Smugglers, Border Posts & The Mater Hospital Murder

Join hosts Tim McGarry and Cormac Moore as they dive into the colorful, tragic, and surprising history of the Irish border.

In this episode, the team explores the origins of border enforcement following the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty and the rise of border smuggling. From women stuffing heavy "Ulster coats" with goods in 1930s Donegal to cattle swimming across Lough Erne during the Economic War, discover how ordinary citizens outsmarted customs barriers.

The episode then turns to one of the darkest moments of 1976: the shocking hospital assassination of Provisional Sinn Féin Vice President Máire Drumm at Belfast's Mater Hospital. Finally, look back at John Hume's groundbreaking 1976 diplomatic mission to Washington D.C., which reshaped American involvement in Northern Ireland.

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