Aoife Moore is an award-winning journalist, political correspondent and podcaster from Derry.
Possibly best known for breaking the "Golfgate" story for the Irish Examiner in 2020, and voted Irish Journalist of the Year in 2021, Aoife's first book The Long Game: Inside Sinn Féin has been heralded as 'a groundbreaking telling of contemporary Ireland's biggest and most elusive political story' - read an extract here. Earlier this year, she also launched her podcast Trolled, dealing with life online.
Next month Aoife will present a new RTÉ documentary centred around the pitfalls of online dating. Fools for Love?, airing on RTÉ One on 4 October, takes an unflinching look at the hostile environment many women encounter on dating apps.
We asked Aoife for her choice cultural picks.
FILM
This is entirely mood dependent, but I really believe Raging Bull is one of the greatest films ever made. Robert De Niro and Cathy Moriarty are so well matched on screen and it’s beautifully shot. Although it’s about a boxer, it's really a story about ego.
When I need to be picked up, there is nothing better than When Harry Met Sally. The screenplay is very smart and very funny. It’s peak-80s feel good. The best rom-com ever.
MUSIC
Irish music is really having a moment at the minute and I can safely say most of my everyday playlist is reflective of that. Sorcha Richardson’s last album Smiling Like An Idiot was basically a love letter to Dublin and I haven’t stopped listening to it.
I also love Hozier, but everyone loves Hozier.
BOOK
I just finished A Thread of Violence by Mark O’Connell about the Malcom McArthur murders in Dublin. It’s brilliant. I thought how he struggled with his own guilt of liking McArthur was really endearing and something I found when writing The Long Game too, to know someone has committed horrific violence but connecting on a human level is very conflicting.
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THEATRE
I went to see Girl on an Altar in the Abbey Theatre and was taken aback by how good it was. It’s a complete rollercoaster - by the end of it I felt like I needed to lie down. Eileen Walsh played the lead role and I really believe she’s one of the best Irish actors we have. I would recommend a glass of wine while watching it though, my nerves were shot.
TV
Dopesick - it’s a drama about the American opioid crisis and the fall of the Sackler family who owned Purdue Pharma. Michael Keaton plays the main character. It’s a very grim watch but I loved it. The narrative of how big pharma marketed the drugs is interspersed with human stories about those who suffered addiction issues in the aftermath.
GIG
I’m going to see The National in the 3Arena Dublin on September 21st. I think this is my fifth time seeing them but they never disappoint. Every album they release is better than the last.
The last gig I was at was Christy Moore in Vicar Street. Christy is a living legend. There will never be another like him.
ART
Joe Caslin. He’s a street artist and activist who does black and white fine art installations all over Ireland. His art often touches on issues like drug addiction, mental health and equality. I have a print framed in my living room of his. He’s such a talent and a really inspiring guy.
PODCAST
The Witness with Nicola Tallant is probably the best podcast I’ve ever listened to. I loved The Kinahans by the Irish Sun and The Shamina Begum story (I'm Not a Monster) too. I listen to podcasts constantly so I’m always on the look out for new ones. If Books Could Kill is a hilarious book-focused podcast where they dissect self help books, can’t recommend it enough.
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TECH
I’m the least tech minded person in the world. The app I use the most is Google Maps because my sense of direction and short term memory is shocking. That’s. a terrible answer though, so for website I’ll say the New York Times.
THE NEXT BIG THING...
OutCaster. It’s a new Patreon-like platform where podcasts are hosted and streamed. I put my podcast Trolled out on it and it’s been brilliant. It’s Irish-owned and female-led and gives creators total control of their output. I can’t recommend it enough.
The Long Game is published by Penguin Sandycove.
