Sex is a major part of human life, but the secrecy and sometimes even taboo status around it

mean that it's often missing from our understanding of the past. Sex leaves a surprisingly scant

trace in the historical record, and this is particularly the case in Ireland.

However, one exception is the Irish Presbyterian Church.

Through its internal court system, known as the Kirk Sessions,

it kept detailed records of behaviour it considered sinful,

and these offer us a rare, even unique window into how our ancestors in the past navigated desire, sex, and these offer us a rare, even unique window into how our ancestors in the past

navigated desire, sex, shame, romance and all that goes with it. Now, in this episode, I'm

joined by the historian, Leanne Calvert, whose book Pious and Priscuous Uncovers the Hidden Sex Lives

of ordinary men and women preserved in the records of the Presbyterian Church.

She shares her findings and I think you're going to be pretty surprised about how modern many of these cases even though they take place in the 18th century feel.

Sex is unsurprisingly part of the human condition and controversy around it is as old as time.

Hello and welcome to the Irish History podcast. My name is Finn DeWar.

Now before we kick off, I will say this episode contains discussions around sex and sexual

activity. So, if there's little ears around, you might want to stick on the headphones.

Now, my guest, as I mentioned, is Vianne Calvert. Jan is an assistant professor of history in the

University of Limerick, and her work is absolutely fascinating. Our conversation focuses around

her recent book, P and Primiscus

and if you find our discussion and the cases we talk about interesting, her book is a really

accessible deep dive into the broader topic. I have it linked below and if you're still looking

for that last Christmas present for the lover of history in your family,

order today, they won't be disappointed.

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