When creating episodes I normally try to tell wider events in Irish history by focusing on the lives of an individual person. This podcast takes a different approach. I interview Dr Mark Clinton about the history of one specific place - Carrickmines Castle. Mark lead the excavations that unearthed the ruins of the castle destroyed in the 17th century.By focusing on this castle we were able to have a wide ranging conversation that covers centuries of history. We began with the Norman Invasion, made our way through the origins of sectarian tensions in Ireland before looking at a brutal siege and massacre during the 1640s. Then we finally finished by looking at the destruction of archaeological sites in Ireland in the 21st Century.You can get Mark's book Carrickmines Castle - Rise and Fall in all good bookshops. This is the final episode for 2019. Thanks for tuning in throughout the year - it means alot to me. I hope you and yours have a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.Fin For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy