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

Being Various - inside the new Irish anthology

Listen: Arena on RTÉ Radio 1 showcases Being Various, the acclaimed Faber anthology of new Irish short fiction.

The Parisian by Isabella Hammad - read an extract

We're delighted to present an extract from The Parisian, the debut novel by Isabella Hammad, published by Jonathan Cape.

Books • 08 May 19

Constellations by Sinead Gleeson - read an extract

We're delighted to present an extract from Blue Hills & Chalk Bones, an essay taken from Constellations, the acclaimed new collection from Sinead Gleeson.

Books • 24 Mar 20

The Red Word by Sarah Henstra - read an extract

We're delighted to present an extract from The Red Word by Sarah Henstra, the latest publication from acclaimed Irish publishing house Tramp Press.

Books • 26 Mar 19

My Coney Island Baby by Billy O'Callaghan - read an extract

We're delighted to present an extract from acclaimed author Billy O'Callaghan's new novel My Coney Island Baby, published by Jonathan Cape.

Books • 19 Jan 19

A hilarious Christmas tale from Karl MacDermott

For the season that's in it, read a very special Christmas tale from comedian and author Karl MacDermott, whose latest collection Juggling With Turnips was one of our favourite reads of 2018.

Comedy • 24 Dec 18

Seán Mannion in his prime, defeating Roosevelt Green in the fight prior to his WBA light middleweight world title fight against Mike McCallum, 1984.

The Man Who Was Never Knocked Down - read an exclusive extract

We're delighted to present an extract from The Man Who Was Never Knocked Down: The Life of Boxer Seán Mannion, a new sports biography from author Rónán Mac Con Iomaire.

Books • 26 Nov 18

Notes From A Lost Tribe by Lynch & Mathews - read an extract

Since Declan Lynch and Arthur Mathews first shone a light into this darkest corner of the darkest living room in all of Ireland over a decade ago, things have actually got worse for that almost-forgotten species we call the Poor Ould Fellas...

Books • 21 Nov 18

Northern Heist by Richard O'Rawe - read an extract

Northern Heist is the debut novel from Richard O'Rawe, author of the non-fiction bestsellers Blanketmen and In the Name of the Son - The Gerry Conlon Story.

New Writing • 05 Nov 18

Over The Top, by Nick Richards - read an extract

We're delighted to present an extract from Nick Richards' debut humorous novel Over The Top...

New Writing • 02 Nov 18

Dracul, the prequel to Dracula - read an extract

As a special Halloween treat, we're delighted to present an extract Dracul, the new prequel to Bram Stoker's Dracula by J.D. Barker and Bram's great-grand nephew Dacre Stoker, published by Penguin.

Books • 31 Oct 18

Paprika by Frank McGuinness - read an exclusive extract

We're delighted to present an extract from Blood & Oranges, taken from Paprika, the new short story collection from author and playwright Frank McGuinness, published by The O'Brien Press.

Books • 18 Oct 18

An Ark Of Light by Dermot Bolger - read an exclusive extract

In Dermot Bolger's new novel An Ark Of Light, we follow the eventful life of Eva Fitzgerald, as she embarks on a remarkable journey of self-discovery. Read an extract here...

Books • 15 Sep 18

Shift by Mia Gallagher - read an extract

We're delighted to present an extract from the short story Pinning Tail on the Donkey, taken from Mia Gallagher's new collection Shift.

Books • 08 Aug 18

Jospeh O'Neill: The Goose and a lone wedding guest in Milan

Read a new short story by Joseph O'Neill

We're delighted to present a new short story by Joseph O'Neill, from his new collection, Good Trouble.

Books • 01 Aug 18

Notes to Self by Emilie Pine - read an exclusive extract

Notes to Self is a collection of personal essays by Emilie Pine, who lectures in the School of English, Drama and Film at UCD – it is the first non-fiction title published by Tramp Press.

Books • 29 Jul 18

Country by Michael Hughes - read an exclusive extract

We're delighted to present an extract from Country, the new novel by Michael Hughes, a vivid and brutal reimagining of Homer's Iliad, set in the Troubles of the late twentieth century.

New Fiction • 23 Jul 18

Karl MacDermott's Juggling With Turnips - read an extract

We're delighted to present a hilarious extract from comedian and writer Karl MacDermott's new collection of short comic fiction, Juggling With Turnips.

New Writing • 29 Jun 18

Problems by Jade Sharma - read an exclusive extract

We're delighted to present an extract from Problems, the debut novel by Jade Sharma, published by Tramp Press.

Books • 08 May 18

The Earlie King and the Kid in Yellow - read an extract

We're delighted to present an extract from The Earlie King and the Kid in Yellow. the debut novel from Cork-born author Danny Denton, published by Granta Books.

New Fiction • 05 Feb 18

New Fiction: Waiting for River Phoenix by Rachel Donohue

We're delighted to present a new short story by Rachel Donohue, the current Hennessy New Irish Writer of the Year.

New Fiction • 16 Jan 18

New Fiction: Read 'Mesopotamia' by Amanda Michalopoulou

We're delighted to present an new short story from Greek author Amanda Michalopoulou, extracted from the collection Best European Fiction 2018, published by Dalkey Archive Press.

Books • 22 Jan 18

New Irish Writing: Imprint by Zoë Comyns

We're delighted to present Imprint by Zoë Comyns, which appears in the the latest edition of essential literary journal Gorse.

New Irish Writing • 02 Jan 18

Sense and Shiftability - read an extract from Ciara King's Diary

We're delighted to present an exclusive extract from Ciara's Diary: Sense and Shiftability: 1999-2002, the hilarious new book by RTÉ 2FM presenter Ciara King.

Books • 01 Jan 18

It's Saturday morning - a beautiful memoir

New Writing - a moving memoir of love, loss and art

We're delighted to present a moving memoir of love, loss and art from Neva Elliott McGinley.

New Writing • 31 Dec 17