After the Clare-Limerick game yesterday evening, I turned the car for Cork so I could stay the night and be fully refreshed for this morning’s

In our race to create what we deem ‘new’ content, we knowingly — or sometimes unknowingly — piggyback on the ideas of other creators, writes Lindsay Woods

Des O’Driscoll meets classical concert pianist Hugh Tinney

Our regular contributors select their highlights of the year.

Jeremy Hickey, aka musician Rarely Seen Above Ground (RSAG) was born and raised in Kilkenny. “My first love was for hurling, soccer, football and basketball. 

Pope Francis has arrived in Colombia for a five-day visit in which he hopes to give an extra boost to the country's peace process and encourage reconciliation after a decades-long guerrilla conflict.

Aoife Burke is a cellist from Cork, and currently holds a residency at the Triskel Arts Centre in Cork, as part of which she curates the summer lunchtime concert series and the Spotlight chamber music series. 

THE city of Vienna lies at the heart of this difficult but rewarding novel which was longlisted for the Man Booker International Prize.

Camille O’Sullivan is looking forward to starring in a piece forged from the works of Schubert and Buchner, writes Padraic Killeen.

Eleanor McEvoy suffered the tragic loss of her collaborator while making her new album, writes Ed Power.

Opening with the arrival of a flustered White Rabbit and ending with the murder of a Red Queen, Gerald Barry’s pick-and-mix of Lewis Carroll’s Alice books was a hysterical hour of operatic delirium.

An all-Russian musical extravaganza is coming to Cork and Cathy Desmond has everything you need to know ahead of time.

Dirk Powell is from Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, and has family roots in the mountains of Kentucky.

James Joyce, Seamus Heaney and Thomas McCarthy are among the poets assembled in a wonderful book of writings inspired by music, says Alan O’Riordan

In the RTE television series Charlie, the former Taoiseach is seen at dinner with his friend, French president Francois Mitterand. They are tucking into a dish of ortolan buntings.

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1. Vintage Fun

As Mise Éire features in the opening concert of the Cork International Choral Festival, Jo Kerrigan talks to Seán Ó Riada’s son Peadar about its creation

Cork-bound Alexander Balanescu was born in Romania but has lived in the UK for most of his life. He fronts the Balanescu Quartet, a group that broke through with their classically-tinged cover versions of tunes by Kraftwerk. 

REUNION tells the story of Hans Schwarz, a lonely Jewish boy, and the friendship he forms with an equally lonely new arrival at their exclusive Stuttgart high school, Konradin von Hohenfels.

Bantry House/ St Brendan’s Church

Crawford Gallery, Cork

Strands of hair belonging to two master composers are expected to fetch at least £12,000 (€16,000) when they go under the hammer.

All the entertainment news you need

As the city prepares to host the 60th Eurovision Song Contest, Arlene Harris samples the delights of Vienna.

My greatest fear is playing in front of crowds of people. You need to give what you fear a hug.

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It’s illegal to cut hedges between March 1 and August 31; birds must be allowed to nest in peace. Heather Humphreys, Minister for Arts Heritage and the Gaeltacht, is said to be reviewing these dates.

Comedy and classical music aren’t mutually exclusive, as a pair of virtuoso players will prove at the NCH tonight, writes Jo Kerrigan.

Beethoven’s life was a series of disappointments, recurring conflicts, worsening illness and increasing financial worries, but, says Eamonn Lawlor, nothing could diminish his genius    

Soul’s James Brown is the latest singer to have his life story filmed, in a ‘rags to riches’ genre that began with the first ‘talkie’ in 1927.

Like many I believe the Scots are far too canny to let their hearts rule their heads so will vote no in Thursday’s referendum for independence.

In the 1930s and 1940s bright, often educated and cultured young Europeans, many of whom loved Bach or Beethoven, were inspired by an evil but charismatic leader.

Billy Collins brings a brilliant eye to the most mundane events, writes Alan O’Riordan

The great German composer’s Irish and Scottish ‘airs’ will be played at the Kilkenny Arts Festival.

THE 2014 West Cork Chamber Music Festival more than maintained Bantry’s place on the music map with nine days of wonderful concerts.

Bantry, Co Cork

Great Music in Irish Houses fills a gap in the capital’s cultural life, writes Alan O’Riordan.

Bantry’s chamber music festival has all combinations: string and brass soloists, pianists, and even a quintet,says Declan Townsend.

Alison Hackett presents history in a new format in her book, The Visual Time Traveller: 500 years of History, Art and Science in 100 Unique Designs.

Classical: Wexford Sinforia