Today marks the birthday of Richard Francis Burton.

Though he did share some characteristics with his more famous hard-living namesake, Burton was a famed British explorer with strong links to Ireland, and one who lived one of the most peculiar lives of the nineteenth century.

It included sneaking into Mecca in disguise - at a time when non-Muslims were banned from entering - and penning the first English language translation of the Kama Sutra.

A controversial explorer, he rests in what might be Britain’s strangest grave.

Gavan is joined by Donal Fallon for another episode of Hidden Histories to discuss.