Pieces of History
Colum McGrath
A podcast that delves into some renowned and lesser-known events throughout history.
Brilliant Orange
Joining me this week is David Winner. David is author of Brilliant Orange: The Neurotic genius of Dutch football – a seminal football book on the history of the Netherlands from the birth of Total Football in the sixties, Johan Cruyff and Ajax to the Dutch National team and the culture that spawned them.
Sep 30, 2020 • 0:46
A Life in the CIA
Joining me this week is Professor James Olson. Professor Olson served for over thirty years in the Directorate of Operations of the Central Intelligence Agency, mostly overseas in clandestine operations. He was very kind to discuss his entry into the organisation, the current threats that the United States face, his love of the Russian language, what it takes to become a spy, and the relationship between the CIA, the FBI and the NSA.
Sep 23, 2020 • 0:20
The Story of 1066 part 3
Alex joins me again to conclude the Story of 1066. In this episode, we look at the reign of Edward the Confessor, Harold Godwinson, William the Conqueror's preparations to invade England, and finally the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
Sep 16, 2020 • 0:47
The Story of 1066 part 2
Alex joins me again to continue the Story of 1066. In this episode we look at The Kingdom of Wessex and King Alfred; Alex explains who The Witan are; The Danegeld; Æthelred and the Kingdom of England as well as the early years of Edward the Confessors reign.
Sep 13, 2020 • 0:42
The Story of 1066
Joining me this week to discuss the Story of 1066 is Alex Dymond. Alex specialises in England and France from the 9th to the 12th centuries and is currently completing a doctoral thesis on the estates of the dukes of Normandy and the kings of England, 911 - 1135 at Corpus Christi College, Oxford.
Sep 9, 2020 • 0:42
Episode Two - The Gang of Nivelles part two
Join me as I continue the story of the Gang of Nivelles. This episode picks up in September 1983 and follows the gang to their final act in November 1985. I also look at the possible motives of the group, who they might have been and the conspiracy theories that swirl around the three men.
Sep 2, 2020 • 0:25
Episode One - Gang of Nivelles
Welcome to the first episode of the second season of Pieces of History! This week, I will be looking at the Gang of Nivelles, a group of three men who terrorised Belgium from 1982 – 1985 in what became the country’s most notorious unsolved crime spree.
Aug 19, 2020 • 0:24
Abhartach, The Irish Vampire
I am joined for this bonus episode by Madeline McCully. Madeline is an award-winning oral historian and storyteller and creator of derryghosts.com.
Aug 12, 2020 • 0:24
Bonus Episode II - The Borgia
Joining me this week is Katharine Fellows. Katharine is currently a DPhil candidate in History at St Peter’s College, Oxford; she will be discussing the House of Borgia, with particular reference to Rodrigo Borgia who later became Pope Alexander VI.
Aug 2, 2020 • 0:31
Bonus Episode - The Swiss Guard
This week I am joined by David Alvarez to discuss the foundation of the Swiss Guard in the 16th century, the state of the Papacy during this time and their journey from being an operational military unit to the ceremonial guard that we see today.
Jul 22, 2020 • 0:34
Episode Ten - The Gaelic Athletic Association Part Two
Joining me this week is Dr Richard McElligott to continue our talk on the Gaelic Athletic Association at the turn of the 20th century, the club and county game during this period and the GAA's involvement during the revolutionary era in Ireland.
Jul 15, 2020 • 0:42
Episode Nine - The Gaelic Athletic Association
Joining me to discuss the formation and early history of the Gaelic Athletic Association is Dr Richard McElligott from Dundalk Institute of Technology.
Jul 8, 2020 • 0:44
Episode Eight - Objects and Material Culture
I am joined this week by Emma McAlister, a PhD candidate at Queen’s University in Belfast. Emma will be enlightening us on the topic of Objects and Material Culture including, The Shrine of St Patrick’s Hand, the Relic of St Anthony, Amsterdam’s Our Lord in the Attic Museum and the future of museums.
Jul 5, 2020 • 0:35
Episode Seven - The Habsburgs and the Netherlands
This week, I am joined by author Heather Darsie to discuss topics such as The Reformation, Martin Luther, Charles V of Spain and Margaret of Parma to name but a few.
Jul 1, 2020 • 0:30
Episode Six - King Leopold's Congo
Explorers, colonisation, plunder, slavery, exploitation, and the crumbling of an empire. Join me as I look into the dark history of King Leopold's Congo.
Jun 17, 2020 • 0:26
Episode Five - The StB
Spies, kidnappings, informants, phone tapping, blackmail, murder – The StB did it all. Join me as I delve into the murky history of the Czech Secret Service during the Cold War.
Jun 10, 2020 • 0:30
Episode Four - New Amsterdam
Welcome to episode four of Pieces of History. This week, I look at the origins of New Amsterdam and how it grew and developed into one of the most important trading areas of the New World.
Jun 3, 2020 • 0:20
Episode Three - The 'Ndrangheta: Italy's Third Mafia
Welcome to episode three of Pieces of History. This week, I will be looking at one of the most powerful and secretive criminal organisations in the world.
May 27, 2020 • 0:29
Episode Two - The Rise of Dubai
Welcome to the second episode of Pieces of History. This week, I will be looking at the Rise of Dubai from humble beginnings as a small fishing village on the Persian Gulf to one of the largest and most populous cities in the United Arab Emirates.
May 20, 2020 • 0:30
Episode One - The Black Death
Welcome to the first episode of Pieces of History. This week I will be looking at the Black Death which ravaged the medieval world during the 14th century.
May 13, 2020 • 0:28