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Books
fromIndependent
10 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.
Cancer
fromIndependent
1 week ago

'Writing allows me to face what is happening now. And what is happening now is that I'm dying'

Gabriel Rosenstock faces mortality with peace, relying on poetry and philosophy for support during his battle with terminal cancer.
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
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
London politics
fromIndependent
2 weeks ago

Shane Ross: My father almost completely cut me out of his will as he felt I had lost the run of myself and become utterly obnoxious

Government actions are targeting savings set aside by parents for their children.
Writing
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 weeks ago

I've learned first-hand how evil is tolerated': Colm Toibin on living in the US under Trump

A character's decision to return home is influenced by political climate and personal connections.
Books
fromAnOther
4 days ago

Djamel White's Novel Is Irish Fiction's Gangland Answer to Heated Rivalry

Djamel White's debut novel, All Them Dogs, blends crime fiction, romance, and tragedy, featuring a complex protagonist navigating the criminal underworld.
NYC politics
fromThe Nation
2 weeks ago

Mamdani Stumbles Over the Irish Question

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani faced criticism for failing to provide a clear answer on Irish unification at a school event, despite predictable timing around St. Patrick's Day celebrations.
fromIndependent
1 week ago

'You need to probably prepare yourself for the notion that you'll be broke': Mick Flannery on his parents' reaction to his career choice

"I haven't heard him sing yet," Flannery confesses, in answer to the burning question, when we sit down after a rehearsal in Nuns Island theatre in Galway.
London music
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.
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
#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

Media industry
fromIndependent
2 weeks ago

Marty Morrissey: 'I miss my mum every day. She was a great woman, a mad rebel from Cork'

Marty Morrissey, an RTÉ GAA correspondent, reflects on his childhood in the Bronx, his mother's loss, and his aspirations for a Dancing with the Stars return.
Writing
fromIndependent
2 weeks ago

Tanya Sweeney: I thought publishing my first book would be a life-defining moment - but it just made me more insecure and more jealous

Achieving a lifelong dream of publishing a book creates an anticipated moment of complete fulfillment and validation.
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.
UK politics
fromIndependent
1 month ago

Fionnan Sheahan: Echoes of Dev in Micheal and Simon's purity test to keep 'criminals' out of the Dail - when it suits

Gerry Hutch's return to politics raises questions about voter choice and representation as the government considers banning TDs with criminal convictions.
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.
Writing
fromBusiness Matters
1 month ago

Mara Naaman: A Literary Voice Shaping Culture

Building a life around ideas means prioritizing process and learning over outcomes and external validation, enabling deeper intellectual and creative growth.
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.
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
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
Writing
fromThe New Yorker
1 month ago

Yiyun Li on Stories That Happen Twice

Retrospective narrative reveals how stories gain completeness through the knowledge of future events, transforming present moments into layered reflections on fate and identity.
Philosophy
fromIndependent
1 month ago

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

An Ash Wednesday ritual performed in memory of a devout father was interpreted as 'far right' despite being a private act of remembrance.
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.
Books
fromThe New Yorker
1 month ago

Yiyun Li Reads "Calm Sea and Hard Faring"

Yiyun Li reads her short story 'Calm Sea and Hard Faring' from The New Yorker's March 9, 2026 issue, showcasing work from an acclaimed author of eight fiction books.
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.
Humor
fromIndependent
2 months ago

Comedian Shane Daniel Byrne: 'I think, like loads of gay men, I have lots of issues with my body'

Shane Daniel Byrne is a Dublin-based comedian and actor who co-hosts the Young Hot Guys Podcast and performs live shows facing ticketing concerns.
Miscellaneous
fromIndependent
2 months ago

Singer Imelda May reveals heartbreak over stabbing of Donegal businessman Stephen McCahill

Stephen McCahill, a 66-year-old Co Donegal businessman and father of two, died after an assault at his Ardara home; a known suspect was arrested nearby.
#artistic-pride
fromIndependent
2 months ago

Alison Spittle: 'I never felt the need to lie to people about how mentally ill I was, and I never felt the need to hate myself because I'm fat'

After a serious illness, the comedian decided to take her doctor's advice and lose weight. Here, she talks about her complex relationship with her body, the lifelong abuse she received because of her appearance and healing the inner hurt that weight-loss medication cannot address
Wellness
Europe politics
fromThe New Yorker
2 months ago

The Country That Made Its Own Canon

Sweden released a national culture canon, sparking controversy over national identity as immigration rises and the nationalist Sweden Democrats gain political influence.
fromIndependent
2 months ago

Liam Collins: My lifetime collection of 'stuff' might look like junk - but every piece has meaning

When you reach a certain age, one of the things you notice at the turn of the year is the "stuff" you have accumulated. Old newspapers, documents and books jostle with the detritus of life, from pieces of dead coral from Barbados to an old label that never made it onto a bottle of Guinness. I have spent the last decade preaching to my adult children, telling them to stop buying things.
Mindfulness
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.
UK politics
fromIndependent
1 month ago

David W Higgins: Morgan McSweeney's legacy is starting an open and honest conversation about immigration

Macroom hosts international protection applicants in former hotels; Riverside Park Hotel plans expansion while Penns Hotel was decommissioned in late 2025 amid local service-stretch concerns.
Music
fromIndependent
2 months ago

Tanya Sweeney: 'My Twitter timeline was full of fans calling me a misogynist and a slut-shamer'

Close engagement with media and music industries reveals the rise of superfans influencing culture and inspiring creative works.
fromIndependent
2 months ago

Eilis O'Hanlon: Stick to praising Paul Mescal, Jessie - it's better than pontificating on politics

Buckley's tribute to her Hamnet co-star at the Critics' Choice awards was better than the preaching we often hear The identity of Jessie Buckley's husband is wrapped in more mystery than the whereabouts of the Ark of the Covenant, or why anyone watches Mrs Brown's Boys. It is known that his name is Freddie, that he is British (which is not his fault) and he works in mental health. His surname and age have never been revealed.
Film
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
fromIrish Independent
2 months ago

Renowned traditional singer and educator Sean O Se dies aged 89

A legend, Seán was an iconic figure in Irish education, culture and traditional music who had an extraordinary impact on Irish music and song,
Music
Arts
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 months ago

Dublin Gothic review epic losers' history' of the city traces 100 years of family life

A century-long Dublin tenement saga tracks four intertwined families, exposing recurring trauma to women amid political upheaval, poverty, addiction, and cultural caricature.
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.
Writing
fromOpen Culture
2 months ago

Hear James Joyce Reads From Ulysses and Finnegans Wake In His Only Two Recordings (1924/1929)

Ulysses examines Dublin and language, portraying words as two-faced with immediate meaning and historical, mythic resonances within journalism and rhetorical performance.
Books
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 months ago

Cameo by Rob Doyle review a fantasy of literary celebrity in the culture war era

Perky, satirical portrait centred on a globe-trotting Dublin figure whose sensational life—crime, drugs, sex, espionage—and pettiness lampoon contemporary literary culture and celebrity.
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
Books
fromIndependent
2 months ago

'I don't see there is any point retrospectively criticising people for the way that they behaved' - 'Butcher Boy' novelist Patrick McCabe

Patrick McCabe remains rooted in Irish counter-culture while engaging with communal rituals and symbols.
fromwww.newyorker.com
2 months ago

Joseph O'Neill Reads Light Secrets

Skip to main content Illustration by The New Yorker; Source photograph Michael Lionstar Listen and subscribe: Apple | Spotify | Google | Wherever You Listen Sign up to receive our weekly Books & Fiction newsletter. Joseph O'Neill reads his story Light Secrets, from the January 26, 2026, issue of the magazine. O'Neill is the author of a story collection and five novels, including Netherland, which won the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction in 2009, The Dog, and Godwin, which was published in 2024.
Books
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
fromAnOther
2 months ago

A Reading List by Ocean Vuong: Part One

Because, let's face it, creative work does require some form of faith. It is a tumultuous thing to launch an idea into a vast nothingness and hope that it makes a light bright enough to be found by others. Luckily, these luminaries were my light, and I hope they may become yours as well, and - more so - that these snippets lead you to more of their work.
Books
Books
fromwww.npr.org
2 months ago

'Even the Dead' wraps up John Banville's smart, moody mystery series

Quirke mysteries combine noir darkness with literary prose, following a Dublin coroner confronting trauma, moral ambiguity, and hidden crimes in 1950s settings.
Books
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 months ago

There is a sense of things careening towards a head': TS Eliot prize winner Karen Solie

Karen Solie's work confronts ecological and social harms directly, refusing to aestheticize suffering while insisting art must keep attention and counteract distraction.
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