Broken Silence: The Murder of Mary Doherty episode artwork

EPISODE · Nov 5, 2025 · 40 MIN

Broken Silence: The Murder of Mary Doherty

from Irish History Podcast

In March 1844, the quiet community of Culdaff in north Donegal was rocked by the brutal murder of fourteen-year-old servant Mary Doherty. As the Great Hunger loomed on the horizon, Mary’s tragic death was soon overshadowed by famine and emigration, her story fading into fragments of local folklore. However, in recent years, historian Angela Byrne has brought renewed attention to Mary’s forgotten life and this dark chapter in our history.In this episode, Angela Byrne joins Fin Dwyer to discuss the history behind Mary’s murder, as detailed in her new book Finding Mary. Angela vividly reconstructs the community Mary grew up in, the background to her murder, and the reasons she was killed. The episode also explores the world of rural Donegal on the eve of the tragedy and asks why Mary Doherty’s story remained untold for generations.You can get Angela’s book, Finding Mary, at https://www.fourcourtspress.ie/books/2025/finding-mary.Sound by Kate Dunlea. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In March 1844, the quiet community of Culdaff in north Donegal was rocked by the brutal murder of fourteen-year-old servant Mary Doherty. As the Great Hunger loomed on the horizon, Mary’s tragic death was soon overshadowed by famine and emigration, her story fading into fragments of local folklore. However, in recent years, historian Angela Byrne has brought renewed attention to Mary’s forgotten life and this dark chapter in our history.In this episode, Angela Byrne joins Fin Dwyer to discuss the history behind Mary’s murder, as detailed in her new book Finding Mary. Angela vividly reconstructs the community Mary grew up in, the background to her murder, and the reasons she was killed. The episode also explores the world of rural Donegal on the eve of the tragedy and asks why Mary Doherty’s story remained untold for generations.You can get Angela’s book, Finding Mary, at https://www.fourcourtspress.ie/books/2025/finding-mary.Sound by Kate Dunlea. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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How long is this episode of Irish History Podcast?

This episode is 40 minutes long.

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This episode was published on November 5, 2025.

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In March 1844, the quiet community of Culdaff in north Donegal was rocked by the brutal murder of fourteen-year-old servant Mary Doherty. As the Great Hunger loomed on the horizon, Mary’s tragic death was soon overshadowed by famine and emigration,...

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