Evelyn O'Rourke

Arts and Media Correspondent

Rusty motor bike, battered limo and helicopter shell at Electric Picnic 2025

Evelyn O'Rourke previews the Electric Picnic 2025

This Thursday, the first 'picnickers' will pitch their tents at the 22nd Electric Picnic in Stradbally, Co Laois, with their 'early access' tickets safely stored in their phone wallets.

Music • 27 Aug

The Weir cast clockwise from top left: Brendan Gleeson, Owen McDonnell, Seán McGinley, Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, and Kate Phillips

Special benefit performance of The Weir announced

A special benefit performance of The Weir has been announced, which will be held in honour of the late actor and broadcaster Seán Rocks, and St Francis Hospice, Dublin on Wednesday, 3 September at 2:30pm at the 3Olympia Theatre.

Theatre • 25 Aug

President leads tributes to 'iconic voice' Seán Rocks

President Michael D Higgins has led the tributes to broadcaster and actor Seán Rocks, describing him as one of Ireland's finest broadcasters and advocates for the arts and artists.

Ireland • 31 Jul

Venetia Bowe is an actor from Dublin who plays 'Joy' in playwright Dan Colley's show 'Lost Lear'

Irish among artists taking part in Edinburgh festivals

Irish artists are among thousands from across the world who are packing their bags and heading off to Edinburgh in Scotland, for the annual internationally renowned arts festivals.

UK • 31 Jul

The 13 books on the longlist for the Booker Prize

Trinidadian-Irish writer makes Booker Prize longlist

The longlist for the Booker Prize has been announced with no Irish-born authors included this year.

Books • 29 Jul

Little Shop of Horrors opens for business in Dublin

With Little Shop of Horrors set to open at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre in Dublin this weekend, Evelyn O'Rourke headed there to meet the creative team behind the theatre's first in-house production.

Entertainment • 24 Jul

A flats complex at the Ballymun Housing Project in the 1960s (Image: Irish Film Institute)

Forty years of Ballymun captured in video collection

A collection of more than 40 years of camera footage telling the story of Ballymun has been released.

Dublin • 31 Jul

Live Aid at 40: 10 moments that made musical history

Forty years after Live Aid rocked the world, Evelyn O'Rourke looks at ten ways the music event of a lifetime made musical history.

Live Aid • 15 Jul

Co-Chair of the RTÉ Trade Union Group Trevor Keegan sitting before the Oireachtas media committee

Committee hears concerns over outsourcing content at RTÉ

Offering existing RTÉ programmes "out to tender" to outside production companies "does not enhance the cultural life of this nation", a Dáil committee has heard.

Politics • 08 Jul

The research states that concerts in high-capacity venues account for the largest share at €298 million

Music industry contributes €1bn to Irish economy - IMRO

The Irish music industry contributes €1 billion annually to the Irish economy, according to a new report published today by IMRO.

Ireland • 08 Jul