Lauren Murphy

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

CARDIFF, WALES - JULY 04: (EDITORS NOTE: EDITORIAL USE ONLY. IMAGES MAY ONLY BE USED IN RELATION TO THE EVENT. NO COMMERCIAL USE. NO USE IN PUBLICATIONS SOLELY DEDICATED TO THE ARTIST. NO USE AFTER JULY 03, 2026.) Liam Gallagher of Oasis performs on stage

Oasis's Croke Park gigs are a homecoming for the 'Irish' band

What's the Irish for 'mad fer it'?

The Lauren Murphy Column • 14 Aug

10 books to get kids reading over the summer hols (and beyond)

The world of children's books is as wildly varied as any other genre. There are good books, bad books, middling books...

Books • 14 Jul

Lana Del Ray: "Ooh I think this is the wrong take on the angle for the story".

Lana vs. the critics: should musicians clap back at bad reviews?

Who'd be a critic, eh? You're out there, just doing your job and sharing your opinion when all of a sudden an unruly tide of pitchfork-waving fans is unleashed upon you.

The Lauren Murphy Column • 13 Jul

GLASTONBURY, ENGLAND - JUNE 24: Lewis Capaldi performs on the Pyramid Stage on Day 4 of Glastonbury Festival 2023 on June 24, 2023 in Glastonbury, England. The Glastonbury Festival of Performing Arts sees musicians, performers and artists come together fo

Capaldi's Glasto triumph shows why mental health must come first

Everyone loves a happy ending. And if ever there was a happy ending to be found at Glastonbury, it took the form of Lewis Capaldi's comeback show last weekend.

The Lauren Murphy Column • 05 Jul

Yes, it's okay if you haven't seen Adolescence yet.

Too. Much. Content. Are you suffering from cultural burnout?

Take it from me: this is a hard pill to swallow. As an arts and culture journalist, there is an added pressure on me to keep up with every new album, book, movie, play, exhibition, TV show and podcast available for consumption.

The Lauren Murphy Column • 21 Jun

CMAT on the red carpet at this year's Brit Awards ceremony in London

Summer of CMAT: the rise and rise of Ireland's gobbiest pop star

It's out with the cigs, the Bic lighters, the "strappy white tops with no bra" and all the other garish lime green accoutrements; time to drag out the cowboy hats and boots, tooth jewels and brightly coloured tights from storage.

The Lauren Murphy Column • 14 Jun

Careful, now - the 10 best Father Ted episodes, ranked!

It's one of the best sitcoms of all time, and certainly one of the most iconic and beloved Irish shows ever. If you want to spark a lively debate across a pub table, however, you need only utter the words: 'What's the best Father Ted episode?'

Listicles • 01 Jun

AI, journalism and the importance of human voices

It was inevitable, but it doesn't make it any less terrifying. Most people working within the creative arts - musicians, animators, filmmakers, designers - have already felt the ramifications of AI within their industries.

The Lauren Murphy Column • 24 May

Rising star Sexy Tadhg is a highlight of the Carlow Arts Festival programme

10 smaller arts and music festivals to check out this summer

Whisper it - lest you provoke the weather gods - but with this prolonged period of glorious sunshine we've been having, it's the perfect time to start planning your summer festival schedule.

Festivals • 17 May

The vampire Riverdance scene in Sinners was not on our movie bingo card for 2025

From Sinners to luas surfing: 8 surprising Irish movie moments

In all fairness, it was the last thing I expected to see midway through a horror film set in 1930s Mississippi: a gaggle of vampires, dancing Irish jigs, baring their fangs and giving it socks...

Listicles • 06 May