Three Castles Burning: A History of Dublin in Twelve Streets

Eason Favourite Book of the Year 2022    ‘she is no small town, and this is no small story . . .’ BASED ON THE POPULAR DUBLIN HISTORY PODCAST A companion to the hugely successful podcast of the same name by Donal Fallon, THREE CASTLES BURNING is an enjoyable wander through some of Dublin's less obvious but more interesting streets and roads such as Henrietta Street, Watling Street, Fownes Street and Kildare Road. On the Dublin streets we walk every day, there are hidden reminders of the lesser-known heroes and events that have contributed to the evolving story of our capital. The city’s motto, ‘the obedience of the citizens produces a happy city’, may feel outdated and loaded today but the three burning castles of its ancient coat of arms have come to represent the indomitable spirit, creativity and vision that define this big town. Inspired by the No. 1 podcast, Three Castles Burning: A History of Dublin in Twelve Streets champions the activists, workers, architects, poets, migrants, artists and merchants who have made and remade the city we know and love by going beneath the many layers of twelve key streets where they lived and worked. Because, in the city Joyce called the ‘Hibernian Metropolis’, the disobedience of its citizens is the cornerstone of its past, present and future. This combination of social, cultural, industrial and commercial, and political history, through the prism of the places where revolutions great and small were sparked, offers the reader a fresh and unexpected take on Ireland's capital city.

About the Author :
DONAL FALLON is a historian of Dublin, with a particular interest in the social history of the city. A founder of the popular Come Here To Me! blog in 2009, since 2019 he has presented the Three Castles Burning podcast, exploring the many histories of the Irish capital. His previous publications include 14 Henrietta Street: From Tenement to Suburbia (2021) and he is formerly Historian-in-Residence to Dublin City Council.

Review :
'Readers will enjoy learning about hidden architectural details or unassuming plaques marking important events that might otherwise escape notice throughout the city. Archived and present-day photographs accent interesting facts and historical vignettes, pairing nicely with Fallon’s accessible writing. Well-researched and full of interesting facts, this book is sure to surprise even Dubliners and makes a perfect companion for any walking—or armchair—tour around the city.’ ‘A delightful potted history of Dublin . . . that refrain, “who knew?” is one the reader might find themselves repeating on every page, such is the mine of information contained in each chapter of this little book.’ ‘Entertaining stories from Dublin’s past allows hidden gems to shine.’ ‘If Los Angeles feels like it was designed for the driver, and New York City for the subway passenger, Dublin, one could say, was made for the pedestrian. Its reputation as a city best experienced on foot was secured a century ago with the publication of James Joyce’s Ulysses, a novel with an emphasis on perambulation. It remains true today; few places better suit a weekend of wandering. And you’ll find few better guides than historian Donal Fallon, author of the new book Three Castles Burning: A History of Dublin in Twelve Streets, and host of a popular social history podcast. On a recent stroll, Mr. Fallon was repeatedly stopped by denizens, eager to share discoveries and pose for selfies. That a historian can be a local celebrity testifies to the degree to which the past remains present here.’