Culture | Books, Music, Theatre, Film & The Arts

From U2 to Sprints: Irish sophomore albums past, present, future

With the release of second albums by For Those I Love, M(h)aol, and Far Caspian, plus others to come from Sprints and NewDad this month, 2fm's Dan Hegarty looks at other sophomore releases by Irish acts from years past...

Listicles • 10 hrs

Brenda Fricker in Tadhg O'Sullivan's The Swallow

The Swallow: Tadhg O'Sullivan on art, connection and his new film

Acclaimed filmmaker, editor, sound designer and sound recordist Tadhg O'Sullivan introduces The Swallow, his narrative feature film debut, which premieres at this year's Dublin International Film Festival.

Film • 13 Sep

Queer optimism: how Ireland's LGBTQ+ youth movement was built

In his new book How Ireland's LGBTQ+ Youth Movement Was Built: Civil Society in the Pursuit of Social Justice, Dr Michael Barron traces how LGBTQ+ young people in Ireland moved from silence to celebration

History • 13 Sep

Photo by RTÉ staff member Áine Gallagher

Listen: Ambient Orbit Live from Sounds From A Safe Harbour

A special live Ambient Orbit broadcast from St. Anne's Church as part of the 2025 Sounds From A Safe Harbour Festival featuring musicians Shahzad Ismaily, Caoimhin O'Raghallaigh and RÓIS.

Rté Lyric Fm • 12 Sep

Graham Knuttel remembered: "He is loved and missed beyond words"

A retrospective exhibition celebrating the work of artist Graham Knuttel takes place in the Minerva Suite at The RDS, Dublin this Sepember

visual arts • 12 Sep

The Records Show - Katie Hannon digs deep into Ireland's archives

Coming to RTÉ One this September, The Records Show sees presenter Katie Hannon exploring the shelves of Ireland's National Archives

RTÉ One • 12 Sep

Cillian Murphy's new movie Steve comes to Sounds From A Safe Harbour

The Culture 5 - your cultural highlights for the next seven days

Hear The Culture 5 every Friday on Aedín in the Afternoon on RTÉ lyric fm, from 1pm

Culture 5 • 12 Sep

Galway Comedy Festival reveals 2025 line-up ahead of October bash

Running from Tuesday 21 to Monday 27 October, a whopping 69 shows will be held across 16 venues throughout Galway City and County, featuring more than 70 comedians from Ireland and around the world.

Festivals • 12 Sep

Clarity at Last: Charlie McGuinness on his new Drama On One play

Writer Charlie McGuinness introduces his play Clarity at Last, joint winner of the 2024 P.J. O'Connor Awards, coming to Drama On One this September.

Drama On One • 12 Sep

Dr Moling Ryan appointed Interim Director of the Arts Council

The Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O'Donovan, has announced the appointment of Dr Moling Ryan as Interim Director of the Arts Council.

Arts and Culture • 11 Sep

Dublin Book Festival returns everything from poetry to a Python

As the days grow shorter and the evenings darker, Dublin will once again come alive with the magic of storytelling.

Festivals • 11 Sep

The Boy: A Two-Play Theatrical Event poster

Oh boy - Eileen Walsh stars in a tragedy of epic proportions

Coming to this year's Dublin Theatre Festival, The Boy is a two-play theatrical event.

Theatre • 11 Sep

Culture Night 2025 - highlights from across the country

All-island, for all, and always free! Culture Night showcases the quality of Irish arts and culture, connecting people of all ages to activities and nurturing new opportunities to engage and experience creativity in every imaginable shape and form.

Culture Night • 11 Sep

architect Emmett Scanlon in RTÉ Radio studio, behind mic, smiling to camera, 2024

Sunday Miscellany: The Bog Bothy, by Emmett Scanlon

Why the Irish Architecture Foundation wanted to build a Bog Bothy in the midlands

Sunday Miscellany • 10 Sep

The Quiet Man returns - bringing a clasic Irish tale to the stage

Playwright John Breen won kudos for his epic rugby play Alone It Stands - now he's bringing an Irish screen classic to the stage...

Theatre • 10 Sep

Something for the Weekend: May Kay's cultural picks

MayKay is a singer, songwriter, TV presenter, and frontwoman of Fight Like Apes...

Something For The Weekend • 10 Sep

Slow Horses author Mick Herron on the latest book in the series

The bestselling author talks about the inspiration for his Slow Horses spy novels and the Irish connection to the ninth title in the series, Clown Town.

Highlights • 10 Sep

Why I wrote a book about the Irish wives forgotten by history

Throughout history, the stories of women's lives and work have been overshadowed by those of men. Wives, especially, disappear.

Books • 10 Sep

New video games: How Hollow Knight: Silksong broke the internet

I say it every time, but when it comes to gaming, 2025 has already been an exceptional year.

Games • 11 Sep

Architecture steps onto Ireland's cultural mainstage

The Irish Architecture Foundation is marking its 20th year with Future Heritage, its most ambitious cultural programme to date...

Architecture • 09 Sep

Gamescom – the big reveals at gaming's premiere event

With over 357,000 visitors, thousands of exhibitors, countless announcements and an opening night that reached over 72 million livestream views, Gamescom has cemented itself as the biggest event in gaming this year.

Gaming • 09 Sep

Aosdána Elects 9 New Members at its 43rd General Assembly

Aosdána, the affiliation of creative artists in Ireland, has elected nine new members at its 43rd General Assembly, held at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham.

Arts and Culture • 10 Sep

Life, loss, fame & family - the IFI Documentary Festival in focus

Sunniva O'Flynn introduces the Irish programme at this year's IFI Documentary Festival, its annual celebration of non-fiction filmmaking.

Documentaries • 09 Sep

Future tense - new Irish publisher showcases speculative fiction

A new association has been set up to give Irish writers of speculative fiction a platform to showcase their work and attract publishers from home and abroad.

Books • 08 Sep

Sunday Miscellany: An Emigrant Bog-Dweller, by Karen McHugh

Translation challenges for the words 'turf' and 'bog' in cultures where they don't exist

Sunday Miscellany • 08 Sep