Culture | Books, Music, Theatre, Film & The Arts

Live Aid 40 years on celebrated with new photographic exhibition

A new photographic exhibition at the National Photographic Archive brings audiences face-to-face with the colour, energy and emotion of the two iconic Live Aid concerts held at Wembley Stadium and JFK Stadium in July 1985

Photography • 29 Sep

Brian's back - what's so funny about peace, love & understanding?

On April 10, 1999, I was in the producer's chair in Studio 4 in RTÉ while we aired a special episode of a live Saturday night chat show called Kenny Live, hosted by Pat Kenny.

Music • 24 Sep

Something for the Weekend: Dani Larkin's cultural picks

Acclaimed songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Dani Larkin's debut album Notes For A Maiden Warrior, garnered Irish Folk Award and NI Music Prize nominations...

Something For The Weekend • 24 Sep

"We've conned ourselves" - comic Dylan Moran on our "small lives"

The Meathman talks to Dylan Moran about comedy, how we've fooled ourselves into living "small lives" and his new stand-up show, Dolla Ho.

Highlights • 29 Sep

Sibyl disobedience - Alice Maher's monumental new drawings

Dr. Sarah Kelleher introduces artist Alice Maher's new show The Sibyls, currently on display at Dublin's Kevin Kavanagh Gallery.

visual arts • 24 Sep

Sunday Miscellany: The Whistling City, by Antonia Hart

On an Eden Quay boarding-house, the members of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, and the events of 1916

Sunday Miscellany • 23 Sep

The world's onstage at Dublin Theatre Festival 2025

Róise Goan is the new Artistic Director and CEO of the Dublin Theatre Festival, which returns this September with a feast of theatre from across the globe.

Theatre • 23 Sep

Twilight at 20: the many afterlives of Stephenie Meyer's vampires

The book series of the same name has sold over 160 million copies, been translated into 38 languages and adapted into five blockbuster films.

Opinion and Analysis • 23 Sep

People on the street for the Galway Arts Festival

Basic Income for the Arts pilot generated over €100m in benefits

A cost-benefit analysis of Ireland's Basic Income for the Arts (BIA) pilot has found the programme delivered over €100 million in social and economic benefits between 2021 and 2025.

Arts & Culture • 22 Sep

Stars of the sea - the new book celebrating famous Irish mariners

Ireland has a rich history of famous – and infamous – mariners: from our earliest navigators, who may have reached North America – by currach – a thousand years before Columbus, to daring polar explorers Ernest Shackleton and Tom Crean.

Books • 22 Sep

Composer Michael Gallen sitting in a radio studio and presenter Paul Herriott standing beside him, both smiling.

Listen: RTÉ lyric live for Culture Night from the NCH

As we celebrate Culture Night across the nation this evening. Paul Herriott brings us music bursting with colour and spirit from three continents from the National Concert Hall

Culture Night 2025 • 22 Sep

Sunday Miscellany: Third Sunday in September, by Frank Shouldice

"Croke Park will today be silent, out of kilter with the natural order..."

Sunday Miscellany • 24 Sep

Watch: How Art Makes Things Happen - First Thought Talks

Art can shape the future. In this thought-provoking talk recorded at this year's Galway International Arts Festival, Dr. Cissie Fu explores how art inspires action, nurtures imagination, and creates the conditions for change...

Arts & Culture • 29 Sep

Watch RTÉ One's Culture Night special

Live from the heart of Galway, Culture Night features all-female trad group Biird, this year's Culture Night Ambassadors, and a cultural reflection from President Higgins

Culture Night 2025 • 21 Sep

Listen to Arena's Culture Night special

Join RTÉ Arena for their live Culture Night spectacular...

Culture Night 2025 • 21 Sep

Chalk & Cheese: Isolde Fenton on her new Drama On One play

Isolde Fenton introduces her new Drama On One play Chalk & Cheese, winner of the PJ O'Connor Award - a story about a girl who wants to be heard, and a boy who doesn't speak...

Drama On One • 22 Sep

What is Italian Brainrot, and should parents be wary of it?

The question is, what exactly is Italian Brainrot?

Pop Culture • 20 Sep

Pure Innocent Boy by Patrick Doherty - read an extract

For Culture Night 2025, Guest Editor Belinda McKeon has curated a number of works from emerging creative talents of note...

Culture Night 2025 • 19 Sep

13 Ways of Looking at Ghosts by Róisín Leggett Bohan

For Culture Night 2025, Guest Editor Belinda McKeon has curated a number of works from emerging creative talents of note...

Culture Night 2025 • 19 Sep

Sweet Wort - watch the award-winning Irish short film

The award-winning short film Sweet Wort is a wry and wistful short comedy-drama about fathers and sons, ageing, regret, and the pain of unexpressed love

Irish Short Films • 24 Sep

The Art of Reading: Belinda McKeon talks to Colm Tóibín

The Art of Reading is a monthly book club hosted by Colm Tóibín, the Laureate for Irish Fiction.

Culture Night 2025 • 19 Sep

RTÉ Short Story Competition 2025 shortlisted authors announced

RTÉ has announced details of the ten exciting new stories which have been shortlisted for the RTÉ Short Story Competition 2025 in honour of Francis MacManus, from 2,200 entries submitted.

RTÉ Short Story Competition 2025 • 20 Sep

Searching for Grandfather - a poem by by Rafael Mendes

For Culture Night 2025, Guest Editor Belinda McKeon has curated a number of works from emerging creative talents

Culture Night 2025 • 19 Sep

The best of Sean Rocks - classics from the Arena archives

For Culture Night 2025, we asked Guest Editor Belinda McKeon to select some highlights from the hundreds of interviews and performances hosted by Sean Rocks for RTÉ Arena over the years...

Culture Night 2025 • 20 Sep

NO FEE PICPIC JULIEN BEHAL Favour Odusola (Culture Night Ambassador) Farah Elle (Culture Night Ambassador) and Sonnie Delap (Dublin Samulnori Drummers) are pictured at the launch of the 20th anniversary programme for Culture Night Dublin

1,700 Culture Night events taking place across Ireland

Over 1,700 free arts events are on offer across the country as part of 'Culture Night' tonight.

Culture Night • 19 Sep