Arts and Culture

ZACH BRYAN CONCERT
S Tom Dunne's review of Zach Bryan in Dublin: 'Great fun and the music was a revelation'
Zach Bryan's gig at Phoenix Park in Dublin felt like a Memphis-themed hen party, but the American star also had the songs to remind us why he's so popular 

Sat, 21 Jun, 2025

Madness review: One step beyond as Suggs and co roll out the hits in Cork 
S Madness review: One step beyond as Suggs and co roll out the hits in Cork 
Madness delighted the crowd at Musgrave Park (Virgin Media Park) with their heavy heavy monster sound 

Sat, 21 Jun, 2025

Beginner’s pluck: Belfast-born and Newcastle-based Gráinne O’Hare
Beginner’s pluck: Belfast-born and Newcastle-based Gráinne O’Hare
'Thirst Trap' is a brilliant portrayal of grief — and of growing up and it's written with humour, hope, and warmth

Sat, 21 Jun, 2025

Book review: Do not put this book on hold
Book review: Do not put this book on hold
This is fresh, highly considered work, from a writer deserving of the praise garnered for her debut, and cements Volckmer as a beguiling voice in literary fiction

Sat, 21 Jun, 2025

Portrait of Henrik Pontoppidan
Book review: Novellas of a Nobel prize winner translated for a whole new audience
These are refreshing and a joy to read thanks to the fluency of Paul Larkin’s translation and his use of familiar idiom

Sat, 21 Jun, 2025

Book review: A fresh perspective on reflection
Book review: A fresh perspective on reflection
Theo Dorgan's novel is an intelligent book but not too high flown; it’s an easy read that flows, revealing a character who, despite his once-off crime, is one of the good guys

Sat, 21 Jun, 2025

Children's books review: Sports rivalries, journey of self discovery, and a haunting Wolfling
Children's books review: Sports rivalries, journey of self discovery, and a haunting Wolfling
Pet O’Connell rounds up a selection of the latest children’s books from the next chapter of adept sporting twins to a tale of impending adulthood

Fri, 20 Jun, 2025

Author interview: America’s ‘high-brow’ Cold War propaganda operation
Author interview: America’s ‘high-brow’ Cold War propaganda operation
A secret American programme put 10m Western books and magazines in the hands of intellectuals and professionals in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union for 37 years

Fri, 20 Jun, 2025

Kneecap concert
Thousands flock to Dublin's Fairview Park for sold-out Kneecap gig
West Belfast group Kneecap landed back on Irish soil this week ahead of their sold-out gig at Fairview Park

Fri, 20 Jun, 2025

Film review: 28 Years Later is ambitious â€” and blackly comic
Film review: 28 Years Later is ambitious â€” and blackly comic
Plus: Pixar's Elio delivers a charming sci-fi yarn that promotes a timely message of plurality and inclusivity in the face of an authoritarian threat. 

Fri, 20 Jun, 2025

Seven red giraffes to parade through streets of Cork city this weekend
Seven red giraffes to parade through streets of Cork city this weekend
Here's the route of the parade for Cork Midsummer Festival... 

Fri, 20 Jun, 2025

Snow Patrol review: Cork lit up with nostalgic hits on Ireland’s hottest day of the year
S Snow Patrol review: Cork lit up with nostalgic hits on Ireland’s hottest day of the year
On a balmy summer night, the iconic band thrilled Cork fans with classics and new tracks alike

Fri, 20 Jun, 2025

Books are my business: Librarian at Bantry Library Denis Murphy
Books are my business: Librarian at Bantry Library Denis Murphy
'Approaching high summer, the West Cork Literary Festival concentrates most of my attention'

Fri, 20 Jun, 2025

Theatre For One review: Intimate setting makes for wonderful experience at Cork Midsummer 
Theatre For One review: Intimate setting makes for wonderful experience at Cork Midsummer 
The booth outside Cork Opera House offered five-minute pieces for an audience of just one person at a time 

Thu, 19 Jun, 2025

Elio
'It's four or five seconds a week per animator': The makers of Pixar's new film, Elio 
As Pixar marks 30 years in existence, Elio looks set to become the animation studio's latest hit, writes Esther McCarthy

Thu, 19 Jun, 2025

Tom Dunne: Is Gallagher Brothers v Pop Sisters the new version of Oasis v Blur? 
Tom Dunne: Is Gallagher Brothers v Pop Sisters the new version of Oasis v Blur? 
Oasis do feel a bit like yesterday's news given the avalanche of top-quality female stars coming to a stadium near you this summer

Thu, 19 Jun, 2025

Five For Your Radar: 28 Years Later, Neil Young, Live at the Marquee 
Five For Your Radar: 28 Years Later, Neil Young, Live at the Marquee 
There's an impressive roster of events on offer over the next few days 

Thu, 19 Jun, 2025

'There’s great satisfaction in hearing your own tunes played': Jackie Daly turns 80 
'There’s great satisfaction in hearing your own tunes played': Jackie Daly turns 80 
Cork trad legend Jackie Daly talks Sliabh Luachra, innovative tuning, and doing a Beatles cover that Paul McCartney loved 

Wed, 18 Jun, 2025

50 more acts announced for sold-out All Together Now festival 
50 more acts announced for sold-out All Together Now festival 
All Together Now in Co Waterford has revealed more big hitters for the August weekend event 

Wed, 18 Jun, 2025

Zach Bryan at Phoenix Park: Stage times, support acts, weather and more
Zach Bryan at Phoenix Park: Stage times, support acts, weather and more
Back on Irish soil, Zach Bryan will perform to more than 180,000 people across three sold-out gigs this weekend 

Wed, 18 Jun, 2025

Watch: Midleton tattoo festival marks 26 years
Watch: Midleton tattoo festival marks 26 years
Now in its 26th year, the Midleton Tattoo Club Summer Bash brought colour, creativity and community spirit to the Talbot Hotel.

Wed, 18 Jun, 2025

Charli XCX at Dublin’s Malahide Castle: A pulsating set from 365 partygirl
Charli XCX review: A pulsating set at Dublin’s Malahide Castle leaves crowd wanting more
Charli XCX played a tight 60 minutes in Dublin on Tuesday night

Tue, 17 Jun, 2025

Theatre review: Tommy Tiernan and Aaron Monaghan star in The Cave, by Kevin Barry 
Theatre review: Tommy Tiernan and Aaron Monaghan star in The Cave, by Kevin Barry 
Kevin Barry does provide some fun in The Cave, but the tale of a pair of alienated brothers doesn't quite live up to its potential 

Tue, 17 Jun, 2025

'It shares the Palestinian experience of displacement': Basel Zaraa on his Cork Midsummer installation 
'It shares the Palestinian experience of displacement': Basel Zaraa on his Cork Midsummer installation 
Palestinian artist Basel Zaraa, now living in Britain, created his Dear Laila installation to show his daughter was life was like in Yarmouk refugee camp. It can be seen at Cork Midsummer Festival 

Tue, 17 Jun, 2025

TV review: Aistear an Amhráin sifts through Spandau Ballet's syrupy ballad Through the Barricades
TV review: Aistear an Amhráin sifts through Spandau Ballet's syrupy ballad Through the Barricades
"I think Through the Barricades is a syrupy and formulaic ballad that could be set anywhere, but then I never heard a Spandau Ballet song I didn’t hate."

Tue, 17 Jun, 2025

Theatre review: Escaped Alone questions our assumptions about older women   
Theatre review: Escaped Alone questions our assumptions about older women   
Caryl Churchill's play had a run at the Everyman as part of Cork Midsummer Festival 

Tue, 17 Jun, 2025

Podcast Corner: Celtic Studies show delves into Ireland's fascinating history 
Podcast Corner: Celtic Studies show delves into Ireland's fascinating history 
Ní Hansae, the School of Celtic Studies Research podcast, includes discussion of such figures as Fionn Mac Cumhail and De Valera 

Mon, 16 Jun, 2025

Watch: ‘Storm in a Bath Tub’ made waves at Cork Midsummer Festival
Watch: ‘Storm in a Bath Tub’ made waves at Cork Midsummer Festival
Large crowds gathered in Cork city’s Emmet Place over the weekend for Storm in a Bath Tub, which featured more than 120 performers as part of this year’s Cork Midsummer Festival. The open-air show blended circus, theatre and live music. 

Mon, 16 Jun, 2025

I was one of the men in The Second Woman. This is what it was like...
I was one of the men in The Second Woman. This is what it was like...
The Second Woman at Cork Midsummer Festival featured Eileen Walsh in a repeated scene with 100 different people across 24 hours. Alan O'Riordan  was one of those who took to the Opera House stage for the incredible piece of theatre 

Mon, 16 Jun, 2025

Beyond The Pale festival: Talking points from a fine weekend that almost didn't happen 
Beyond The Pale festival: Talking points from a fine weekend that almost didn't happen 
There were valid fears that Beyond The Pale might not go ahead, but thankfully the Glendalough festival not only survived, but delivered a great few days of music 

Mon, 16 Jun, 2025

Culture That Made Me: Paula MacSweeney of Today FM picks her touchstones
Culture That Made Me: Paula MacSweeney of Today FM picks her touchstones
The broadcaster includes Gavin & Stacey, the Baby Tribe, and Ricky Gervais among her touchstones 

Mon, 16 Jun, 2025

Doing the right thing: Pillow Queens on putting principles before success 
Doing the right thing: Pillow Queens on putting principles before success 
From objecting to a pro-Israel sponsor at a festival, to refusing to have their picture taken with a politician, Pillow Queens aren't prone to easy compromises 

Mon, 16 Jun, 2025

The Saw Doctors review: Fans in Cork got everything they came for and more
S The Saw Doctors review: Fans in Cork got everything they came for and more
They even covered ‘After All’ by Cork legends The Frank & Walters in their encores. What more could you want? 

Sat, 14 Jun, 2025

Rory Gallagher Avenue unveiled at Cork Airport to honour legendary guitarist’s enduring legacy
Rory Gallagher Avenue unveiled at Cork Airport to honour legendary guitarist’s enduring legacy
Cork celebrates Gallagher with a new airport road name, 30 years after his death, amid citywide tributes and events

Sat, 14 Jun, 2025

Patrons share ticket stubs and anecdotes from 170 years of Cork Opera House
Patrons share ticket stubs and anecdotes from 170 years of Cork Opera House
As Cork Opera House turns 170, a community-led archive campaign gathers rare photos, memorabilia and heartfelt memories from its vibrant history

Sat, 14 Jun, 2025

Books are my business: Irish Writers Centre CEO Mags McLoughlin
Books are my business: Irish Writers Centre CEO Mags McLoughlin
My job is to elevate awareness of the centre, its story, and get more money in for more writers to do more writing

Sat, 14 Jun, 2025

Beginner’s pluck: Counsellor and psychotherapist Sinéad Nolan
Beginner’s pluck: Counsellor and psychotherapist Sinéad Nolan
Nolan's debut novel 'The Counting Game' is clever and compulsive and the plot is lifted by the psychological insights

Sat, 14 Jun, 2025

Author Catherine Chidgey photographed at her Duned
Book review: How perspectives can vary
With much to unfold, and many plot twists to hide, Catherine Chidgey teases out her story with great skill in 'The Book of Guilt'

Sat, 14 Jun, 2025

Book review: From podcast to page... unmasking the real story of Northern Bank heist
Book review: From podcast to page... unmasking the real story of Northern Bank heist
On December 20, 2004, one paramilitary group — most likely the IRA — robbed the Northern Bank in Belfast stealing £26.5m

Sat, 14 Jun, 2025

Crime writer Michael Connelly: I???m definitely not finished with Harry Bosch
Book review: A brand new detective hits the scene
In Michael Connelly’s 40th thriller he introduces us to a new lead character — LAPD detective Stilwell

Sat, 14 Jun, 2025

Cute girl reading a book in a hammock in the garden.
Children's book reviews: Summer stories to warm up and inspire an eager imagination
Ranging from reality TV penguins to underwater antics, and even a sprinkle of time travel through unexpected worlds, there is something, as always, for every reader to enjoy

Fri, 13 Jun, 2025

Author interview: Dizzyingly inventive narrative exploring the nature of time
Author interview: Dizzyingly inventive narrative exploring the nature of time
The concept of time, and the privilege of having it, is explored by Cork writer Caroline O’Donoghue in her latest book, 'Skipshock'

Fri, 13 Jun, 2025

Film Reviews: How to Train Your Dragon makes superb use of Northern Irish scenery
Film Reviews: How to Train Your Dragon makes superb use of Northern Irish scenery
Plus: Lollipop is a brilliant, stress-inducing slice of social realism; Tornado portrays an amoral world where life plays out on a barren, windswept landscape

Fri, 13 Jun, 2025

RTÉ opens call for new presenters including Joe Duffy's replacement on Liveline
RTÉ opens call for new presenters including Joe Duffy's replacement on Liveline
Joe Duffy is retiring at the end of this month

Fri, 13 Jun, 2025

Five For Your Radar: Midsummer festival, Rory Gallagher remembered, Snow Patrol live 
Five For Your Radar: Midsummer festival, Rory Gallagher remembered, Snow Patrol live 
Cork Midsummer Festival kicks off, Rory Gallagher's 30th anniversary, and the Musgrave Park gigs continue 

Thu, 12 Jun, 2025

'I was not good at Irish': Cork actor Alex Murphy on Crá, the series watched in 68 countries
'I was not good at Irish': Cork actor Alex Murphy on Crá, the series watched in 68 countries
TG4 series Crá is being shown as Boglands by numerous broadcasters worldwide. Esther McCarthy spoke to two of the stars of the Irish-language hit

Thu, 12 Jun, 2025

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