Listen to a wide range of talks, readings, lectures and performances which reflect the rich history and literature of Dublin city. Serving over half a million people, Dublin City Public Libraries are the largest library service in the Republic of Ireland.
Dublin City Libraries & Archives
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 you a while to cop on to the fact it's what you do'.” Looking back, he understands that all three of his novels are love stories. “You write what you want to read,” concludes Andrew. “We all get put in boxes and some of us invite ourselves into certain boxes and I'm now embracing the fact that I'm a writer of love stories.“ The novel is about two strangers who meet over the course of a week in Heidelberg, Germany, and feel an instant attraction – despite the woman, Ute, being convinced love is not for her. Their courtship is “diffident, gentle, awkward” and is characterised as a prelude to love by Andrew's publisher. Instant Fires by Andrew Meehan is published by New Island. More here: https://www.newisland.ie/fiction/instant-fires
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 abused childhood remain relevant today. More info: http://arlenhouse.ie
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. Produced and presented by author and journalist Martina Devlin. Music by Daragh Dukes. :: Apeirogon is published by Bloomsbury https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/apeirogon-9781526607874/
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 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 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 of Ireland. 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 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 collaboration between Dublin City Libraries and axisBallymun and funded by the Dormant Accounts Fund.
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 City Libraries and axisBallymun and funded by the Dormant Accounts Fund.
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 between Dublin City Libraries and axisBallymun and funded by the Dormant Accounts Fund.
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 Dublin City Libraries and axisBallymun and funded by the Dormant Accounts Fund.
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 and is a collaboration between Dublin City Libraries and axisBallymun and funded by the Dormant Accounts Fund.
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 and funded by the Dormant Accounts Fund.
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 the Dormant Accounts Fund.
Welcome to Episode 2 of Belong Bí Ann. Join host Sorcha Keane, as she chats with poetry collective WeAreGriot, comprising Felispeaks, Dagogo Hart and Samuel Yakrua. We hear about how each artist discovered poetry and how WeAreGriot came to be. Includes a beautiful performance by the trio. 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 1 of Belong Bí Ann podcast. Join host Sorcha Keane as she chats with writers Manchán Magan and Oein De Bhairduin. We hear about their writing, the impact that libraries have had on their personal and professional lives, and how language and history weave their way through both writers' work. 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.
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. A series of live conversations and performances with artists and guests, featuring each of the 21 branches of Dublin City Libraries. The guest and artists will chat about their relationship with their local libraries, through the lens of arts and culture, highlighting the impact these public spaces have had on their lives and wellbeing. Each podcast episode will feature events from the libraries and will follow general themes - offering something for fans of music, history, visual art, poetry, literature, nature and more!
A three round, fully produced, quiz! [Created and Produced by Ciarán Hurley, with voice work by Christopher Nugent, for Dublin City Libraries. Effects from ZapSplat.com. Music from MixKit.com. All copyrights remain with the copyright holders, (c) 2021]
A three round, fully produced, quiz! [Created and Produced by Ciarán Hurley, with voice work by Christopher Nugent, for Dublin City Libraries. Effects from ZapSplat.com. Music from MixKit.com. All copyrights remain with the copyright holders, (c) 2021]
A three round, fully produced, quiz! [Created and Produced by Ciarán Hurley, with voice work by Christopher Nugent, for Dublin City Libraries. Effects from ZapSplat.com. Music from MixKit.com. All copyrights remain with the copyright holders, (c) 2021]
A three round, fully produced, quiz! [Created and Produced by Ciarán Hurley, with voice work by Christopher Nugent, for Dublin City Libraries. Effects from ZapSplat.com. Music from MixKit.com. All copyrights remain with the copyright holders, (c) 2021]
Welcome to Kevin Street Library's Hallowe'en Storytime. This evening's story was written by Sheridan Le Fanu in 1851 for Dublin University Magazine and is presented herein with only the smallest of edits for narrative clarity. Narrated and produced by Ciarán Hurley. Introduction: Chris Nugent.
The lightning cracks and the thunder rattles as The Kevin Street Library Quiz returns for a terrifyingly wonderful quiz! Rounds on Film, Samhain, Ghosts, Ghouls, and Ghastly Creatures, Spooky Books, and the scariest of all... General Knowledge! A three round, fully produced, quiz! [Created and Produced by Ciarán Hurley, with voice work by Christopher Nugent, for Dublin City Libraries. Effects from ZapSplat.com. Music from MixKit.com. All copyrights remain with the copyright holders, (c) 2021]
The Kevin Street Library Quiz returns with a regular quiz! Test your brains with rounds on First Lines (Music), Art, & Television! Have you got what it takes to answer these taxing quandries? A three round, fully produced, quiz! [Created and Produced by Ciarán Hurley, with voice work by Christopher Nugent, for Dublin City Libraries. Effects from ZapSplat.com. Music from MixKit.com. All copyrights remain with the copyright holders, (c) 2021]
Today we boldly go where a handful have gone before! Embrace your inner-Trekkie a face a quadrant of questions on every series of Star Trek, and the ever-present General Knowledge! Is there coffee in that nebula? Is she giving it all she's got, sir?! Join us and find out if you're a Q or Tribble. A three round, fully produced, quiz! [Created and Produced by Ciarán Hurley, with voice work by Christopher Nugent, for Dublin City Libraries. Effects from ZapSplat.com. Music from MixKit.com. All copyrights remain with the copyright holders, (c) 2021]
Is 13 your unlucky number? Find out in this Kevin Street Library Quiz Question of Sport, Queries of Music, and Inquiries of Geography await! A three round, fully produced, quiz! [Created and Produced by Ciarán Hurley, with voice work by Christopher Nugent, for Dublin City Libraries. Effects from ZapSplat.com. Music from MixKit.com. All copyrights remain with the copyright holders, (c) 2021]
A brand new Special Kevin Street Library Quiz! Can you tell your yuk-yuks from your chortles? Do you know why the actor fell through the floorboards? Test your comedy chops in this Kevin Street Library Quiz! A three round, fully produced, quiz! [Created and Produced by Ciarán Hurley, with voice work by Christopher Nugent, for Dublin City Libraries. Effects from ZapSplat.com. Music from MixKit.com. All copyrights remain with the copyright holders, (c) 2021]
3 Rounds: Film, Art, and Literature, eight questions each Are you brave enough to test your mental mettle in this latest Kevin Street Library Quiz? You are? Oh, well, very good then! A three round, fully produced, quiz! [Created and Produced by Ciarán Hurley, with voice work by Christopher Nugent, for Dublin City Libraries. Effects from ZapSplat.com. Music from MixKit.com. All copyrights remain with the copyright holders, (c) 2021]
Happy Birthday Beatrix Potter! In a special, tribute quiz the Kevin Street Library is coming over all Peter Rabbit! Three rounds on beloved Beatrix Potter and her works, and, of course, General Knowledge. A three round, fully produced, quiz! [Created and Produced by Ciarán Hurley, with voice work by Christopher Nugent, for Dublin City Libraries. Effects from ZapSplat.com. Music from MixKit.com. All copyrights remain with the copyright holders, (c) 2021]
Test your brilliant brains in rounds of Television, Ireland & Her People, and Science, Nature, & Technology! A three round, fully produced, quiz! [Created and Produced by Ciarán Hurley, with voice work by Christopher Nugent, for Dublin City Libraries. Effects from ZapSplat.com. Music from MixKit.com. All copyrights remain with the copyright holders, (c) 2021]
This week the questions are Film, Literature, and Science, Nature, and Technology! Prepare your brains for the workout... A three round, fully produced, quiz! [Created and Produced by Ciarán Hurley, with voice work by Christopher Nugent, for Dublin City Libraries. Effects from ZapSplat.com. Music from MixKit.com. All copyrights remain with the copyright holders, (c) 202]
Bloomsday has arrived and, to celebrate, the Kevin Street Library is turning literary! Twenty-one stately, plump, James Joyce themed questions across three rounds, and then the general knowledge round! A three round, fully produced, quiz! [Created and Produced by Ciarán Hurley, with voice work by Christopher Nugent, for Dublin City Libraries. Effects from ZapSplat.com. Music from MixKit.com. All copyrights remain with the copyright holders, (c) 2020]
A brand new Special Kevin Street Library Quiz! Do you know your Batman from your Man-Bat? Can you tell how many Spider-Men there have been? Test your mental might with the Kevin Street Library Comic Book Quiz! A three round, fully produced, quiz! [Created and Produced by Ciarán Hurley, with voice work by Christopher Nugent, for Dublin City Libraries. Effects from ZapSplat.com. Music from MixKit.com. All copyrights remain with the copyright holders, (c) 2021]
A three round, fully produced, quiz! [Created and Produced by Ciarán Hurley, with voice work by Christopher Nugent, for Dublin City Libraries. Effects from ZapSplat.com. Music from MixKit.com. All copyrights remain with the copyright holders, (c) 2020]
Kevin St Library staff read some favourite children's stories for Libraries Ireland's Spring into Storytime. The Golden Spears read by Ciarán (IRISH FOLKTALE) The Radiant Boy read by Silviu (IRISH FOLKTALE) Produced by Ciarán Hurley. Sound effects and Music provided by ZapSplatt.com and MixKit.co.
A three round, fully produced, quiz! [Created and Produced by Ciarán Hurley, with voice work by Christopher Nugent, for Dublin City Libraries. Effects from ZapSplat.com. Music from MixKit.com. All copyrights remain with the copyright holders, (c) 2020]
Kevin St Library staff read some favourite children's stories for Libraries Ireland's Spring into Storytime. Old Mother Goose read by Helene (TRADITIONAL NURSERY RHYME) How the Camel Got its Hump read by Charlotte (RUDYARD KIPLING) The Tale of Peter Rabbit read by Helene (BEATRIX POTTER) The Demon Cat read by Silviu (IRISH FOLKTALE) I Saw a Ship a-Sailing read by Frank (NURSERY RHYME) Produced by Ciarán Hurley. Sound effects and Music provided by ZapSplatt.com and MixKit.co.
A three round, fully produced, quiz! [Created and Produced by Ciarán Hurley, with voice work by Christopher Nugent, for Dublin City Libraries. Effects from ZapSplat.com. Music from MixKit.com. All copyrights remain with the copyright holders, (c) 2020]
A three round, fully produced, quiz! [Created and Produced by Ciarán Hurley, with voice work by Christopher Nugent, for Dublin City Libraries. Effects from ZapSplat.com. Music from MixKit.com. All copyrights remain with the copyright holders, (c) 2020]
Test the old grey matter with the latest Kevin St Library Quiz. A three round, fully produced, quiz! [Created and Produced by Ciarán Hurley, with voice work by Christopher Nugent, for Dublin City Libraries. Effects from ZapSplat.com. Music from MixKit.com. All copyrights remain with the copyright holders, (c) 2021]
It's the latest Kevin St Library Quiz with your host, keeper of books, wearer of glasses, and the man with an answer for everything...Ciarán Hurley. A three round, fully produced, quiz! [Created and Produced by Ciarán Hurley, with voice work by Christopher Nugent, for Dublin City Libraries. Effects from ZapSplat.com. Music from MixKit.com. All copyrights remain with the copyright holders, (c) 2021]
This brand new Kevin Street Library Quiz brings us the magical stories of Harry Potter. 3 rounds of magic and mischief, and 1 of general knowledge. How well do you know the Weasleys? Can you tell the difference between Snape and Sirius? A three round, fully produced, quiz! [Created and Produced by Ciarán Hurley, with voice work by Christopher Nugent, for Dublin City Libraries. Effects from ZapSplat.com. Music from MixKit.com. All copyrights remain with the copyright holders, (c) 2021]
Pencils at the ready...it's a special James Bond edition of the Kevin St Library Quiz with your host, keeper of books, wearer of glasses, and the man with an answer for everything...Ciarán Hurley. A three round, fully produced, quiz! [Created and Produced by Ciarán Hurley, with voice work by Christopher Nugent, for Dublin City Libraries. Effects from ZapSplat.com. Music from MixKit.com. All copyrights remain with the copyright holders, (c) 2021]
A three round, fully produced, quiz! [Created and Produced by Ciarán Hurley, with voice work by Christopher Nugent, for Dublin City Libraries. Effects from ZapSplat.com. Music from MixKit.com. All copyrights remain with the copyright holders, (c) 2021]
A three round, fully produced, quiz! [Created and Produced by Ciarán Hurley, with voice work by Christopher Nugent, for Dublin City Libraries. Effects from ZapSplat.com. Music from MixKit.com. All copyrights remain with the copyright holders, (c) 2020]
A three round, fully produced, quiz! [Created and Produced by Ciarán Hurley, with voice work by Christopher Nugent, for Dublin City Libraries. Effects from ZapSplat.com. Music from MixKit.com. All copyrights remain with the copyright holders, (c) 2020]
A three round, fully produced, quiz! [Created and Produced by Ciarán Hurley, with voice work by Christopher Nugent, for Dublin City Libraries.
Listen back to Dublin: One City, One Book 2018, when we celebrated The Long Gaze Back, and the female voice in Irish literature. This anthology of 30 short stories is edited by Sinead Gleeson. In this episode, Michelle Read reads the first three stories from The Long Gaze Back,The Purple Jar by Maria Edgeworth, Frank's Resolve by Charlotte Riddell and Poisson d'Aril by Somerville and Ross. Recorded at DLR LexIcon on 12 April 2018, with thanks to Marian Keyes Dún-Laoghaire Rathdown Libraries for making the audio available to us. Our theme tune is Dream of the forest (jazzy mix) by articom (c) copyright 2020 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. dig.ccmixter.org/files/articom/61177