Listen "From Red Hugh to the Grand Fleet - Stories of Rathmullan"
Episode Synopsis
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 Email: [email protected]: Pieces of History podcastInstagram: @pieceofhistorypod
More episodes of the podcast Pieces of History
Drawing the Roman Past
23/09/2025
Kilkenny: Where History Walks the Streets
09/09/2025
A Most Audacious Heist
27/08/2025
The Princely House
13/08/2025
Eritrea
30/07/2025
The Beresford Apparition
16/07/2025
The Norrmalmstorg Robbery
02/07/2025
The Cariboo Gold Rush
18/06/2025
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.