Arts and Culture

Late Late Show talking points, from Jessie Buckley’s Oscar guests to Hugh Wallace tributes
Late Late Show talking points, from Jessie Buckley’s Oscar guests to Hugh Wallace tributes
Plus Padraig Harrington, Winter Olympic athletes, and Danny Dyer

Sat, 28 Feb, 2026

Book review: Exhilarating thriller exposes the harsh reality of stalking
Book review: Exhilarating thriller exposes the harsh reality of stalking
Author Sam Blake has clearly done her homework in this impossible-to-put-down read

Sat, 28 Feb, 2026

Book review: The forbidden love of two lonely strangers seeking a port in a storm
Book review: The forbidden love of two lonely strangers seeking a port in a storm
Debut novel about two immigrants, trying to navigate their lives in a country where bosses have no compunction about underpaying vulnerable workers

Sat, 28 Feb, 2026

using a laptop in a cafe
Karl Whitney: ‘With writing, just begin: You don’t always have to know where it’s going’
Where to begin can be difficult for a writing project. Like a song, the opening line of a work can make a real impact

Fri, 27 Feb, 2026

TV review: Swindlers: The Thomas Byrne Affair is worth a watch
TV review: Swindlers: The Thomas Byrne Affair is worth a watch
There are multiple red-flags ignored during Byrne’s career, not least that he wore a dickie-bow in UCD.

Fri, 27 Feb, 2026

Film reviews: Scream 7 a rather basic slash-and-scream with a preposterous finale
Film reviews: Scream 7 a rather basic slash-and-scream with a preposterous finale
Plus reviews of SirĂąt and Man on the Run

Fri, 27 Feb, 2026

Five for your radar: Sirat in cinemas, Cork French Film Festival and Choice Prize
Five for your radar: Sirat in cinemas, Cork French Film Festival and Choice Prize
Plus, the final four episodes of Bridgerton season four are out now

Thu, 26 Feb, 2026

Jane Campion: Cork cinema season pays tribute to trailblazing female director
Jane Campion: Cork cinema season pays tribute to trailblazing female director
Jane Campion's work on The Piano produced a rare female nominee of the Academy Award for Best Director, writes Esther McCarthy

Thu, 26 Feb, 2026

Kilfenora Céilí Band: Beat goes on for John Lynch and a 100-year-old family tradition 
Kilfenora Céilí Band: Beat goes on for John Lynch and a 100-year-old family tradition 
The Kilfenora Céilí Band are touring to Cork and other centres 

Wed, 25 Feb, 2026

Tom Dunne: It's not just her acting — Jessie Buckley is such a talented singer too 
Tom Dunne: It's not just her acting — Jessie Buckley is such a talented singer too 
Jessie Buckley showed off her singing chops on Wild Rose, and she's even collaborated on an impressive album with Bernard Butler 

Wed, 25 Feb, 2026

EE BAFTA Film Awards 2026 - London
John Davidson: BBC should have ‘worked harder’ on stopping Bafta racial slur
He remembers a microphone was placed 'just in front of me, and with hindsight I have to question whether this was wise'

Wed, 25 Feb, 2026

HD Comics: New shop opens in Market Parade for Cork's comic book lovers 
HD Comics: New shop opens in Market Parade for Cork's comic book lovers 
Alan Hurley has opened the first dedicated comic shop in the city since Comic Vault shut in 2023

Tue, 24 Feb, 2026

'The lack of women was a terrible deprivation': Melvyn Bragg on Oxford, Boris Johnson, and Trump
'The lack of women was a terrible deprivation': Melvyn Bragg on Oxford, Boris Johnson, and Trump
As he publishes his memoir, the legendary broadcaster also recalls how the Russians tried to recruit him as a spy 

Tue, 24 Feb, 2026

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice photo call
Winona Ryder reunites with Tim Burton and Jenna Ortega for Wednesday filming in Ireland
The Hollywood actress is among the names to join the cast of Wednesday, a supernatural mystery series which stars Ortega and on which Burton is an executive producer.

Tue, 24 Feb, 2026

Podcast Corner: Irish Books does exactly what it says on the cover
Podcast Corner: Irish Books does exactly what it says on the cover
The new podcast hosted by Chris Murray delves into contemporary Irish writing 

Tue, 24 Feb, 2026

'My mother sold every ticket in the place': Aidan Dooley on the success of his Tom Crean play 
'My mother sold every ticket in the place': Aidan Dooley on the success of his Tom Crean play 
Aidan Dooley has been performing Tom Crean - Arctic Explorer for 26 years. He explains how it snowballed into a theatre phenomenon 

Mon, 23 Feb, 2026

Dragons and damsels: Inside the world of romantasy, a publishing phenomenon in Ireland and beyond
Dragons and damsels: Inside the world of romantasy, a publishing phenomenon in Ireland and beyond
Fuelled by BookTok, the romantasy genre has taken off in recent years, particularly among female readers 

Mon, 23 Feb, 2026

EE BAFTA Film Awards 2026 - London
Watch: Timothee Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jessie Buckley arrive at the BAFTAs
Actors and nominees, including Timothy Chalamet, Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Cillian Murphy, and Leonardo DiCaprio on the red carpet at the BAFTA Awards.

Mon, 23 Feb, 2026

EE BAFTA Film Awards 2026 - London
BBC apologises for not editing racial slur out of Bafta Film Awards broadcast
The slur was shouted as Sinners actors Delroy Lindo and Michael B Jordan presented the award for special visual effects at London’s Royal Festival Hall on Sunday.

Mon, 23 Feb, 2026

Sleaford Mods Concert In Madrid
Sleaford Mods review: Hard but fair from UK duo at Cyprus Avenue in Cork 
Jason Williamson and Andrew Fearn of Sleaford Mods took to the stage in Cork on Saturday night as part of a three-date Irish tour 

Mon, 23 Feb, 2026

EE BAFTA Film Awards 2026 - London
BBC apologises after racial slur is broadcast during Bafta awards ceremony
The slur was shouted by a member of the audience who reportedly had Tourette syndrome

Mon, 23 Feb, 2026

'I'm just so excited': Foo Fighters fans rush to buy tickets for surprise Dublin gig
'I'm just so excited': Foo Fighters fans rush to buy tickets for surprise Dublin gig
Tickets for the Dublin gig were snapped up quickly by eager Irish fans as the group also performed a more intimate gig in Dingle over the weekend

Mon, 23 Feb, 2026

Barbara Diener: Fruits of Spike Island residency on show in West Cork
Barbara Diener: Fruits of Spike Island residency on show in West Cork
Diener is part of a group exhibition at Uillinn in Skibbereen, and has also been exploring her own family history, including her father's time with the German army during WWII 

Sun, 22 Feb, 2026

Dancing with the Stars recap: From Nicky Byrne to the ‘Paudie Padel’, 100th episode delivers is a treat
Dancing with the Stars recap: From Nicky Byrne to the ‘Paudie Padel’, 100th episode delivers is a treat
Katelyn Cummins achieved an all-time top score with five perfect tens for her reimagining of Mairéad Ronan's semi-final Viennese Waltz

Sun, 22 Feb, 2026

EE BAFTA Film Awards 2026 - London
'This is nuts': Jessie Buckley wins Bafta for best actress
The Killarney actress has added the Bafta to her Golden Globe and Critic's Choice award for her starring role as Agnes Shakespeare.

Sun, 22 Feb, 2026

Baftas: Jessie Buckley and Teyana Taylor bring drama to the red carpet
Baftas: Jessie Buckley and Teyana Taylor bring drama to the red carpet
Buckley – who is hotly tipped to win the best actress award for her role in Hamnet – was one of the many stars descending on London’s Royal Festival Hall for the 79th British Academy Film Awards.

Sun, 22 Feb, 2026

Culture That Made Me: Bass player Gerry McAvoy on Rory Gallagher and other touchstones 
Culture That Made Me: Bass player Gerry McAvoy on Rory Gallagher and other touchstones 
As well as his legendary bandmate, Gerry McAvoy includes the likes of Paul McCartney, Raymond Chandler, and The Third Man in his selections

Sat, 21 Feb, 2026

Late Late Show talking points, including Epstein survivor Lisa Phillips calling for Irish investigation
Late Late Show talking points, including Epstein survivor Lisa Phillips calling for Irish investigation
Plus, Dancing with the Stars reaches a milestone episode, and Dominic Cooper reflects on the beauty of Donegal

Sat, 21 Feb, 2026

My Life in Books: I need to finish my next book so I can keep on writing
My Life in Books: I need to finish my next book so I can keep on writing
Author Rob Doyle was inspired to become a writer after reading Geoff Dyer's 'Yoga For People Who Can’t Be Bothered to Do It'

Sat, 21 Feb, 2026

NEWS
Book review: Fight to discover your identity
Paul Cullen had always been fascinated by the unanswered questions about his origins, but for many years pushed them to the back of his mind for fear of upsetting the people who had raised him

Sat, 21 Feb, 2026

Book review: Gender and family dynamics
Book review: Gender and family dynamics
Themes of queer parenting, gender identity, parasocial relationships and intense friendships are treated with accomplished care in 'Like Family'

Sat, 21 Feb, 2026

Iftas: Christy and Cork actors shine and another big night for Jessie Buckley
Iftas: Christy and Cork actors shine and another big night for Jessie Buckley
Cork and Kerry winners on top table at Iftas as the makers of 'Christy' and 'Saipan' celebrate with 'Hamnet' star Jessie Buckley

Fri, 20 Feb, 2026

Cork Film Festival launches new monthly cine club at Arc 
Cork Film Festival launches new monthly cine club at Arc 
The monthly screenings will feature overseas and arthouse films 

Fri, 20 Feb, 2026

Goetz Victims on IRT
Book review: Violent and divided, the US of a bygone era is sadly familiar
This book is long, at times dense, and tough to digest, but ultimately a worthwhile read — a story of an America that hasn't changed that much at all

Fri, 20 Feb, 2026

British Grand Prix 2025 - Race Day - Silverstone
TV Review: Being Gordon Ramsay is a gripping look at the nature of success
If you have the readies to open a 22 million pound restaurant at the age of 57, then surely you could also stop and spend time with the family.

Fri, 20 Feb, 2026

Aiken Promotions defends K-Pop tribute act following complaints about Belfast show
Aiken Promotions defends K-Pop tribute act following complaints about Belfast show
The K-pop Forever! Tribute show took place at the SSE on Thursday evening

Fri, 20 Feb, 2026

Film Reviews: If I Had Legs I'd Kick You is viscerally intense and stress-inducing
Film Reviews: If I Had Legs I'd Kick You is viscerally intense and stress-inducing
If I Had Legs I'd Kick You revolves around an exceptional performance from the Oscar-nominated Rose Byrne, who spends most of the movie in extreme close-up as we absorb the nerve-shredding terror of a mother who believes that she’s getting it fatally wrong.

Fri, 20 Feb, 2026

Five For Your Radar: Charli XCX gig, Sleaford Mods tour... 
Five For Your Radar: Charli XCX gig, Sleaford Mods tour... 
Scrubs also makes a return to our TV screens 

Thu, 19 Feb, 2026

'Steven Spielberg said he loved it': Irish animator John Kelly on his Oscar-nominated Retirement Plan 
'Steven Spielberg said he loved it': Irish animator John Kelly on his Oscar-nominated Retirement Plan 
John Kelly already got a taste of Hollywood at the Oscars Nominees Luncheon and has his fingers crossed for the ultimate prize at the Academy Awards next month, writes Esther McCarthy.

Thu, 19 Feb, 2026

Watch: Official trailer for Peaky Blinders sequel film released
Watch: Official trailer for Peaky Blinders sequel film released
Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man is set to be released in select theaters on March 6 and on Netflix from March 20

Thu, 19 Feb, 2026

Sleaford Mods: Jason Williamson on Fontaines DC, performative activism, and watching Homes Of The Year  
Sleaford Mods: Jason Williamson on Fontaines DC, performative activism, and watching Homes Of The Year  
As Sleaford Mods tour Ireland, the outspoken half of the UK duo talks about their latest album, his favourite Irish bands, and the enjoyment to be had from Hugh Wallace's TV show

Thu, 19 Feb, 2026

50th Ivor Novello Awards - Show
Tom Dunne: Iain Archer is the ideal man to bring the Ivors Academy to Ireland  
The former Snow Patrol member has written some brilliant songs through the years 

Thu, 19 Feb, 2026

Days Of Ash: U2 issue surprise release of new EP, with Ed Sheeran among the guests 
Days Of Ash: U2 issue surprise release of new EP, with Ed Sheeran among the guests 
Days Of Ash is U2's first body of new music since 2017, and addresses various topical issues such as conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East

Wed, 18 Feb, 2026

OrtĂșs Chamber Music Festival to take place across several venues in Cork city and county  
OrtĂșs Chamber Music Festival to take place across several venues in Cork city and county  
It's the 11th edition of the well-regarded festival 

Wed, 18 Feb, 2026

Cold Storage: Liam Neeson on his new sci-fi thriller and working with Stranger Things' Joe Keery
Cold Storage: Liam Neeson on his new sci-fi thriller and working with Stranger Things' Joe Keery
The 73-year-old Irish actor plays a bioterror operative in his latest outing that also stars Georgina Campbell and Lesley Manville

Tue, 17 Feb, 2026

'The hardest part has been the guilt': Lisa McHugh shares health update from hospital
'The hardest part has been the guilt': Lisa McHugh shares health update from hospital
Lisa McHugh announced last week that she could no longer perform her upcoming show in Letterkenny

Tue, 17 Feb, 2026

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Music, film art, culture, books and more from Munster and beyond.......curated weekly by the Irish Examiner Arts Editor.

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