Best Woolf Research Podcasts (2025)

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Women, marriage and the law in later medieval Ireland with Dr Sparky Booker 56:23

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1h ago56:23

56:23

** We are taking a week off and will be back January 16th!** Happy Stephen’s Day and Happy New Year! I hope everyone is having a very lovely Christmas break. This week we are joined by the incredible Dr Sparky Booker, Assistant Professor in Medieval Irish History, Trinity College Dublin. Sparky enlightens us on the legal systems in force in 14th an…

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Gráinne Ní Mháille and Joan Fitzgerald with Emily Little 46:10

13d ago46:10

46:10

We have a special episode today with recent Maynooth graduate Emily Little winner of the NUI Mansion House prize for her BA in Irish history. Emily is currently a secondary school teacher and studying for her Professional Masters in Education and makes an inspiring appeal for a reevaluation of the junior cert History curriculum. Recent reforms in h…

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The Viking Paradigm with Prof. Alex Woolf 58:56

27d ago58:56

58:56

This week we welcome back Prof. Alex Woolf (University of St. Andrews) to the podcast to question whether ‘the Vikings’ is a useful concept that helps us understand history. We explore why certain people left Scandinavia in the late 8th century and what they were called in the various places they raided and eventually settled. Alex warns us against…

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ARINS My Identity: Episode 7 with Jess Majekodunmi 35:19

30d ago35:19

35:19

In this episode of ‘My Identity’ Professor Colin Graham (Maynooth) is in conversation with Jess Majekodunmi. Jess Majekodunmi is Managing Director of the Human Sciences Studio at Accenture, a Member of the Board of Directors at the Irish Museum of Modern Art and a champion of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. The My Identity series is hoste…

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Irish national identity in the early Middle Ages? with Dr Patrick Wadden 56:12

1M ago56:12

56:12

Who were the Scotti? The Féni? The Gaels? We were delighted to get Dr Patrick Wadden, from DCU and Belmont Abbey College, NC, USA on the podcast this week to explore the evidence for the existence of the Irish nation as a concept in the early medieval period. Dr Wadden guides us through a variety of texts, in both Latin and the vernacular, which de…

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ARINS Podcast 47: For and Against a United Ireland 1:02:51

2M ago1:02:51

1:02:51

In this month’s ARINS podcast, host Rory Montgomery chat to Fintan O’Toole and Sam McBride about their recent ARINS publication: For and Against a United Ireland. The prospect of Irish unification is now stronger than at any point since partition in 1921. Voters on both sides of the Irish border may soon have to confront for themselves what the ans…

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Spooky Samhain with Dr Hannah Mac Auliffe 47:51

2M ago47:51

47:51

"Great was the darkness of that night and its horror, and demons would appear on that night always." Oíche shamhna shona daoibh go léir! Happy Hallowe'en! To accompany you on any trick or treating or early morning/late night wakenings this weekend we bring you our spooky Samhain special! Dr Hannah Mac Auliffe, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Maynoo…

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Collecting Ireland's History Lecture 47:54

2M ago47:54

47:54

As part of Dublin Festival of History, this lecture was organised to mark the RIA Library exhibition, Collecting Ireland’s History.This lecture was organised in collaboration with the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland (VRTI) Library Network and explored the diverse approaches to collecting Irish historical manuscripts of the last 700 years; and th…

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Medieval Medicine with Prof. Deborah Hayden 54:49

2M ago54:49

54:49

This week Prof. Deborah Hayden, our Head here in the Dept. of Early Irish, Maynooth University, explains what it was like both to go the, or become a, doctor in medieval Ireland! Taking us through a chronological development from the early medico-legal texts through the surge in scientific writing in the later Middle Ages she explains everything fr…

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Lebor na Cert: a “Grossly Overrated” Text? - Seán Ó Hoireabhárd 33:44

3M ago33:44

33:44

The Book of Lecan ConferenceDuring this two-day event in October 2025, speakers explored the production of the Book of Lecan or Leabhar Mór Lecain, its scribes and patrons, and the texts contained within the manuscript.The manuscript known as the Book of Lecan (Leabhar Mór Lecain) was created in Co. Sligo in the early fifteenth century. It contains…

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Gilla Íosa Mór: Pseudohistorian - John Carey 34:07

3M ago34:07

34:07

The Book of Lecan ConferenceDuring this two-day event in October 2025, speakers explored the production of the Book of Lecan or Leabhar Mór Lecain, its scribes and patrons, and the texts contained within the manuscript.The manuscript known as the Book of Lecan (Leabhar Mór Lecain) was created in Co. Sligo in the early fifteenth century. It contains…

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The Later History of the Book of Lecan - Bernadette Cunningham 32:37

3M ago32:37

32:37

The Book of Lecan ConferenceDuring this two-day event in October 2025, speakers explored the production of the Book of Lecan or Leabhar Mór Lecain, its scribes and patrons, and the texts contained within the manuscript.The manuscript known as the Book of Lecan (Leabhar Mór Lecain) was created in Co. Sligo in the early fifteenth century. It contains…

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The Book of Lecan’s Secular Genealogies (especially those of Connacht) - Nollaig Ó Muraíle 33:11

3M ago33:11

33:11

The Book of Lecan ConferenceDuring this two-day event in October 2025, speakers explored the production of the Book of Lecan or Leabhar Mór Lecain, its scribes and patrons, and the texts contained within the manuscript.The manuscript known as the Book of Lecan (Leabhar Mór Lecain) was created in Co. Sligo in the early fifteenth century. It contains…

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Poets and Poetry in the Book of Lecan - Elizabeth Boyle 32:22

3M ago32:22

32:22

The Book of Lecan ConferenceDuring this two-day event in October 2025, speakers explored the production of the Book of Lecan or Leabhar Mór Lecain, its scribes and patrons, and the texts contained within the manuscript.The manuscript known as the Book of Lecan (Leabhar Mór Lecain) was created in Co. Sligo in the early fifteenth century. It contains…

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A Return to Cóir Anmann: its Etymologies, its Date and the Book of Lecan Text - Sharon Arbuthnot 37:54

3M ago37:54

37:54

The Book of Lecan ConferenceDuring this two-day event in October 2025, speakers explored the production of the Book of Lecan or Leabhar Mór Lecain, its scribes and patrons, and the texts contained within the manuscript.The manuscript known as the Book of Lecan (Leabhar Mór Lecain) was created in Co. Sligo in the early fifteenth century. It contains…

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“A Splendid Family Heirloom”: Manuscript Illumination and the School of Lecan - Karen Ralph 39:55

3M ago39:55

39:55

The Book of Lecan ConferenceDuring this two-day event in October 2025, speakers explored the production of the Book of Lecan or Leabhar Mór Lecain, its scribes and patrons, and the texts contained within the manuscript.The manuscript known as the Book of Lecan (Leabhar Mór Lecain) was created in Co. Sligo in the early fifteenth century. It contains…

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Lebor Bretnach and the International Perspective of the Book of Lecan - Patrick Wadden 34:05

3M ago34:05

34:05

The Book of Lecan ConferenceDuring this two-day event in October 2025, speakers explored the production of the Book of Lecan or Leabhar Mór Lecain, its scribes and patrons, and the texts contained within the manuscript.The manuscript known as the Book of Lecan (Leabhar Mór Lecain) was created in Co. Sligo in the early fifteenth century. It contains…

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A History of the Men of Britain: Text and Context - Alex Woolf 19:38

3M ago19:38

19:38

The Book of Lecan ConferenceDuring this two-day event in October 2025, speakers explored the production of the Book of Lecan or Leabhar Mór Lecain, its scribes and patrons, and the texts contained within the manuscript.The manuscript known as the Book of Lecan (Leabhar Mór Lecain) was created in Co. Sligo in the early fifteenth century. It contains…

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ARINS My Identity: Episode 6 with Leo Varadkar 47:18

3M ago47:18

47:18

By The Royal Irish Academy

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Poets and Poetry with Dr Elizabeth Boyle 52:30

3M ago52:30

52:30

Welcome back for season three! Hope you missed us as much as we missed recording our chats on all things medieval Ireland! Today we have Dr Elizabeth Boyle back for the first episode of the new season (as is becoming tradition) to learn about poets and poetry. We discuss everything from Poet-President Michael D. Higgins, the power of satire, constr…

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A Naturalist’s Record: Stories from the Collections of R. J. Ussher 57:14

4M ago57:14

57:14

Listen back to our 2025 Heritage Week lecture by Emma Murphy, curator at the National Museum of Ireland – Natural History. Learn about R. J. Ussher MRIA, 1841-1913, and his connections to the National Museum, including a large collection of archived correspondence from Ussher to the curators and the hundreds of specimen donations that Ussher gave p…

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ARINS Podcast 46: A Review of Employment Law in Ireland, North and South 57:29

4M ago57:29

57:29

In this month’s ARINS podcast, host Rory Montgomery discusses the recent Irish Studies in International Affairs article, A Review of Employment Law in Ireland, North and South, with its authors Esther McGuinness (Ulster University), Desmond Ryan (Trinity College Dublin) and Rory O'Connell(Ulster University). The article explores the evolution and c…

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Sin and Penance with Dr Elaine Pereira Farrell 55:28

6M 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

7M 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

7M 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

7M 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

7M 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

7M 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

7M 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

8M 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

8M 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

9M 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

9M 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

9M 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

9M 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

9M 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

10M 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

10M 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

10M 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

10M 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

10M 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

10M 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

10M 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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ARINS My Identity: Episode 2 with Naomi Long, MLA 1:10:00

10M 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

11M 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

11M 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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The Asylum Workshop: a performers perspective 9:44

11M 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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ARINS: Southern Irish Protestants 58:20

11M 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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1169: The English Conquest of Ireland with Dr Colin Veach 54:22

11M 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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ARINS My Identity: Episode 1 with Gail McConnell 48:18

11M 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…