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William Ferguson Massey, the 13th prime minister of New Zealand was born near Limavady, Derry, to a tenant farming Protestant family on March 26th, 1856. Have you listened to our podcast? Get the latest on our Episode Page. In 1862, Massey&rsq…

At Irish Stew, our podcast episodes are lengthy. We make no apology for that, we don't think we come to grips with a person's life in 15 minutes. In truth, it is ridiculous to believe that we can do so in an hour, which is roughly the duration of ti…

Artificial Intelligence rendering of the Battle Of Farsetmore Likely more than a 1,000 men lay dead on the shores, or in the tidal waters of the river Swilly near Letterkenny in Donegal. The encounter at the ford of Farsetmore (Fearsaid Súil…

Mainie Jellett (1897 - 1944) Despite her short life, Mainie Jellett, made significant contributions to the arts in Ireland. Mainie was a pet name; she was born Mary Harriet Jellett on April 29, 1897, into a prosperous Dublin family at 37 Fitzwilli…

On April 24th, 1916, a group of Men enter the General Post Office in Dublin and took control of the building. That act and the proclamation of the Republic of Ireland spelled the begining of the 1916 Rising. Many refer to the these events as the Eas…

Brian Boru - Henry MacManus lithograph, mid 19th century Brian Boru or Brian Bóruma mac Cennétig is believe to have been born C. 941 into a family of 12 sons. What we know about Brian is obscured by the passage of over 1,000 years. Th…

Seán O Faoláin, master of the short story and man of letters, was born John Francis Whelan in Cork city on this day, February 27, 1900.  At age 18, he began to learn Irish and subsequently changed his name to Seán O Faol&aa…

Katherine Cecil Thurston, best selling Edwardian era author, was born Kathleen Annie Josephine Madden in Cork on April 18th, 1874. Her family circumstances were comfortable, her nationalist father Paul Madden was a banker and served twice as mayor o…

John Millington Synge, one the most the preeminent playwrights of the Irish Literary Revival, was born in Rathfarnham, Dublin on April 16th, 1871. His father, John Hatch Synge was a barrister and landlord and died a year after his last son's birth. …

19th century etching of the Battle of Kilrush On April 15th 1642,  on the road between Athy and Dublin, two opposing armies faced off at Kilrush, Kildare. The ensuing battle between Irish Catholic Rebel Confederates and Protestant Royalist for…