Marjorie Brennan: Irish Examiner arts/culture writers select their personal highlights of the year
Marjorie Brennan's personal highlights of the year include Fontaines DC and Conclave.
The Cork Midsummer Festival programme had something for everyone this year, with Theatre for One from Landmark and Octopus Theatricals a standout for me — six hits of top-notch drama in half an hour, all for free.
The range of work on show at the Cork Film Festival was similarly impressive, including several big-name premieres.
The only issue with both was picking what to see. It was also a pleasure to be part of Crosstown Drift which returned to Garinish Island in west Cork for a stimulating weekend of literature, music and chat, in stunning surroundings.
The opening gala at the Cork Film Festival was Conclave, which featured an outstanding performance from Ralph Fiennes as papal election wrangler Cardinal Lawrence. The things that man can do with his face.
Ryan Gosling was the standout star of last year’s otherwise overhyped Barbie and seeing him perform 'I’m Just Ken' at the Oscars ceremony last March was a blast of pure joy.
After years as a podcast agnostic, I finally found the perfect bantz-free audio experience. This Cultural Life from the BBC is an intelligent, measured and insightful one-on-one with well-known figures in the arts.
John Wilson is one of the best interviewers out there and the episode with artist Marina Abramović was particularly entertaining. The archive is the gift that keeps on giving.
Musgrave Park rather than a somewhat lacklustre Marquee was where it was at for me in Cork this year. Take That scratched the nostalgia itch while Crowded House, supported by The Waterboys, were as consistently brilliant as ever.
The big one was Taylor Swift and the Eras Tour at the Aviva. It’s not an understatement to say it was akin to a religious experience. If only we could bottle all the positive energy generated by the Swifties.
It was the year Fontaines DC put themselves on everyone’s radar. Romance was a hugely accomplished album and an immensely satisfying listen from start to finish. 'In the Modern World' was my song of the year, closely followed by Chappell Roan’s outrageously uplifting Pink Pony Club, my motivational banger of choice for 2024.
All Fours by Miranda July was a weird, wonderful and gloriously filthy take on a female midlife crisis. Speaking of filthy, I didn’t need an excuse but the brilliant TV adaptation of Rivals was the perfect opportunity to revisit Jilly Cooper’s masterpiece. Nobody does the bonkbuster better.
Season three of The Bear should never have made it out of the kitchen. Hoping season four will get Carmy and Co back on track.
Fontaines DC and Kneecap together at Finsbury Park in London is an intriguing prospect in more ways than one. The final instalment of the Mission Impossible franchise featuring the last great movie star, Tom Cruise.
