Gillian O'Brien
@gillianobrien.bsky.social
Professor of Public History. Author of 'The Darkness Echoing'. Public History/Museums/Heritage/Memory/Death/Dark Tourism/Spies/Nuns/ Board member Irish Museums Association
Great to be in #Killkenny again for #KAF26. Looking forward to speaking tomorrow at 1pm & Thursday at 5pm in the parade tower. Come along if you're in the city.
It's been a while since I posted anything about research but back on the #DarkTourism trail. First up the Inquisitor's Palace in Birgu #Malta share.google/K3ZAn3BCb4qG... (& I've a couple of talks in Ireland coming up next month where Maltese #witches will get a mention - check out the events page!
Roman Inquisition - Maltese Style — Gillian O'Brien
The Roman Inquisition in Malta
share.google
This week's episode with @gillianobrien.bsky.social picks apart the first terrorist campaign conducted on British soil - the Irish "Dyanmite War" of the 1880s #history 🗃 🎧 🇮🇪 Listen here ⬇️ podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
#otd 4 May 1889 Dr Patrick Henry Cronin was brutally murdered in #Chicago. The murder trial was sensational & the repercussions for Irish-America & Irish Republicanism were enormous. You can read about it in my book Blood Runs Green #USHistory #IrishAmerica #irishhistory.
Marking the 150th anniversary of the rescue of six Fenian leaders from Fremantle Prison by the whaling ship Catalpa. The flag of the Catalpa will be on display at the National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, on Saturday, 18th and Sunday, 19th April 2026 only. www.museum.ie/en-IE/Museum...
For #stpatricksday I chatted to the good folk @thehistoryofmurder.bsky.social about the murder of Dr Cronin in #Chicago. Listen here, or watch on YouTube podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/i... #ireland #history #irishrepublicanism
Ireland's Cause, America's Crime: The Story of Patrick Henry Cronin
Podcast Episode · The History of Murder · 17 March · 39m
podcasts.apple.com
Why women's stories should be told in all museums not just one www.gillianobrien.net/blog/limeric...
Limerick you’re a lady… — Gillian O'Brien
Limerick You’re a Lady: Why women’s stories should be told in all museums…
gillianobrien.net
Why Irish women's history belongs in every museum and not just one. Opening a standalone women's museum in Ireland in 2026 risks reinforcing separation at a time when integration should be the goal, writes @gillianobrien.bsky.social @ljmuofficial.bsky.social www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2...
Why Irish women's history belongs in every museum & not just one
Opening a standalone women's museum in Ireland in 2026 risks reinforcing separation at a time when integration should be the goal
rte.ie
I'm off to France next week to talk about film, mother & baby homes, Magdalen Laundries & difficult history www.gillianobrien.net/events-2
I'm convinced my grandmother's time as a fake corpse was the inspiration for this scene! 🎬 #darknessechoing #howtogettoheavenfrombelfast #netflix www.gillianobrien.net/blog/my-gran...
How to get to Heaven and my Grandmother — Gillian O'Brien
My Grandmother and How to Get to Heaven
gillianobrien.net
Really looking forward to this screening of Sinners. We're at maximum capacity (not a spare seat in the house!) There will be a waitlist, so if you're still hoping to join us, but don't yet have a ticket, please do come & see if there's room. If we can, we'll 'let you in' 😉
We are very sad to learn of the death of Dr Deirdre McMahon. Deirdre was an historian nonpareil, as well as a staunch advocate for archives and archivists. She was a great friend of UCD Archives over all the decades of our existence. We will miss her. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam.
Join us for a special 'Sharing Lands' screening of 'Sinners', focusing on connections between African-American, Choctaw & Irish history. 🗓️Friday 27th February 🕕18.00-21.00 📍Goldsmiths, University of London, Richard Hoggart Building Cinema Book your free tickets: www.eventbrite.com/e/sharing-la...
Sharing Lands screening of 'Sinners'
Join us for a special 'Sharing Lands' screening of 'Sinners', focusing on connections between African-American, Choctaw & Irish history.
eventbrite.com
Blood Runs Green is a bargain $9.99 on the #Chicago University Press website. If you like true crime, #murder, Irish republicanism, #spies, Chicago & Irish #history it should be right up your street. #truecrime
We can't reveal too much for now, but the Sharing Lands team have been doing some filming in the West of Ireland for as part of their collaboration with the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. More news soon @ sharinglands.com #choctawgift #irishfamine @gillianobrien.bsky.social @padraigkirwan.bsky.social
Inching towards finishing the manuscript of my book on the history of #Dublin & doing some final checks! #irishhistory #urbanhistory #ireland
Funding cuts, political pressure, interference ... US museums in crisis #museums #heritage #culture www.theguardian.com/culture/2026...
‘A very tough moment’: how Trump has put museums in jeopardy
A study has shown the devastating impact of arts funding cuts on institutions across America and many within the industry are concerned for what’s next
theguardian.com
The third, 'Ireland’s undiscovered past: the 1800s' (featuring @gillianobrien.bsky.social) delved into the VRTI in search of lesser-known men and women to reveal new interpretations of Ireland’s recent past. youtu.be/dsuWzs00AXM?...
Ireland’s undiscovered past: the 1800s
The history of 19th century Ireland was dominated by big events, big men and big problems. The Act of Union of 1800, the Great Famine, and the campaign for land rights and Home Rule are among the…
youtu.be
Top day in #Belfast with discussing complex histories Thanks @brionywiddis.bsky.social for hosting & Triona White Hamilton of @ulstermuseum.org Also great to run into colleagues & friends from @qubelfastofficial.bsky.social & @ljmuhistory.bsky.social V useful for @sharinglands.bsky.social too!
On this the Taoiseach is absolutely right. Herzog Park should not be renamed. The proposal is populist politics & not grounded in any historical or other basis.
Micheál Martin@micheal-martin.bsky.social · 9mo agoThe proposal to rename Herzog Park should be withdrawn in its entirety and not proceeded with.
I'm so excited about our @sharinglands.bsky.social online event on Thursday about #Irish & #Choctaw basket weaving traditions that I learnt the basics of basket weaving! But you can just make a cup of tea & tune in. It's free, just register at www.eventbrite.com/e/weaving-to...
In response to the elderly man who thought I'd agree with his anti-immigrant stance (or at least he did until I told him that I'm an immigrant too)
Great day at @beinghumanfest.bsky.social with the @sharinglands.bsky.social crew. Sharing #Choctaw Bvnaha & #Irish Yellowmeal Bread will all & collecting related #recipes from all over the world. #baking #cooking #sharing #bread #deptford
A week of diverse heritage meetings, talks & launches - Plas Newydd in #wales, #kilmainhamGaol, #GlasnevinCemetery, #heritageireland2030 Irish Museums Association conf at #nationalmuseum. @irishmuseums.bsky.social @heritagecouncil.ie @curioustravellers.bsky.social @glasnevincemetery.bsky.social
Heritage Ireland 2030 summit. Anne Cassin & Deirdre MacMathúna extolling the importance of History & how it encourages critical thinking. Music to my ears. #heritageireland #history #irishhistory #heritage #education #teachers
Go see the new exhibition @kilmainham.bsky.social The photographs in 'The Prisoners' Lens' are revealing & moving (& there are dogs!) Brilliant work by Aoife Torpey & Brian Crowley. #exhibition #history #museums #darktourism #penalhistory #speirgorm
If only every work day could be like this! #plasnewydd #llangollen #wales #research #ladiesofllangollen
Nice to see MichaelD watched over by Jesus at the #Liverpool Irish Centre. It was great to be there at the launch of the Liverpool Irish Festival which runs until 26th Oct. Check out all the events here: www.liverpoolirishfestival.com #LIF2025 #liverpoolIrish #ireland #festival #michaelD #president
A thrill see Michael Collins' slippers finally on display in the #ChangingIreland exhibition @nmireland.bsky.social. Seems a long time since @brendamalone.bsky.social & I made them a social media sensation! Great to see a packed house for the launch this eve. #michaelcollins #museum #exhibition
