The Red Branch: Dynamite, Death & Diaspora in 1880s San Francisco

In the early 1880s, crates of California dynamite found their way to London — not for trade, but for terror. Irish revolutionaries in the United States were plotting bombings in the heart of the British Empire, and San Francisco, with its deep Irish roots, became a key outpost in the transatlantic campaign.

In this episode, we speak with renowned author and historian Dr Myles Dungan about his new historical novel The Red Branch, set in 1883 San Francisco and inspired by these real-life dynamiters, secret societies, and British spies. We explore the real history and real characters behind the fiction--along the way charting the story and experience of Irish immigrants in the City by the Bay.

Sound by Kate Dunlea.

Shownotes

Myles Dungan. The Red Branch (Etruscan Press, 2025)

The History Show RTÉ Radio One

Myles Dungan Website

Myles Dungan Publications

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