Des O'Driscoll: Our arts/culture writers pick their highlights of 2024
Des O'Drsicoll's arts and culture picks of the year include Rory Gallagher's guitar sale and his chat with Cillian Murphy about his film Small Things Like These.
The sale of Gallagher’s Fender Strat at Bonham’s in London could have left a sour taste, but the purchase by an Irish bidder (Denis Desmond of MCD/Live Nation) and the general buzz in a room full of Rory fans ensured it proved to be a really enjoyable day out.
As was mentioned by Sheena Crowley – the daughter of the man who originally sold the guitar to Rory – the late star still had the power to bring people together in a positive way.
After 46 years, we tend to take this event for granted at bit on Leeside, but it keeps delivering a feast of music every October. At the Opera House this year, I loved the Gil Scott-Heron tribute, Gregory Porter and Buena Vista All Stars, while the Alice Coltrane tribute at Triskel was also a treat.
An early start this year might hint at extended events in the future to relieve some of the crowdedness, roster clashes, and hotel-room expense for visitors when the festival is crammed into one mad weekend.
It's a while since I’ve been grabbed by a conventional play, as my favourite theatre pieces of recent years have been dance hybrids from the likes of Teac Damsa or Luke Murphy. But Mark O’Rowe showed how there’s still life in the old format with Reunion at Galway International Arts Festival. He’s such a brilliant writer of dialogue, and the top-class ensemble cast delivered it perfectly. I hope it tours.
I was blown away by Patricia Piccinini’s sculptures at Galway International Arts Festival… surreal creatures, but also an exhibition with heart, and all underpinned by an important message.
The closure of Crawford in Cork was a fine excuse to roll out a ‘greatest hits’ exhibition, so it was great to see the Roy Keane, Men of the South, etc before they were packed away for a few years.
I’d seen Cillian Murphy and Eileen Walsh in Triskel in 1996 at the original Disco Pigs play that marked their breakthrough, so it was nice to square the circle and chat to them in London for their long-delayed acting reunion in Small Things Like These.
It’s no surprise that both still come across as really sound, down-to-earth people. You can take the actor out of Cork but…
Like everyone, I was drawn into Baby Reindeer, even if in hindsight I’m a bit uncomfortable with some of the ethical questions around it. Aussie comedy Colin From Accounts was a great discovery this year, and I also went back and binged three seasons of The Wire. Still works.
I think Drimoleague director Pat Collins is a genius who happens to hit a unique space with his films, and he managed to coax my favourite performance of the year out of Lalor Roddy in That They May Face the Rising Sun.
Indian film All We Imagine as Light was one of severable enjoyable excursions to Cork International Film Festival.
Israel at Eurovision. It might feel minor given what’s going on in Gaza, but their presence at a song competition is an example of the bizarre blind-eye that some are willing to turn. No amount of rainbow flags can wipe that stain. Also, the Cork Events Centre is way way beyond a joke at this stage. Either build it, or get a new site and investors.
Sounds From A Safe Harbour is all the more special because it only takes place every two years. Roll on September.
