On tonight's show: Barristers in Ireland; Peter Hillary on his father Edmund's ascent of Everest in 1953; and the story of the Coffin Ship during the Irish Famine.

Barristers in Ireland

Barristers played a significant role in Irish public life in the twentieth century - as lawmakers, politicians, civil servants, broadcasters, judges, academics and social reformers. A new book from Four Courts Press examines the profession from the turbulent 1920s, right up until the Celtic Tiger years. It's called Barristers in Ireland: An evolving profession since 1921

It looks at who the barristers were, how they worked and how they were perceived. It also examines the impact of partition, the experiences of women at the bar, and traces how the profession changed over the course of the twentieth century.

Myles is joined by the author, Dr Niamh Howlin - Associate Professor at the UCD Sutherland School of Law.

The First Ascent of Everest

It's been 70 years since Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary reached the summit of Mount Everest – the first climbers confirmed to have done so. In this report, Marc McMenamin speaks to author and mountaineer Peter Hillary about the significance of his father's historic climb.

The Coffin Ship

The infamous 'Coffin Ship' has long been an emblem of an Gorta Mór, symbolising the many Irish migrants who sought to escape that catastrophe. Historian Dr Cian McMahon offers a fresh perspective on an oft-ignored but vital component of the migration experience: the journey itself.

In his book The Coffin Ship: Life and Death at Sea during the Great Irish Famine, he looks in detail at the lived experiences of Irish people aboard emigrant vessels and convict ships, crossing the Atlantic and Pacific oceans between 1845 and 1855.

Myles speaks to Cian about the book, and stories of Irish emigration to North America and Australia during this period. The book is published by NYU Press