This week: Ireland at the League of Nations; Homes for World War One Ex-Servicemen in Killester Garden Village; plus the story of William Webb Ellis and Rugby's origin myth

Ireland and The League of Nations

The centrepiece of the National Archives' 2023 Commemoration Programme is an international exhibition to mark the centenary of Ireland joining the League of Nations. Drawing from records held in the National Archives, the exhibition will explore the early ambitions of the new Irish state as it asserted its independence on the global stage.

The exhibition will introduce the Irish delegation who travelled to Geneva in 1923 to secure Ireland’s membership, and it will explore Ireland’s role at the League of Nations during the 1920s and 1930s. Working in partnership with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Royal Irish Academy, the exhibition will begin its tour this month.

To learn more about the Irish Free State’s role in the League of Nations, Myles is joined by two of the exhibition’s curators: Dr Michael Kennedy, Executive Editor, Documents on Irish Foreign Policy with the Royal Irish Academy; and Zoë Reid, Keeper of Public Services & Collections with the National Archives.

Killester Garden Village

On the 12th of November 1918, the day after the Armistice that brought an end to World War One, British Prime Minister David Lloyd George gave a speech - promising 'habitations fit for the heroes who have won the war'. In 1919, a house building scheme began, to provide homes for British Army veterans – which included the many thousands of Irishmen who signed up. Planners promoted the construction of new suburban 'garden' estates, situated on the outskirts of cities.

The largest such housing development built on the island of Ireland was Killester Garden Village in North Dublin, comprising of 247 bungalows. By the time it was completed in 1923, the Irish Free State of course was a newly independent country.

To mark this centenary, a group of residents in Killester, many of them direct descendants of the people originally housed there, held a community street party last weekend. A new book was also launched, profiling the veterans that first came to live in each house.

Our producer, Lorcan Clancy went along and found out more.

The book is called Killester Garden Village: The Lives of Great War Veterans and Their Families, it's published by The Liffey Press.

The authors are World War One Researchers Nigel Henderson and Michael Nugent, who we hear from in this report. We also hear from local resident Imelda Doyle; Chairman of the Killester Garden Village Committee Aaaron Crampton; and Tom Burke who is founding member of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers Association.

William Webb Ellis

It's almost Rugby World Cup time again so let's take a moment to dream. Picture this: it’s about 11pm on Saturday 28 October 2023. We are in Paris – Stade de France to be precise – and we just have witnessed one of the greatest rugby world cup finals.

Ireland have not only shattered their quarter-final hoodoo but they have gone on to win it all: in front of a raucous crowd Jonny Sexton lifts aloft the trophy – the Webb Ellis Cup, named in honour of one William Webb Ellis.

But now, back to reality: Who was William Webb Ellis? What role did he play in the history of rugby union and why is the sport’s most important trophy named in his honour?

To discuss this topic, Myles is joined by Ian Kenneally, historian and researcher for The History Show.