The Battle of Carlow and the 1798 Irish Rebellion

On the 24 May 1798, simultaneous revolts across cities and towns in Ireland signified the start of the long anticipated Irish rebellion. The insurectionists — many of whom were members of The Society of United Irishmen — were both protestant and catholic, rich and poor. But they shared a vision of an Irish republic — free from British rule. In this episode, I investigate the events surrounding the rebellion, recall its progress and aftermath with a focus on events in the small South Eastern town of Carlow. Professor Thomas Bartlett, Emeritus Professor at the University of Aberdeen, is one of the leading experts on Irish history in this era. He provides his insights on the background to the rebellion and the events that unfolded. Additionally, historian John Kelly, Editor of The Carloviana, and member of The Carlow Histrocial and Archeaological Society shares his expertise on the tragic events in Carlow. Credits: Guest interviewees: Prof. Thomas Bartlett John Kelly Audio: Boolavogue performed by Sarak Kinsella Sound Effects from Pixabay Additional Resources: Carlow Historical and Archeaological Society Carloviana