BOOK: Said the Dead
Following her award-winning autofiction A Ghost In Her Throat, Doireann Ní Ghríofa blends literary ghost story with social history in this haunting tale set around a derelict Cork psychiatric hospital. A woman becomes obsessed with the building and the forgotten lives contained within its walls, uncovering tales of women erased by institutional silence and neglect, with Ní Ghríofa's lyrical prose giving emotional resonance to voices long ignored. Atmospheric and beautifully written, make no mistake: this is one of the finest books of the year (Out now, Faber)
STREAMING: Kylie
Directed by Donegal native Michael Harte, this 3-part docu-series traces the transformation of Kylie Minogue from soap-star sweetheart to global pop sensation. Deftly assembled from home movies, archive footage and candid interviews, it explores Kylie's four decades in the spotlight (I Should Be So Lucky turns 40 next year!), with contributions from sister Dannii Minogue, Jason Donovan and Nick Cave adding texture to the portrait. The series captures both Kylie's resilience and reinvention, making a vivid case for her as a cultural icon with all the best tunes (Out now, Netflix)
MUSIC: Festival of Voice: Jóhann Jóhannsson's Drone Mass
The weekend-long Festival of Voice brings together Crash Ensemble and Chamber Choir Ireland (conducted by Gabriel Crouch) for a performance of the late Jóhann Jóhannsson’s immersive final masterpiece. Inspired by ancient Coptic hymns, the work merges voices, strings and electronics into a hypnotic soundscape that feels both sacred and cinematic. Best known for film scores including Arrival, Sicario and Mandy, Jóhannsson created music of profound emotional depth: Drone Mass is widely regarded as his defining musical statement, one to be experienced live and never forgotten (National Concert Hall, Dublin, Sunday 24 May)
FILM: Playboy of the Western World
Hot tickets Nicola Coughlan, Éanna Hardwicke and Siobhán McSweeney lead a lively ensemble in this filmed stage production of John Millington Synge's classic drama, filmed at London's National Theatre. For those who've never experienced Playboy, it's a spirited revival of one of the absolute masterworks of Irish theatre, directed by the Abbey Theatre's Caitríona McLaughlin - RTÉ Arena review the show below (Selected cinemas nationwide from Thursday 28 May)
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EVENT: Listowel Writers' Week
Marking its 55th year and celebrating its place as Ireland’s longest-running literary festival, the Kerry town will host readers and writers and visitors for a literary love-in featuring a choice selection of international and Irish voices; the guest list includes everyone from Mary Costello, Sally Hayden, Colm Toibín, Liz Nugent, Neil Jordan and Brian Dillion (all of whom have recently published splendid new novels) to The Smiths' Mike Joyce, discussing his new memoir, theatre from the incomparable Mikel Murfi, performing his one-man trilogy and former First Minister Of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon, who will present the Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year Award, plus workshops, discussions, music and much, much more (Various venues, Listowel, Co. Kerry, 27–31 May)
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