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

Detail from 'Putting on underpants' by Rory Draper (2021)

Fry, Geldof & Hynde among Winter Series speakers

Should you be pining for the chance to attend a literary festival, fear not. The Festival of Writing and Ideas have launched their Winter Series, ...

Books • 17 Jan 21

Artist and Art in Mind founder Glenn Gibson (Pic: © Darach photography)

First Fortnight: Glenn Gibson on keeping Art in Mind

Throughout January, the First Fortnight festival presents than 70 events online, as they mark 10 years of challenging mental health stigma...

First Fortnight • 12 Jan 21

First Fortnight preview - a collective moment through movement

We explore the series of online events focused on dance and wellbeing offered by Dance Ireland in partnership with choreographer Áine Stapleton...

First Fortnight • 11 Jan 21

Geoff Finan (AKA The Poet Geoff) presents Empowering Voices at this year's First Fortnight festival

First Fortnight preview - empowering Traveller voices

Geoff Finan (AKA The Poet Geoff) writes for Culture about a fascinating project that explores issues around identity and mental health in communities of Traveller ...

First Fortnight • 08 Jan 21

First Fortnight preview: Ultan O'Brien on his cinematic opera

First Fortnight • 07 Jan 21

Bressie with his acclaimed children's book The Chill Skill

First Fortnight - books to help your mental health

Libraries across the country are joining First Fortnight to shine a spotlight on mental health books during the month of January...

First Fortnight • 07 Jan 21

Singer-songwriter Sinead White (Pic: Laura Sheeran)

First Fortnight preview: Sinead White on Blue Sky thinking

Throughout January, the First Fortnight festival presents than 70 events online, as they mark 10 years of challenging mental health stigma...

First Fortnight • 05 Jan 21

10 years of mental health awareness with First Fortnight festival

For its tenth year running, the First Fortnight Mental Health Art and Culture Festival returns in January 2021.

Arts and Culture • 04 Dec 20

Detail from "The world is indeed beautiful". by Vivienne Roche and Sebastian Barry

In The Picture: Movember Conversations get illuminated

Movember and creative agency Huskies paired some of Ireland's most notable cultural figures, artists and writers - including Sebastian Barry, Vivienne Roach, Gavin Friday and ...

visual arts • 09 Sep 20

Surviving depression - Alastair Campbell talks to Tubridy

Mental health has yet to achieve parity with physical health in terms of perception: there are still people and places where mental illness is considered ...

Books • 03 Sep 20

First Fortnight preview: Tadhg Hickey on One Eye, Out The Other

First Fortnight preview: The first solo comedy show from Tadhg Hickey introduces you to Feargal; a downtrodden but cheery man who fulfilled his lifelong dream ...

First Fortnight • 19 Dec 19

First Fortnight preview: Stephen Butler on music & mental health

First Fortnight preview: Stephen Butler, of national music promoter Labyrinth, discusses his personal link between music and mental health.

First Fortnight • 19 Dec 19

First Fortnight preview: Nicola Anthony on A Desire For Closeness

International artist Nicola Anthony has worked with individuals in Wexford who feel isolated, displaced, or lonely, for her project A Desire For Closeness, to be ...

visual arts • 17 Dec 19

Oisin McKenna writes and stars in Admin, coming to First Fortnight this January

First Fortnight preview: Oisín McKenna on his play Admin

Writer and performer Oisin McKenna brings his acclaimed one-man play Admin back to the stage this January, as part of this year's First Fortnight festival, ...

First Fortnight • 16 Dec 19

Irish-American author Mary Beth Keane shatters suburban, respectable New York aspirations

Reviewed: Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane

In Mary Beth Keane's illuminating novel, the lives of two generations unfold effortlessly, revealing family triumphs and struggles in a poignant exploration into the depths ...

Books • 02 Oct 19

'I'm not the devil incarnate': Tony Slattery talks to Ray D'Arcy

In his first Irish interview, comedian Tony Slattery spoke to Ray D'Arcy about his Irish connections and his Catholic upbringing.

RTÉ Radio 1 • 16 May 19

First Fortnight: Artist Rory Draper on Breaking The Bubble

Revisiting the Ghosts of Grangegorman – Documentary on One

First Fortnight: Aoife Martin on books, and minding your head

First Fortnight: Peter Gowen on making plays & finding your voice

First Fortnight Festival announces 2022 programme

Blindboy Boatclub on Covid and anxiety

Keith Walsh & Janet Moran on making a show about mental health

James Withey on telling depression to p**s off

Reviewed: The Comfort Book by Matt Haig