What do a moth in a Harvard computer, Irish family folklore, and Oscar Wilde’s salon have in common? In this episode of History for F***k's Sake, host Sarah Dowd is joined by Henry O’Keeffe, a retired Doctor of Mathematics, lifelong IT boffin, amateur archaeologist, raconteur, and self-proclaimed debugger of life’s glitches for an inquisitive journey into how we remember, misremember, and ultimately try to correct the “bugs” in our histories.

Kicking off with the tale of the world’s first literal computer bug, Henry and Sarah explore the intersections of rigorous scientific thinking and the wonderfully messy business of family stories, oral traditions, and the changing standards of “evidence”.

History as science, history as art, and history as accidental fiction: this is an episode for the curious, the sceptical, and anyone who suspects their family tree might have a few broken branches.

Here are the highlights:

• The story of the world’s first “computer bug” and its role as metaphor for history’s glitches 
• Henry’s journey from mathematical rigour to the ambiguities of the humanities 
• Why proving things in family history is (almost) impossible and why that’s okay 
• The evolution of Irish oral tradition, the seanchai, and the art of “truth as entertainment” 
• Census chaos, misreported ages, and how economic incentives shaped historical records 
• Navigating Irish name changes, anglicisation, and the identity puzzles hidden in every family line 
• How archaeology and DNA both challenge and enrich our understanding of the past 
• Oscar Wilde as myth and the legacy of Jane Wilde’s feminist genius 
• William Rowan Hamilton, the magic of quaternions, finds their use on Broome Bridge
• How the science and art of history can sometimes create real beauty 
• Rigour and record-keeping in the age of misinformation (and what we can all do about it)

About Henry O’Keeffe: 

Henry O’Keeffe is a retired Doctor of Mathematics and technologist based in Cork, Ireland. After a distinguished academic and professional career working in error correction and IT, he has spent his retirement chasing family legends, investigating archaeological sites, and interrogating the fine line between fact and folklore. An enthusiastic storyteller and investigative family historian, Henry brings the methodical curiosity of a scientist to every story especially his own.

Connect with Henry:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/henry-o-keeffe-phd-ab290587

About Sarah Dowd: 

I’m Sarah Dowd - writer, speaker, heritage and arts consultant, producer, and all-around nerd - here to share the stories of our past that make us laugh, gasp, and mutter: It’s History… For F***k’s Sake.

For 25+ years I’ve created immersive, inclusive experiences that bring history alive, from rallying Second World War convoys through London to staging performances between Pearly Kings and Gen Z creatives. My work spans museums, cathedral crypts, pop-up theatres, global brands, and community projects across the UK and beyond.

As a Canadian living between the UK and France (with a late ADHD diagnosis that fuels my curiosity and creativity), I zigzag through culture, history, and big ideas, but never boring ones.

Every week on HistoryFFS, we explore how history echoes through today, from Drag Race to prefab tiny houses, with voices from musicians to mischief-makers.

Follow @HistoryFFS - because we’re all making history, one ridiculous, wonderful moment at a time.

Connect with Sarah:

Website: www.historyffs.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahdowd/

Patreon: HistoryFFS

YouTube: @HistoryFFSPod 

Instagram: @historyFFSPod

TikTok: @historyffspod

X: @HistoryFFSPod 

Follow the show for new episodes exploring the objects, people, and moments that shaped our world. If you want the story AND the sound of the past, this is essential listening.