More Pricks Than Kicks: The Dublin of Samuel Beckett

Today marks the 120th birthday of Samuel Beckett. Inspired both by this milestone anniversary and by the wonderful new exhibition of the work of photographer John Minihan in the National Gallery of Ireland, this episode explores sites that are important to the story of Beckett and Dublin. Some, like Trinity College Dublin, will be familiar. Others, like the family business on Clare Street where he wrote some of his collection More Pricks Than Kicks are unmarked today. Our journey brings us to places as diverse as Elvery's sport shop and Kennedy's pub, as we get to walk in Beckett's footsteps across a city he did love, despite the challenges it put before him.

With the 110th anniversary of the Easter Rising upon us, it seems a good time to look at one of the less familiar figures of the story. Somewhat in the shadows, Éamonn Ceannt was a meticulous organiser, vitally important not only to the revolutionary movements of his time but traditional music too. His Dublin centred on Rialto, Dolphin's Barn, Crumlin and the surrounding areas, and in this episode we learn about Ceannt's importance to the story of 1916. (Thanks for your patience as we move - and thanks to all Patreon supporters as always)

In 1903, Saint Patrick's Day formally became a national holiday in Ireland, following a push from the Gaelic League. In the pages of their newspaper, An Claidheamh Soluis, a battle was waged for the closure of public houses on the day. Some publicans stood in opposition to this. This is the story of how a sober St Patrick's Day was achieved, and how it would take until the 1960s for change.

In 1997, David Bowie released Earthling, an album deeply influenced by the sound of drum and bass and industrial electronic music. Spending time in Dublin city, Bowie befriended the Quadraphonic collective, who brought the drum and bass sound to the city at venues like The Globe and The Kitchen. This led to a secret concert at The Factory venue in Ringsend. My guest Ray O'Donoghue is now the Night Time Economy Advisor to Dublin City Council, but was then part of Quadraphonic and opened for Bowie on the night.Contributions also come from John Brereton, Director of the DublinBowie Festival. This episode contains bad language. Support TCB: www.patreon.com/threecastlesburning    

The release of the 1926 census from the National Archives of Ireland is now imminent. These returns should give us fascinating insights into a post-revolutionary Ireland. In this episode, we look at the capital in 1926. It was a defining year in Irish cultural history, with the birth of 2RN and O'Casey's Plough and the Stars, but it was also an austere time. Strikes were plentiful, with the General Strike in Britain grabbing the imagination of some, while the controversial IRA campaign against Moneylenders took up plenty of column inches. From the reconstruction of the city to the birth of Fianna Fáil, this is the story of the capital in a defining census year.  

SERIES 4, EPISODE 1. Welcome back to a new series. Emmett Grogan was one of the defining figures of American counterculture in the 1960s. Though his name is almost completely unknown in Ireland, the author of Ringolevio: A Life Played for Keeps is a man for whom Bob Dylan dedicated an album, and who was described by Abbie Hoffman (who he distrusted greatly) as "the hippie warrior par excellence." Yet before the Summer of Love took San Francisco, Grogan was in Dublin in the early 1960s. His accounts of the city are fascinating, from Neary's to Guinness, but how much of it is true? You can read his account here: https://stealthiswiki.com/library/emmett-grogan-ringolevio

One of Dublin's Historians in Residence, Elizabeth Kehoe has developed a walking tour of Parnell Square which shines a lot on many aspects of its history. Walking around it, we encounter things as diverse as symbolic weapons in the mosaic tiles of the Garden of Remembrance and the coat of arms of the Duke of Rutland. In recognition of the involvement of the Hugh Lane Gallery in Dublin City Council Dublin Winter Lights, Elizabeth took me on a walk around one of Dublin's most important squares. With thanks to Dublin City Council for supporting this edition of the podcast.

James Earley comes from a family rooted in the story of Irish stained glass. As an artist, his work often pays homage to Earley Studios and those who came before him. As part of Dublin City Council Dublin Winter Lights, he has brought an extraordinary show to James Gandon's Custom House. This offered an opportunity to talk about his career to date, stained glass broadly, and art in the public sphere. With thanks to Dublin City Council for supporting this edition of the podcast. For more information.

More than just a resident of Oliver Bond House, Gayle Cullen Doyle is a vital voice within her community, advocating for and representing her neighbours. Eoin Ó Broin is the new author (with photographer Mal McCann) of a study on Herbert Simms, which places schemes like Oliver Bond House in context. Recorded in Oliver Bond House, this discussion is one that emphasises the importance of good quality public housing in any urban environment. Flats and Cottages: Hebert Simms and the Housing of Dublin's Working Class 1932-48 is available now. You can support Three Castles Burning at www.patreon.com/threecastlesburning   

On three occasions, Charles Dickens would speak in Dublin. Each time huge crowds came to hear him speak in the Rotunda, with the crowds spilling out into Sackville Street and well beyond. A Christmas Carol was the highlight of all three tours. Beyond his readings, Dickens also wrote interesting letters from the city, comparing it favourably to London and Edinburgh. There was once a time when Dublin even had street names taken from the world of Dickens.