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Burning Books Ireland

Burning Books
Let Me Go Mad In My Own Way
Ireland
Cork
Deep Burn
How To Build a Boat
As You Were
Alice In Wonderland
In the Movie Of Her Life
Paris
Irish Literature
Esther Is Now Following You
The Thickness Of Ice
Samuel Beckett
Four Night Seas
The Memorisers
Rituals
Camarade
Dublin, Ireland
Gill Perdue
Steinbeck

If your house was on fire, what books would you save from the flames?

The Books Ireland podcast features authors and well-known cultural figures discussing the titles that have formed the backdrop to their lives—their childhood memories perhaps, or books they fell in love with. Maybe there are authors they return to over and over, or novels which formed their world view—stories that shaped th... more

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes61Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsSociety & CultureBooks

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Artwork for Burning Books Ireland

Latest Episodes

Niamh MacCabe tells Ruth McKee which books she would save if her house was on fire.

Niamh Mac Cabe is an award-winning writer of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and hybrid prose. She's also a visual artist, and a lecturer on the Degree in Writing & L... more

Danielle McLaughlin tells Ruth McKee which books she would save if her house was on fire.

Danielle McLaughlin's debut collection of short stories Dinosaurs on Other Planets was published in Ireland by The Stinging Fly Press in 2015 and her first no... more

Charleen Hurtubise tells Ruth McKee which books she’d save if her house was on fire.

Charleen Hurtubise is a novelist, essayist, and artist. She is author of The Polite Act of Drowning, published in Ireland and the UK by Eriu/Bonnier in 2023. She h... more

Author Gerard Beirne tells Ruth McKee which books he would save if his house was on fire.

Gerard Beirne is a novelist, poet, and short story writer, and curates the online magazine The Irish Literary Times. His work includes the novels The Eskimo i... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Niamh MacCabe
Author of Four Night Seas; writer of fiction, non-fiction, poetry
The Lilliput Press
Episode: 57: Niamh MacCabe
Danielle McLaughlin
Irish author of Dinosaurs on Other Planets and Rituals; writer of The Art of Falling
The Stinging Fly Press (publisher for Rituals)
Episode: 56: Danielle McLaughlin
Charleen Hurtubise
Author of Saoirse
Author
Episode: 55: Charleen Hurtubise
Gerard Beirne
Author of The Thickness of Ice, curator of The Irish Literary Times
Baraka Books (publisher of The Thickness of Ice)
Episode: 54: Gerard Beirne
Tanya Sweeney
Journalist and author of Esther is Now Following You
Penguin (publisher)
Episode: 53: Tanya Sweeney
Annemarie Ní Churreáin
Poet, author of Hymn to All the Restless Girls
Gallery Press (publications discussed)
Episode: 52: Annemarie Ní Churreáin
Elaine Feeney
Acclaimed author and poet
Episode: 51: Elaine Feeney
Audrey Whitty
Irish archaeologist, curator and librarian; Director of the National Library of Ireland
National Library of Ireland
Episode: 50: Audrey Whitty
Gill Perdue
Best-selling crime novelist
Penguin (novel publication)
Episode: 49: Gill Perdue

Host

Ruth McKee
Host of Burning Books Ireland; interviewer with a focus on personal reading histories and book culture.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 17 ratings
  • Beautiful podcast

    Wonderful podcast for readers and writers.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    15278 Elco
    United Kingdom4 years ago
  • Love this

    If you love books then you’ll love this podcast. A really different and interesting way of looking at the chosen books loved by the interviewees, and a glimpse into their lives around the books.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    cath-writes-in-the-dark
    Ireland5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

• The format offers unique insights into how books shape lives, not just what they contain.
• Engaging, thoughtful conversations that celebrate books and readers.
• High-quality discussions that appeal to bibliophiles and writers alike.
• Guests share intimate reading histories, making it easy to relate to their literary journeys.
• Strong sense of literary community and cultural context, which helps sponsorship relevance.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#148
Ireland/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

56: Danielle McLaughlin
Q: What sparked your shift from law to writing, and how did that transition feel for you?
A rare health event and a long period of illness prompted me to rethink my career, and while recovering I returned to writing as a way to make sense of my experience, eventually discovering a deep, addictive pull toward fiction.
54: Gerard Beirne
Q: How has The Thickness of Ice come to reflect your own life experiences and landscapes you've inhabited?
The novel grew out of real places and memories—from the Arctic setting of Churchill to the people and histories of First Nations communities; the language and world-building mirror the physical environment, making the land itself a vital character in the narrative.
54: Gerard Beirne
Q: What was your MFA experience like, and who influenced you most there?
Being in Spokane and studying with John Keeble and a cohort of Irish writers broadened my approach; the workshop environment and the invitation to push boundaries helped me understand what it means to be a writer and teacher at the same time.
54: Gerard Beirne
Q: When did the pull of North America happen for you, and did it spark a real curiosity about different literary worlds?
The exposure to American writers and the beats in particular opened my eyes to a wider literary universe; I realized there was a form of writing and a global conversation I'd been missing, which fueled my decision to pursue writing more seriously.
52: Annemarie Ní Churreáin
Q: Which book do you go back to for nourishment when you need creative sustenance?
Pharaoh's Daughter from Gallery Press, a bilingual collection that showcases Irish poetry with translations; it serves as a gateway for both new and seasoned readers and continually inspires teaching and workshops.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Burning Books Ireland

What is Burning Books Ireland about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful, literature-forward interview series where authors and culture figures discuss the books that shaped their lives. Guests share childhood reads, formative influences, and the memories attached to specific titles, often weaving in how libraries, archives, and national heritage shaped their thinking. Across episodes, themes include memory, place, and the power of reading to illuminate identity, craft, and resilience. The format tends to blend personal anecdotes, live readings, and book recommendations, with a strong emphasis on the personal connections people have to books and the broader cultural conversations those choices spark. A notable strength is its ability to surface intimate reading histories alongside professional journ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Burning Books Ireland?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Burning Books Ireland:

1. Inside Books
2. Books for Breakfast (Ireland)
3. Get Around To It
4. Take Four Books
5. The Women's Podcast

How many episodes of Burning Books Ireland are there?

Burning Books Ireland launched 5 years ago and published 61 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Burning Books Ireland?

Recent guests on Burning Books Ireland include:

1. Niamh MacCabe
2. Danielle McLaughlin
3. Charleen Hurtubise
4. Gerard Beirne
5. Tanya Sweeney
6. Annemarie Ní Churreáin
7. Elaine Feeney
8. Audrey Whitty

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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