On today’s podcast, presented by Fionn Davenport with Laurence Mackin, we discuss the Monto area of Dublin, its colourful history and development, and how it is a microcosm for modern Ireland.
This was once the biggest red-light district in Europe, and was immortalised by James Joyce as "Nighttown" in the "Circe" chapter of Ulysses. It is also said to be the place where Prince Albert Edward (later Edward VII) lost his virginity.
Up to 1,600 prostitutes once worked in the area and the rear wall of the last Magdalene laundry to close in Ireland, as recently as 1996, runs along Railway Street.
Today’s guests are Terry Fagan, a local historian and expert on all things Monto, and one of the people behind the North Inner City Folklore Project, and Elaine Grainger of Talbot Gallery. Grainger is one of five women from local contemporary galleries and studios, who have taken the collective name Monto to celebrate the area’s rebirth as a hub of artistic activity. So is there some history that can’t be reclaimed?
Joining them on the line is Louise Lowe of Anu Productions. It’s award-winning Monto Cycle (World’s End Lane, Laundry, The Boys of Foley Street and Vardo) charted a century of history in Dublin’s north inner city, and holds a mirror up to where the area, and indeed Ireland, is today.
Also on the podcast, we talk to Sona Jobarteh, a kora player from the Griot tradition, born in London into her family’s traditional Gambian culture. Kora-playing is traditionally done by men, so in the process of becoming a world-class musician Jobarteh is in the interesting position of carrying on an ancient tradition while breaking a few.
Tomorrow night she performs in Dublin's Sugar Club, as part of the Big Bang festival of Rhythm, which this weekend takes place in different venues around Dublin City. It culminates on Sunday with a free outdoor live music event at Meeting House Square in Temple Bar from 2pm to 8pm.
And finally, Fionn Davenport sings the praises of Channing Tatum and describes the strange reception he got recently when he went to see Magic Mike XXL on his own. And Laurence Mackin outlines why Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is one of the great unsung actors of our generation.
