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The top 10 Irish pop culture moments of 2025

Updated / Saturday, 6 Dec 2025 07:00
The mighty CMAT takes to the stage at Glastonbury
The mighty CMAT takes to the stage at Glastonbury

2025 has proven itself a busy year for Irish culture, but some moments have proven more memorable than others.

These are the pop culture moments from 2025 that you'll probably be seeing on Reeling in the Years at some point in the future…

1. The Summer of CMAT

Ciara Mary Alice Thompson was already a star, but this year she went truly international - largely thanks to the virality (and accompanying TikTok dance) of her single Take a Sexy Picture of Me. There were US TV appearances, a triumphant Glastonbury set and a Mercury Prize nomination for her best album to date, Euro-Country. There was even a mural (by artist Emmalene Blake) of the 'Dunboyne Diana’ painted on a wall of her Co. Meath hometown. All hail our gem-toothed empress...

2. Kneecap’s court case

2024 was huge for the Belfast hip-hop group, thanks to their eponymous film and the release of their second album Fine Art. This year, however, the trio became household names due to their high-profile activism in support of Palestine (including displaying messages on the backdrop of their Coachella set in April). Not long afterwards, charges were brought against Mo Chara aka Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh by UK counter-terrorism police for displaying a Hezbollah flag at Kneecap’s London gig last November. The controversy made international headlines, and after several court appearances (which saw hundreds of supporters thronging Westminster Magistrates’ Court), the charges were ultimately dismissed in September.

3. The rollercoaster that was the Irish presidential election - and those Connolly keepy-uppies

There are always a few unexpected incidents in the course of an election, but the Irish presidential election was truly bonkers. First, you had everyone from Michael Flatley, Bob Geldof and meteorologist Joanna Donnelly declaring their intention to run, before swiftly stepping back. We then had three confirmed candidates, before Jim Gavin unexpectedly bowed out. When Catherine Connolly showed off her keepy-uppy and basketball skills on the campaign trail, however, her rival Heather Humphreys was well and truly done for.

4. Oasis at Croke Park

Dublin was gripped by Gallaghermania for a weekend in August, when Oasis rolled into town for two gigs on their Live ‘25 world tour; never before has the capital witnessed so many Adidas trainers and bucket hats. The Mancunian band comprehensively delivered on the promise of those mega-gigs, from their intro music of Luke Kelly’s iconic version of The Auld Triangle to the dazzling fireworks of closer Champagne Supernova. That viral video of fans gathered outside the stadium singing Half the World Away said it all: these were two gigs for the ages.

5. The Traitors Ireland

For years, Irish fans of The Traitors have had to make do with cheering on the rare Irish contestant taking part in the UK version - but this year, we finally got our own. Hosted by the inimitable Siobhan McSweeney, The Traitors Ireland was a huge success. Not only did it make Paudie a national treasure, but winners Vanessa, Oyin and Kelley showed that being Faithful pays dividends, too. The good news is that it’s already been renewed for Season 2.

6. That Rocky Road to Dublin moment in Sinners

One of the most unexpected moments in cinema this year - at least for Irish audiences - was hearing an old folk song repurposed to soundtrack a key scene in a horror film about vampires in the Mississippi Delta in 1932. Somehow, Rocky Road to Dublin found its way into Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, where Irish vampire Remmick (Jack O’Connell) sings it (with the help of High Kings members Brian Dunphy and Darren Holden) in a memorable set piece. "I’m obsessed with Irish folk music; my kids are obsessed with it, my first name is Irish," said Coogler. "I think it’s not known how much crossover there is between African-American culture and Irish culture, and how much that stuff is loved in our community."

7. Joe Duffy departs Liveline

It was the end of an era when Joe Duffy hung up his headphones and signed off Liveline for the final time in June. Women from Clontarf (and elsewhere, to be fair) were left bereft when Duffy retired from RTÉ after 37 years of service, 26 of them presenting the phone-in show that became a deeply ingrained part of Irish culture over the decades. From discussions of serious societal topics, to debating trivialities that often made you feel like you were living in an episode of Father Ted, there was rarely a dull moment as the nation ‘talked to Joe’. He left the show in the very capable hands of Kieran Cuddihy.

8. Troy Parrott’s last-gasp winner in Budapest

There are some who may argue that this moment belongs in a ‘top sporting moments’ list rather than a pop culture one, but Troy Parrott’s hat-trick in Budapest in November transcends categorisation. All we know is that it provided the country with a desperately-needed adrenaline shot; how often have we been on the receiving end of those heartbreaking defeats? Within minutes of the final whistle, Irish social media was imploding; Dublin Airport temporarily renamed itself Troy Parrott International Airport and there were calls to erect a statue to the Dubliner post-haste. If there was this much collective joy in getting through to the playoffs, imagine how it might feel to actually reach the World Cup finals next summer? In any case, we’ll always have Budapest. Thanks, Troy.

9. Jonathan Anderson becomes Creative Director of Dior

As a nation, let’s be frank: with a few exceptions, we have not generally been renowned for our fashion industry (although the first Irish Fashion Week in October might claim otherwise.) Luckily, we have one man flying the fashion flag for us out foreign, as Northern Irish fashion designer Jonathan Anderson was appointed Creative Director at Dior in June. Considering the Magherafelt native has literally worn an Irish rugby jersey on the catwalk in the past, we look forward to seeing his haute couture tricolour creations on the streets of Milan and Paris in the near future.

10. Samantha Mumba’s Eurosong outburst

It may seem like a frivolous event, but Eurovision is a very serious business. Just ask Irish pop star Samantha Mumba, who entered Eurosong in February in a bid to represent Ireland in the 2025 contest in Basel. Unfortunately, her song My Way didn’t make the cut, with Emmy’s Laika Party ultimately selected as the Irish entry - but the Gotta Tell You star didn’t take the news well. She took to social media to lambast the judging panel, which included chef Donal Skehan and choreographer Arthur Gourounlian, accusing them of lacking the "credentials, experience or professionalism required and were unnecessarily rude and vile to all the finalists. My parting gift to them," she wrote, "is a bag of 🍆 to slowly choke on." Umm, quite.

Lauren Murphy is the host of culture podcast Get Around To It

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