NEW EPISODE of Three Castles Burning. With Ray O'Donoghue, we're exploring David Bowie's secret 1997 gig at The Factory in Ringsend. It's a journey that brings us through the club landscape of the city at that time. podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/l...

Great to see that this is going ahead. The festival line up has already had a few ch ch ch changes.

Very much looking forward to this special event! Part of the Dublin Bowie Festival 2026 next week. The story of that secret gig, and Bowie's time in Dublin more broadly. www.dublinbowiefestival.ie/dbfevents202...

'Gerard Shannon works the archives and sources brilliantly and exhaustively to put flesh on the gaunt features of a man who, in his final hours especially, displayed the courage of his convictions.' ... great review of my new book in today's Irish Independent! m.independent.ie/entertainmen...

While I posted a new episode today, it seems a good time to remind you of the recent one featuring Brian Kerr. In it, he discussed the extraordinary visit of young Palestinian footballers to Dublin, along with his career. Long live The Greener. 🔴⚪ threecastlesburning.libsyn.com/brian-kerr-i...

Recent fascinating podcast from @3castlesburning.bsky.social on Emmet Grogan's autobiography/memoir Ringolevio - including an 'unreliable narrator' account of an extended stay in 1960's Dublin. As Dónal notes, a book little known in Ireland. threecastlesburning.libsyn.com/before-the-s...

NEW EPISODE of Three Castles Burning. Census City: Dublin 1926. threecastlesburning.libsyn.com/census-city-... An overview of the capital in what was a defining census year. From the on-going reconstruction to a wave of strikes, and from the social revolution of radio to sporting triumphs.

Very happy to contribute to 'The Navvies of North London' which goes out January 2nd on RTE Radio One. Here's a short blog on an incredible diary capturing the 1950s experience of the Irish there: substack.com/home/post/p-...

bit steep @3castlesburning.bsky.social

NEW EPISODE of Three Castles Burning. threecastlesburning.libsyn.com/simms-city-w... Community activist Gayle Cullen Doyle and author Eoin O'Broin joined me in Oliver Bond House to talk about Simms, public housing and the past,present & future of the scheme. 'Flats and Cottages' is available now

A new substack, dedicated to the story of the Irish public house. All follows welcome! Today, in memory of Con Houlihan (born 6 December 1925) the story of one of Dublin's most beloved snugs and a drink that never happened. publichousehistory.substack.com/p/the-day-wb...

NEW EPISODE of Three Castles Burning. Cormac Murray is the author of a new study of the US Embassy in Ballsbridge. This building was divisive in its day - both here and abroad - but Cormac places it in its architectural and social context brilliantly. podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/m...

There's a lot to learn in the story of Frank Ryan, who went from attacking Armistice Day to partaking in an anti-war demonstration with veterans of the World War. This is really a potted history of the poppy and commemoration of the 'war to end all wars.' www.independent.ie/opinion/comm...

NEW EPISODE. I am completely in awe of what Michael Steen has created with his traditional song calendar. We learn about the hated landlord Lord Leitrim whose funeral at St Michan's turned to chaos, John Twiss and more... podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/l...

Thanks for supporting The Dublin Pub which has gone into the bestsellers list upon release. An honour to be there with not one but THREE titles from the legendary Manchán Magan. His loss will be deeply felt for a long time, and I will miss our chance encounters in the Blackpitts and beyond.

A few days ahead of schedule, but delighted to see 'The Dublin Pub' is now widely available in bookshops. If you're picking it up, please support an independent bookshop. You can get it with free post and packaging from thebookshop.ie at shorturl.at/L4iO4

A small fire at the front of the bookshop was started last night after rubbish bags that were awaiting collection were set on fire. The guards don’t have reason at this time to believe it was a targeted attack. Thankfully the damage was limited and everyone is safe. We are open for business as usual

If you want 55 minutes of pure unadulterated joy, listen to this. Donal's a great interviewer, Kerr is a unique storyteller and you have GOT to hear about the hare at Harold's Cross greyhound track!

NEW EPISODE. In conversation with Grainne Shaffrey at the wonderful Sean Corcoran Series. On conservation, planning, Henrietta Street and much more. podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/g...

Haven't seen a good old fashioned "where in Dublin is/was this?" Challenge for ages What do you reckon? @bigmonsterlove.bsky.social @noflashingneon.bsky.social

NEW EPISODE of Three Castles Burning. Brian Kerr on fantastic form, remembering all from the great Liam Tuohy to his days as a UCD lab technician. Drimnagh, Libya and North Korea's 1966 heroics all feature.... podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/b...

Interesting podcast by Donal Fallon on Captain Ingram and the foundation of Dublin Fire Brigade threecastlesburning.libsyn.com/fighting-the...

NEW EPISODE of Three Castles Burning. Historian Padraic X. Scanlan, author of Rot, joins me to discuss the visit of 'celebrity chef' Alexis Soyer to Dublin in 1847. This was his soup kitchen by the Royal Barracks. podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/f...

This week's #ThrowbackThursday takes us back 124 years to 1900. Here's an Albion Steamer pump. The horses started on a slope when leaving the engine bay known as a "run". To this day a fire engine is "on the run" when operational. #tbt

m.independent.ie/opinion/comm... Not every article begins in Tallaght Stadium....

NEW EPISODE explores the extraordinary life of Captain James Robert Ingram, bringing us through some of the big fires of the 19th century city. Here's the Theatre Royal ablaze. Apple: podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/f... Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/4SSvzXX...

Delighted to host an excellent talk in Richmond Barracks last night by @gerardshannon.bsky.social on Sean Russell. Inspired me to root out this image showing Russell unveiling the monument on Upper Rathmines Road to Thomas O’Leary, whose body was dumped there in 1923.

My thanks so much to the engaged crowd in Richmond Barracks tonight for my talk on the controversial life and legacy of the IRA leader Seán Russell - and also to Dublin Culture Company and historian Donal Fallon for inviting me along.  (Please don't ask me to write a book about Seán just yet).

🧵 Harry Kernoff (1900-74) was one of Ireland’s greatest artists. He was important in that he introduced European modernism to Ireland & remained in the country despite its hostility to modern art. His art evolved from realism to surrealism, & finally, form-based abstraction. Enjoy his work! [1]

Last weeks column was on Feargus O'Connor, the Chartists and their relationship with Daniel O'Connell. I'm a great admirer of O'Connell on some fronts, but certainly not all. "History has recast Daniel O’Connell as a liberal icon, but he was no revolutionary." www.independent.ie/opinion/comm...

The centenary of Con Houlihan's birth fast approaches (December). I've given him a chapter in the forthcoming book 'The Dublin Pub'. Here is a lovely piece of writing from him on Paul McGrath, and the football team from Emmet Road who Con adopted in Dublin.