Arts and Culture

Tom Dunne: Choose life, and also the cultural phenomenon that is Trainspotting
Tom Dunne: Choose life, and also the cultural phenomenon that is Trainspotting
Danny Boyle's classic is 30 years old, and it really is as good as you remember 

Wed, 08 Jul, 2026

'Jagger’s voice sounds phenomenal': Pat Carty dives into the Rolling Stones' new album 
'Jagger’s voice sounds phenomenal': Pat Carty dives into the Rolling Stones' new album 
Foreign Tongues features guests such as Robert Smith of The Cure, and Paul McCartney, but is it any good? 

Wed, 08 Jul, 2026

Love Island S13
Irish influencer Charleen Murphy dumped from Love Island villa 
The nation was shocked to see the influencer Charleen Murphy leave the villa just over a week after entering as one of the Casa Amor bombshells

Wed, 08 Jul, 2026

Kesha review: Marquee in Cork treated to three-act Freedom Tour masterclass
S Kesha review: Marquee in Cork treated to three-act Freedom Tour masterclass
She's back! Having wrestled with disputes that paused her career, Kesha blasts back with a powerful live show in Cork

Wed, 08 Jul, 2026

Ian Rankin: The Rebus author on ageing, West Cork and Rory Gallagher 
Ian Rankin: The Rebus author on ageing, West Cork and Rory Gallagher 
The Scottish crime writer is coming to Bantry for the West Cork Literary Festival. He also tells us about his favourite books of all time 

Tue, 07 Jul, 2026

Street Of Dreams: U2 give fans first taste of new album with surprise single release
Street Of Dreams: U2 give fans first taste of new album with surprise single release
The new tune follows on from two EPs released earlier this year, with an album expected before the end of 2026. Listen here:

Tue, 07 Jul, 2026

Patrick Kielty extends Late Late contract, calling his tenure so far 'a joy and a privilege'
Patrick Kielty extends Late Late contract, calling his tenure so far 'a joy and a privilege'
Kielty, from Dundrum, Co Down, joined the show as host in September 2023

Tue, 07 Jul, 2026

Live at the Marquee 2026, Cork, FAQ: Directions, stage times, parking, card-only, etc
Live at the Marquee 2026, Cork, FAQ: Directions, stage times, parking, card-only, etc
This year's Live at the Marquee features another eclectic mix of acts, with Kesha, Tom Grennan, and James Taylor performing there this week

Tue, 07 Jul, 2026

'I feel at home on stage': Tom Grennan all set for Cork gig 
'I feel at home on stage': Tom Grennan all set for Cork gig 
In advance of his gig at the Marquee in Cork, the British pop star talks music, fatherhood, and his Irish roots 

Tue, 07 Jul, 2026

War correspondent Sally Hayden: 'In a crisis situation, you will always find love'
War correspondent Sally Hayden: 'In a crisis situation, you will always find love'
Ahead of her appearance at the West Cork Literary Festival, award-winning international correspondent Sally Hayden speaks with Donal O’Keeffe about her new book, This Is Also A Love Story

Tue, 07 Jul, 2026

Kneecap review: Belfast rappers get a huge welcome at Cork's Marquee 
S Kneecap review: Belfast rappers get a huge welcome at Cork's Marquee 
Having built a loyal following in the deep south, the Belfast rappers hailed their fervent supporters in 'the real capital'. And the feeling was mutual.

Mon, 06 Jul, 2026

Summer catch-up: The 20 best fiction books of the year so far
Summer catch-up: The 20 best fiction books of the year so far
Looking for a holiday read? Richard Fitzpatrick offers suggestions from the fiction titles published in the first half of 2026

Mon, 06 Jul, 2026

Pre-GRAMMY Gala & GRAMMY Salute to Industry Icons Honoring Julie Greenwald And Craig Kallman - Inside
Elvis Costello in Dublin review: A faltering voice but still able to deliver 
He might not have hit all his notes but the Iveagh Gardens instalment of the Early Songs tour still offered an incredible roster of tunes, and an enjoyable experience all round 

Mon, 06 Jul, 2026

Wendy Dison: A long road that has brought the artist to Killorglin, via West Cork 
Wendy Dison: A long road that has brought the artist to Killorglin, via West Cork 
Wendy Dison currently has an exhibition at the Grilse Gallery in Killorglin

Sun, 05 Jul, 2026

Culture That Made Me: Cork composer Irene Buckley reveals her touchstones
Culture That Made Me: Cork composer Irene Buckley reveals her touchstones
Sir Henrys, Féile, and an encounter with Steve Reich feature among the Kinsale woman's selections

Sat, 04 Jul, 2026

My life in books: John Williams made me realise the power of the simple, unadorned sentence
My life in books: John Williams made me realise the power of the simple, unadorned sentence
Daniel Okrent is a former managing editor of 'Life' magazine and served as the first public editor of 'The New York Times'

Sat, 04 Jul, 2026

Book review: Nauseating but fun royal yarn
Book review: Nauseating but fun royal yarn
'1936' is a good, twisty yarn, told with gusto and laced with fascinating social history: A case study in a life coming to blows with expectations, pomp, and circumstance

Sat, 04 Jul, 2026

Book review: Strange world, familiar sadness
Book review: Strange world, familiar sadness
'Dooneen' is a highly political novel. It depicts desperate communities bound together in communal action, in conflict with a neglectful, violent, and self-serving state 

Sat, 04 Jul, 2026

Author interview: Friendship, painting, and the art of spending time together
Author interview: Friendship, painting, and the art of spending time together
Sara Baume speaks to Marjorie Brennan about her latest book, which explores the nature of modern relationships, the vagaries of a creative life, and what it means to truly belong

Fri, 03 Jul, 2026

Katie Price: Nothing to Hide
Our top TV picks: New Katie Price documentary looks at the complex performer
Plus plenty of coverage of summer sports with the World Cup, Wimbledon, Tour de France and F1

Fri, 03 Jul, 2026

Film reviews: The Invite is a razor-sharp and deliciously cringe-worthy comedy
Film reviews: The Invite is a razor-sharp and deliciously cringe-worthy comedy
Plus Minions and Monsters sees the yellow mischief-makers return to the big screen

Fri, 03 Jul, 2026

Natasha Bedingfield review: Fans of all ages treated to memorable gig in Cork Marquee
S Natasha Bedingfield review: Fans of all ages treated to memorable gig in Cork Marquee
The 'Unwritten' rule? Live at the Marquee is back and Thursday's audience enjoyed a masterclass by Bedingfield and a set full of heart and soul from support act Stephanie Rainey

Thu, 02 Jul, 2026

BRITAIN-ENTERTAINMENT-CULTURE-HOUSE OF THE DRAGON
House Of The Dragon: Irish actor Clinton Liberty on starring in the fantasy series
Liberty tells Esther McCarthy about his time in West Cork and the three women who helped him secure a role in the Game Of Thrones prequel 

Thu, 02 Jul, 2026

Five For Your Radar: Kneecap in Cork, Silo returns for a third season... 
Five For Your Radar: Kneecap in Cork, Silo returns for a third season... 
The summer festival trail also continues 

Thu, 02 Jul, 2026

10 live events and films for July: Take That, Donovan, The Odyssey...
10 live events and films for July: Take That, Donovan, The Odyssey...
Luke Combs also continues the country revival in Slane 

Thu, 02 Jul, 2026

Tom Dunne: My top 10 albums of the year so far 
Tom Dunne: My top 10 albums of the year so far 
We haven't quite reached vintage levels yet, but the first half of 2026 has given us fine offerings from the likes of Gorillaz, Kneecap, and Olivia Rodrigo 

Wed, 01 Jul, 2026

10 TV highlights for July: Elle, Heartstopper, Little House On The Prairie...
10 TV highlights for July: Elle, Heartstopper, Little House On The Prairie...
Legally Blonde gets its TV adaptation with Elle, while Laura Ingalls and her family return in a new version 

Wed, 01 Jul, 2026

Cliffords and Paul Brady among first acts announced for Clonakilty Guitar Festival
Cliffords and Paul Brady among first acts announced for Clonakilty Guitar Festival
Marking its 22nd year, the festival will welcome an eclectic mix of established favourites and emerging talents to West Cork in September

Wed, 01 Jul, 2026

I'm a lifelong Bell X1 fan, I went backstage before they performed at Live at the Marquee
I'm a lifelong Bell X1 fan, I went backstage before they performed at Live at the Marquee
A backstage encounter with Bell X1 reveals the friendships, memories and music that have sustained one of Ireland's most beloved bands

Wed, 01 Jul, 2026

Summer catch-up: The 20 best TV shows of the year so far 
Summer catch-up: The 20 best TV shows of the year so far 
Aoife Barry includes Heated Rivalry, Tommy Tiernan and Rivals among her TV highlights for the first half of 2026 

Tue, 30 Jun, 2026

James Arthur Pepsi Sound Drop Performance at Haus (NYC)
James Arthur postpones Live at the Marquee show in Cork just hours before doors open
Ticketholders will receive details of a new date, with refunds also available following the late postponement

Tue, 30 Jun, 2026

British Podcast Awards 2024
Joanne McNally: ‘I made sacrifices for my career — I don’t have a partner, I don’t have kids’
The 43-year-old Irish comedian is currently on a world tour with her stand-up show Pinotphile and is also appearing on new comedy panel show Unacceptable.

Tue, 30 Jun, 2026

West Cork Chamber Music Festival: Bantry event off to a fine start 
West Cork Chamber Music Festival: Bantry event off to a fine start 
Highlights of the first weekend of the festival included a collaboration between and a Ukrainian pianist and a Danish cellist 

Mon, 29 Jun, 2026

Summer catch-up: 20 of the best non-fiction books so far this year
Summer catch-up: 20 of the best non-fiction books so far this year
Looking for something to read for your holidays? Richard Fitzpatrick picks the top biographies, sports books and other non-fiction titles from the first half of 2026

Mon, 29 Jun, 2026

Queen attends WI meeting
Penelope Keith, star of The Good Life and To The Manor Born, dies aged 86
Keith started her career on the stage and joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1963 but became a household name for her work in sitcoms.

Mon, 29 Jun, 2026

Croí Glan: Inclusive dance company marks 20 years with new show
Croí Glan: Inclusive dance company marks 20 years with new show
Bobbi Byrne's beginning in martial arts showed her how disability was necessarily a barrier to using her body. It's an attitude she's carried into her dance career 

Sun, 28 Jun, 2026

Christy Moore review: Musical giant receives royal welcome at Cork's Marquee
S Christy Moore review: Musical giant receives royal welcome at Cork's Marquee
 There were plenty nods to Leeside during Moore's set, including a version of Johnny Jump Up, in tribute to his ailing friend Jimmy Crowley 

Sat, 27 Jun, 2026

Culture That Made Me: Irish composer Donnacha Dennehy on Sliabh Luachra, Bowie and Beethoven
Culture That Made Me: Irish composer Donnacha Dennehy on Sliabh Luachra, Bowie and Beethoven
The Dublin-born Grammy winner recalls working with Cillian Murphy, and being moved by the likes of Bono and Arthur Conan Doyle 

Sat, 27 Jun, 2026

My life in books: We need to amplify voices and make writing resources more accessible
My life in books: We need to amplify voices and make writing resources more accessible
Navan writer Edie May Hand says a lot of what needs to be written has already been written or is being written

Sat, 27 Jun, 2026

Tom Perrotta by Beowulf Sheehan
Book review: Fast-paced tale of 1970s suburbia
'Ghost Town' is a skilful novel that moves at pace, makes you feel for the characters involved, and pieces together a fascinating story

Sat, 27 Jun, 2026

Book review: Dangerous cat-and-mouse game
Book review: Dangerous cat-and-mouse game
Dervla McTiernan does a great job maintaining the tension in her novel while weaving together the past and present as the connections between the characters are gradually revealed

Sat, 27 Jun, 2026

Paul Weller review: Modfather exudes cool in sweltering Marquee
S Paul Weller review: Modfather exudes cool in sweltering Marquee
Weller brought three careers, thirty-odd albums, and an undiminished fury to Cork reminding a generation of exactly why he matters

Fri, 26 Jun, 2026

Enola Holmes 3
Consolata Boyle: The Irish designer dressing Millie Bobby Brown in Enola Holmes
The Oscar-nominated designer has worked with many top actors but takes a special pleasure in watching Brown's development from an emerging teenager to fully-fledged star, writes Esther McCarthy

Fri, 26 Jun, 2026

BRITAIN-ENTERTAINMENT-BFI-FILM-FESTIVAL
Tom Dunne: How Paul Weller's ever changing moods coloured his genius output 
I still feel pain at the demise of The Jam, but their main man has continued to impress ever since, and his upcoming gigs in Cork and Dublin offer a glimpse of his incredible back catalogue 

Fri, 26 Jun, 2026

Author interview: ‘I grew up in a time where there was so much Irish prejudice’
Author interview: ‘I grew up in a time where there was so much Irish prejudice’
Maggie O’Farrell’s new offering, ‘Land’, hints at a deeper exploration of her Irishness. She tells Marjorie Brennan about how the epic highlights a particularly dark chapter in the country’s history

Fri, 26 Jun, 2026

Film reviews: Supergirl is genuinely enjoyable when it works, but it could have been so much more
Film reviews: Supergirl is genuinely enjoyable when it works, but it could have been so much more
Plus the Dark Viking with Mads Mikkelsen is a dark gem

Fri, 26 Jun, 2026

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