2017's hot 100 in movies, music, food & fashion
MUSIC
1. , Cork Opera House, January 31 – Wednesday February 15
The voice of Les Miserables.
2. , Cork Opera House, Thursday, February 2
Frames leader Hansard honours the late Fergus O’Farrell.
3. , Olympia Theatre, Dublin, Thursday, February 9
Jazz-pop that casts a lingering spell.
4. , Olympia, Dublin, Saturday February 11
Shy troubadour puts in rare live turn.
5. , Vicar Street, Dublin Sunday, February 19
These Vancouver twins have upgraded their spiky alt.pop with a synth sheen.
6. , Cyprus Avenue, Cork, Wednesday February 8
Earnest rock from Scottish folk-pop band.
7. , 3Arena, Dublin, Sunday, February 19, Monday February 20
Hip-hop’s moochiest superstar.
8. , Olympia, Dublin, Sunday, February 26, Monday, February 27
Guy Garvey and his starry-eyed mates return to action with a two-night residency.
9. , Olympia, Dublin, March 1
Guitar-toting pop heartthrobs are back.
10. , Cyprus Avenue Cork, Sunday March 5
Melancholic English troubadour.
11. , National Concert Hall, Dublin, Monday March 6 until Tuesday March 13
Irish folk music and minimalist rock collide.
12. , 3Arena, Dublin, Friday March 10 – Sunday March 12
Some of the biggest names in country music descend on the capital for three nights.
13. , 3Arena, Dublin, Saturday March 6
Heavy metal overlords make Irish return.
14. , 3 Arena Dublin, Friday April 7
The comeback kid of British urban music celebrates the success of his Following My Intuition album.
15. , Opera House, Cork, April 7
Veteran Chicago troubadour brings his tales of outlaws and outsiders to the old country.
16. , 3Arena, Dublin, May 15, 16
Slimmed-down pop trio tour their forthcoming Wonderland album.
17. , Saturday May 20, 3Arena, Dublin
Teen star turned global sensation, with a flair for darkly self-aware pop.
18. , 3Arena, Dublin, April 1
Daniel O’Donnell 2.0 brings his feelgood country to Ireland’s largest indoor venue.
19. , Bord Gais Energy Theatre, Dublin, Friday June 2, Saturday June 3
Electronic music godfathers, renowned for hits such as The Model and Trans-Europe Express.
20. , Marquee Cork, June 15
Ageless crooner tours a recent collection of old time American rock standards.
21. , Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Saturday June 17
Pop’s cheekiest chappie is back with his larger-than-life anthems.
22. , 3Arena, Dublin, Tuesday, June 20
Rock’s grumpy overlords are the summer’s hottest ticket.
23. , Slane Castle, Saturday May 27
The return of the definitive Guns ’n Roses line up of Axl Rose, Slash and Duff McKagan was a reunion nobody saw coming. For the first time in 23 years, the “real” G’n R are back, kicking off their European tour in Co Meath.
24. , RDS, Dublin. Wednesday June 21
Teen heartthrob turned angst-ridden young pop star heads back out on the road.
25. , Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Sunday June 25
The Eighties hitmaker returns from retirement and will play his largest ever Irish date.
26. Until March 19: at The Glucksman, UCC, highlighting the university’s APC Microbiome Institute’s role to the fore of gut research and how gut health is inextricably linked to mental health.
27. January 9: box office opens.
Litfest increasingly focuses on serious issues around food rather than just cookbooks but is still chockfull of fun and frolics, including pop-up dinner from Dubliner Robin Gill, one of London’s hottest chef/ restaurateurs. www.litfest.ie
28. January 24: .
Essential information and networking opportunities for small Irish food businesses, free to attend but people must register in advance. www.bordbiavantage.ie
29. January 27-29:
Cork’s finest independent coffee houses, all of them fully planning-compliant, reunite for another splendid weekend of caffeinated high-jinks. Twitter: @CorkCoffeeWeekend17
30. January-February: www.irishfoodtours.ie Launch of the new website, a one-stop shop for all available Irish food tours, trails and trips.
31. February 8: Gregan’s Castle head chef David Hurley, travels from his Co Clare base to join Michelin-starred chef Garret Byrne in his Campagne restaurant as both cook a fine multi-course menu. www.campagne.ie
32. February 16-17:
The Irish Foodservice Suppliers Alliance (IFSA) hosts Ireland’s biggest hospitality event, bringing more than 200 exhibitors and 11,000 visitors together over three days.
33. February 23-25: Dublin Convention Centre.
Includes Dublin Craft Beer Cup with over 100 global entries, great grub and live entertainment, http://eu.alltechbrewsandfood.com
34. March 19-22:
Britain’s biggest food and beverage trade show, this biennial event takes on even greater significance for Irish food in the light of Brexit. www.ife.co.uk
35. March: with top Irish food producer prizewinners to be honoured at Patrick Guilbaud’s Michelin-starred restaurant. www.irishfoodwritersguild.ie
MOVIES
36. (January 13)
Hard-hitting drama with Casey Affleck.
37. (January 13)
Pianist Ryan Gosling falls for actress Emma Stone.
38. (January 13)
Prohibition-era gangster thriller directed by, and starring, Ben Affleck.
39. (January 20)
M Night Shyamalan’s latest thriller stars James McAvoy.
40. (January 27)
Danny Boyle’s sequel to the 1996 classic.
41. (January 27)
Thriller set against the backdrop to the Boston Marathon bombing, with Mark Wahlberg.
42. (February 3)
Ruth Negga and Joel Edgerton star in the true story of an interracial couple imprisoned in 1958 for getting married.
43. (February 10)
Batman gets Lego treatment.
44. (February 10)
Ang Lee’s epic anti-war elegy.
45. (February 10)
Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson star in the Fifty Shades of Grey sequel.
46. (February 24)
Historical action adventure set against the building of China’s Great Wall. Matt Damon stars.
47. (March 10)
A King Kong origins tale.
48. (March 17)
Live action version of fairytale.
49. (March 24)
Guy Ritchie’s take on the King Arthur myth.
50. (March 31)
Scarlett Johansson stars as a cyborg policewoman on the trail of a cyber-hacker.
51. (March 31)
Ben Wheatley’s old-school shoot-’em-up stars Brie Larson, Cillian Murphy.
52. (April 7)
Michael Caine, Christopher Lloyd and Morgan Freeman star as three retirees who plan one last heist.
53. (April 7)
DreamWorks’ latest animation features a baby who takes on a malevolent CEO.
54. (April 28)
Chris Pratt returns as Peter Quill / Star-Lord in the comic interstellar adventures of the galaxy’s guardians.
55. (May 12)
A space crew discovers life on Mars.
56. (May 12)
Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron star as lifeguards on the California coast.
57. (May 26)
Johnny Depp and Geoffrey Rush return in the latest instalment of the piratical franchise.
58. (June 2)
Gal Gadot stars as the Amazonian princess who becomes Wonder Woman.
59. (June 30)
Scarlett Johansson and Zoe Kravitz star in a tale of a bachelorette party that goes very wrong.
60. (June 30)
Gru (Steve Carrell), the minions and his three daughters return for another dose of despicableness.
TRAVEL
61.
Routes to America from Cork and Dublin will have never been cheaper than 2017, with Wow airlines offering budget flights to the US.
The Icelandic aircraft carrier offers eight American destinations from Dublin via Reykjavik and will be starting flights from Cork airport once the summer season starts. It’s no frills, so don’t expect any complementary pretzels, but the upside is that you can buy a flight from Dublin to Boston for just over €150.
62.
The boom is officially back, according to travel insiders, and with it long-haul luxury. Just as we are inviting tourists to experience ultra luxury in private houses like Ballyfin, Irish travellers abroad will be demanding the luxe life.
Surf Air, the all-you-can-fly airline service has launched in Europe, marking the start of concierge-style travelling for the masses. For just over €3,000 a month, travellers can have the privilege of checking in through private terminals and arriving 15 minutes before takeoff.
63.
All-inclusive is set for a revamp, as travellers get canny about spending their holiday savings. Operators like Falcon and Sunway are offering expensive destination holidays to family favourites like Portugal and Spain on an all-inclusive basis.
This is not the type of travel that includes crowds jostling at buffets or watered-down cocktails served in plastic cups. The change is that family-style holidays are on the cards for 2017, with the cost outweighing the outlay involved with travelling with a pack of smallies.
64.
The Irish Travel Agents Association says Cruise Holidays will be its top travel trend over the next year. Cormac Meehan, president of the ITAA says: “We are seeing more and more holidaymakers turning to travel agents to book cruises, adventure breaks and bucket list trips, as well as the tried and trusted destinations such as Spain and Portugal.”
The ITAA also says that Irish people are booking much earlier for their 2017 holidays and are willing to spend a bit extra on their trips, with an increasing number opting for all inclusive breaks.
65.
Technology is the fuel that powers today’s traveller, and 2017 will see our reliance on it increase. According to a survey by Booking.com, 44% of travellers already expect to be able to plan their holiday with a few taps of their mobile phone and over half of those surveyed expected their use of travel apps to increase in 2017.
With ever-evolving technology pushing the boundaries of international travel, using apps like Tripit, which pulls together all your travel information into one spot will become second nature.
ARTS
66.
Everyman, Cork, Jan 25
Kevin Barry’s black comedy premieres in the city where it is set, and will then tour.
67.
Cork, February 3-5
What it lacks in big budgets and well-known names, it makes up for in effort and imagination. For the third incarnation, North and South Main Streets will again get a range of gigs, performances and exhibitions.
68.
National Gallery, Feb 11
Caravaggio’s ‘The Taking of Christ’ is one of the prize pieces in the gallery’s collection, and this exhibition brings together 40 works, including three other Caravaggios, by various artists to show the influence of the Milanese master.
69.
Corcadorca, February 13-25
Enda Walsh returns to the theatre company where it all began for him with Disco Pigs in 1996. Performances will be at Cork City Gaol, and the story sounds typically Walshesque: ‘A young woman who meets an older woman who she gradually learns is the same person as she is.’
70.
BGE Theatre, Dublin
A programme of diverse lectures by astronaut Chris Hadfield (January 22), Mia Farrow (March 26), Alexandra Cousteau (granddaughter of Jacques Cousteau, April 23) and John Cleese (May 28).
71.
February 16-26
There’s already a strong boarding school theme emerging in the Irish films, with the inclusion of Handsome Devil, a comedy from John Butler (The Stag); and documentary In Loco Parentis, which follows two inspirational teachers in Ireland’s only primary boarding school,
72.
March 5-12
Always feast of French film, the week-long event has featured some serious star power over the years.
73.
Everyman, Cork, March
Having been embedded for much of his life in the GAA and Cork culture, Declan Hassett (former arts editor of this newspaper) is the ideal man to pen a biographical play about Jack Lynch.
74.
April 18-23
Among the writers already announced are Paul Howard, Eileen Battersby and Anne Sebba. Meanwhile, Cork Poetry Fest (February 14-18) will have a tribute to the late John Montague.
75.
April 26-30
Highlights including an opening gala of Verdi’s Requiem; and renowned French vocal group The Swingles bringing their boundary-pushing outlook to a selection of international folks sounds.
FASHION
76.
February 11, March 25, April 22, €170
shoeniversity.ie
Learn about design and manufacturing and receive hands-on experience in drawing, pattern cutting, footwear prototype making, and finished shoemaking. Leave with a pair of shoes made by you. All tools and materials included.
77.
Cork City Hall Exhibition Centre
January 7-8
southernbrides.ie
Going up the aisle this year? Check out the Southern Brides Wedding Show. Say ‘I do’ to inspired wedding ideas with the pick of hundreds of local exhibitors under one roof . It’s the biggest wedding show in Munster. Glenda Gilson is MC.
78.
January 22
€100 (plus booking fee) eventbrite.ie
Join Cocoa Brown founder Marissa Carter and her team for a beauty, skincare, makeup, and tanning masterclass.
Expect afternoon tea, luxury swap, and prizes for best dressed, plus tips and tricks garnered from Marissa’s 10-plus years working with actors, broadcasters and TV stars.
79.
RDS Main Hall
January 22-25
showcaseireland.com
Explore the best of Ireland’s creativity from over 450 exhibitors. Enjoy workshops and presentations from industry experts and the unveiling of TextISLE — an initiative focusing on the creative potential of Irish textiles. Trade only.
80.
Nationwide January 31
junkkouture.com
BOI Junk Kouture is a national competition for second-level students, challenging them to create high-end fashion and wearable art from everyday junk that would normally find its way into the bin. Louis Walsh and Una Healy head the judging panel. Entry deadline: January 27.
TV
81.
RTÉ2, January 19
A series on Ireland’s 25 to 35-year-olds examines how many of them are struggling with those traditional twin pillars of adult life — getting a secure job and owning your own home.
82.
TV3, January
Sonia O’Sullivan, Simon Delaney and Oisín McConville are among the celebrities lined up for this eight-week show of cooking challenges, with the usual elimination format.
83.
Channel 4, tbc
Season three of the zeitgeisty comedy from Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney has wrapped filming, and we’ve been promised an air date of early 2017. The second series didn’t quite hit the heights of the opener, but there will still be mucho anticipation for the new run, particularly to see the late Carrie Fisher.
84.
Netflix, January 13
Lemony Snicket’s books finally gets a TV adaptation, and it’s probably the dark subject matter that has prevented an earlier production. Jill Murphy’s The Worst Witch is also due to debut soon on CBBC.
85.
Netflix, March
There are new showrunners on board for the fifth season, but the real factor that could affect this show’s endurance could be the accession of Donald Trump to the White House. When truth becomes stranger than fiction, will conniving Frank Underwood and co feel more relevant or less so?
86.
BBC/RTÉ, spring
The EastEnders spinoff features Kat and Alfie Moon travelling to Eire to try and find her longlost son. It was mostly filmed around Dumore East in Co Waterford, and presumably the six-part series will portray the noble Gael in a better light than the soap’s 1997 sojourn in this country when we came across as a bunch of drunken chancers.
87.
BBC One, tbc
So many UK police dramas just plod (sorry!) along, but this show has delivered gripping viewing over the past three seasons. Thandie Newton, fresh from her android role in Westworld, is the big-name addition for the new series.
88.
RTÉ One, tbc
While there’s regular furore about the issues caused by illegal drugs, we tend to hear much less about the huge problem of addiction to prescription pills and pefectly legal medicines. In this one-off documentary, Dr Eva Orsmond explores the issue.
89.
Channel 4, tbc
Season two was one of the best shows of last year, and while details are scant on the third run, we do know Ewan McGregor has been credited for two roles. We suspect a plot involving twins. As ever, the series will be self-contained, with possible links to earlier characters.
90.
mid January, channel tbc
Party like it’s 1991. David Lynch is at the helm, Kyle McLachlan is reviving his role of agent Dale Cooper, but it’ll be interesting to see if they can get anywhere near the quirky magic of the original series.
BOOKS
91. by EO Chirovici, published by Century €14.99 January
This brilliantly written twisty tale of a grisly unsolved murder at Princeton makes us question whether we can ever trust our memories.
92. by Karl Geary published by Harvill Secker €14.99 January
Written by the Dublin-born actor who co-founded music venue Sin-e and later The Scratcher in New York City’s East Village, this is the story of 16-year-old, working-class Dubliner Sonny Knolls as he wrestles with school, adolescence and difficult conditions at home. One Saturday, while repairing a grand but faded house with his volatile father, he encounters Vera, an older woman, English, educated, and living in strange isolation. The unusual relationship that blooms out of this meeting becomes all-consuming for Sonny,
cutting him off from his family and reshaping his lonely, violent life.
93. by John Boyne, published by Doubleday, €15.99 February
Six decades and charting the life story of Cyril Avery a gay boy and then a gay man as he navigates the choppy waters of life on the fringes. Heartbreaking and hilarious in equal measure.
94. by Andrew Hughes, published by Doubleday Ireland €14.99 February
Historical crime fiction from the author of The Convictions of John Delahunt, this features the trials and tribulations of a young sleuth in the early days of forensic science.
95. by Ciarán McMenamin, published by Doubleday Ireland €14.99 April
A riot of a novel written with energy and verve and the fiction debut of actor Ciarán McMenamin, the story plays out against the backdrop of Enniskillen during the Troubles.
96. by Haylen Beck, published by Harvill Secker €14.99
This is critically acclaimed Irish crime writer Stuart Neville writing as Haylen Beck and with rave reviews already in from Lee Child and Harlen Coben, this is a pacy and twisting read which you’ll devour. An absolutely must for fans of The Girl on the Train.
97. by Shane Connaughton published by Doubleday Ireland €15.99 May
The long-awaited sequel to the acclaimed A Border Station from the Oscar-nominated screenwriter of My Left Foot.
98. by Jo Nesbo, Harvill Secker €23.99 May
A new Harry Hole from Nesbo; its publication will be accompanied by a visit to Ireland by the hugely popular writer in early May.
99. by Alison Jameson, published by Doubleday Ireland €14.99 June
Another beautifully written novel from Alison Jameson, set in the lonely and sometimes harsh landscape of rural west of Ireland.
100. by Michael Longley published by Jonathan Cape, €11.99 June
A new collection of poetry from one of the greats.
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