Episode twenty-eight of Pieces of History takes us into the Belfast Hills, where the story of the Magee family offers a rare window into life in Hannahstown in the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

Through the research of Phil Donnelly, we uncover how ordinary families lived under extraordinary pressure - from the legacy of the Penal Laws to the quiet resilience of faith at hidden Mass Rocks. At the centre is Edward Magee of Carnaghliss, whose farm records and surviving fragments reveal rural life on the eve of famine.

We explore kinship ties with the neighbouring Dean family and follow the poignant story of young Edward, “the boy who was left behind,” reflecting the wider experience of famine, loss, and emigration.

Blending family history with landscape and memory, this episode shows how one local story can illuminate much larger themes in Irish history.

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In the Shadow of the Hills - The Magees of Hannahstown

Episode twenty-seven of the new series of Pieces of History takes us into the turbulent final years of the Tokugawa shogunate — a period of political upheaval, foreign intrusion, and samurai-driven revolution that culminated in the Meiji Restoration. It is one of the most transformative chapters in Japan’s history, when centuries of tradition collided with the urgent need for national survival and modernisation.

Joining me for this episode is author and historian Romulus Hillsborough, whose decades of research into the Bakumatsu era have helped illuminate the lives, motives, and struggles of the people who shaped it. Romulus, whose work can be found at samurai-revolution.com, guides us through the downfall of the shogunate, the rise of powerful domains like Satsuma and Chōshū, and the remarkable figures — including Sakamoto Ryōma and Saigō Takamori — who forged Japan’s path into a new age. We also discuss his forthcoming book, Samurai Swordsmen: The Definitive History of the Shinsengumi, and his newly established consulting services for authors, editors, documentarians, screenwriters, and others exploring this era.

Drawing on original letters, diaries, and memoirs, we explore how Japan navigated foreign pressure, internal fragmentation, and the existential question of identity. We reflect on what surprised Romulus most in his years of research, how samurai ideology evolved during the crisis, and why the Meiji Restoration remains one of the most astonishing political transformations in world history.

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Romulus Hillsborough: https://www.samurai-revolution.com/

Meiji Firestorm: The Collapse of the Samurai World

Episode twenty-six of the new series of Pieces of History takes us to one of the most strikingly symbolic places in Cold War Europe: Mödlareuth - the tiny village once known as “Little Berlin.” With only a few dozen residents, this quiet rural community found itself split by a concrete wall after 1945, becoming an unexpected microcosm of division and ideology.

Joining me is historian Susan Berger, whose work focuses on the lived experiences of ordinary people shaped by major political events. Susan guides us through Mödlareuth’s past: what the village was like before the division, why such a small place ended up walled off, and how the emotional shock of separation transformed daily life.

Drawing on local records, oral histories, and the memories of those who lived on either side, we explore how East and West Germany treated the people of Mödlareuth, what surprised Susan most in her research, and how personal stories from the village help us understand the broader Cold War landscape.

Together, we reflect on how to balance grand historical narratives with intimate human experiences - and what Mödlareuth ultimately teaches us about borders, identity, and the communities shaped by division.

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Museum Modlareuth - https://www.moedlareuth.de/en/

'Little Berlin': The Divided Village of Mödlareuth

Episode twenty-five of the new series of Pieces of History turns its gaze to Spain - a country where landscapes, ruins, and silences still carry the weight of a conflict that ended nearly a century ago. The Spanish Civil War continues to shape identity, politics, and memory, yet much of its legacy remains contested, hidden, or unspoken.

Joining me is writer and historian Nick Lloyd, whose long connection with Spain and deep engagement with the war’s legacy come together in his powerful book Travels Through the Spanish Civil War.  Rather than offering a traditional historical account, Nick travels through the places where the war was fought and remembered - from the shattered streets of Belchite to the refugee trails across the Pyrenees - uncovering the stories embedded in Spain’s terrain.

Together, we explore the origins of the Civil War, the forces that shaped each side, and the human experiences that still echo in towns, archives, and family histories. Nick shares encounters with historians, journalists, and descendants of survivors; reflects on the emotional impact of tracing escape routes into France; and shines a light on figures like Francesc Boix, whose photographs became vital testimony at Nuremberg.

In this episode, we delve into how Spain remembers - and forgets - its civil war, examining the landscapes, memories, and moral questions that continue to define its modern identity.

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Travels Through the Spanish Civil War - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Travels-Through-Spanish-Civil-War-ebook/dp/B0DZQ7DSS3

Ghosts of Spain: Landscapes, Memory & the Spanish Civil War

Episode twenty-four of the new series of Pieces of History turns the spotlight on Uzbekistan - a country often overlooked in global discussions yet rich in history, culture, and complexity. From the Silk Road cities of Samarkand and Bukhara to the modern-day shifts reshaping its society, Uzbekistan stands at a fascinating crossroads of past and future.

Joining me is journalist and author Joanna Lillis, a long-time observer of Central Asia whose latest book, Silk Mirage: Through the Looking Glass in Uzbekistan, offers a vivid and revealing portrait of the country today. Together, we explore Uzbekistan’s geography, political dynamics, economic changes, and social transformations, uncovering the realities behind its evolving image.

In this episode, we dive into the forces shaping Uzbekistan’s identity, challenge common assumptions, and shed light on a nation navigating a complex path between tradition and modernity.

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Silk Mirage: Through the Looking Glass in Uzbekistan - https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/silk-mirage-9781350292468/

Silk Mirage: Through the Looking Glass in Uzbekistan

Episode twenty-two of the new season of Pieces of History takes us to Rathmullan - a coastal village on the shores of Lough Swilly whose story spans centuries of Irish history.

My guest is local historian and guide Deirdra Friel, who helps trace Rathmullan’s remarkable past - from the legacy of the McSweeneys and the Abbey to its surprising links with figures like Davy Crockett. We explore the dramatic kidnap of Red Hugh O’Donnell and the Flight of the Earls, events that changed the course of Ireland’s story, before turning to the turbulence of 1798, when Wolfe Tone and the French fleet appeared off the Donegal coast.

Moving into the twentieth century, Deirdra also sheds light on Rathmullan’s connection to the First World War, the arrival of the Grand Fleet, and the enduring mystery of the HMS Saldanha.
This is more than a tale of one village — it’s a journey through rebellion, resilience, and remembrance on the edge of the Atlantic.

Donegal Heritage Trails: donegalheritagetrails.com

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From Red Hugh to the Grand Fleet - Stories of Rathmullan

Episode twenty-one of the new season of Pieces of History takes us to Lisburn, a city with a layered past and a living heritage.

My guest is local historian and tour guide Aaron McIntyre, who helps trace Lisburn’s story from its earliest settlements to the city we see today. We look at the debate around its pre-Plantation origins, the transformation of the seventeenth century with the Plantation, linen, and Lisburn Castle, and the great fire of 1707 that reshaped its streets and architecture.

Moving into the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Aaron explores the dominance of the linen industry, the rise of families like the Barbours, and the town’s political life — from the Volunteer Movement and 1783 election to the ideals of the United Irishmen. Finally, we reflect on modern Lisburn, how heritage balances with city life, and where its past remains most visible today.

This is more than just a walk through Lisburn’s streets — it’s a journey into how history, industry, and community shaped one of Ulster’s most significant towns.

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From Castle to Cathedral - The Story of Lisburn

Episode twenty of the new season of Pieces of History brings us into the world of Roman Britain through the work of archaeologist and illustrator Dr. David Neal. Over his career, Dr. Neal has recorded and interpreted some of the most important mosaics ever uncovered in Britain.

We’ll trace his journey from early influences and training, to the moment he discovered the connection between art and archaeology. Along the way, Dr. Neal explains what mosaics are, why they matter, and what they reveal about Roman society and daily life. He shares how he developed new techniques to document them, the challenges of balancing creativity with accuracy, and the milestones that shaped his career.

From the evolution of archaeological recording in the digital age to the enduring role of traditional illustration, we’ll explore how his work has preserved the Roman past for future generations.

Join us for a conversation that uncovers not only the beauty of Roman mosaics, but also the craft of bringing them back to life on the page.

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Drawing the Roman Past

Episode nineteen of the new season of Pieces of History takes us to the heart of Ireland’s medieval capital - Kilkenny. I’m joined by John Comerford, a local historian and tour guide, to explore the city’s rich past and enduring legacy.

Together, we’ll walk through Kilkenny’s Medieval Mile, uncovering stories behind its well-preserved cobblestone streets, soaring cathedrals, and, of course, the imposing Kilkenny Castle. John shares how the city’s unique blend of Norman, ecclesiastical, and civic architecture reflects centuries of power, faith, and community life.

From medieval guilds to political intrigue, from the Black Abbey to St. Canice’s Cathedral, we’ll reveal how Kilkenny’s monuments are more than stone - they are living markers of Ireland’s turbulent and fascinating history.

How has Kilkenny managed to preserve its medieval charm so vividly into the 21st century? And what do its landmarks tell us about Ireland’s wider story of conquest, resilience, and cultural identity?

Join us as we journey into the streets and stories of Kilkenny, guided by one of the people who knows them best.

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Kilkenny: Where History Walks the Streets

Episode eighteen of the new season of Pieces of History delves into a tale of intrigue, ambition, and one of the most daring thefts in history. Journalist and podcast writer Emma-Jane Kirby joins me to discuss A Most Audacious Heist, her gripping show that uncovers the extraordinary true story of the theft of the Sisi Star - a priceless diamond hairpiece belonging to Empress Elisabeth of Austria, better known as Sisi.

We’ll explore Emma-Jane’s journey from journalism to podcasting and how her investigative background shapes the way she brings historical narratives to life. Together, we’ll unravel the story of Daniel Blanchard, the enigmatic thief at the centre of this audacious crime, and the life and legacy of Empress Sisi, a figure both adored and misunderstood in 19th-century Europe.

Was the theft a crime of greed, a political statement, or something more? And how does this heist fit into the broader historical landscape of its time? Join us as we dive into a story of glamour, deception, and high-stakes intrigue.

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A Most Audacious Heist

A podcast that delves into some renowned and lesser-known events throughout history.