Five For Your Radar: Beth Orton, Ella McCay, Merchy Christmas...
Sam Amidon and Beth Orton play Live at St Luke's on Sunday, December 14; Ella McCay is in cinemas on Friday.
Set in 2008, Ella McCay follows an idealistic woman trying to juggle her family and work life in the political corridors of power. When her longtime mentor abruptly departs for a role in the incoming Obama administration, she is forced to take over as state governor. An all-star cast includes Emma Mackey, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jack Lowden, Kumail Nanjiani, and Ayo Edebiri. It’s directed by James L Brooks, his first time in the hotseat for 15 years.
After appearances at Sounds from a Safe Harbour, Beth Orton and husband Sam Amidon return to Cork on Sunday as part of a national tour. has released seven acclaimed solo albums over the past 27 years, the most recent of which is 2022’s self-produced Weather Alive. Amidon is coming off the success of his 2025 album Salt River, which included performances on the Tommy Tiernan Show and Later... with Jools Holland.
A real-life merch market where all your favourite artists flog their wares directly to you, the fans. Established during the Christmas lockdown in 2020, it’s grown to a full-blown Christmas party for Irish music. As well as artists hawking their wares and records, there are numerous performances across the weekend by the likes of Curtisy, Ispiní na hÉireann, and Soda Blonde. And it’s all for a good cause, raising funds for Simon Community and the Palestinian Children's Relief Fund.
Video game adaptations aren’t supposed to be this good, but the first season of Fallout, based on the post-apocalyptic role-playing game, garnered great reviews on its release in mid-2024. With a cast headed by Ella Purnell, the action is set two centuries after the Great War of 2077. In the second season, the story heads to New Vegas, an even more debauched version of Las Vegas. Eight episodes long, the series drops one part per week.
The annual Christmas Concert returns for two performances, offering an evening of festive favourites performed by the Cork Opera House Concert Orchestra under conductor John O’Brien. Audiences can look forward to a warm mix of traditional carols, contemporary holiday classics, and timeless orchestral pieces, all wrapped in the magic of the season. A highlight of the Christmas calendar, it’s the perfect night out for families and friends looking to celebrate together.
