On this week's programme: Chronicling the history of 32 counties in the History and Society series; and the Irish silver miners who fought for better pay and conditions in 19th century Colorado.

The County History and Society Series

In 1985, Geography Publications, an Irish publishing company, began a remarkable new venture: its 'History and Society Series', with the goal of assembling a library of county histories for all of Ireland.

Now, thirty-eight years and twenty-eight counties later, the History and Society Series has become a much-loved and widely sought-after addition to bookshelves in Ireland and abroad.

Each volume in this series incorporates the work of a wide range of authors from differing backgrounds: historians, geologists, geographers, archaeologists, linguists, folklorists, poets, novelists and many more.

To learn about the series, Myles is joined by William Nolan – formerly of the Geography Department, University College Dublin, who is series editor and founder of Geography Publications .

Myles is also joined by Dr Arlene Crampsie, Lecturer and Assistant Professor in UCD’s School of Geography. Arlene is joint-editor (along with Francis Ludlow) of one of the more recent volumes in the series: Meath: History and Society.

The Lost Irish Miners of Leadville

Now we're visiting the town of Leadville, in the US State of Colorado. In the late 1870s, the discovery of silver high up in the Rocky Mountains, near Leadville, produced one of the largest silver rushes in American history. Within a few years, the area’s population climbed from just a few hundred to 35,000. Among them were many Irish men and their families, seeking opportunity in the post famine years.

Life was short for many, as they faced harsh winters, long working hours, and grim working conditions. As we’ll hear, they went on strike and took on the state government and a hostile media. More than 1300 are buried at Leadville’s Evergreen Cemetery, in the pauper section, in unmarked sunken graves.

They are now commemorated at the Cemetery, as this weekend, the Leadville Irish Miner’s Memorial was unveiled. This Memorial was created as a result of the research of Dr James Walsh.

Myles speaks to James, who is historian and professor in the Political Science department at the University of Colorado Denver. He’s spent 20 years studying Irish history in Leadville, and is passionate about this overlooked chapter of Irish-American labour history.