Writer Fergus Cronin was born in Dublin. He was awarded the Maria Edgeworth prize for fiction in 2022 and completed an MPhil degree in Creative Writing at the Oscar Wilde Centre in TCD.
His new book Night Music has been described by The Irish Times as 'an impressive debut collection full of quirky, tragic characters', and by the Irish Independent as 'sublime short stories of lives half-lived in the shadow of death'.
Ahead of an appearance at this year's Listowel Writers' Week, we asked Fergus for his choice cultural picks...
FILM
Too late alas for the recent IFI retrospective of Joe Comerford's work but do watch out for any opportunity to discover this important Irish director.
Following on from the magnificence of An Cailín Ciúin, Claire Keegan’s great work has found a new dimension. Cillian Murphy has recently been making a film version of Small Things Like These: we must be eager and patient in our anticipation.
Although it’s no substitute for a big-screen, due to my frequent remote location I’m happy enough to see films on a high definition format on TV with decent sound. It is of course the way now with the funding of so much original film. Have a look out for A Hidden Life, a beautifully paced and absolutely engulfing emotional work by Terrence Malick.
ART
The current annual RHA show should, as always, provide an exciting view of what is happening in Irish Painting.
David Mach is an exceptional Scottish artist who has shown at Kilkenny Arts Festival and in recent years at Galway International Arts Festival. He’s back in Galway for this year’s festival with a large scale installation which seems sure to wow people with its scale and humour.
GIG
It was a privilege to be in the NCH for the second year running at the marvellous event Drawing From The Well, curated by the NCH in association with the Irish Traditional Music Archive. Astounding talent abounds in the younger generations and it a joy to hear. This year there were deeply touching moments in memory of the late and inspirational Seamus Begley: an affectionate new poem from Cian Ferriter and the Begley family dancing in memory of their great warrior.
There was a particular knock-your-socks off performance at a recent gig in the Abbey (to celebrate the Good Friday Agreement) from a young Connemara based sibling sean-nós singing sensations Séamus and Caoimhe Uí Fhlatharta. More please!
Lisa Lambe is touring her latest album in the coming weeks, appearing in Limerick, Bray, Bellaghy and Cork and her gigs are joyous, sublime experiences. Several years ago Lisa worked as an actor on a show I produced and it’s been fascinating watching her rise as a singer songwriter.
THEATRE
Always worth a look to see what’s on in Bewley's Café Theatre. Starting on 12th June, Blooming Ulysses could be what you are needing for a Bloomsday outing.
There’s a very enticing prospect coming up at the Abbey on June 20th The Lesya Ukrainka National Academic Drama Theatre will travel from Kiev with a production of Brian Friel’s Translations. I’ve seen this monumental work a number of times - most recently Abbey Artistic Director Catriona McLaughlin’s own production last year. My late great friend Art Ó’Briain directed the very first in Derry’s Guildhall in 1980. It will be fascinating to see how this magnificent work about cultural identity, and the threats thereto, resonates in this unique and urgent context. I wish Art was with us as a witness.
📣 Announcement 📣 We are delighted to welcome the Lesya Ukrainka National Theatre's production of one of the greatest Irish plays on the themes of national identity, language, landscape and history: Brian Friel’s Translations. https://t.co/1Y13yaJ9Mz pic.twitter.com/ZSx8c437w6
— Abbey Theatre (@AbbeyTheatre) May 19, 2023
TV
I must admire the recent comedy output from RTÉ. I’m reliant on the RTÉ Player at this stage but am knocking great fun from that wonderfully wacky odyssey Sisters and the compelling wryness of The Dry.
PODCAST
I’m a big fan of The Rest is History podcast since my brother-in-law Brendan set me on it. I read nearly as much history as I do fiction and I’ve found this podcast by Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook a lively, informative and wide-ranging accompaniment on my daily rambles.
TECH
Bluetooth!! A speaker always within reach and helping me get the most from Spotify. I hear my grandsons talking about a new game called Zelda—some day soon I might actually get to grips with it. Actually, I hereby place my full tech reliance on Lorcán (11), Órán (8) and Rúan (6 months)!
MUSIC
Have to say I’m in a heaven with my Spotify subscription so I hope the artists are getting their dues! Right now it’s Sandy Denny all the way with Arvo Pärt always to hand for more reflective moments.
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BOOK
Two of my favourite writers, Claire Kilroy (Soldier Sailor) and Paul Murray (The Bee Sting) have new books in May and June and I can’t wait to start in on those. Later in the year we’ve the prospect of a new Anne Enright in store.
And of course Richard Ford’s new and eagerly awaited Frank Bascombe novel Be Mine will be in the bookshops next month. You will not be disappointed.
I’ve recently read Ukrainian novelist Andrey Kurkov’s Grey Bees and I couldn’t recommend it strongly enough. It’s an absolute tour-de-force on loneliness , stillness, timelessness and valuable activity in the midst of a most pernicious conflict of nations.
THE NEXT BIG THING...
Manar Al Shouha grew up in Damascus, Syria where she studied painting. She arrived in Ireland seeking international protection in Dec 2021. She has been connected to the arts organisation Common Ground since summer 2022 and she has a studio space with them in Inchicore. Her first showing of paintings was at Rathfarnham Castle which is where we came across her work and she has since exhibited at the High Lanes Gallery in Drogheda. Her paintings depict daily life in Syria and the one we are lucky to own is of people on a bus trip in Damascus.
I mentioned the RHA show, where this year we can particularly looking forward to seeing a new painting of Manar’s St Andrew’s.
And of course the wonderful Congolese-Irish poet Nithy Kasa who’s been shortlisted for the Piggot Prize for Poetry (winner to be announced at this years Listowel Writers Week)and with whom I have the great honour of reading with at the ILDF and Listowel this year.
Night Music is published by Doire Press. Fergus Cronin reads with Nithy Kasa at this year's Listowel Writers' Week on June 1st - find out more here.
