Lauren Murphy

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

Debut author Roisin O'Donnell (Pic: Ruth Medjber)

Fresh reads - 7 recent Irish debut novels you might have missed

The Irish literary scene has never not been in rude health - but its robustness is found in the new writers and work that is coming through.

Listicles • 27 Apr

We're gonna say it... Even Baby Reindeer could have done with a wee trim.

Have we already passed peak TV?

It was Ardal O'Hanlon who provided the voice of reason...

The Lauren Murphy Column • 19 Apr

Ryan Adams' recent Belfast and Dublin shows divided audiences (to say the least)

Ryan Adams, bad gigs and the fine art of the sh*t show

It was clear from the first few seconds that this was not going to be an ordinary gig...

Opinion and Analysis • 10 Apr

Sally Rooney is one of the Irish authors whose work has been 'scraped' to train Meta's AI programme

How did Irish authors' books end up in Meta's AI data?

We've been here before. Remember the 'You wouldn't steal a car' piracy ads in the early noughties, ushered in by the increase in dodgy DVD copies of the latest Hollywood blockbusters?

Opinion and Analysis • 08 Apr

Shane Crotty of Kenny's, the world's longest running online bookshop

Why supporting indie Irish bookshops matters in the age of Amazon

The message was stark but indisputable. "Irish businesses will struggle to compete with Amazon.ie, both online and in the high street," said Kenny's bookshop on Instagram.

Books • 29 Mar

Careless People: Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg

Careless People: the Facebook exposé everyone's talking about

If you happened to find yourself perusing Dublin's bookshops over the weekend looking for a particular tome - Careless People: A Story of Where I Used to Work - you would have come away empty-handed.

Opinion and Analysis • 26 Mar

What Did You Do Yesterday? host David O'Doherty

10 of the best Irish podcasts to listen to right now

It seems like the world and his wife has a podcast these days - which makes it all the more difficult to decide what's actually worth listening to.

Listicles • 22 Mar

Kneecap are bringing the Irish language to a global stage

The young artists making Gaeilge cool again

Hands up if you've ever uttered 'I'd love to speak more Irish, but it's the way it's taught in school that's the problem'?

The Lauren Murphy Column • 17 Mar

What, nothing from 'Joanne'? Let the arguments begin!

Lady Gaga's 10 best songs - The Culture Countdown

She's baaaack! Five years after her last album Chromatica, one of the most iconic pop stars of all time returns with her eighth studio album Mayhem - and rather aptly, just in time for International Women's Day.

Lady Gaga • 08 Mar

Irish culture has enjoyed a 'green wave' of success in recent years

What's going on with all the Irish arts scandals right now?

The last year or two has seen endless column inches devoted to the so-called 'Green Wave', a movement apparently kick-started by the success of The Banshees of Inisherin that has seen Irish artists of all disciplines dominating global culture.

Opinion and Analysis • 26 Feb