The best theatre of 2024: Blessed are the risk-takers
Gambling on longer runs of unfamiliar work paid off in a gratifying number of cases. But Irish theatre still isn’t as inclusive as it should be
John B Keane
Author Giles Foden: ‘Cromwell by Brendan Kennelly was a big influence on The Last King of Scotland’
The author on his Irish literary influences, Paul Muldoon’s tear-inducing poetry, and flat-capped gombeens
Limerick’s mayoral election will either be an embarrassing novelty or a brave new world
The vote - to be held four weeks from today - is an important experiment in extending local government. A lot rests on voters’ choice
‘I knew from a really early age my father was not an ordinary dad’: a tribute to Michael O’Regan
Michael O'Regan's daughter Deirdra gives an insight into the personal life of the political journalist who died on February 18th, 2024
Sive review: John B Keane’s dark tale struggles to get past the flaw at its heart
The Gaiety Theatre’s new production makes plain the limitations of a play that barely allows its title character an original thought
‘In a way, my old dream of becoming an astronaut sort of came true’
Jacinta Tobin has lived in California for 20 years and is on Silicon Valley’s list of the top 50 women in tech
On the latchiko – Frank McNally on the rise and fall of a mysterious Irish insult
An Irishman’s Diary
Original manuscript of John B Keane’s play Sive uncovered
Work found in house clearance in Cork city now on display at Kerry Writers’ Museum
That Guy: The actor everyone recognises but no one can name
John Carroll Lynch on life as an almost famous face, his Irish roots and his new Disney+ series
Galway races and social distancing just don’t mix on hollow opening day
Organisers of week-long festival prepare for seven-figure hit without the usual crowds
RTÉ has remade The Field. It is called Gardening Together with Diarmuid Gavin
Patrick Freyne: Gavin hasn’t had a land-hungry American visit yet, but it’s surely coming
Brian Dennehy obituary: A giant of American theatre who stayed loyal to his Irish heritage
On screen, tireless actor ranged from Rambo to Romeo + Juliet, with plenty of trips to old country
Morality of holding the Olympic Games now seriously open to question
Worldwide battle to contain coronavirus means organisers have a huge call to make
Seamus Mallon remembered: A man with ‘sharpest political antennae’
He would remind you from time to time that it was as a defender he played for Armagh
Níall Tóibín funeral told of ‘great actor, great comedian and great man’
Late star knew his demons and knew his gifts, says Mass celebrant Fr Brian D’Arcy
New army pension files shed light on family of John B Keane
Granduncle of BBC journalist Fergal Keane was granted pension based on civil war record
Daddy, dementia and me: ‘I have a recurring dream about murdering Daddy’
My ex-husband’s father died in his own bed; Daddy is incarcerated in a nursing home
Gilded Kingdom – the secret of Kerry football
'Kerry people feel they have to be on stage; and football is that stage for a lot of people in Kerry.'
Only ‘Kerryness’ can block Dublin’s road to five in a row
One thing the Kerry players certainly won’t lack facing into Sunday is belief they can win
Beckett and Keane help Druid Theatre box office income soar 38%
Productions of Waiting for Godot and Sive contribute to revenue increase of 21 per cent
Irish priest hailed as peacebroker by Philippine government
Fr Michael Guckian was killed in a Co Roscommon hit-and-run incident last weekend
Top BBC journalist honoured at Cork Person of the Year
Fergal Keane pays tribute to native city during ceremony for Hall of Fame award
Emotions set to run high again as Ellie Mac returns to Leopardstown
Niccolai Schuster Racing Club founded in honour of student who lost his life in Berkeley tragedy
Theatre in 2018: Looking back in anger and learning lessons
Year in Culture Review: Feelings of rage, injustice, grief and – hopefully – healing pervaded theatre
Fine Gael TD ‘astonished’ his party colleague is suing for defamation
Court told this will be John Paul Phelan’s evidence in continuing action by Senator Paudie Coffey over newspaper article
Large turnout in Killarney for funeral of broadcaster Weeshie Fogarty
Celebrant pays tribute to a family man who brought such colour into people’s lives
Seán Moran: Silence on the mountains as GAA loses legendary voices
Weeshie Fogarty and Paddy Clarke knew the importance of preserving the history of the GAA
Listowel, Ireland’s tidiest town: If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again
Kerry town came so close in recent years but winning overall award was still a surprise
The night I found a baby in a phone box in Drogheda
We first thought the cries were coming from a flat in a five-storey house along the street
My Leaving: Sweating over which poet will turn up
I loved ‘King Lear’, and I can only hope I’ve given the examiners what they’re looking for
Love and desire for Valentine’s week: The best theatre this week
A tragedy born of greedy matchmaking, a hesitant love affair barely whispered from the rooftop, and the situation of two work colleagues who wake up together in bomb shelter
Animated version of McCourt’s Angela and Shane MacGowan on RTÉ’s Christmas menu
An animated Frank McCourt story, a Fairytale of New York doc and Mrs Brown
When drama and therapy meet in a Co Leitrim village
Bright Sparks drama workshop has created a new entry point to youth theatre for those who may feel marginalised
Growing up in Kerry, people ‘acted weird and called it normal’
Shane Culloty had to leave Ireland to find his way as a songwriter of serious substance
'It’s on, it’s gone. And that’s the glory of it, actually'
The renowned designer and frequent Druid collaborator Francis O’Connor onthe subtle art of stage design
Tributes paid to Michael Twomey’s role in ‘Cha and Miah’ sketches
Veteran Cork actor’s devotion to his family also recalled at his funeral Mass
Veteran Cork actor Michael Twomey dies aged 84
Stalwart of the Cork stage was best known for his role in RTÉ’s ‘Hall’s Pictorial Weekly’
Writers on Jane Austen: ‘Who can think about men and keep a straight face?’
Today marks 200 years since the death of Jane Austen. Here seven writers discuss her extraordinary impact
The Chastitute review: A promiscuous play that can’t settle down
It’s hard to know what to make of the sexual politics of John B Keane’s play
Jimmy Deenihan announces departure from politics
Richard Bruton pays tribute to Kerry politician who lost seat in last general election
How an Irish theatre made itself at home in Dubai
The Irish community and locals are getting acquainted through an oasis of drama
John Hurt’s films: 10 of his best performances
Donald Clarke selects some stand-out pictures from veteran actor’s career
John Hurt: A brilliant actor who ‘never lost his sense of adolescent mischief’
Honorary Irishman was among the cleverest actors of his (or any other) generation
Actor Barry Cassin dies aged 92
Worked in film, television and theatre and directed first stage production of ‘The Field’
Kerry Association in Dublin seeks nominations for awards
Former winners of Kerry Person of the Year include John B Keane and Dick Spring
Modern Ireland in 100 Artworks: Irish road to modernity has no straight lines
The collective works in our series show how molten and defiant Irish artworks can be
Anne Harris: O’Riada’s epic clash of cymbals became a clash of symbols
In terrible revolutionary fall-out his Mise Éire master piece was expropriated by Republicanism
John B Keane’s daughter: ‘Teaching my dad’s work has not been weird’
The playwright’s celebrated play Big Maggie is on this year’s Leaving Cert course. His daughter, a secondary school teacher in Tralee, remembers her father and writes about teaching his work
The Irish players at the forefront of new publishing
Ireland is punching above its weight in the world of New Publishing, with Irish people leading the charge in this fast-changing, global industry, Celine Naughton reports
Widow of late playwright John B Keane laid to rest
Listowel says goodbye to ‘great gatekeeper’ Mary Keane
Mary Keane, wife of playwright John B Keane, has died
The couple met at a dance during the harvest meeting of Listowel Races in 1949
Berkeley: Another emotional day as families prepare for return
Obama’s arrival in San Francisco airport lead to change of plans for vigil
Berkeley: Students who died ‘have become children of Ireland’
Emotional scenes as Jimmy Deenihan joins families, friends of victims at memorial
Crosswords & Puzzles
Crosswords & puzzles to keep you challenged and entertained
Stardust
Inquests into the nightclub fire that led to the deaths of 48 people
Common Ground
How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands
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Weddings, Births, Deaths and other family notices