Best Sean Fallon Podcasts (2025)

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Famine Soup: Alexis Soyer, Trevelyan and The Great Hunger in Dublin 34:58

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4d ago34:58

34:58

Padraic X. Scanlan is the author of Rot: A History of the Irish Famine. Framing the crisis in Ireland within the broader picture of Empire, this book brings much to how we understood the events that reshaped Ireland. While the crisis recalls rural Ireland, Dublin was central to the story, as the location of the Castle Administration and a bustling …

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Fighting the Flames: Captain James Robert Ingram 33:16

16d ago33:16

33:16

In 1860, a blaze in the Kildare Street Club led to the death of three workers and the destruction of an institution. Together with other fires of the era, this provided the imperative for a municipal fire service. While Captain James Robert Ingram’s name is associated with the ‘Whiskey Fire’ of 1875, there were many other significant fires, includi…

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Tipperary So Far Away: Remembering Seán Treacy on Talbot Street 29:22

1M ago29:22

29:22

Niamh Hassett and Sean Nugent join me in this special edition of the podcast, exploring a wonderful Tipperary tradition on Dublin’s Talbot Street. When the Premier County reach an All Ireland Final, hundreds gather to remember Seán Treacy on the morning of the game. What began this tradition, and why is it growing in popularity?…

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Mohair Suits in the National Ballroom: The Showband Era 31:33

1M ago31:33

31:33

This month brings the fiftieth anniversary of the tragic murders of members of The Miami Showband. This band, drawing its members from both sides of the border, was a defining part of the showband scene that withstood the changing musical tastes of the country from one decade into the next. Where did the Showband Scene come from, and what were its …

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‘A Perfect Prodigy of Moral Horrors’ - The Donnybrook Fair 35:11

2M ago35:11

35:11

The Donnybrook Fair is recalled in ballad and memoir as a notorious and chaotic annual event, but what really went on there? Over centuries, the annual fair drew revellers from near and far to Donnybrook, but a combination of social reformers successfully brought about its demise in the 1850s. In this story, we meet characters as diverse as prize f…

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Porter Wars: Patriotism and Pints (with Christina Wade) 34:11

3M ago34:11

34:11

Christina Wade’s new history of Irish beer is a masterclass in social and economic history. In the context of Dublin, it tells us a lot, especially about the challenges that faced breweries in turbulent times. In this episode, we look at her chapter ‘Porter Wars’, and how unfair trade laws and domestic and international politics all shaped the prod…

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From 'Peelers' to Gardaí: How the Dublin Metropolitan Police and An Garda Síochána merged (with Paul Maher) 52:39

3M ago52:39

52:39

The first ever Kilkenny Law Fest took place last weekend. On its bill, a discussion with Superintendent Paul Maher of the Garda Historical Society. Paul did so much in the Decade of Centenaries to involve the force, and it was great to talk to him about the 1925 merging of the Dublin Metropolitan Police and AGS. This discussion takes in early Irish…

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The Animal Gangs: An Irish Peaky Blinders? 37:02

4M ago37:02

37:02

A nice mention for the podcast recently on Crime World inspired me to go back to the subject of the Animal Gang. Seperating fact from folklore, just who made up the so-called Animal Gang of 1930s and 1940s Dublin. Was there one gang, or does the term mean something much broader? What was the relationship between the Animal Gang and the turbulent po…

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Streets Broad and Narrow: Tony Gregory and Molly Malone 32:11

4M ago32:11

32:11

Tony Gregory remains one of the most beloved TD’s in the history of the city. Lately, talk of the Molly Malone monument has reminded me of the story of Gregory’s activism on behalf of Dublin’s largely female street traders, and his comments on the statue of Molly in the late 1980s. Is it time to move her to a more fitting location, where Jeanne Ryn…

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Blueshirt Bluster? The March on Dublin 32:37

5M ago32:37

32:37

Historian Pádraig Óg Ó Ruairc has just produced Burn Them Out, a history of the Irish far-right. One of its most intriguing chapters studies the Blueshirt movement, tracing its development from an association of veterans into something much broader. Studying intelligence files and reports, Ó Ruairc demonstrates the surprising level of violence asso…

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Leo Burdock and Ivan Beshoff: Fish, Chips and Revolution 23:00

5M ago23:00

23:00

Both Patrick Leo Burdock and Ivan Beshoff were revolutionaries, though in very different circumstances. These two names remain stalwarts of the Dublin chipper landscape, but did you know a branch of Leo Burdock’s was raided in 1941, or that Ivan Beshoff lived to be over 100? From the Battleship Potemkin to a tramway strike in Dublin, this is the st…

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The End of Monto: A Century On 1:23:39

5M ago1:23:39

1:23:39

This edition of the podcast contains adult language and themes and is not suitable for younger listeners. This special live edition of the podcast was part of Abair, an annual programme within the Saint Patrick’s Festival. Joining me is Caroline West (author of a recent best selling history about Monto and a sex educator and columnist), Terry Fagan…

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The Dawning of the Day: Last Orders at the Early House 32:05

6M ago32:05

32:05

In Dublin, just a handful of public houses now open at seven o’clock in the morning. Where did these early houses come from, and what has influenced their decline? On this journey across the city, we visit a pub financed by the Beamish & Crawford Brewery, as well as the historic fruit and vegetable market. Thanks to Brand New Retro for scanning SLA…

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A Complete Unknown? When Dylan came to Dublin 28:38

7M ago28:38

28:38

Bob Dylan’s 1966 visit to the Adelphi Cinema is a concert on which there is very little agreement. Torn apart by one Dublin reviewer, many who were there describe the gig in different terms entirely. For many in attendance, it was an extraordinary experience. Visiting Dublin in a year when The Clancy Brothers were putting Dublin’s story on the inte…

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Traditional Singing from Dublin (with Macdara Yeates) 30:58

8M ago30:58

30:58

Described by The Irish Times as 'raucous, bawdy, reflective and wistful in turn', Traditional Singing from Dublin is more than just an album of songs. Inspired by figures as diverse as Liam Weldon and Seosamh Ó hÉanaí, this work has a strong sense of history throughout. Macdara Yeates joins me. You can stream Traditional Singing from Dublin now. Ti…

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From The Nation to Shane MacGowan: Finding James Clarence Mangan (with Bridget Hourican and Warren Farrell) 35:17

8M ago35:17

35:17

In Glasnevin Cemetery, James Clarence Mangan’s grave lists him as ‘Ireland’s National Poet.’ Today, he is a curiously overlooked character. His influence on figures as diverse as Philip Lynott and Shane MacGowan is explored in this podcast, where Mangan’s biographer Bridget Hourican explores his life, and historian Warren Farrell discusses his rest…

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Tonehenge: Edward Delaney's Wolfe Tone Monument 31:54

9M ago31:54

31:54

In 1898, tens of thousands of people paraded in Dublin for the unveiling of a foundation stone to a Wolfe Tone statue. So why did it not happen? Only in 1967 did Edward Delaney’s tribute to Tone appear on St Stephen’s Green. In this podcast, celebrating the fact the Tone monument is part of Dublin City Council’s Dublin Winter Lights, Delaney’s son …

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Night at the Museum 35:16

9M ago35:16

35:16

These are exciting times at the Collins Barracks branch of the National Museum of Ireland. This week, the first Harry Clarke display at the museum opens, showcasing six works by Ireland's most beloved stained glass artist. The Museum is also taking part in the Dublin City Council 'Dublin Winter Lights' for the first time. Dónal Maguire, Keeper of A…

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The Stained Glass Artist From a Dublin Tenement 56:50

9M ago56:50

56:50

The story of Michael Healy is one that tells us much about the Dublin of his time. Born into a working class inner-city family in 1873, Healy was shaped by the artistic and cultural movements of the time, becoming a central figure in the stained glass studio An Túr Gloine. The work of that studio is still to be found across Dublin today. His biogra…

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Remembering The SFX Hall (with Paul Page and David Bell) 41:02

10M ago41:02

41:02

In the heart of Dublin’s north inner-city, the SFX was one of the defining venues of Dublin’s music scene. U2, The Smiths, New Order, Siouxsie and the Banshees and The Pogues are just some of the acts to have taken to the stage in the Jesuit hall that enjoyed a remarkable second life. I’m joined by David Bell (who experienced the venue as a fan, re…

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The Women of Bram Stoker’s Life: Memory, Folklore and Patriotism (with Marion McGarry and Eva Jane Gaffney) 1:03:02

10M ago1:03:02

1:03:02

Bram Stoker’s life and career was shaped by the strong women around him. Charlotte Stoker, his mother, raised him on folklore and stories of her own youth, while Speranza (Lady Jane Wilde, the mother of Oscar) was a key influence in expanding his knowledge of Ireland’s folklore and mythology. I’m joined by Marion McGarry, author of the acclaimed bo…

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Irish Food History: From B.C. Times to the Grogan’s Toastie 1:02:22

11M ago1:02:22

1:02:22

Irish Food History: A Companion is an extraordinary thing - a moment in Irish publishing history. Coming in around 800 pages, it covers everything from archaeology and food to the pub grub of today. Full of archival images, poetry, recipes and more besides, the book captures the best of what is happening in Irish food research. On this episode, edi…

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Paula Meehan: History and Poetry 1:06:21

11M ago1:06:21

1:06:21

Paula Meehan is a poet for whom history is a constant source of inspiration. In this discussion at the Dublin Festival of History, she reads a number of poems written throughout the Decade of Centenaries, as well as other work shaped by the past. Paula’s collection, The Solace of Artemis, is available from: https://booksupstairs.ie/product/the-sola…

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Lee Miller: From Hitler’s Bathtub to The Palace Bar 30:06

11M ago30:06

30:06

Lee Miller is best recalled now for her defining images of the Second World War. With Kate Winslet playing the role of Miller in a new film, it seems a good time to explore Miller’s visit to Dublin in the winter of 1946. Sent by Vogue to photograph James Joyce’s Dublin, her images capture scenes like Barney Kiernan’s public house and Belvedere Coll…

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Catriona Crowe in Conversation (Live at the Seán Corcoran Series) 1:01:15

12M ago1:01:15

1:01:15

Catriona Crowe is former Head of Special Projects at the National Archives of Ireland. She is Ireland’s most recognisable archivist, and someone to whom all historians of modern Ireland are indebted. At the recent Seán Corcoran Series (www.seancorcoranseries.com/) we discussed archives, oral history and much more.…

Sean Fallon Podcasts

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From First to Last

Sean Fallon

1
Three Castles Burning

Donal Fallon

1
Rise Higher

McNulty

1
Famine Soup: Alexis Soyer, Trevelyan and The Great Hunger in Dublin 34:58

1
Fighting the Flames: Captain James Robert Ingram 33:16

1
Tipperary So Far Away: Remembering Seán Treacy on Talbot Street 29:22

1
Mohair Suits in the National Ballroom: The Showband Era 31:33

1
‘A Perfect Prodigy of Moral Horrors’ - The Donnybrook Fair 35:11

1
Porter Wars: Patriotism and Pints (with Christina Wade) 34:11

1
From 'Peelers' to Gardaí: How the Dublin Metropolitan Police and An Garda Síochána merged (with Paul Maher) 52:39

1
The Animal Gangs: An Irish Peaky Blinders? 37:02

1
Streets Broad and Narrow: Tony Gregory and Molly Malone 32:11

1
Blueshirt Bluster? The March on Dublin 32:37

1
Leo Burdock and Ivan Beshoff: Fish, Chips and Revolution 23:00

1
The End of Monto: A Century On 1:23:39

1
The Dawning of the Day: Last Orders at the Early House 32:05

1
A Complete Unknown? When Dylan came to Dublin 28:38

1
Traditional Singing from Dublin (with Macdara Yeates) 30:58

1
From The Nation to Shane MacGowan: Finding James Clarence Mangan (with Bridget Hourican and Warren Farrell) 35:17

1
Tonehenge: Edward Delaney's Wolfe Tone Monument 31:54

1
Night at the Museum 35:16

1
The Stained Glass Artist From a Dublin Tenement 56:50

1
Remembering The SFX Hall (with Paul Page and David Bell) 41:02

1
The Women of Bram Stoker’s Life: Memory, Folklore and Patriotism (with Marion McGarry and Eva Jane Gaffney) 1:03:02

1
Irish Food History: From B.C. Times to the Grogan’s Toastie 1:02:22

1
Paula Meehan: History and Poetry 1:06:21

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Lee Miller: From Hitler’s Bathtub to The Palace Bar 30:06

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Catriona Crowe in Conversation (Live at the Seán Corcoran Series) 1:01:15