Set before and during World War II, including the Belfast Blitz, The Irish Midwives is the new historical romance series from Northern Irish author Seána Tinley. 

From the illegal midwives who helped their community to ambulance service volunteers, Seána’s deeply researched novels are perfect for fans of the TV series Call the Midwife. 

Join Seána, chair of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, in conversation with social historian Robyn Atcheson, whose research interests include the history of public health, pregnancy and childbirth. 

Meet the writers

Seána Tinley is an Irish author of saga historical romance. She also writes regency romance as Catherine Tinley. After a career encompassing speech and language therapy, Sure Start, being President of a charity, and managing a maternity service, she now works as NI Country Director for a leading UK charity. Seána was appointed as chair of the Romantic Novelists' Association in August 2024. She lives in Ireland with her husband, children and dog. Her latest books include The Irish Midwife, The Irish Midwife at War and the forthcoming Heartbreak for the Irish Midwife.

Dr Robyn Atcheson is a social historian and history communicator based in Belfast. Her research focuses on the histories of the marginalised, the history of medicine and women’s history in the 19th and 20th centuries. Robyn is involved in public history projects and is passionate about presenting history in an innovative and accessible way. She is a regular contributor to BBC Radio Ulster as well as a podcast guest on shows like Austen After Dark and writes for various newspapers in print and online. For her contribution to academic and public history, Dr Atcheson was elected an Associate Fellow of the Royal Historical Society in 2025.