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

The Baboró arts festival for children returns to Galway

A children's festival which has been described as a "joyous celebration" will return to Galway next month.

LGBTQ+ prize cancelled after backlash over Irish author's views

The organisers of the 2025 Polari Prize, a prominent literary award celebrating LGBTQ+ literature from writers born or based in the UK and Ireland, have paused this year's competition following widespread backlash over the inclusion of author John Boyne.

Books • 20 Aug

NO FEE PICPIC JULIEN BEHAL Favour Odusola (Culture Night Ambassador) Farah Elle (Culture Night Ambassador) and Sonnie Delap (Dublin Samulnori Drummers) are pictured at the launch of the 20th anniversary programme for Culture Night Dublin

Over 300 free events on Culture Night's Dublin programme

In 2006 a handful of groups came together in Temple Bar to celebrate the city's culture - fast-forward to 2025 and Culture Night is now a celebration of creativity that spans to every corner of Ireland.

Dublin • 19 Aug

Derry O'Sullivan (Pic: Le caoinchead Thogra Phortráidí na Scríbhneoirí Gaeilge)

Irish-language poet Derry O'Sullivan dies in Paris

Irish-language poet Derry O'Sullivan has died in Paris aged 81. Originally from west Cork, he had been living in Paris for many years.

Ireland • 18 Aug

Hugh Lane Gallery to close for three year refurbishment

Dublin City Council has said the city's Hugh Lane Gallery is to close for three years in order to facilitate a refurbishment.

Dublin • 08 Sep

Venetia Bowe is an actor from Dublin who plays 'Joy' in playwright Dan Colley's show 'Lost Lear'

Irish among artists taking part in Edinburgh festivals

Irish artists are among thousands from across the world who are packing their bags and heading off to Edinburgh in Scotland, for the annual internationally renowned arts festivals.

UK • 31 Jul

The 13 books on the longlist for the Booker Prize

Trinidadian-Irish writer makes Booker Prize longlist

The longlist for the Booker Prize has been announced with no Irish-born authors included this year.

Books • 29 Jul

President Michael D Higgins to release album of poetry

President Michael D Higgins is set to release an album of poetry later this year.

Ireland • 18 Jul

A flats complex at the Ballymun Housing Project in the 1960s (Image: Irish Film Institute)

Forty years of Ballymun captured in video collection

A collection of more than 40 years of camera footage telling the story of Ballymun has been released.

Dublin • 31 Jul

The display, called 'Dickie to Richard', in The Hunt Museum tells the story of his life from childhood to his successful acting career

Richard Harris exhibition opens in Limerick's Hunt Museum

A new exhibition of photographs, videos and many personal items depicting the life of the late actor Richard Harris has opened in Limerick city.

Munster • 07 Jul

Irish writer Donal Ryan, author of the novel "The Spinning Heart", poses for a photograph during the 33rd edition of the "Etonnants Voyageurs" literature festival in Saint-Malo, western France, on May 28, 2023. (Photo by Fred TANNEAU / AFP) (Photo by FRED

Irish writer Donal Ryan wins prestigious Orwell Prize

Irish writer Donal Ryan has been announced in London as the winner of the prestigious Orwell Prize for Political Fiction for his novel 'Heart, Be At Peace'.

Ireland • 26 Jun

Survey uncovers public concern with licensing conditions

New findings from a survey about the nightlife industry in Ireland show that 71% of respondents believe that nightclubs cannot survive under current licensing conditions.

Ireland • 25 Jun

Representatives from the Arts Council appearing before PAC

Arts Council 'regrets' €6.7m IT failure, PAC hears

The Arts Council has said it "greatly regrets" spending €6.7 million on a complex IT project that was later abandoned, the Public Accounts Committee has heard.

Ireland • 29 May

Arts Council director to step down next month

Director of the Arts Council Maureen Kennelly will step down in June after concluding her five-year term, it has been confirmed this morning.

Ireland • 28 May

The scheme provides 2,000 artists and creative arts workers with payments of €325 per week

Minister backs retention of Basic Income for Arts scheme

Minister for the Arts Patrick O'Donovan has publicly backed the retention of the Basic Income for the Arts scheme, saying its impact is "far-ranging and affects all aspects of recipients' lives".

Ireland • 26 May

Michael Crummey said he is thrilled at the award (File image)

Canadian author wins 2025 Dublin Literary Award

Canadian author Michael Crummey has been announced as the winner of the 2025 Dublin Literary Award for his book 'The Adversary'.

Ireland • 23 May

The Book of Leinster will be available to view until mid-August in Trinity College, Dublin

'Wikipedia' of the Middle Ages goes on display at Trinity

One of the most important surviving medieval manuscripts written in Irish goes on public display after a two-year long project to conserve it.

Ireland • 23 May

71 titles have been nominated for the award this year by 83 libraries in 34 countries around the world

30 years of the International Dublin Literary Award

Tomorrow marks the 30th anniversary of the prestigious International Dublin Literary Award when the winner of the €100,000 award is announced in Dublin.

Dublin • 21 May

The work of renowned poet Paul Durcan is known to younger audiences, having featured on the Leaving Cert English syllabus

Renowned poet Paul Durcan dies at 80

Paul Durcan, one of Ireland's most renowned contemporary poets, has died at the age of 80.

Ireland • 19 May

Irish composer Michael Gallen (Pic: Daire Hall)

Irish composer Michael Gallen wins world's top new opera prize

Irish composer Michael Gallen has been awarded the 2025 FEDORA Opera Prize, the world's largest award for new opera, for his upcoming work The Curing Line.

Opera • 28 Apr

Works will include Joseph Haydn's String Quartet, Op. 64 No. 5, nicknamed 'The Lark'

Galway Music Residency explores beauty of birds

As part of its Nature and Ecology theme for 2025, Galway Music Residency is exploring the beauty and mystery of birds.

Connacht • 20 Apr

Members of the IWU submitting the petition to Minister of State Niamh Smyth

Irish authors raise concerns over Meta's alleged AI use

A group of Irish authors has presented a petition to the Department of Trade raising their concerns over the alleged use by Meta of their publications to train its AI model, Llama 3.

Ireland • 17 Apr

He was one of the greats of the Latin American literary 'boom' of the 1960s and 1970s

Nobel Literature Prize winner Mario Vargas Llosa dies

Peruvian writer and Nobel literature laureate Mario Vargas Llosa died yesterday at the age of 89, his family announced, ending the era of Latin America's literary golden generation.

Culture • 14 Apr

Director of the Hillsboro Fine Art John Daly said there is all kinds of wonderful artwork on offer

Galleries and artists join forces for new Dublin art fair

This weekend, 70 of the country's galleries and artists are coming together for the first time, for a new art fair called 'Art Evolve'.

Dublin • 05 Apr

Oscar-winning producer Ed Guiney is the founder of Storyhouse

Storyhouse screenwriting festival kicks off in Dublin