Irish Asylums: A Dark History We Don’t Talk About. Why?

Irish Asylums: A Dark History We Don’t Talk About. Why?

In the 1950s, more than 20,000 people—over one percent of the adult population of Ireland—were locked away in mental asylums. This was the highest rate in the world, with more people confined in asylums than in all other institutions, including prisons, combined.


Yet, despite these staggering numbers, the story of Ireland’s asylums remains largely unspoken. In this episode, historian Fin Dwyer is joined by Prof Brendan Kelly to uncover the history behind these institutions. They explore the origins of Ireland’s asylums, the harsh realities faced by those inside, and the complex reasons why communities didn’t oppose these bleak institutions but often welcomed their opening. Through powerful stories and revealing statistics, this episode shines a light on a dark chapter of Irish history that we still struggle to confront.


Get an ad-free version of the show at Patreon.com/irishpodcast


Get Brendan's book 'Inside Grangegorman' https://shop.ria.ie/products/asylum-inside-grangegorman


Sound by Kate Dunlea.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(472)

Living on the Wrong Side of History: My Family Secrets

Living on the Wrong Side of History: My Family Secrets

Family history is often where the heroic version of the past falls apart.We like to imagine our ancestors standing on the right side of history. Someone in the GPO in 1916 or in the IRA in 1920. We li...

8 Jul 38min

The Irish Crown Jewels Robbery: Ireland’s Crime of the Century?

The Irish Crown Jewels Robbery: Ireland’s Crime of the Century?

In the summer of 1907, the Irish Crown Jewels were stolen from the heart of British power in Ireland, under the noses of the police, the military and the political establishment. Worth £50,000 at the ...

24 Jun 47min

From White Settlers to Fascists: The IRA’s Troubling Allies

From White Settlers to Fascists: The IRA’s Troubling Allies

Irish republicans had many natural allies during the War of Independence. Irish communities in the United States offered vital support, while revolutionaries in India and Egypt were also fighting for ...

19 Jun 39min

The Battle for Liverpool and New York: The Irish Revolution in the Atlantic World

The Battle for Liverpool and New York: The Irish Revolution in the Atlantic World

Liverpool and New York haunt the story of Irish independence in a way few other places do. Though separated by more than 5,000 kilometres of ocean, both ports were part of a wider Atlantic world in wh...

12 Jun 39min

Ogham: The Mystery of Ireland’s Oldest Writing

Ogham: The Mystery of Ireland’s Oldest Writing

Ogham is Ireland’s oldest known writing system, dating back more than 1,500 years. If you have ever seen strange lines carved along the edge of an old stone, you may have been looking at ogham.But wha...

10 Jun 36min

Taking the War to England: The IRA in Britain

Taking the War to England: The IRA in Britain

'We are doing this because you are doing it in Ireland'.These were the words of an IRA volunteer in Manchester explaining attacks in Britain during the Irish War of Independence.During the conflict, B...

5 Jun 33min

A Conspiracy of Fear & Silence: The Maamtrasna Murders

A Conspiracy of Fear & Silence: The Maamtrasna Murders

In August 1882, a brutal mass murder in a remote valley in the west of Ireland shocked the world. At Maamtrasna, a family, the Joyces, were attacked in their home. The victims ranged from a teenage gi...

3 Jun 1h

Daily Life in the Middle Ages: Worse Than You Think [Listener Favourite]

Daily Life in the Middle Ages: Worse Than You Think [Listener Favourite]

A recent hospital visit means there is no new episode this week, but it reminded me of this classic from early 2024! Tune in to find out more How difficult was life in the Middle Ages? This is somethi...

27 Mai 38min

Populært innen Historie

rss-dette-ma-aldri-skje-igjen
henrettelsespodden
historier-som-endret-norge
med-egne-oyne
historier-som-endret-verden
rss-benadet
aftenposten-historie
rss-frontkjemperne
sektledere
rss-nadelose-nordmenn-gestapo
historiepodden
vare-historier
liberal-halvtime
sannhet-eller-konspirasjon
rss-strid-de-norske-borgerkrigene
historiepodden-ww2
diktatorpodden
virkelig-grusomt
undersattene
rss-politisk-preik