Dublin City Libraries & Archives

State Pathologist Dr. SallyAnne Collis in conversation with Garrett Fagan about what the fictional pathologist Quirke in John Banville’s Christine Falls gets right and wrong about the work of a forensic pathologist, the history of forensic science, the development of investigative techniques and their use in crime fiction from the historical to the contemporary. Recorded in the National Library of...

Fintan O’Toole and Catriona Crowe discuss the social, historical and economic landscape of Ireland in the 1950s. Recorded in dlr LexIcon on 25th April 2026.

John Banville joins historian Donal Fallon (Three Castles Burning podcast) to discuss his own Dublin, and how the city has shaped his work over the years. Recorded in St Stephen's Church, popularly known as The Pepper Canister, on Thursday 9th April 2026 as part of One Dublin One Book. One Dublin One Book is brought to you by Dublin City Council and is also supported by the Department of Tourism,...

History, Mystery, Think! Podcast is made by Scoil Treasa Naofa, Dublin City’s Historian in Residence for Children Dervilia Roche, and co-funded by The Digital Hub. Dublin City Historians in Residence programme is created by Dublin City Libraries, and is delivered in partnership with Dublin City Council Culture Company. Supported by writer and facilitator Aidan Fitzmaurice. This podcast is hosted o...

Eat, Sleep, History, Repeat! Podcast is made by St Catherine’s National School, Dublin City’s Historian in Residence for Children Dervilia Roche, and co-funded by The Digital Hub. Dublin City Historians in Residence programme is created by Dublin City Libraries, and is delivered in partnership with Dublin City Council Culture Company. Supported by writer and facilitator Aidan Fitzmaurice. This pod...

In this episode entitled Dublin your Knowledge, Dublin’s Historian in Residence for Children Dervilia Roche explores the local history of Whitefriar Street with the children of South City Community National School. This project led to the children making their own history podcast called 'Dublin your Knowledge', with help from Dervilia, comedy writer Aidan Fitzmaurice, in collaboration with the Dig...

In this episode entitled Curfews in Dublin 1920-1921, Dublin City Historian in Residence Elizabeth Kehoe talks about how the Covid pandemic led to a deeper research into the 1920-1921 curfew in Dublin, how it impacted people from all walks of life and industries, and how it was and still is used as a weapon of war. Interviewed by tour guide and history enthusiast Sheila Robinson. This episode was...

In this, the second of a two-part series on the Irish Civil War, Dublin City Historian in Residence Cathy Scuffil looks at events from Béal na Bláth to the Arms Dump. This episode was recorded as part of Dublin City Council’s Decade of Centenaries programme.

Welcome to the Dublin City Libraries podcast. In this, the first of a two-part series on the Irish Civil War, Dublin City Historian in Residence, Cormac Moore discusses events from the Treaty Talks to the Fire at the Four Courts. This episode was recorded as part of Dublin City Council’s Decade of Centenaries programme.

Welcome to the Dublin City Libraries podcast. In this episode, entitled Fleapits, Palaces, and Multiplexes Dublin City Historian in Residence Katie Blackwood explores the history of cinemas in Dublin. Listen to stories about the makeshift venues of the early days, the 1930s palaces of entertainment and the suburban cinemas of the mid to late twentieth century. This episode was recorded in May 2024...

Welcome to the Dublin City Libraries podcast. In this episode entitled Prostitution in Dublin in the early 20th Century, Dublin City Historian in Residence Mary Muldowney explores how prostitution became entangled with the cause of Irish Independence, as it was framed, not as a social issue, but as a symbol of degeneracy of the British Empire. Recorded at the Central Library in October 2022.

Coming Out: Author Andrew Meehan On Discovering He Writes Love Stories Andrew Meehan is nailing his colours to the mast. He writes love stories, he says – although it took him until his third and most recent novel to recognise it. It was only as he was working on his latest novel, Instant Fires, that realisation dawned. “Halfway through I discovered, ‘Andrew, you write love stories. OK, it took yo...

Hidden Truths in Reissued Classics “Fiction sometimes unearths truths – and truths we’re not even aware of knowing,” says novelist Catherine Dunne. She’s talking about her novel, A Name For Himself, and Lia Mills’s novel Another Alice, reissued in new editions as part of the Arlen House Classic Literature. Both were published originally in the 1990s, but their themes of coercive control and an abu...

Writer Colum McCann talks about his hope that his book, Apeirogon, may contribute to peace. It fictionalises the true story of two fathers, an Israeli and a Palestinian, who each lose a child in the conflict. Elsewhere in the interview, Colum says he can’t write poetry but is drawn to it, and talks about writers he has known including Frank McCourt and Benedict Kiely. He also reads from his novel....

Welcome to Episode 12 of Belong Bí Ann. Playwright and actor Thommas Kane Byrne (aka TKB) chats to host Sorcha Keane about his work, where he draws inspiration, and how he minds himself, and members of the Black Queer Book Club speak about the importance of building a community, a space of creativity, safety, friendship and support for black queer people in Ireland Belong | Bí Ann Artists Podcast...

Welcome to Episode 11 of Belong Bí Ann. Join host Sorcha Keane as she explores storytelling and story-making in this episode. Storyteller & collector Aideen McBride shares the process of story collecting and the importance of stories, while children's author Juliette Saumande & illustrator Tarsila Krüse explore how their collaboration came to be, and introduce their recent work - My Little Album o...

Welcome to Episode 10 of Belong Bí Ann. Language, music and culture combine in this episode. Guadeloupean singer Ines Khai shares songs and stories of her career with host Sorcha Keane, while Francesca La Morgia from Mothertongues and Kirsi Hanifin from Post Primary Languages Ireland explain how important and powerful languages are Belong | Bí Ann Artists Podcast is hosted by Sorcha Keane and is a...

Welcome to this bonus episode of Belong Bí Ann. In this special episode, in partnership with First Fortnight Festival, host Sorcha Keane is joined by First Fortnight CEO Maria Fleming, and author Ann Ingle, to chat about Ann's book 'Open Hearted - Eighty Years of Love, Loss, Laughter and Letting Go'. Belong | Bí Ann Artists Podcast is hosted by Sorcha Keane and is a collaboration between Dublin Ci...

Welcome to Episode 9 of Belong Bí Ann. Visual Art is the focus of this episode - Street Photographer Ruth Guest chats to host Sorcha Keane about her work in nightclubs and on the streets of Dublin, while visual artist Silvia Loeffler explores the city streets in her project with the Central Library - City Routes Belong | Bí Ann Artists Podcast is hosted by Sorcha Keane and is a collaboration betwe...

Welcome to Episode 8 of Belong Bí Ann. Chandrika Narayanan Mohan, poet & performer, and Collie Ennis, zooligist, chat to host Sorcha Keane about their work, how art & science mix, nature and biodiversity. Collie gives us some tips for biodiversity in gardens, and Chandrika shares some beautiful poetry with us. Belong | Bí Ann Artists Podcast is hosted by Sorcha Keane and is a collaboration between...

Welcome to Episode 7 of Belong Bí Ann. Sport and Art - do they mix? Visual Artist and designer Áine O'Hara would say yes! She chats to host Sorcha Keane about her love of both, and how her work celebrates both sport and art. Belong | Bí Ann Artists Podcast is hosted by Sorcha Keane and is a collaboration between Dublin City Libraries and axisBallymun and funded by the Dormant Accounts Fund.

Welcome to Episode 6 of Belong Bí Ann. What is it about books and libraries we love so much? Authors Dermot Bolger and Liz Nugent explore their relationship with books and libraries, and why they are so important to us. Belong | Bí Ann Artists Podcast is hosted by Sorcha Keane and is a collaboration between Dublin City Libraries and axisBallymun and funded by the Dormant Accounts Fund.

Welcome to Episode 5 of Belong Bí Ann. The Library in the Community is a new service from Dublin City Libraries. In this episode, librarian Louise Tobin tells us all about the work of this great service, while Kristin Kristjansdottir from the Dublin Volunteer Centre explains how the DVC got involved in the Home Deliveries during lockdown. Belong | Bí Ann Artists Podcast is hosted by Sorcha Keane a...

Welcome to Episode 4 of Belong Bí Ann. Host Sorcha Keane is joined by singer Sharyn Ward. In this episode, we hear how important music is to Sharyn and to the Traveller Community, the power of music and song in Sharyn's own life, and Sharyn performs two beautiful songs. Belong | Bí Ann Artists Podcast is hosted by Sorcha Keane and is a collaboration between Dublin City Libraries and axisBallymun a...

Welcome to episode 3 of Belong Bí Ann podcast. Cathy Scuffil, Dublin City Historian in Residence tells host Sorcha Keane about her journey to become a historian, explores the history of weaving in the Liberties, and tells the story of the Lost Ceili of 1916! Belong | Bí Ann Artists Podcast is hosted by Sorcha Keane and is a collaboration between Dublin City Libraries and axisBallymun and funded by...