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Culture

Galway International Arts Festival 2026 Announces Ambitious Programme with World Premiere Opera, Druid Theatre and Flaming Lips

The Galway International Arts Festival has unveiled what promises to be one of its most ambitious programmes yet for its July 13-26 run, featuring the world premiere of a chamber opera by Colm Tóibín and Tarik O'Regan, a new Druid production of The Shaughraun, and a major sculpture exhibition by Sean Henry. The Heineken Big Top will host acts including The Flaming Lips, Patti Smith Quartet, and The Saw Doctors, cementing Galway's status as Ireland's premier summer arts destination.

Conor Brennan12 Jun 2026👁 5

Culture

Siobhán McDonald's 'Sonance' Exhibition Opens at Taylor Galleries Dublin with Works in Peat, Moss and Sumi Ink

Acclaimed Irish artist Siobhán McDonald has opened her new solo exhibition, Sonance, at Taylor Galleries in Dublin, presenting a body of work that explores themes of nature, time, and geology through the use of extraordinary materials including peat, moss, sediment, and sumi ink on Japanese paper. The exhibition, which runs until July 4, represents some of McDonald's most ambitious and technically innovative work to date, and has been warmly received by the Irish arts community.

Conor Brennan

6 min read12 Jun 2026

Culture

Beyond the Pale Festival Brings Music and Arts to Glendalough Estate in Wicklow This Weekend

The Beyond the Pale music and arts festival is taking place this weekend at Glendalough Estate in County Wicklow, providing one of the highlights of the Irish summer festival season. The event features a diverse lineup of Irish and international music acts alongside arts installations and food stalls, set against the stunning backdrop of one of Ireland's most beautiful landscapes. Its successful staging represents a positive story for the live events and culture industry as the summer season gets underway.

Conor Brennan

6 min read12 Jun 2026

Culture

Bloomsday 2026 Opens in Dublin as James Joyce Festival Marks 122nd Anniversary of Ulysses

The annual Bloomsday festival opened in Dublin on June 11, marking the 122nd anniversary of the day on which James Joyce's Ulysses is set, with a week-long programme of walks, readings, dramatisations and concerts organised by the James Joyce Centre. The festival, which runs until June 16, draws thousands of visitors to Dublin each year and has become one of the most distinctive events in the Irish cultural calendar.

Conor Brennan

6 min read11 Jun 2026

Culture

Paddy Power Comedy Festival 2026 Tickets Go on Sale as Iveagh Gardens Prepares for July Laughs

General ticket sales for the Paddy Power Comedy Festival 2026 open on June 12, with the four-day event scheduled for July 23-26 at the Iveagh Gardens in Dublin. The festival, which is strictly over-18s, has established itself as one of the highlights of the Irish summer entertainment calendar, drawing top Irish and international comedy talent to one of Dublin's most beautiful outdoor venues.

Conor Brennan

5 min read11 Jun 2026

Culture

RHA Annual Exhibition Continues in Dublin with Guided Art Tour as Irish Visual Arts Season Peaks

The Royal Hibernian Academy's 196th Annual Exhibition continues at the Gallagher Gallery in Dublin until August 9, with a special guided Art Form Tour focused on painting led by Una Sealy RHA having taken place on June 10. The exhibition, Ireland's largest and oldest open-submission visual arts show, features a diverse mix of painting, sculpture, printmaking and photography from established and emerging Irish artists.

Conor Brennan

6 min read11 Jun 2026

Culture

Fontaines D.C. Manager Trevor Dietz Dies in Blow to Irish Music Scene

Trevor Dietz, the manager who played a pivotal role in the rise of Fontaines D.C. to international stardom, has died, prompting an outpouring of tributes from the Irish and international music community.

Conor Brennan

4 min read10 Jun 2026

Culture

Nick Cave and Guns N' Roses Headline Bumper Dublin Summer Concert Season

Dublin is set for a bumper summer concert season, with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and Guns N' Roses among the headline acts performing in the capital, as the city cements its reputation as one of Europe's premier live music destinations.

Conor Brennan

4 min read10 Jun 2026

Culture

BBC Reveals Star-Studded Cast for Celebrity Traitors Including Joanne McNally, Michael Sheen and Bella Ramsey

The BBC has announced the celebrity line-up for its upcoming series of The Celebrity Traitors, featuring Irish comedian Joanne McNally, Welsh actor Michael Sheen, EastEnders star Ross Kemp, and The Last of Us actress Bella Ramsey. The show is a spin-off of the hugely popular psychological reality series.

Conor Brennan

5 min read7 May 2026

Culture

RTÉ Documentary to Explore 1926 Irish Census with Dermot Bannon, Eileen Walsh and Mick Lynch

A new RTÉ documentary series will use the recently published 1926 Irish census to explore life in Ireland a century ago, featuring architect Dermot Bannon, actress Eileen Walsh, and retired trade unionist Mick Lynch tracing their family histories through the historic records.

Conor Brennan

5 min read7 May 2026

Culture

Kneecap in Three-Way Battle for UK Number One as FENIAN Targets Historic Chart Milestone

Belfast hip-hop trio Kneecap are in a three-way battle for the UK album number one with their new record FENIAN, which could become the first Irish-language album ever to top the British charts, with fewer than 3,000 chart units separating them from Melanie C and Michael Jackson.

Conor Brennan

5 min read6 May 2026

Culture

RTE Defends Patrick Kielty as Late Late Show Host Faces Criticism from Irish Jewish Group

RTE has publicly defended Late Late Show host Patrick Kielty after an Irish Jewish group criticised the broadcaster over the programme's handling of sensitive topics. The controversy has reignited debate about the responsibilities of Ireland's national broadcaster in an increasingly polarised public discourse.

Conor Brennan

5 min read4 May 2026