Welcome to the A to Z of Historical Blunders, the show that reminds us about the dangers of history repeating itself.

This week, our dial will oscillate between the early nineteenth century and the 1830’s when emotions were stirring among the ‘thinking classes’ in France and Russia. You were indeed a brave intellectual if you publicised your true feelings during these turbulent times. Two young prodigies did though, Galois and Pushkin. Before their untimely deaths, both had already produced works of genius that fundamentally influenced the course of mathematics and literature.

My guests this week are John Cronin and Shane Macken.

John Cronin is a Clareman by birth and inclination. He graduated with an MA from NUI Galway and a PhD from the European University Institute, Florence.

John has worked on the Irish-government sponsored “Irish Battlefields Project”, focussing on early-modern military actions. His research, which principally focuses on Irish elites, has been published widely at home and abroad. He has acted as a consultant to the Epic Ireland Visitor Experience and the Redemptorist Library Project.

John has taught in many well-known seats of learning including NUI Galway, Dublin City University, University of Limerick, and University College Dublin. He currently teaches in Carlow College.

Shane Macken is a Leaving Certificate student in St. Kevin’s College in Ballygall, and he has a passion for history. Last year, he was a part of the My Adopted Soldier 2017 project, which saw him travel to Flanders to visit the WWI graves of the Irish soldiers whose stories they had to tell. Shane has been debating with his school’s team since 2nd year and has played an active part on the student council. Next year, he hopes to be studying English and History in Trinity College, and he plans to be a secondary school teacher.

The article on which this episode is based can be read here.