Draft:Davy Holden
| Submission declined on 25 June 2025 by NeoGaze (talk). This submission is not adequately supported by reliable sources. Reliable sources are required so that information can be verified. If you need help with referencing, please see Referencing for beginners and Citing sources. This submission does not appear to be written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. Entries should be written from a neutral point of view, and should refer to a range of independent, reliable, published sources. Please rewrite your submission in a more encyclopedic format. Please make sure to avoid peacock terms that promote the subject.
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| Submission declined on 3 June 2025 by Theroadislong (talk). This submission's references do not show that the subject qualifies for a Wikipedia article—that is, they do not show significant coverage (not just passing mentions) about the subject in published, reliable, secondary sources that are independent of the subject (see the guidelines on the notability of people). Before any resubmission, additional references meeting these criteria should be added (see technical help and learn about mistakes to avoid when addressing this issue). If no additional references exist, the subject is not suitable for Wikipedia. Declined by Theroadislong 22 days ago. | |
Comment: The subject seems notable enough, but the draft overuses primary sources from the person in question, and its tone is clearly promotional. Please add more secondary and independent sources and rewritte the promotional parts. NeoGaze (talk) 18:21, 25 June 2025 (UTC)
| Davy Holden | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Holden in 2023 | |||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born | 15 September 1993 Harristown, County Kilkenny, Ireland | ||||||
| Nationality | Irish | ||||||
| Occupation | Popular Historian | ||||||
| Website | davyholdenhistory | ||||||
| YouTube information | |||||||
| Years active | 2018-present | ||||||
| Genres | |||||||
| Subscribers | 113,000 | ||||||
| Views | 29 Million | ||||||
| |||||||
Last updated: 7 June 2025 | |||||||
Davy Holden (born 15 September 1993) is an Irish popular historian who focuses on Irish and Irish–American history. He posts videos on-line, and also presents workshops to audiences throughout the USA.[1] Holden started posting history videos on social media in 2022. As of March 2025, his YouTube channel has generated over 29 million views.[2][self-published source]
Early life
[edit]Davy Holden was born in Harristown, County Kilkenny, Ireland.[1] 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.[1]
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.[3] 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.[4][self-published source] Despite initially pursuing a career as an accountant, Holden decided to change direction, and instead focus full-time on developing history content.[1]
History career
[edit]Social Media
[edit]Holden posted his first video on YouTube in January 2018. This video related to his other passion of playing electric guitar.[5][self-published source] 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.[1][6]
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.[7]
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.[8] Later that year, Irish American news web site, Irish Central, based in New York City, posted one of his history articles.[9] In May of 2024, Holden was a guest speaker for the the New York based American Irish Historical Society.[10] In June 2024, the international travel web site, "Outspoken Traveler", interviewed Holden, as part of a focus feature on Irish History.[11] Later, that year Holden's video on the history of New Ross, a town in County Wexford, Ireland, was profiled by the Irish Independent.[12]
History Workshops
[edit]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.[13] 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.[14] 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.[15]
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.[1]
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.[16]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f El-Hassany, Reem (6 January 2025). "TV Preview: Irish history goes viral with Davy Holden". RTE. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
- ^ "Davy Holden". YouTube. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
- ^ Dunne, Christopher (6 January 2025). "Kilkenny man with fascinating hobby to appear on RTÉ". Kilkenny People. Retrieved 20 February 2025.
- ^ Irish Language Basics (Gaeilge), 30 August 2024, retrieved 22 March 2025
- ^ Davy Holden (2018-01-28). The John Frusciante Stratocaster. Retrieved 18 March 2025 – via YouTube.
{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Moore, Derrick; Vasquez, Gerson; Dolan, Ryan (16 March 2021). "Residents With Irish Ancestry Are in All 3,142 U.S. Counties and Make Up 20% of the Population in Some". Census.gov. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
- ^ "Irish TikTok Creator Goes Viral After Asking to Hear Newfoundland Accent". VOCM.com. 13 February 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
- ^ Guidera, Mollie (12 February 2024). "#3 Davy Holden - Bringing Irish History to Life". Irish with Mollie (Podcast). spotify.com. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
- ^ Irish Central Staff (14 February 2024). "WATCH: James Stephens - the life of a Fenian on the run". www.irishcentral.com. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
- ^ "Digital History: The Past in the Future". www.aihsny.org. 21 May 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
- ^ O'Neill, Alfred (1 June 2024). "Let Irish history come alive with the passion & authenticity of Davy Holden (Kilkenny)". www.outspokentraveler.com. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
- ^ Looby, David (25 August 2024). "Youtuber records Wexford town during history tour". www.independent.ie. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
- ^ Hanley, Meghan (7 July 2023). "Iowa Irish Fest releases weekend schedule of events". cbs2iowa.com. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
- ^ "2024 Festival Schedule - Iowa Irish Fest". iowairishfest.com. p. 1. Archived from the original on 20 July 2024. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
- ^ "Festival Schedule". Irishfest La Crosse. Archived from the original on 26 July 2024. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
- ^ Rich, Samantha (6 February 2025). "Broome County AOH hosting Irish historian Davy Holden". www.binghamtonhomepage.com. Retrieved 9 June 2025.