department of Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic, University of Cambridge) out to the recording studio in Maynooth University. We chatted all about Gormlaith (died 948), an aristocratic woman, queen, reputed poet, an…

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ARINS: Equality Frameworks On The Island Of Ireland 53:55

1y ago53:55

53:55

Dr Evelyn Collins and Niall Crowley, along with host Rory Montgomery, explore the frameworks of equality legislation, institutions and policy mechanisms that underpin the equality agenda in Northern Ireland and in Ireland. Learn more in their recently published paper: https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/423/article/912707This is episode 35 of a podcast series…