Spies, Smugglers, and Rebels: The Chief Secretary’s Office and the Challenges of Governance, 1770–1820

PART OF THE VRTI LUNCHTIME TALKS AT THE CASTLE

In an age of revolution and social unrest, how did the Irish government maintain control? This talk explores the hidden world of the Chief Secretary’s Office, the nerve centre of British rule in Ireland between 1770 and 1820. Tasked with suppressing not just rebellion but also crime, smuggling, and social disorder, Dublin Castle relied on spies, informers, and a network of magistrates and revenue officers to combat these threats.

Come along to learn how official records reveal Dublin Castle’s struggles to police a turbulent society—and what its efforts tell us about power, resistance, and everyday lawbreaking in Irish history.

Speaker: Dr Tim Murtagh, Research Fellow
Date: Tuesday 29 April, 2025
Time: 13:00 – 14:00 (Doors at 12:30)
Venue: Bedford Tower, 1st Floor, Upper Yard, Dublin Castle D02 TN97

Attendance is free, but booking is essential: http://bit.ly/4bffEAO

The Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland is set to offer a series of free public talks looking at Dublin Castle and Irish history from lesser known, and sometimes unexpected, angles. Join historians from the research team to explore stories from the Castle found among the records in the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland. The series is comprised of three talks on three separate dates:

Thursday 27 March: Dr Lynn Kilgallon – People, Power, and Parchment: The Life and Times of Medieval Dublin Castle
Book Here

Tuesday 29 April: Dr Tim Murtagh – Spies, Smugglers, and Rebels: The Chief Secretary’s Office and the Challenges of Governance, 1770–1820
Book Here

Tuesday 6 May: Dr Brian Gurrin – Counting from the Castle – Dublin Castle and early censuses of Ireland
Book Here

All talks will be recorded and made available online after the event.