Behind the Guinness Gates

Guinness's DNA is deeply ingrained in the Liberties of Dublin, its origins rooted in a medieval church, a holy well and that famous gate, all dedicated to St James. Turtle takes us on a whirlwind trip from those medieval times through the evolution of the brewery to the present day.

Two of Dublin's finest historians discuss the importance of carthorses, canals and jostle stones to the Guinness brewery, as well as going to school with the "Guinness" girls and what it means to have the Storehouse in their neighbourhood.

Mango has been hailed by Hot Press magazine as 'one of Ireland's most important hip-hop acts of the 21st century'. He talks about growing up as a 'true blue' Dub in the shadow of the brewery, where his great-grandfather worked as a cooper, as well as performing in the Storehouse for Other Voices and how his rapping technique was forged by the story-telling of generations past.

Turtle looks at how Guinness has changed the Dublin skyline beyond the Storehouse through its work on housing, social housing, and green space. He homes in on the redbrick Iveagh Trust Buildings, the Bayno play centre, the Iveagh Baths and the evolution of St Stephen's Green, St Patrick's Park and the Iveagh Gardens.

The Iveagh Trust was founded in 1890. Rory Guinness, a member of the brewing dynasty, became its chairman in 2019. He tells the story of the 1 st Earl of Iveagh, the role of the Iveagh Hostel and about how the microbial activity of bacteria resulted in the Lister Medical Prize coming home to Dublin.

Niall is a chef, fishmonger, grocer and all-round champion of sustainable foods. He tells Turtle about the influence of his Egyptian restauranteur father, working with marine ecologists to discover the magic of seafood and shellfish, and why Guinness Extra Stout and oysters makes for such a classic pairing.

We meet the scientific, brewing guru whose role is to ensure that every pint of Guinness tastes as gorgeous as the next. Kate Curran talks of the science behind that matchless flavour, the specifics of barley and the creation of Guinness Zero, as well as what it's like to be the fifth generation of her family to work at the brewery.

Since the 1880s, over 26,000 men and women have been employed at the Guinness brewery. For many, it was a job 'for life', replete with healthcare, education and sporting benefits. Turtle talks of the Guinness doctor who revolutionised Ireland's ambulance service, the Hollywood star who drove a forklift truck for Guinness, and why those doing "hot-work" received extra pints.

Turtle Bunbury provides an overview of what listeners can expect from Season 1, and why he believes 1759 is a date that will still resonate in 9,000 years' time.