Draft:Davy Holden

Davy Holden was born in Harristown, County Kilkenny, Ireland. The Harristown area, where Holden grew up, is steeped in history, with evidence of human habitation going back thousands of years. The most famous local site is the Kilmogue Portal Tomb, which dates back 5,000 years. Nearby, is the medieval city of Kilkenny, which includes an impressive castle, which dates back to 1260. As a result, growing up in such a historic environment, sparked an early interest in history for Holden. “Growing up in this area, I am surrounded by Irish history". "You couldn’t get away from it, even if you wanted to” he said.

In addition to his growing interest in history, Holden also developed an interest in music. As a talented musician, he was a major presence on the local live music scene in the city of Kilkenny.{{Cite web |last=Dunne |first=Christopher |date=6 January 2025 |title=Kilkenny man with fascinating hobby to appear on RTÉ |url=https://www.kilkennypeople.ie/news/local-news/1695840/kilkenny-man-with-fascinating-hobby-to-appear-on-rte.html |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=20 February 2025 |website=Kilkenny People}} It was this love of music, and his desire to share his musical knowledge, that led him to enter the world of social media. With his deep interest in Irish history, it is not surprising that Holden also has a deep love for his native language. Holden is able to speak Irish Gaelic, although not fluent. He occasionally posts an Irish language tutorial video.{{Citation |title=Irish Language Basics (Gaeilge) |date=30 August 2024 |url=https://www.youtube.com/shorts/oPM26PCbmac |access-date=22 March 2025 }}{{Self-published inline|certain=yes|date=June 2025}} Despite initially pursuing a career as an accountant, Holden decided to change direction, and instead focus full-time on developing history content.

Holden posted his first video on YouTube in January 2018. This video related to his other passion of playing electric guitar.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztlSYcrPVgQ |title=The John Frusciante Stratocaster |date=2018-01-28 |last=Davy Holden |access-date=18 March 2025 |archive-url= |archive-date= |url-status=live |via=YouTube}}{{Self-published inline|certain=yes|date=June 2025}} His early videos were music related, and provided instructions and tips, on guitar playing, and related accessories. However, his love of Irish history and culture gradually influenced his channel. The increasing popularity of his history videos, primarily in short video form, resulted in history topics dominating his content.

Many of Holden’s videos are recorded on-site, at the exact location where historical events occurred, or at locations associated with historical figures. Holden attributes his popularity to the engagement of the immense worldwide Irish diaspora, especially those in the USA. Holden believes that many of them lack knowledge of their history, and based on the popularity of his content, many have a keen desire to learn. "You have so many of the diaspora that haven't learnt Irish History in school." "Look at the US, you have 30 Million Irish Americans." "They don't learn Irish history in school", he said.{{Cite web |last1=Moore |first1=Derrick |last2=Vasquez |first2=Gerson |last3=Dolan |first3=Ryan |date=16 March 2021 |title=Residents With Irish Ancestry Are in All 3,142 U.S. Counties and Make Up 20% of the Population in Some |url=https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2021/03/happy-saint-patricks-day-to-one-of-ten-americans-who-claim-irish-ancestry.html |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=18 March 2025 |website=Census.gov |language=en}}

As Holden's fame spread on social media, other related media entities reached out. In 2023, Canadian Radio station, VOCM, highlighted Holden's work on the Irish origins of the current Newfoundland accent. His initial social media post on the subject, went viral, registering over a quarter million views overnight on TikTok.{{Cite web |date=13 February 2023 |title=Irish TikTok Creator Goes Viral After Asking to Hear Newfoundland Accent |url=https://vocm.com/2023/02/13/irish-tiktok-creator-goes-viral-after-asking-to-hear-newfoundland-accent/ |access-date=7 June 2025 |website=VOCM.com}}

In early 2024, podcaster Mollie Guidera, host of the "Irish with Molly" website, which promotes the Irish Language and culture, interviewed Holden for her channel.{{Cite podcast |url=https://open.spotify.com/episode/0s9p1KtARrkiRh0IvjZfmD |title=#3 Davy Holden - Bringing Irish History to Life |website=Irish with Mollie |publisher=spotify.com |last=Guidera |first=Mollie |access-date=9 June 2025 |date=12 February 2024}} Later that year, Irish American news web site, Irish Central, based in New York City, posted one of his history articles.{{Cite web |last=Irish Central Staff |date=14 February 2024 |title=WATCH: James Stephens - the life of a Fenian on the run |url=https://www.irishcentral.com/roots/history/james-stephens-davy-holden |access-date=7 June 2025 |website=www.irishcentral.com}} In May of 2024, Holden was a guest speaker for the the New York based American Irish Historical Society.{{Cite web |date=21 May 2024 |title=Digital History: The Past in the Future |url=https://aihsny.org/events-2/digital-history-the-past-in-the-future |access-date=7 June 2025 |website=www.aihsny.org}} In June 2024, the international travel web site, "Outspoken Traveler", interviewed Holden, as part of a focus feature on Irish History.{{Cite web |last=O'Neill |first=Alfred |date=1 June 2024 |title=Let Irish history come alive with the passion & authenticity of Davy Holden (Kilkenny). |url=https://outspokentraveler.com/2024/06/01/let-irish-history-come-alive-with-the-passion-authenticity-of-davy-holden-kilkenny/ |access-date=7 June 2025 |website=www.outspokentraveler.com}} Later, that year Holden's video on the history of New Ross, a town in County Wexford, Ireland, was profiled by the Irish Independent.{{Cite web |last=Looby |first=David |date=25 August 2024 |title=Youtuber records Wexford town during history tour |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/wexford/new-ross-news/youtuber-records-wexford-town-during-history-tour/a712041630.html |access-date=9 June 2025 |website=www.independent.ie}}

Increasing interest from viewers in the United States, led to Holden presenting his first Irish history and music workshops in the USA. His first presentation occurred at the Iowa Irish Fest, in August 2023. His presentation covered the history of popular Irish rebel songs, and took place at the COR building venue, in downtown Waterloo.{{Cite web |last=Hanley |first=Meghan |date=7 July 2023 |title=Iowa Irish Fest releases weekend schedule of events |url=https://cbs2iowa.com/news/local/iowa-irish-fest-releases-weekend-schedule-of-events-downtown-waterloo-nagle-sign-kwwl-stage-lincon-savings-bank-bm-dillon-pub-elks-club-lincoln-park |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=19 March 2025 |website=cbs2iowa.com}} Following the success of this presentation, he returned to the USA, where he presented again at the Iowa Irish Fest, on August 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, 2024, this time at the Elks Ballroom venue.{{Cite web |date= |title=2024 Festival Schedule - Iowa Irish Fest |url=https://iowairishfest.com/tickets-info/schedule-2/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240720133848/https://iowairishfest.com/tickets-info/schedule-2/ |archive-date=20 July 2024 |access-date=9 June 2025 |website=iowairishfest.com |page=1 |language=en-US}} He followed up with a subsequent presentation at the Irishfest in Wisconsin, also in August 2024. This presentation occurred in La Cross, at the Arts Tent venue.{{Cite web |title=Festival Schedule |url=https://www.irishfestlacrosse.org/festival-schedule |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240726183731/https://www.irishfestlacrosse.org/festival-schedule |archive-date=26 July 2024 |access-date=9 June 2025 |website=Irishfest La Crosse |language=en-US}}

On his return to Ireland, Holden did a television interview for Ireland’s National Television and Radio Broadcaster, RTÉ. This interview profiled his successful social media career, and his related history workshops in the USA. This interview was subsequently broadcast in early 2025.

In October 2024, Holden relocated to the USA, living briefly in New York City. The purpose of this trip was to research, and post videos, on the historical connections between New York city and Ireland. In February 2025, while living in New York city, Holden was invited to present a history workshop in Binghamton, New York. His presentation was part of a slew of activities dedicated to Irish culture and appreciation, presented by the Ancient Order of Hibernians. This presentation was highlighted by local television channel, WIVT Channel 34, an ABC News affiliate station.{{Cite web |last=Rich |first=Samantha |date=6 February 2025 |title=Broome County AOH hosting Irish historian Davy Holden |url=https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/community/events/broome-county-aoh-hosting-irish-historian-davy-holden/ |access-date=9 June 2025 |website=www.binghamtonhomepage.com}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.instagram.com/davy_holden/?hl=en Davy Holden] on Instagram
• [https://www.youtube.com/@davyholden Davy Holden's channel] on YouTube