100 things you cannot afford to miss this autumn and winter
Anarchic animation about a sausage who discovers life’s harrowing truth. Seth Rogen and Kristen Wiig star.
Woody Allen directs Jesse Eisenberg and Kirsten Stewart in a love triangle set in 1930s Hollywood.
Drama about the assassination of infamous Nazi Reinhard Heydrich. Cillian Murphy and Jamie Dornan star.
Chris Pine and Jeff Bridges star in a thriller about Texan bank robbers. David Mackenzie directs.
Renee Zellweger and Colin Firth star in the latest instalment about the delightful Bridget Jones.
Ron Howard’s documentary charts The Beatles’ touring years.
Antoine Fuqua directs a remake of the classic western, starring Denzel Washington and Chris Pratt.
Dystopian sci-fi thriller starring Gemma Arterton and Glenn Close. Colm McCarthy directs.
Matthew McConaughey stars in an American Civil War epic. Gary Ross directs.
Emily Blunt and Rebecca Ferguson star in an adaptation of Paula Hawkins’ bestselling thriller.
Super-charged war drama about mercenaries conducting a kidnapping in Iraq. Brian Gleeson and Sofia Boutella star.
Tom Hanks returns as Robert Langdon in Ron Howard’s adaptation of Dan Brown’s bestseller.
Animation in which storks try to deliver a baby to the right family. Adam Sandberg stars.
Lee Child’s hero returns as a fugitive on the run from his past. Tom Cruise stars; Edward Zwick directs.
Metaphysical superhero Doctor Strange protects the real world from what lies beyond. Benedict Cumberbatch and Rachel McAdams star.
A lighthouse keeper and his wife raise a child they discover in a lifeboat. Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander star.
An Iraq veteran struggles to adjust to life back home. Kristen Stewart and Garrett Hedlund star.
Origin tale of JK Rowling’s Newt Scamander, starring Eddie Redmayne and Colin Farrell.
Billy Bob Thornton returns as Bad Santa, with plans to rob a charity on Christmas Eve.
Sweeping romantic drama about WWII spies, starring Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard.
Disney animation featuring a young Polynesian seafaring princess. Dwayne Johnson stars.
Tom Hanks stars as real-life heroic pilot Chesley Sullenberger. Clint Eastwood directs.
Star Wars spin-off, in which the rebel forces try to steal the plans for the Death Star. Felicity Jones stars.
Sci-fi thriller in which two spaceship passengers awake from deep sleep 60 years early. Jennifer Lawrence stars.
A tragedy sends a New York ad man into a personal crisis. Will Smith and Keira Knightley star.
Ginger troubadour mingles melancholy and salty humour as he performs songs from his solo career, his Oscar-winning Swell Season project and his cult rock band, The Frames.
As frontman of Hot Chip, Taylor mingles hedonism and angst. His solo career is very different, splicing piano balladry and heartfelt lyrics.
Cranberries singer debuts material from her new collaboration with former Smiths bassist Andy Rourke.
The arena-packing alternative folk artist – and sometime Kanye collaborator – returns from an extended hiatus with a greatly anticipated third LP.
Stonemason turned singer songwriter plays rare home-town gig. New album I Own You out on Universal on October 14
Political punk rockers return with a new album – just in time for the US election.
Emotive electro-pop from Minneapolis group described by cult luminary Bon Iver as the best band he has ever heard.
Synth pioneer reprises wide-screen hits such as Oxygène II and and Équinoxe 5. As a bonus he will rock the best mullet in experimental electronica.
A rare example of a singer-songwriter who has moved the genre forward, with devastating insights into growing up black in white, middle class London.
Led by author Willy Vlautin, these cult Oregon folk-rockers are calling it a day after this farewell tour. It’s going to be emotional.
The Beyonce collaborator tours his singular mix of piano balladry and bass-heavy electronica.
Indie perennials debut songs from forthcoming seventh studio album, Arms.
Cork soul man plays largest headline date yet, drawing on his devastatingly autobiographical second long-player, Non-Fiction.
Patriarch of the songwriting clan that also includes Rufus and Martha. The elder Wainwright’s music tends towards the flinty and self-deprecating – like a more self- aware, less destructive Johnny Cash.
True Beliebers will be out in force as the teen heartthrob turned pouty young man brings his surprisingly credible album Purpose LP to Ireland.
One of the most influential figures in Nineties alternative rock, Throwing Muses’ singer Hersh has lately reinvented herself as a more conventional singer-songwriter, though her lyrics remain spiky and multifaceted.
Crystal Castles, DJ Shadow and Grace Jones headline this three-night electronic music event at the RDS.
Country veteran shares songs of dry wit and heartfelt sincerity.
Having put the Simply Red brand on ice some years ago, Mick Hucknall has resurrected the Manchester soul crew. Critics never much liked them — but the fanbase remains wildly loyal.
With Kanye and Jay Z among his cheerleaders, Chicago’s Chance the Rapper is the latest overnight hip-hop sensation — albeit with a sunny demeanour that sets him apart from his peers.
From their humble origins as a Dingle-based indie band, the five piece have become very popular very quickly – selling out the 3Arena is an achievement but in no way a surprise.
French composer Ludovic Navarre mingles jazz and dance music with results that pirouette from subtle to sublime.
The old warhorse is back for another victory lap and cheesy classics such as Do Ya Think I’m Sexy? and Sailing
Hailed the “new Bjork” this quirky Los Angeles singer combines odd-ball perspectives with slick and compelling alternative pop.
Simon has hinted he may retire – if so, he’ll go out on a high with new album Stranger to Stranger among his best in years.
The Dublin Fashion Festival returns with style ambassador, Darren Kennedy. Highlights include the Creative Quarter Fashion Show and Young Designer Fashion Event. www.dff.ie
Stakes are high at the Longines Prize for Elegance. With a prize fund of over €25,000, winners can expect shopping experiences at Louise Kennedy, Louis Copeland and Kildare Village and Longines timepieces for men and women. www.irishchampionsweekend.ie
Cork Fashion Week, in association with Mercedes Benz, dons its heels for another season. www.corkfashionweek.com www.tickets.ie
Fashion Week returns for its 22nd season with a roster of stylish shows from local boutiques, designers and the high street.
www.belfastfashionweek.com
H&M teams up with Kenzo for their latest collaboration. Expect the bold colours, vivid prints and playful hallmark of the celebrated Parisian fashion house across lines for women, men and children. Available in 250 stores worldwide and at www.hm.com
A defiant reaction to the over done décor and ultra splurging of the boom years, expect hotels to offer more communal spaces, do-it-yourself check-in and a la carte experiences. Aimed at the younger market, the likes of Moxy hotel in Milan have already cottoned on and offer services like a high-octane bar.
Travellers are the ultimate winners this year as more and more of us choose to book hotels via websites like expedia and booking.com. While some major hotel chains are operating aggressive marketing drives to claw back their share (Marriott has offered discounts to customers who book direct), it seems that customers prefer the guaranteed price drop from group websites.
Destination detoxes have never been so popular, with heady travellers flocking to resorts for Beach n Bliss at Amansala Eco Resort or to find their inner warrior in the Utah desert. With winter approaching, expect lots of great trips to yoga retreats in Thailand or juice fasts in the Bahamas.
In a world of non-stop working, it’s no surprise that the travel industry has coined a phrase to nab workaholic travellers. This year, expect to see people blurring the lines of work and travel even more as they tag on a few days onto their work trips to squeeze in a bit of down time before the next work wave hits.
Move over Millennials, there’s a new baby boomer in town. Gen Zers were born after 1995 and represent a new wave of traveller on the world stage. The first generation to be true natives of a digital age, their travel requirements will challenge the travel market to tech up and offer packages with seamless multi-device platforms that will allow this generation to interact with them.
Also dubbed ‘experiential’ travel, this trend points to those of us who do not feel that we have visited a new country unless we have spent quality time with the locals. This kind of travel is best done via websites like airbnb.
Travelling to far-flung places is not exactly new, new routes carved by global warming certainly is. In early August, the Crystal Serenity set off on a 1000-mile voyage through the previously unnavigable Northwest Passage.
Multigenerational travel — the notion that a grandchild, grandparent and even great grandparent may enjoy traversing the world together has never been more popular.
From travelling to get our teeth done, to girls’ weekends where Botox and champagne come as standard, medical tourism has never been more popular.
Travelling to eat delicious things is hardly a groundbreaking phenomenon, but this year we will see people travelling to eat street food from carts in far-flung destinations.
Game of Throw-Ins is the 16th novel in Paul Howard’s hugely popular Ross O’Carroll-Kelly series.
Melody Shee is alone and clearly in deep trouble… another thought- provoking book from Donla Ryan.
The Pope is dead, and, behind the barred doors of the Sistine Chapel, 120 Cardinals from round the globe will cast their votes in the world’s most secretive election.
They are holy men, but they are also ambitious men — and they have rivals.
Over the next 72 hours, one of them will become the most powerful spiritual figure on earth.
Everyone’s favourite diarist is back.
The phenomenally successful author of the Twilight series returns, this time with an adrenalin-pumping thriller.
From the multi-award winning author of White Teeth and On Beauty, comes an ambitious, exuberant new novel which moves from north west London to West Africa.
Pippa O’Connor shares practical tips and insights for how to live well, look good, and feel great.
Over the past seven years, Bruce Springsteen has privately devoted himself to writing the story of his life.
One of television’s most popular television hosts follows up the huge success of 2014’s The Life and Loves of a He-Devil with his debut novel about Duneen which is, to all appearances, a small uneventful place — until a grim discovery on a building site reveals a much darker, hungrier undertow to this quiet town.
This is the story of the Munster legend and Ireland’s third most capped player ever. As the heartbeat of Munster, British and Irish Lions captain in 2009, and captain of the first Ireland team to defend a Six Nations championship, O’Connell has emerged as perhaps the most beloved of the golden generation of Irish rugby players.
Large family-friendly programme of events, delicious food and the GIY Grow HQ centre. www.waterfordharvestfestival.ie
Possibly the most ambitious food festival in the country: 140+ events in 32 towns and villages and eight islands in Ireland’s breadbasket. www.atasteofwestcork.com
Beer, food and live music all on tap in Cork City Hall, 20+ breweries, lectures, demos, live acts include Frank & Walters www.greatirishbeerfestival.ie
One of Ireland’s smaller food gatherings is slowly but surely growing in stature, reflecting the quality produce and excellent producers in its hinterland. www.macroomfoodfestival.com
The world’s oldest oyster festival continues to party with all the energy of a fresh-faced newbie with plenty of oysters on the side. www.galwayoysterfestival.com
The original Channel 4 show has been such a success that you’d imagine this new Irish version will be a guaranteed hit. Deirdre O’Kane and Rory Cowan are on narration duties as we’re taken inside some of the nation’s living rooms.
This sci-fi drama features such acting heavyweights as Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harri and Thandie Newton, while JJ Abrams and original creator Michael Crichton lurk in the background. It’s set in a futuristic theme park where people are offered the chance to live out their Wild West fantasies.
No you can’t get Amazon Prime in this country, but fans of the Jeremy Clarkson trio will be hoping that one of the TV channels picks up their new motoring show, not least with the new Top Gear being such a disappointment for some.
Ironically, Miranda Sings achieved worldwide fame online by lampooning vloggers trying to achieve worldwide fame. Colleen Ballinger-Evans now tries to transition her character from YouTube to the streaming world.
Channel 4 was understandably miffed when Netflix outbid it for the third series of Charlie Brooker’s dark satires. Its debut on the streaming service will feature six new episodes.
Arguably a better drama than Game of Thrones, many people on this side of the pond finally woke up to its brilliance with the hype around the cliffhanger at the end of season six. On October 24, we find out which major character was killed by the nasty new overlord Negan.
David Attenborough presents the follow-up to his epic series from 2006. A huge budget and nifty new technology have ensured some spectacular footage, and the theme of environmental destruction is also expected to be stronger this time around.
Rising stars Seána Kerslake and Nika McGuigan feature in this comic drama about two very twentysomethings from Cork living and partying in Dublin.
A run date hasn’t yet been confirmed, but we’re told the Jamie Dornan-led feature film will be ‘later in 2016’. It tells the true tale of how Irish UN personnel held out against much larger forces during a siege in the Congo in 1961.
There was a collective sigh of relief when Gillian Anderson’s character finally caught the odious murderer played by Jamie Dornan at the end of an overly-drawn out series two. Expect a mixed reaction to the return of the series.
September 7-10
Neil Jordan is the big name, while Donal Ryan and Polly Samson are among the other writers likely to draw crowds to the Firkin Crane.
A major programme of 29 concerts by Irish composers over the past 100 years, from Brahms’ friend Charles Villiers Stanford right up to more contemporary fare with the likes of Crash Ensemble.
Inspired by Nuit Blanche in Paris, this annual extravaganza of free cultural events really was one of the bestest ideas ever. Get out and enjoy.
Seriously, who doesn’t like a good laugh? Sean Hughes and Jason Byrne are among a host of mostly-Irish stand-ups playing in various venues on Leeside over the weekend.
Again, so many mouth-watering productions. Highlights could include These Rooms, ANU’s collaboration with CoisCéim Dance Theatre; and Don Giovanni, freshly translated by Roddy Doyle.
Druid’s production of Martin McDonagh’s modern classic takes in such venues as the Everyman in Cork and the Gaiety in Dublin.
IMMA has trawled various collections to assemble 50 works by the great Lucian Freud.
A festival that’s rightly got some stick in recent years over some of the lineups, the event has done much to restore its credibility with the addition of the incredible Robert Glasper to the bill.
Another feast of opera with work from the likes of Samuel Barber, Ralph Vaughan Williams and Gaetano Donizetti.
The event made the news earlier in the year over funding issues, but this hugely important gathering is definitely going ahead.
