Three Castles Burning
181 episodes - English - Latest episode: 15 days ago - ★★★★★ - 109 ratingsThree Castles Burning is a social history podcast, dedicated to the story of the Irish capital. Dublin is a city of many stories, Three Castles Burning tells some of the more forgotten ones.
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Episodes
The Battle of Tallaght: 'Yankee Fenians' and 1867
April 12, 2024 16:26 - 40 minutes - 55.1 MBTo the Dublin press, the American Civil War veterans in Dublin cut an unusual shape. These ‘Yankee’ characters looked different, but they also behaved differently. Under the direction of Captain Thomas J. Kelly, these men would be centrally important to the Fenian uprising of 1867. While history remembers this as a skirmish on a hill in Tallaght, much more happened in March 1867 than that.
'Then Mount Jerome for the Protestants.'
March 30, 2024 14:13 - 45 minutes - 62 MBThe story of Mount Jerome Cemetery is the story of Victorian Dublin. There, many of the great innovaters of the city are at rest. If Glasnevin brings to mind the Irish revolution, Mount Jerome instead makes us think of the nineteenth century. Still, there is great diversity in who is (and isn't) buied there. This is a story that touches on everyone from Charles Stewart Parnell to the so-called 'General.' Thanks to Patrons of the podcast whose support made this research possible.
The Divine Mission of Discontent (Jim Larkin Part II)
March 12, 2024 10:36 - 45 minutes - 62.6 MBThe labour leader Jim Larkin was international news when he departed Ireland in 1914. In America, Larkin would cross paths with the FBI founder J. Edgar Hoover, landing in prison for 'Criminal Anarchy'. What did all of this mean back in Dublin? My guest is Ronan Burtenshaw, author of a recent piece on Larkin for Jacobin magazine: https://jacobin.com/2024/01/jim-larkin-ireland-labor-150
The Rising of the Moon (Jim Larkin Part I)
February 23, 2024 11:59 - 34 minutes - 47.8 MBThis year marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of Jim Larkin. In this two-part special, Ronan Burtenshaw (author of a recent piece exploring Larkin for Jacobin magazine) joins me to discuss this important and divisive revolutionary figure. Larkin in Dublin means 1913, but where did he come from? This story brings us from Liverpool Cathedral to the streets of West Belfast. Ronan's piece: https://jacobin.com/2024/01/jim-larkin-ireland-labor-150)
Before Mosley: The British Fascisti in Dublin
February 02, 2024 16:53 - 41 minutes - 57.5 MBPádraig Óg Ó Ruairc is no stranger to this podcast. While his latest book explores 'The Disappeared' (launching this month from Merrion Press), he has also been undertaking a study of the far-right in Ireland historically. Moving beyond the familiar, like the Army Comrades Association ('the Blueshirts'), Pádraig's study begins with some more overlooked groups. Even before Oswald Mosley, the British Fascisti were a force with surprising connections to Dublin, and an active branch in the city.
Flying Fists and Union Jacks
January 14, 2024 22:20 - 24 minutes - 33.1 MBSEASON 3! A recent television debate on the Irish language in schools reminded me of a curious story from history. The Language Freedom Movement touches on many widely known figures in 1960s Ireland, including John B. Keane and the broadcaster Gay Byrne. In the Mansion House, a meeting descended into chaos.
From Ten Till Dusk: 200 Years of the RHA (with Cristín Leach)
December 22, 2023 10:07 - 34 minutes - 47.5 MB2023 marks the 200th anniversary of the Royal Hibernian Academy, an institution which has moved across the Liffey owing to the flames of Easter Week, and which has championed the visual arts through an ever-changing Ireland. Cristín Leach is the author of a new creative study of the body, which weaves history and art to tell the story.
There Is a Light That Never Goes Out
December 19, 2023 13:35 - 28 minutes - 39 MBOver five generations, one family have played a unique role in the story of the Phoenix Park. More than that, the Flanagan family have a history that stretches back even earlier in the story of this beloved space. Joyce maintained that in the particular is contained the universal - can we tell the story of a place through this one unique tale? The Lamplighters of the Phoenix Park is available now from all good bookshops.
Asylum: Inside Grangegorman
December 14, 2023 11:52 - 28 minutes - 39.7 MBBrendan Kelly is the author of a new history of Grangegorman and the asylum located there for generations. This conversation was recorded within the grounds of the site. What was the life of a patient in an asylum really like? Through letters, medical records and doctors' notes, Brendan Kelly gives us a glimpse inside Grangegorman and the lives of those who lived and worked there. Not a particularly easy listen at times - and please note that some of the language, drawn from primary source...
Napoleon's Toothbrush
December 11, 2023 20:54 - 19 minutes - 26.7 MBRidley Scott doesn't seem to get on with historians, but here is a nice little story all about Napoleon and his surprising Dublin connections. One of the most revealing and personal insights into Napoleon came from a Dublin doctor who spent time with him on the island of St Helena. My Name Is Napoleon Bonaparte by Dónal Lunny and Frank Harte was released in 2001.
Bringing Light to O'Connell Street (with Nicola Pierce)
December 08, 2023 10:06 - 31 minutes - 42.6 MBNicola Pierce is the author of O'Connell Street: The History and Life of Dublin's O'Connell Street. It is a book as much about people as buildings, which charts the unique story of Ireland's most famous street. Now illuminated in a unique way as part of Dublin Winter Lights, we walked the street together on a busy evening chatting about its statues and landmarks. Thanks to the team at Dublin Winter Lights (www.dublinwinterlights.ie)
'And Beckett plays the gong.'
December 01, 2023 11:34 - 34 minutes - 47 MBJames Morrissey has produced a beautiful and important book exploring the history of Claddagh Records and Garech Browne. 'Real to Reel' explores a record label which championed not only Irish folk and traditional music, but also poetry and the visual arts. Now, the label has returned with great new talents including OXN. Both me and James Morrissey will be appearing at 'Banter' at Other Voices this weekend. Thanks for your patience. We raised thousands of euro towards a good cause, as ment...
Roger Doyle: The Godfather of Irish Electronic Music
November 11, 2023 11:09 - 46 minutes - 64 MBRoger Doyle has made an incredible contribution to Irish music across decades. In this discussion he talks about everything from his own musical beginnings to Operating Theatre, and from The Diceman (Thom McGinty) to James Joyce. Roger Doyle's music is available from https://rogerdoyle1.bandcamp.com/ This edition of the podcast is dedicated to the memory of my friend Hughie Friel. (Image Credit: The cover of 'Spring is Coming with a Strawberry in the Mouth' by All City Records, image by ...
The Irish Supernatural (with Kathy Rose O'Brien and Brian J. Showers)
November 05, 2023 14:19 - 1 hour - 89.6 MBIrish supernatural writing did not begin or end with the great Bram Stoker. Indeed, even within Stoker's own family there were other great writers. In this very special edition of the podcast, actor Kathy Rose O'Brien brings to life four extraordinary authors, while Brian J. Showers of Swan River Press talks us through this genre. www.swanriverpress.ie
Dead as Doornails
October 19, 2023 12:26 - 55 minutes - 76.5 MBThis December - most likely - marks the centenary of the birth of Anthony Cronin. His memoir of Bohemian Dublin, Dead As Doornails (1976), remains a masterpiece. With Jimmy Murphy, I went through the book and its importance. With thanks to Ian Dunphy at the Museum of Literature Ireland for sound. P.S, 'The Lamplighters of the Phoenix Park' is out now!: https://www.kennys.ie/shop/pre-order-category/the-lamplighters-of-the-phoenix-park-donal-fallon-with-james-and-frank-flanagan-9781399722810
Other People's Lives (with Dermot Bolger)
October 06, 2023 11:09 - 44 minutes - 61.3 MBDid you learn much about yourself in Lockdown times? Dermot Bolger (poet, publisher, playwright and more besides) discovered some of the incredible people who lived in his locality in times gone by. These included the radical Grace Gifford Plunkett, architect Herbert Simms and the writer Patricia Lynch. In Other People's Lives, Dermot honours these people and captures a moment in time beautifully. Available from: https://www.newisland.ie/poetry-drama/other-peoples-lives
Dublin in Maps: From the Soviet Union to D6W (with Joseph Brady)
September 27, 2023 19:20 - 29 minutes - 40.5 MBGeographer Joseph Brady is the co-producer of a new study of Dublin in maps. This journey begins with the earliest depictions of the Irish capital, but brings us through some fascinating oddities. Did you know that the Soviet Union produced a map of the city for intelligence purposes, or that mapping Dublin's postcodes has proven surprisingly divisive? Dublin: Mapping the City is available now.
Dónal Lunny: From Emmet Spiceland to Kate Bush
September 17, 2023 19:14 - 50 minutes - 69.8 MBThere are few careers in Irish music as extraordinary as that of Dónal Lunny. His name will forever be connected with the groups Emmet Spiceland, Planxty, The Bothy Band and Moving Hearts. Yet beyond being a defining musician, he has made important contributions on the other side of the sound desk too. In this discusssion, recorded at Another Love Story, we pass through some of the greatest Irish albums of the twentieth century. Three Castles Burning: A History of Dublin in Twelve Streets ...
Jim Fitzpatrick: On Che, Phil Lynott and Sinéad O'Connor
September 04, 2023 19:52 - 50 minutes - 69.3 MBA real privilege to talk to an artist who first emerged in the 1960s, and who is still making fantastic work today. Any discussion with Jim Fitzpatrick passes through subjects as diverse as Harry Clarke, Ernesto 'Che' Guevara, Phil Lynott, Sinéad O'Connor and the world of Marvel. Recorded at the Electric Picnic, thanks to those of you who came along. This episode touches on some serious issues including the Dublin bombings, the Troubles and addiction. Visuals can be viewed on Instagram at ...
From Jim Larkin to Alfred Hitchcock: The Life of O'Casey
August 30, 2023 13:09 - 38 minutes - 52.2 MBSeán O'Casey had a turbulent relationship with the Abbey Theatre. Now, his Dublin trilogy is back on the stage of the national theatre. Championed with his arrival on the stage in 1923, and denounced in 1926 with The Plough and the Stars, O'Casey remains one of the most inspirational figures of twentieth-century Irish theatre. Did you know that Alfred Hitchcock tried his hand at bringing O'Casey to the world of cinema? TCB book with free P&P in Ireland: https://www.kennys.ie/shop/three-ca...
Peig McManus: A Dublin Childhood and a Life Less Ordinary
August 16, 2023 15:49 - 47 minutes - 64.7 MBPeig McManus was born into a life in tenement Dublin in the late 1930s. In subsequent decades, she became one of Ireland's most recognisable voices for educational reform. In her brilliant memoir, I Will Be Good: A Dublin Childhood and a Life Less Ordinary, she talks about her childhood, her time in school, her activism over many decades and the various campaigns for educational reform. Recorded live at 14 Henrietta Street. Peig's book: https://chaptersbookstore.com/products/peig-mcma...
"My body to Ireland, my heart to Rome...." (with Claire Halpin)
August 09, 2023 08:32 - 29 minutes - 40.4 MBThe body of Daniel O'Connell is at rest in Glasnevin Cemetery, an institution with which he is eternally linked. His heart? Well, that has been something of a mystery. Dublin artist Claire Halpin joins me this week to talk about her recent show in Rome, and a little intervention she made into the question of just what happened to the heart of 'The Liberator'. https://clairehalpin2011.wordpress.com/
The Foggy Dew: From Father O'Neill to Sinéad O'Connor
July 31, 2023 19:08 - 30 minutes - 41.4 MBThis episode is dedicated to the memory of Sinéad O'Connor. The Foggy Dew is in itself a historic document. Written in 1919, this story of the Easter Rising and the contrasting World War has gone around the world. This episode of the podcast explores the song and its meaning, and how it came to bring together the incredible talents of The Chieftains and Sinéad O'Connor.
From Lugs Branigan to Led Zeppelin
July 09, 2023 20:02 - 29 minutes - 40.4 MBThe National Stadium on the South Circular Road has witnessed some really incredible nights. To some, it is the home of Irish boxing, a story that's connected to the sporting history of the Gardaí as well as the endless enthusiasm of the Irish Amateur Boxing Association. To others, it is a gig venue which recalls names like Planxty, Led Zeppelin and Leonard Cohen. Thanks for your memories!
Motorcades and Martyr Graves
June 30, 2023 21:12 - 30 minutes - 42.2 MBIn June 1963, President John F. Kennedy arrived into a city in crisis. As Dublin tenements seemed to be collapsing to the touch, the visit of a U.S President was a welcome distraction. In some ways, it was a distraction for him, too. History recalls New Ross, but in Dublin there were significant moments, captured brilliantly by reporters and writers like the poet Louis MacNeice. Support TCB: www.patreon.com/threecastlesburning
Roddy Doyle Interview: Taxi to Barrytown!
June 20, 2023 17:49 - 57 minutes - 79.6 MBSincere thanks to the Dalkey Book Festival for the invitation to interview Roddy Doyle. This was a chance to talk about things as diverse as Maeve Brennan, the impact of the 1974 Dublin bombings, Myles na gCopaleen and more. A language warning on this one.
1954: The Birth of Bloomsday
June 15, 2023 08:56 - 24 minutes - 33 MBBloomsday as we know it owes its existence to Brian O'Nolan, otherwise Myles na gCopaleen, otherwise Flann O'Brien. In 1954, he was the catalyst for gathering together a number of Dublin McDaidsian types who embarked on an epic journey of their own in honour of Leopold Bloom, Buck Mulligan and the cast of Ulysses. They didn't make it too far.
Tatters Cullen and the Vanishing Suffragettes
June 04, 2023 13:39 - 33 minutes - 46 MBThis week, we got some data from the 2022 Census. It seems a good time to look into the past. The census has always given us unusual insights into Ireland. We can find humour and protest in it too. See: http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/
From Skin-the-Goat to Buckshot Forster: The Phoenix Park Assassinations
May 25, 2023 08:30 - 42 minutes - 57.7 MBThe Phoenix Park assassinations of May 1882 shook British politics. All had heard of the Fenians, but who were the Invincibles? Today, a cross in the grass on Chesterfield Avenue marks the location where these events played out - but who put it there?
Old Songs and New Revivals (with Macdara Yeates)
May 18, 2023 08:56 - 31 minutes - 42.9 MBThanks for your patience! This new episode explores the incredible life and influence of Peadar Kearney, a key figure in the Cultural Revival then, and the folk revival now. My guest is Macdara Yeates of 'The Night Before Larry Was Stretched', a monthly singing session in The Cobblestone. He's also co-producing 'One Hundred Years of Brendan Behan'. https://ilfdublin.com/whats-on/one-hundred-years-of-brendan-behan/
Ragged Trousers and Paint Brushes (with Jimmy Murphy)
April 25, 2023 07:52 - 31 minutes - 43 MBThe Ragged-Trousered Philanthropists is a book that had a massive impact on British society. Some say it helped win a General Election, George Orwell called it essential reading. In Ireland, it is little known, despite the author coming from Wexford Street. This week, playwright Jimmy Murphy joins me to talk about the impact this book had on his own life and work.
From the Ormond Market to the Hacienda
April 17, 2023 18:25 - 31 minutes - 43.5 MBThe area between Smithfield and Capel Street has historically been known as 'The Markets'. A recent event gave some idea of what this area could be. Today, we're exploring it with a hopeful message for the future.
Noël Browne and the Archbishop (with Robert Ballagh)
April 06, 2023 11:48 - 39 minutes - 54 MBThis week marks the fiftieth anniversary of the death of Archbishop John Charles McQuaid. I visited the studio of acclaimed artist Robert Ballagh, who has just painted the Archbishop. In the 1980s, Ballagh painted Noël Browne, the Minister for Health who clashed with McQuaid. These two works are connected in many ways.
A Sort of Homecoming
March 26, 2023 08:20 - 30 minutes - 41.7 MBThe story of U2's emergence is connected to the broader story of late 1970s Dublin. From the Project Arts Centre to the explosive visit of The Clash to the unlikely setting of Trinity College Dublin's exam hall, this episode brings you behind the scenes of the recent documentary U2: A Sort of Homecoming.
The Beginnings of Dublin Theatre (with Arran Henderson)
March 15, 2023 14:09 - 30 minutes - 41.4 MBArran Henderson of Dublin Decoded knows the streets of Dublin inside out. On a walk through streets I always think of as part of a different Dublin story, he showed me how Werburgh Street, Fishamble Street and others were all central to the story of early Dublin theatre. On this journey we meet some interesting characters, from a pioneering nationalist theatre director to the much-feared Lord Deputy of Ireland. Dublin Decoded tour tickets are available from dublindecoded.com (Image: Thomas...
Dublin: A Writer's City (with Chris Morash)
March 09, 2023 11:31 - 53 minutes - 73.8 MBOne of the most eagerly awaited books about the city in recent years, Dublin: A Writer's City is a triumph. In this edition of the podcast, presented as part of the Young Hearts Run Free series, author Chris Morash brings us on a journey across literary Dublin. (Event poster by Niall McCormack)
The Bogside and Fu Manchu: Dublin as Somewhere Else
February 28, 2023 20:16 - 29 minutes - 41 MBThis episode of the podcast explores some of the most peculiar films shot in Dublin over many decades. From Fu Manchu to the Bogside, we're looking at times directors turned Dublin into somewhere else.
The Fame and the Fall
February 19, 2023 23:15 - 32 minutes - 45 MB(Reupload, apologies due to podcast hosting gremlins!) Part II of the Brendan Behan centenary special, this journey brings us through some surprising places. From Littlewood's London to strange times in North America, this is the story of the fame and fall of Brendan Behan.
The Young Brendan Behan
February 07, 2023 19:27 - 32 minutes - 44.2 MBThis week marks the centenary of the birth of Brendan Behan. Over two editions, Three Castles Burning will explore the life and times of this remarkable talent. In the first part, we look at Behan's revolutionary days and the impact of Borstal on him.
Exploring Lucia Joyce (with Joe Chester)
February 02, 2023 20:35 - 30 minutes - 41.3 MBMusician Joe Chester has produced a beautiful musical tribute to Lucia Joyce, the dancer and illustrator. Daughter of James Joyce, Lucia was born in Trieste in 1907. She would spend more than four decades of her life in institutions after being diagnosed as schizophrenic in the mid-1930s. 'Lucia' by Joe Chester is his first major composition for classical guitar & strings, inspired by her journey. Support TCB: www.patreon.com/threecastlesburning
Diving Bells and Missing Elephants
January 12, 2023 12:17 - 29 minutes - 40.8 MBThis week, a new app launched exploring the history of Dublin's Docklands. Where do the Docklands begin, and what remains are left of its industrial past? This episode explores the changing fortunes of Dublin's Docklands, and the working class communities who lived and worked alongside it. Oh, and a disappearing elephant! Dublin Discovery Trails: https://doorsintodocklands.com/
"When Collins was killed The Terror began" (with John Dorney)
January 08, 2023 17:41 - 41 minutes - 56.5 MBOn the outskirts of Dublin city, a series of memorial crosses mark sites were bodies were discovered in 1922 and 1923. A sad part of the Civil War conflict, they are a reminder of how the conflict deteriorated in the city. In a war with no clean hands, as discussed in this show, they show how former comrades could turn on one another. Historian John Dorney, author of The Civil War in Dublin (Merrion Press), joins me. Dorney's book: https://www.irishacademicpress.ie/product/the-...
Soccer's Sinatra: Pele in Dalymount Park
January 02, 2023 17:22 - 25 minutes - 35.3 MBWhen Pele visited Dublin with Santos in 1972, one Irish newspaper proclaimed him to be "Soccer's Sinatra." In a country that came late to television - and which fell in love with the global game thanks in no small part to the magic of Pele in the 1970 World Cup - Santos vs Bohemians/Drumcondra was the hottest ticket in town. The game proved somewhat lacklustre, but many will never forget seeing Pele on Irish soil. Happy New Year! Support TCB: www.patreon.com/threecastlesburning
From the Duke of Wellington to Kellie Harrington
December 16, 2022 11:57 - 32 minutes - 44.2 MBLuke McManus has produced North Circular, a documentary which brings the viewer on a journey from the Wellington Testimonial all the way through the north inner-city. He chatted to me about the NCR, the various people who call it home and what it means for Dublin today. North Circular info: https://twitter.com/northcircular_ Vote for TCB for Eason's Book of the Year: https://www.easons.com/Books/eason-favourite-book-poll/?utm_source=TopMiniBanner&utm_medium=BookPoll&utm_campaign=HP&ut...
Walking the Winter Lights (with Fergus Whelan)
December 01, 2022 17:52 - 39 minutes - 36.3 MBEach year, Dublin City Council hosts the Winter Lights festival, lighting up key buildings and sites around Dublin. Myself and historian Fergus Whelan went for a walk through some of the 2022 locations, from the Marshalsea Prison to Wolfe Tone Park. Did you know that the 'Father of the Scottish Enlightenment' is buried in Dublin, or that Smithfield was once transformed into Checkpoint Charlie? For more see: Dublin Winter Lights.
An Inchicore Institution (with Dermot Looney)
November 25, 2022 19:41 - 31 minutes - 29 MBDermot Looney has spent years working away on a history of Saint Patrick's Athletic. The final product, which includes a beautiful introduction by Brian Kerr, is something much broader - an important social history of Inchicore. Saint Pat's emerge as a club strongly connected to the railway works, and with surprising connections from the very beginning. Saints Rising is available now.
From The Citizen to John 3:7 (with Siobhán Doyle)
November 18, 2022 15:15 - 33 minutes - 30.8 MBWhat can we learn about a subject by looking at 100 objects? Thanks to Siobhán Doyle, author of a new study 'A History of the GAA in 100 Objects', for getting into material culture, museums and the social history of the Gaelic Athletic Association with me. From Michael Cusack (was he 'The Citizen?') to yellow sliothars, we're talking about.....stuff. Support Three Castles Burning: www.patreon.com/threecastlesburning // www.ko-fi.com/threecastlesburning
Halloween Special: Hans Holzer and the Ghosts of Dublin
October 28, 2022 15:30 - 33 minutes - 30.4 MBHans Holzer was a well-known broadcaster and author in the United States, perhaps the most famous 'ghost hunter' of his day. In 1965 and 1966, he made research visits to Ireland. In Dublin, he heard some amazing stories, and went in search of ghosts in some familiar and lesser-known places.
The Central Bank and Beyond: Sam Stephenson's Dublin
October 18, 2022 16:35 - 36 minutes - 33.7 MBSam Stephenson (1933-2006) is one of the most important - and divisive - architects in the history of the Irish capital. As the Central Bank returns to view, we're looking at it and other Stephenson projects in the city. Some, like the Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies (DIAS), have recently become protected structures. Others have already been lost.
The Country Girl Returns
September 30, 2022 15:58 - 30 minutes - 28.1 MBA young Edna O'Brien fell in love with Dublin. The city would shape her life and her work. It brought love, lust, learning. Now, at 91, her play Joyce's Women takes to the stage of the Abbey Theatre. This podcast explores how Dublin impacted on her, and how she impacted on it.