This week on Talking History, Patrick Geoghegan looks at two books, Historian, Colin Barr's, "The Irish Pope: Paul Cullen, 1803-1878" and Michael Barry's book called Catalpa: The epic story of the greatest prison break in Irish History.

This week on Talking History, Patrick explores the relationship Ireland has with the United States as the country marks 250 years of independence.

This week on Talking History, Patrick discusses Brian Cowen's rise to the office of Taoiseach, the financial crisis that overwhelmed his government, and how he will be remembered in history.

This week on Talking History Patrick discusses the history of Magill Magazine with guests Kevin Rafter, author of FEARLESS!: Vincent Browne's Magill and Ireland in the 1980s, Head of communications at Dublin City University (DCU) and a former Magill Magazine Editor and Harry McGee, Political Correspondent with The Irish Times and former editor of Magill and author of The Murderer and the Taoiseach: Death, Politics and GUBU.

This episode, marking the release of the new adaptation, features: Dr Gillian Dow, Associate Professor in English at the University of Southampton, Prof Jennie Batchelor, Head of the Department of English and Related Literature at the University of York, Dr Muireann O'Cinneide, Lecturer, School of English, the University of Galway, and Dr Mary O’Connell, Lecturer in English in the Department of English, University College Cork.

In this episode, we explore new perspectives on Henry VIII and his wives, and also discuss how migration shaped the Tudor era. Featuring Lucy Worsley, Nandini Das and Steven Veerapen.

In this episode, a history books roundup: 'Medea: A Life', by Edith Hall; 'A History of Science in 21 Women' by Marieke Bigg; and 'The Bookshop: A history of bookselling' by Andrew Pettegree.

In this episode: 360 years after flames swept through the heart of London, we examine The Great Fire of 1666, how it began, why it became unstoppable and how London rose from the ashes. Featuring Prof Adrian Tinniswood, Professor of British Cultural History at the University of Buckingham and Adjunct Professor of History at Maynooth University, Prof Vanessa Harding, Emeritus Professor of London History at Birkbeck, University of London, who is currently developing a project to map London on the eve of the Great Fire, and Prof Mark Jenner, Emeritus Professor of Early Modern History at the University of York.

In this episode: Princess Margaret and Ireland, with Emily Hourican; ‘Ireland’s first sanitorium: The St Ann’s Hill Hydro, Co. Cork, 1843–1953’ with Ronan Foley; and what you might not know about novelist Joseph Conrad, with Juliette Bretan.

In this episode, a history books roundup: ‘Desk Revolutionaries: The Men of the French Directory, 1795–9’, with Prof Biancamaria Fontana, emeritus professor of the history of political ideas at the University of Lausanne, ‘The Fifth Crusade - A History of the Epic Campaign to Conquer Egypt’, with Thomas Smith, Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and holder of honorary research positions at Royal Holloway and the University of Kent, and ‘1453: The Conquest and Tragedy of Constantinople', with Prof Anthony Kaldellis, Professor of Classics, University of Chicago.