#lilias-folan

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Books
fromIndependent
20 hours ago

My husband died suddenly. One final task remained: to publish the book he'd spent 25 years of his life working on

Editing a book on James Joyce took over two decades of research and writing, followed by three and a half years of editing.
Django
fromIndependent
2 days ago

Martina Devlin: Fenians' daring Easter escape from Australian penal colony stirred Irish quest for freedom

The Catalpa escape in 1876 was a daring rescue of Irish political prisoners involving a secret agent and a whaling ship.
Film
fromBustle
5 days ago

The Book That Helped Caitriona Balfe Understand The "Grief" Of Motherhood

Absence of screens fosters reading habits, as experienced by Caitríona Balfe, who reflects on her journey in the series Outlander.
fromIndependent
1 day ago

Louise O'Neill: 'I wanted to write the book that I'd like to have read in the early days of my break-up'

"I wonder why I wanted to be famous," she muses now, as we sit across from each other in The Pavilion cafe in Cork.
Books
Arts
fromArtnet News
1 week ago

Who Created the Book of Kells? A Master Craftsman Takes on the Mystery

New evidence suggests the Book of Kells may originate from Portmahomack, challenging the long-held theory of its creation at Iona.
fromIndependent
1 week ago

Meet the Kerry Japanese artist bringing sean nos and Irish language to life for a new generation

Amano De Londra Miura showcased her stunning sean nós talents live on TV, putting the Irish language back on the map and highlighting its cultural importance.
London music
fromIndependent
1 week ago

Bryan Dobson: 'I have a wonderful letter written by my father to his mother-in-law when my parents got married'

Bryan Dobson stated, 'After nearly four decades at RTÉ, I found retirement to be a new chapter, filled with family time and personal projects.'
Media industry
Film
fromIndependent
1 week ago

'First thing I did was bring the team to see the bog bodies in the National Museum' - Hollywood director Lee Cronin on giving his take on The Mummy an Irish spin

Lee Cronin's new take on 'The Mummy' emphasizes personal loss and horror set against a haunting landscape.
Pets
fromwww.scientificamerican.com
2 weeks ago

The real reason there are no snakes in Ireland

Ireland has no native snakes due to the last ice age ending 11,700 years ago, after which the island became geographically isolated from continental Europe before reptiles could recolonize it.
fromIndependent
2 weeks ago

Sinead Ryan: Why I don't begrudge the politicians off on their St Patrick's Day jollies

Freezing, knock-kneed and shivering in a tartan pleated skirt. A withering bunch of shamrock attached by safety pin to the only green jumper I owned, still damp from its overnight submersion and the splash of holy water from early mass. A grey, damp day, squashed up against a cold metal barrier since early morning, to 'get a good spot', a red line for my father.
Skiing
fromIrish Independent
2 weeks ago

'One of Ireland's greatest' - singer Dolores Keane dies age 72

Dolores possessed a voice that could reach deep into your soul. A voice that could carry a sense of joy, but also sorrow in each and every note. Her music was synonymous in every kitchen, pub and dance hall the length and breadth of the country. Dolores was also so popular, simply for her unrivalled sense of wit and kindness that touched the lives of so many.
Music
London music
fromIndependent
2 weeks ago

'She has captured the hearts of many' - Singer Dolores Keane receives emotional farewell in her beloved Galway

Dolores Keane, legendary Irish folk singer, passed away on March 16 at the age of 72.
Arts
fromHarvard Gazette
2 weeks ago

Is this art Celtic? It's complicated. - Harvard Gazette

The Harvard Art Museums' exhibition showcases the diverse history and contributions of Celtic art across various time periods.
Books
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 week ago

The News from Dublin by Colm Toibin review subtle short stories about being far from home

The stories in Colm Toibin's collection explore themes of displacement and the emotional complexities of living away from home and loved ones.
London food
fromConde Nast Traveler
3 weeks ago

In Remote Western Ireland, Travel Moves at Its Own Pace

Western Ireland's slow travel movement combines minimalist design, local food systems, and sustainable practices to revive traditional ways of life and regional heritage.
Philosophy
fromIndependent
3 weeks ago

Lorraine Courtney: It's time to ban eulogies outright - funerals are not an open-mic night

Eulogies should be excluded from requiem masses to preserve the centuries-old ritual, with personal remembrances reserved for wakes instead.
Beer
fromTasting Table
3 weeks ago

13 Haunted Irish Pubs From Around The World - Tasting Table

Irish pubs are reputed to be haunted by spirits and ghosts, with establishments like Kyteler's Inn and Grace Neill's featuring documented paranormal activity and historical tragic events.
Arts
fromArtnet News
2 weeks ago

How the Yeats Sisters Turned Ireland's Saints Into National Icons

Lily and Lollie Yeats were revolutionary artists who shaped Irish national identity and visual culture at the turn of the 20th century, collaborating with prominent women artists through enterprises like Dun Emer Industries.
Miscellaneous
fromTasting Table
3 weeks ago

Ireland's Pubs Have A Long History As Morgues - Tasting Table

Irish pubs historically served multiple community functions beyond drinking, including grocery stores, hardware shops, and funeral arrangement services, particularly during the Great Hunger when morgue facilities were needed.
Women
fromIrish Independent
4 weeks ago

'It's marvelling how much power a host of women can conjure. It's part of why they burned us at the stakes' - meet the Irish women advocating for other women

Gender parity won't be achieved until 2148, with persistent barriers including legal recognition gaps for lesbian parents, confidence deficits in young girls, and male dominance in academic leadership positions.
#irish-film-industry
fromIndependent
3 weeks ago
Film

'Culturally, we've always punched pretty hard,' says 'Harry Potter' star Gleeson as Oscar Wildes' 'Irish' rally behind Jessie Buckley

fromIndependent
3 weeks ago
Film

'Culturally, we've always punched pretty hard, it makes me proud,' says Gleeson as Oscar Wildes' 'Irish' rally behind Jessie Buckley

fromIndependent
3 weeks ago
Film

'Culturally, we've always punched pretty hard,' says 'Harry Potter' star Gleeson as Oscar Wildes' 'Irish' rally behind Jessie Buckley

fromIndependent
3 weeks ago
Film

'Culturally, we've always punched pretty hard, it makes me proud,' says Gleeson as Oscar Wildes' 'Irish' rally behind Jessie Buckley

Cooking
fromTasting Table
4 weeks ago

10 Irish Desserts Everyone Needs To Try At Least Once - Tasting Table

Irish desserts use resourceful local ingredients like sea moss, apples, and dairy products, creating unique flavors born from historical scarcity rather than luxury.
Education
fromIndependent
1 month ago

Maire Treasa Ni Cheallaigh: I speak only Irish to my daughter, so why is she not guaranteed a place in our local Gaelscoil?

Irish-medium education opportunities remain limited despite Gaeilge being Ireland's official first language, creating challenges for families seeking immersion in the language.
Books
fromwww.theguardian.com
4 weeks ago

Plan to turn Irish borderlands into Unesco region of literature'

A literary heritage initiative aims to rebrand the Ireland-Northern Ireland border as a Unesco region of literature, creating nine guided routes through 11 counties associated with major writers like Yeats, Beckett, and Heaney.
London food
fromIndependent
1 month ago

'Weaving bits of Gaeilge into each pose, my dormant abilities start to waken' - how to put your cupla focail to the test

Growing interest in learning Irish exists beyond traditional Gaeltacht regions and annual Irish language weeks, with accessible opportunities emerging in urban areas.
Music
fromIndependent
1 month ago

Declan Lynch: The Greatest Irish Song of All Time is Dearg Doom by Horslips. And the Liveline Seamus Culleton silence continues

The Táin by Horslips was selected as RTE Choice Classic Irish Album for 2026, with endorsements from Will Leahy and John Creedon.
fromSlate Magazine
1 month ago

What If the Gang from Derry Girls Grew Up to Solve Mysteries?

In the Netflix series, three longtime Belfast friends must revisit their childhood trauma to unravel the mystery of a fourth friend's disappearance- raucous Northern Irish hijinks ensue.
Podcast
fromwww.theguardian.com
4 weeks ago

A Beautiful Loan by Mary Costello review a profound exploration of the inner life

From the outset, in the novel's prologue, Anna tells us she is determined to account for herself and her life. But we are to expect no ordinary narrative, concerned only with actual events, evidence-based or relying on historical data. No, Anna is interested in the climate of the psyche and the vibrations of the soul. Can it be that the very things we cannot quantify or rationalise are what make life meaningful?
Books
#ash-wednesday
fromIndependent
1 month ago
Philosophy

Fionnan Sheahan: In liberal Ireland, you can now expect to be Catholic-shamed for having ashes on your forehead

fromIndependent
1 month ago
Philosophy

Fionnan Sheahan: In liberal Ireland, you can now expect to be Catholic-shamed for having ashes on your forehead

Health
fromIndependent
1 month ago

'I'm nothing if not resilient' - author Cathy Kelly on overcoming sexual assault, bulimia, divorce and cancer

Cathy Kelly, nearing 60, was diagnosed with breast cancer in July 2023 but is recovering well and feels relieved after a recent health scare.
fromHyperallergic
1 month ago

The Irish Do It Best

The Irish government will give 2,000 artists unrestricted weekly stipends in a program officials described as a "recognition, at government level, of the important role of the arts in Irish society." After a successful three-year pilot, the Irish government made its basic income program for artists permanent. Similar pilots have been launched here in the United States, but they're supported primarily by the nonprofit sector.
Arts
History
fromMedievalists.net
1 month ago

New Medieval Books: Celtic Magic - Medievalists.net

Ancient and medieval Celtic-speaking peoples maintained distinctive magical beliefs and practices whose evidence appears in inscriptions, classical accounts, medieval manuscripts, charms, and medical recipes.
#dublin
Women
fromIndependent
2 months ago

Brigid and me: 'Yes, she healed the sick and fed the poor - but she also made her brother's eyes explode when he crossed her'

Brigid is a multifaceted symbol of Irish womanhood encompassing healing, creativity, fire, poetry, protection, activism, environmentalism, and unbounded female identity.
World news
fromIrish Independent
1 month ago

'It's wonderful they're alive' - Irish grandmother tells of pride after miraculous Australian sea rescue of daughter and grandchildren

A 13-year-old swam for four hours to get help after his family were swept out at sea, saving his mother and two siblings.
UK politics
fromIndependent
1 month ago

Fionnan Sheahan: Morgan McSweeney was the only Irishman to buy into the Mandelson myth - and he has paid the price

A 2000 dinner at Iveagh House between Irish and British ministers erupted into a heated dispute between Brian Cowen and Peter Mandelson.
Television
fromIndependent
2 months ago

Deirdre Reynolds: Sex-starved Irish women are choosing 'male gays' over the 'male gaze'

A Canadian romance about two male ice hockey players, Heated Rivalry, premieres on Sky and Now in Ireland and will appeal to many women viewers.
LGBT
fromIrish Independent
2 months ago

Just Between Us: Coming out later in life with Sarah Magliocco

Many people come out quietly, gradually, or later in life due to limited language, lack of role models, internalised homophobia, social pressure, and delayed self-understanding.
Travel
fromBusiness Insider
2 months ago

I married an Irishman and moved to Ireland 10 years ago. My life is far from the fairy tale my friends back home imagine.

Moving from Kentucky to Ireland to marry an Irishman created a loving life yet brought chronic homesickness, divided loyalties, and damp, challenging realities.
fromBustle
1 month ago

Exclusive: Darragh Hand Teases "Sad & Beautiful" Goodbye In 'Heartstopper: Forever'

The first season ends with Liam piecing together the truth about Greta's disappearance. As teens back in school, the girls helped Greta bury the body of a journalist (Josh Finan) who threatened to expose the truth about her role in a tragic fire as a young child. When the past catches up with Greta, she fakes her own death with a secret organization that helps women in dire situations.
Television
Music
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 months ago

Lucinda Williams review Americana legend brilliantly rails against a world out of balance

Lucinda Williams delivered a measured, powerful Belfast show showcasing new protest songs and enduring vocal and songwriting strength despite recovering from a recent stroke.
London music
fromIndependent
2 months ago

Cork band Cardinals on faith, family and the scars of British violence: 'It's shocking to think that could have gone on in your city'

Cork rock band Cardinals, led by brothers Euan and Finn Manning, prepared to release their debut album and recalled a Churchill-related gig anecdote.
Film
fromIndependent
2 months ago

A golden year for Irish page to screen adaptations: Eight gems to watch out for in 2026

Irish literary adaptations are achieving growing success on film and television, with eight notable projects slated for 2026 following a bumper 2025.
from48 hills
2 months ago

Live Shots: 'Finnegan's Wake' summons Irish ghosts to SF Mint - 48 hills

Finnegan's Wake: An Immersive Ghost Story, presented by 13th Floor Theater, plunges audience members into the beautiful, dysfunctional Finnegan-Plurabelle family. Scenic designer Treigh Buchet, lighting designer Meghan Schultz, and ephemera designer Michelle Josette Crashette transfigure the San Francisco Mint into an Irish family home on the banks of a mystical river. Audience members are free to explore the spaces before the show begins with libation in hand. When the dinner bell rings, the show commences.
Arts
Film
fromIndependent
1 month ago

'My granny always said, "what's for you won't go by you "' - actor Lisa Dwan on finding love and getting married in her 40s

Lisa Dwan, 48, is engaged to partner Paul Henninger after a proposal at JFK Airport; her life involves motherhood, loss, and work on MobLand.
fromJezebel
1 month ago

Jezebel's February Book Pick: A Story Collection About Living in the Shadow of the Troubles

Liadan Ní Chuinn was born in Northern Ireland in 1998, the year the Good Friday Agreement ended the Troubles, the decades of violence stemming from England's occupation of Ireland. Other recent fiction about the Troubles-the novels and Trespasses , the TV show Derry Girls (all excellent)-is set firmly in the last century, relegating the violence to history. Ní Chuinn's work does the opposite: Their new book of short stories, Every One Still Her e, is set in contemporary Northern Ireland.
Books
#jessie-buckley
fromIndependent
2 months ago
Film

Donal Lynch: Jessie Buckley's Golden Globe and Oscar-worthiness flips the script on a very old Irish story

fromIndependent
2 months ago
Film

Donal Lynch: Jessie Buckley's Golden Globe and Oscar-worthiness flips the script on a very old Irish story

fromOregon ArtsWatch * Arts & Culture News
2 months ago

'An Sceal': Looking toward spring with song and story * Oregon ArtsWatch

The mixture of old world and new inside a pub that also features a dark, polished wood bar, feels just right for Corrib Theatre's variety show An Scéal (The Story), which combines traditional storytelling and music with modern movement to celebrate the Celtic feast day Imbolc and the return of the sun as well as the Irish National holiday St. Bridgid's Day, both of which are on February 1.
Arts
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

More heartache than Hamnet?: Maggie O'Farrell's best books ranked!

The ghost of a previous lover is always a challenge, particularly if you (mistakenly) believe that she's actually dead. This is the unenviable situation for Lily, the protagonist of O'Farrell's second novel, who is swept off her feet by dashing architect Marcus and in short order moves in with him. Lily takes his assurances that her predecessor Sinead is no longer with us to mark a more permanent absence;
Books
fromItsnicethat
1 month ago

Aoife Rhatigan's whimsical animations have a crayon-esque fuzziness and watercolour smears

Aoife Rhatigan is an Irish artist from Kilkenny and a recent alumni from Limerick School of Art and Design with a BA in Animation and Motion Design. As well as doing an internship as an animation content creator for clothing company Goodies Sportive in Porto, Portugal, Aoife makes work that reflects her life - a process of chaotically and organically "hurtling towards an end product".
Arts
fromIndependent
2 months ago

Why film and fiction is catching up to the stark reality of motherhood

Movies like Die My Love, starring Jennifer Lawrence, show an almost logical unravelling of a mum facing modern pressures
Film
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