Culture
News from Ireland
Lola Young’s surprise Electric Picnic gig answers two questions, one being if CMAT can play
The Messy singer brings heartfelt neosoul to an appreciative Main Stage audience that includes CMAT
At Electric Picnic, Violet Grohl’s 30-minute set has highlights but some obvious issues
Dave Grohl’s 20-year-old daughter has grown up in the spotlight. Now the musician needs room to experiment art…
Breakthrough Irish comedian takes prize at Edinburgh Comedy Awards
Marty Gleeson’s show Dog Ear was inspired by her time at art school in Limerick
Electric Picnic 2026: Sunday stage times for all the top areas, weather forecast and more
In Stradbally this weekend? Whether you want to see Fontaines DC, Florence Road, Ravyn Lenae or Rachel Galvo, …
‘It was difficult growing up and everyone shows up on their 16th birthday with a new car’
The American singer Kate Stephenson has worked hard to get where she is. She’s excited to be touring but consc…
Poem of the Week: Swiss Cottage
A new work by Patrick Deeley
Daisy Johnson: ‘I like writing about the entanglements of family’
The youngest ever Booker Prize shortlisted author on her new novel, Long Wave
Betrayal by Luke Harding: A colourful, entertaining take on Trump, Russia and Ukraine
Interviews with ordinary Ukrainians light up this book’s pages, although it contains a strange fascination wit…
New books for autumn: A bumper crop of Irish and international reads
Novels by Sebastian Barry, Louise Kennedy, Barbara Kingsolver and Marlon James; Nikita Hand tells her story, V…
Timor Mortis: How We Live with Death. A clarification of what truly matters
Richard Coker makes a persuasive case for us to live our lives in a way that aligns with what will survive us …
The Shadow of the Object by Chloe Aridjis: An eerie moodscape built through story
The author is toying with us and our contemporary desire for total knowability
A Nation Once Again by Paul Howard: Funny and scabrous novel is a propulsive caper
How does a writer include so much detail, and so many sensitive issues, without making something everyone will…
Books in brief: The Plunge, Now Burns Blue, and Everything To the Sea
New works by Chris Ballard, Cenac Rollins and Alicia Upano
About to Fall Apart by Ashley Hickson-Lovence: A hilarious meditation on writing and family
The reader emerges from this novel slightly hungover and somewhat hopeful
Ghost Month by Simon Wroe: Odd, thoughtful inquiry into possibility of living alongside loss
Author renders this fantastical concept with remarkable conviction and wit
The Ghost of the Mountains by Kulbhushansingh Suryawanshi: What the snow leopard tells us about ourselves
Passionate advocacy for the snow leopard’s significance as the species recedes from view
Electric Picnic 2026 in pictures: Rain-soaked Friday features mud, an open-air swim and a wedding
Stradbally Hall estate, in Co Laois, welcomes 80,000 festivalgoers to the first day of this year’s event
Sombr at Electric Picnic: Wild night includes singalong Zombie in Cranberries mash-up
American singer’s theatrical entrance sets tone for full-on show that features Noel and Mike Hogan on Celtic g…
Mean Girls show cancelled mid-performance after power cut at Bord Gáis Energy Theatre
Announcements were made to evacuate Dublin venue after the electricity went off
Zara Larsson at Electric Picnic: Biblical rain can’t stop hitmaker in prime Friday pop slot
Delayed by a downpour for half an hour, the Swedish singer brings TikTok dances and stomping excitement to the…
Electric Picnic 2026: Saturday stage times for all the top areas, weather forecast and more
In Stradbally this weekend? Whether you want to see CMAT, Gorillaz or Kyla Cobbler, here’s when and where they…
CMAT cancels Paris gig in advance of Electric Picnic headliner
Artist due to perform on Main Stage at Co Laois venue on Saturday from 9pm to 10.15pm
Irish-language thriller Aontas selected as Ireland’s 2027 Oscar entry
Damian McCann’s heist film starring Carrie Crowley and Bríd Brennan will compete for a place on Academy Awards…
‘It was awful’: Electric Picnic early arrivals face washout night
There’s high demand for hairdryers on Friday as festivalgoers shake off a wet Thursday, ready for a weekend of…
Electric Picnic 2026: Friday stage times for all the top areas, weather forecast and more
In Stradbally this weekend? Here’s when and where to watch Lewis Capaldi, Zara Larsson, Wolf Alice, Gurriers a…
Dolly Parton’s sister reveals singer offered to test experimental cancer drugs before she died
Stella Parton says country music icon was ‘always thinking of others’ in moving tribute following her death ag…
Octomum by Patrick Eades: third in The Moth Short Story Prize 2026
Judge Wendy Erskine: ‘Inventive, funny and a total delight, Octomum deals with loss in its own inimitable way’
Electric Picnic 2026: Share your stories
We want to hear the good, the bad and the ugly from this year’s festival
Rathmines and Rathgar become film set for An Cailín Ciúin director Colm Bairéad
Fifties drama Mary Rose, starring Zara Devlin, already attracting industry buzz
Meaningless vocabulary
Should we fight this trend from the get-go or just take a chill pill?
Readers remember Dolly Parton: ‘A wonderful American’
A country singer from humble beginnings who had amazing talent and was a true philanthropist
Reeling in the music
RTÉ’s new series is being destroyed by loud pop tunes
Good cheer breaks out on Today with David McCullagh. Should we panic?
The normally doleful RTÉ Radio 1 presenter eventually eases back into his customary demeanour as talk turns to…
Colony review: Who says zombies never learn?
Kinetic sequences featuring evolving, fleet-footed creatures brings an appealing twist to Yeon Sang-ho’s disti…
The Movie Quiz: Who never directed Philip Seymour Hoffman?
Plus: Who is currently taking Acme to court?
The Plot Against Ireland by Myles Dungan: Clear-headed work on a fascinating era
An energetic exploration of British efforts to undermine Home Rule and Charles Stewart Parnell
Dolly Parton was exploring an avatar show. Will we always love her as a hologram?
As the country star said before she died, it’s ‘just crazy’ what technology can do
Fightland review: Like its creator 50 Cent, this is loud and boastful but fun
The rapper’s latest drama is somewhat ludicrous, with all the giddy energy of a soap opera plus bonus violence
Electric Picnic 2026 weather forecast – what to expect and how to survive it
A mostly clear Friday will be followed by heavy rain on Saturday and Sunday before showers ease on Monday
Tomorrow by Ava Sedgwick: second in The Moth Short Story Prize 2026
Prize judge Wendy Erskine: ‘Now this is what I call a love story. Tomorrow is humane, adult and very affecting…