Program 737: A History of Modern Ireland; Following Caesar

What kind of society do you want to live in? On the next Travel with Rick Steves, a columnist for the Irish Times explains how attitudes in the Republic of Ireland have changed dramatically in recent years. Fintan O'Toole tells us how Ireland has become a modern, progressive nation during his lifetime.

And a journalist from Utah tells us how to find the roadways the ancient Romans built to connect their empire — all the way to Istanbul.

• Irish Times columnist Fintan O'Toole, author of "We Don't Know Ourselves: A Personal History of Modern Ireland" (Liveright)
• John Keahey, author of "Following Caesar" (St. Martin's Press)

• Fintan O'Toole has been called "Ireland's leading public intellectual" by his colleagues at the Irish Times.  He teaches at Princeton University in New Jersey as a visiting lecturer in Irish Letters.
• Fintan is the author of "We Don't Know Ourselves: A Personal History of Modern Ireland."
• The Rick Steves online guide to Ireland.
• John Keahey writes about following the ancient pathways of the Roman Empire in his book "Following Caesar."
• Rick writes about the Appian Way, which you can walk on, just outside of Rome.

• Clannad, "An Gleann," Landmarks / Atlantic
• Gotan Project, "Confianzas," Inspiracion-Expiracion / XL Recordings
• Luke Daniels, "Patsy Denning Set," The Celtic Heartbeat Collection, vol. 2 / Celtic Heartbeat
• London Symphony Orchestra, "Marcradh Shíodha (Fairy Cavalcade) (from 'The Children of Lir,' composed by Patrick Cassidy)," Patrick Cassidy: The Children of Lir / Celtic Heartbeat
• Clannad, with Bono, "In A Lifetime," Celtic Heart (collection) / BMG
• * Rita Connolly, Shaun Davey, "Death of Richard-An-Iarainn (Intro)," Granuaile / Tara Music
• James Galway, "The Minstrel Boy," The Celtic Minstrel / RCA Victor
• L'Orchestra Numerique, "Blarney Jig," Sunday Sessions: 40 Classic Irish Songs (collection) / SFO
• The Spirit of Eden, "Compassion," The Sun The Moon and the Stars / Celtic Heartbeat
• Rita Connolly, Shaun Davey, "Free and Easy," Granuaile / Tara Music
• The Chieftains, Paolo Nutini, City of Limerick Pipe Band, "Hard Times Come Again No More," The Chieftains: Voice of Ages / Hear Music
• * Mago de Oz, "Irish Pub," Belfast / Locomotive Records
• Baba Zula, "Gerekli Sheylur," Duble Oryantal / Doublemoon (Turkey)
• Loreena McKennitt, "The Bonny Swans," The Mask and the Mirror / Warner Bros.
• Djole, "Jazzy Jig," Indiscretion / DPM
• Alex North Orchestra, "Training the Gladiators (Main Title-part 1)," Spartacus (original film soundtrack) / JB Production CH
• Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia (Lorin Maazel, cond.), "Act 3-Prelude, 'Io de sospire,'" Puccini: Tosca / Decca  (1999)
• CEZ_CEO_2017_01501_Orient_at_Twilight_APM
• SOS_SAS_0070_01601_Gathering_Folks_APM
• David Arkenstone, "No Rain, No Rainbows," Echoes of Light and Shadow / Domo Records

* Indicates filler music used during breaks between segments

• At 8:09, Fintan says he was born in 1958 and is 65 years old.  At 11:50, he notes that Ireland's population today is 6.5 million and, at 17:17, is the "best educated country in Europe."
• Fintan notes the affection the Irish people have for U.S. Senator George Mitchell (Dem.-Maine) in helping to negotiate an end to "The Troubles" in Northern Ireland, and notes at 28:17 that he is "still alive" (age 90 at the time this airs).
• At 28:58, Rick notes he saw hateful sectarian behavior at an Orange parade in Portrush, Northern Ireland "recently."
• Fintan discusses how the Brexit vote in the U.K. has elevated Ireland's status in the European Union as an attractive place for American business to invest in. At 33:40, Rick adds that "Britain is not doing as well as the Republic of Ireland in a lot of ways," and speculates Scotland may ask for another referendum on independence before long.
• At 36:28, Fintan refers to a sense of despair in America over whether politics can work to improve society, and offers the Irish story as an example that it can.
• Rick calls "We Don’t Know Ourselves" Fintan's "latest book," at 37:50. 
• Rick says, at 47:28, that John Keahey's "Following Caesar" book "is due to be released next week" (Dec. 12, 2023 release date).