On this week's programme - The Irish artist who left her mark on East German children's literature; The persecution of Irish speakers under British rule; and we preview Explore Your Archive week.

Elizabeth Shaw

Elizabeth Shaw was an Irish artist and illustrator with an extraordinary 20th century life story. Born in Belfast in 1920, Shaw spent most of her adult life living in communist East Germany. She worked as a caricaturist for Neues Deutschland or New Germany, the newspaper of the ruling Socialist Unity Party.

She's best known though as an author of books for children. Generations of German children have enjoyed the picture books she wrote, which remain in print to this day. But Elizabeth Shaw remain virtually unknown here in Ireland.

Myles is joined by two guests who have researched Shaw’s life and work. Dr Sabine Egger is a lecturer in German studies at Mary Immaculate College in Limerick. Dr Fergal Lenehan is based at the University of Jena in Germany.

Persecution of Irish Speakers

We turn now to the history of the Irish language. And specifically, the numerous ways the speaking of Irish was discouraged and curtailed over the centuries. Myles is joined by historian and author Dr Pádraig Óg Ó’Ruairc, who has researched this topic, and uncovered the stories of individuals who were persecuted for using Irish.

Explore Your Archive Week

It's Explore Your Archive Week – and events are taking place nationwide, to highlight the richness and diversity of archives all over Ireland. There’s information online at the Archives and Records Association website.

Myles is joined by archivist Niamh Ní Charra.