Three Castles Burning

Three 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.

The Battle of Tallaght: 'Yankee Fenians' and 1867 04/12/2024

The Battle of Tallaght: 'Yankee Fenians' and 1867 To 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. /episode/index/show/threecastlesburning/id/30799188

'Then Mount Jerome for the Protestants.' 03/30/2024

'Then Mount Jerome for the Protestants.' The 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. /episode/index/show/threecastlesburning/id/30604838

The Divine Mission of Discontent (Jim Larkin Part II) 03/12/2024

The Divine Mission of Discontent (Jim Larkin Part II) The 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 /episode/index/show/threecastlesburning/id/30337183

The Rising of the Moon (Jim Larkin Part I) 02/23/2024

The Rising of the Moon (Jim Larkin Part I) This 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: /episode/index/show/threecastlesburning/id/30078528

Before Mosley: The British Fascisti in Dublin 02/02/2024

Before Mosley: The British Fascisti in Dublin Pádraig 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. /episode/index/show/threecastlesburning/id/29772188

Flying Fists and Union Jacks 01/14/2024

Flying Fists and Union Jacks SEASON 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. /episode/index/show/threecastlesburning/id/29482028

From Ten Till Dusk: 200 Years of the RHA (with Cristín Leach) 12/22/2023

From Ten Till Dusk: 200 Years of the RHA (with Cristín Leach) 2023 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. /episode/index/show/threecastlesburning/id/29198033

There Is a Light That Never Goes Out 12/19/2023

There Is a Light That Never Goes Out Over 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. /episode/index/show/threecastlesburning/id/29145883

Asylum: Inside Grangegorman 12/14/2023

Asylum: Inside Grangegorman Brendan 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 sources, reflects very different times. /episode/index/show/threecastlesburning/id/29076218

Napoleon's Toothbrush 12/11/2023

Napoleon's Toothbrush Ridley 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. /episode/index/show/threecastlesburning/id/29026528

Bringing Light to O'Connell Street (with Nicola Pierce) 12/08/2023

Bringing Light to O'Connell Street (with Nicola Pierce) Nicola 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) /episode/index/show/threecastlesburning/id/28986678

'And Beckett plays the gong.' 12/01/2023

'And Beckett plays the gong.' James 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 mentioned in the introduction here. /episode/index/show/threecastlesburning/id/28881833

Roger Doyle: The Godfather of Irish Electronic Music 11/11/2023

Roger Doyle: The Godfather of Irish Electronic Music Roger 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 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 Amelia Stein) /episode/index/show/threecastlesburning/id/28593423

The Irish Supernatural (with Kathy Rose O'Brien and Brian J. Showers) 11/05/2023

The Irish Supernatural (with Kathy Rose O'Brien and Brian J. Showers) Irish 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. /episode/index/show/threecastlesburning/id/28519205

Dead as Doornails 10/19/2023

Dead as Doornails This 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 /episode/index/show/threecastlesburning/id/28365254

Other People's Lives (with Dermot Bolger) 10/06/2023

Other People's Lives (with Dermot Bolger) Did 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 /episode/index/show/threecastlesburning/id/28244228

Dublin in Maps: From the Soviet Union to D6W (with Joseph Brady) 09/27/2023

Dublin in Maps: From the Soviet Union to D6W (with Joseph Brady) Geographer 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. /episode/index/show/threecastlesburning/id/28160927

Dónal Lunny: From Emmet Spiceland to Kate Bush 09/17/2023

Dónal Lunny: From Emmet Spiceland to Kate Bush There 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 is available now with free P&P from: https://www.kennys.ie/shop/three-castles-burning-a-history-of-twelve-dublin-streets-donal-fallon-9781848408722 /episode/index/show/threecastlesburning/id/28057734

Jim Fitzpatrick: On Che, Phil Lynott and Sinéad O'Connor 09/04/2023

Jim Fitzpatrick: On Che, Phil Lynott and Sinéad O'Connor A 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 @threecastlesburning, on Twitter @fallon_donal and on Patreon. Jim's work: 'Three Castles Burning' with free P and P: /episode/index/show/threecastlesburning/id/27938094

From Jim Larkin to Alfred Hitchcock: The Life of O'Casey 08/30/2023

From Jim Larkin to Alfred Hitchcock: The Life of O'Casey Seán 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-castles-burning-a-history-of-twelve-dublin-streets-donal-fallon-9781848408722 TCB Patreon: www.patreon.com/threecastlesburning /episode/index/show/threecastlesburning/id/27890934

Peig McManus: A Dublin Childhood and a Life Less Ordinary 08/16/2023

Peig McManus: A Dublin Childhood and a Life Less Ordinary Peig 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-mcmanus-i-will-be-good-2023-paperback Teatime Talks: https://14henriettastreet.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873650441 /episode/index/show/threecastlesburning/id/27771321

"My body to Ireland, my heart to Rome...." (with Claire Halpin) 08/09/2023

"My body to Ireland, my heart to Rome...." (with Claire Halpin) The 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'. /episode/index/show/threecastlesburning/id/27700272

The Foggy Dew: From Father O'Neill to Sinéad O'Connor 07/31/2023

The Foggy Dew: From Father O'Neill to Sinéad O'Connor This 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. /episode/index/show/threecastlesburning/id/27615825

From Lugs Branigan to Led Zeppelin 07/09/2023

From Lugs Branigan to Led Zeppelin The 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! /episode/index/show/threecastlesburning/id/27412485

Motorcades and Martyr Graves 06/30/2023

Motorcades and Martyr Graves In 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 /episode/index/show/threecastlesburning/id/27338808

Roddy Doyle Interview: Taxi to Barrytown! 06/20/2023

Roddy Doyle Interview: Taxi to Barrytown! Sincere 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. /episode/index/show/threecastlesburning/id/27209112

1954: The Birth of Bloomsday 06/15/2023

1954: The Birth of Bloomsday Bloomsday 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. /episode/index/show/threecastlesburning/id/27157323

Tatters Cullen and the Vanishing Suffragettes 06/04/2023

Tatters Cullen and the Vanishing Suffragettes This 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: /episode/index/show/threecastlesburning/id/27037551

From Skin-the-Goat to Buckshot Forster: The Phoenix Park Assassinations 05/25/2023

From Skin-the-Goat to Buckshot Forster: The Phoenix Park Assassinations The 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? /episode/index/show/threecastlesburning/id/26946363

Old Songs and New Revivals (with Macdara Yeates) 05/18/2023

Old Songs and New Revivals (with Macdara Yeates) Thanks 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/ /episode/index/show/threecastlesburning/id/26878254

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