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...

Delighted that 'The Dublin Pub' has been nominated for History Book of the Year at @irishbookawards.bsky.social. The book is dedicated to the memory of my friend Tommy Smith, who encouraged me to get cracking on it many years ago! If you like it,please give it a vote: www.irishbookawards.ie/vote/

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.