Lauren Murphy

Freelance journalist and broadcaster, writing about music and the arts.

Jessie Buckley's 10 best roles, ranked

She's come a long way from Killarney, but Jessie Buckley's march through Hollywood continues apace.

Film • 12 Mar

10 exciting Irish names to watch in culture: the next green wave

Bring in the flood defences, because it's not just the extravagantly-named storms that the world has to contend with these days.

Listicles • 12 Mar

10 smaller Irish music festivals to check out this year

It's never too early to start planning your summer calendar; in fact, some would argue that it's imperative to have something to look forward to at this time of year.

Festivals • 02 Mar

Review: Foo Fighters rock the Academy, Dublin - and we were there

It's about halfway through Foo Fighters' set when Dave Grohl asks a pertinent question: "What the f**k are we doing here?"

review • 24 Feb

Beatles to Charli XCX - when musicians play themselves in movies

Charli XCX may be primarily known as a pop star, but she is about to enter her multihyphenate era with The Moment, the first of several film projects on her horizon.

Pop Culture • 19 Feb

10 more Irish podcasts you need to hear

Whatever your mood, taste or preference, there's a podcast for it.

Listicles • 11 Feb

Ireland's success at the Oscars, from the 1920s to now

You'd be forgiven for thinking that it's been the ongoing Green Wave that is solely responsible for washing Irish talent onto the shores of Hollywood - but the Irish have played an intrinsic role in the movie business since its earliest days.

Film • 08 Feb

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 11: (L to R) Siobhán McSweeney, Eanna Hardwicke and Nicola Coughlan attend the press night after party for "The Playboy Of The Western World" at The National Theatre on December 11, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Dave Benett

Reviewed: Hardwicke, Coughlan and McSweeney shine in Playboy

As the curtain dropped and the applause subsided at the interval of The Playboy of the Western World, currently playing at London's National Theatre, I overheard an English accent in the row behind me giving their midpoint review...

Theatre • 04 Feb