Nine Tales from Victorian Belfast (pt 1)

Single Malt History with Gareth Russell

Single Malt History is back for its fourth season with a special two-part premiere. Join us for tales of aristocrats on the outskirts, murders in the east, servants in the south, and monks in the west, as the town became a city while radical politics and conservatism populism collided. I'm joined by some of Belfast's best actors to bring to life transcripts from the time period, and singer-songwriter Emily-Rose Edgar whose performance of a 19th century refrain gave me goosebumps.
Today's four tales:
1. Lord Londonderry's Suicide
2. A Letter from Carnlough
3. A Poem for Mrs Scriven
4. The Death of Mary Ann McCracken

Content warning: Today’s episode contains discussions of suicide, depression, self-harm, and eating disorders which some listeners may find distressing

EPISODE'S CAST

Jake Douglas as Robert Stewart, 2nd Marquess of Londonderry
Maryann Maguire as Mary Ann McCracken
Cáilum Carragher as Lord Byron and John Martin MP
Danny Cunningham as Dr Charles Bankhead and John Mitchel
Colm Doran as The Northern Whig's journalist
Ashley Montgomery as Maggie McKinley
Paul Storrs as the editor of The Belfast Vindicator and Lord Londonderry's coroner
And, 'The Fields of Athenry' sung by Emily-Rose Edgar