Stevie Wonder improvising on Soul Train (1973)

Is it just me or is the RTÉ Player particularly bad for the World Cup? Seems to be crashing multiple times a match

Now *that's* how you write the opening of a story

My March 2025 letter remains sadly relevant to Browne. SMART goals are the most fundamental principle underlying the management of any project. That we don't have them for the most significant challenge facing the nation is alarming. Full text: www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/your... #spéirgorm

Have had two dreadful experiences with Marley Park gigs over the years. Swore I would never go back... but am going to the Cure on Friday... www.irishtimes.com/culture/musi...

is that you, Gerry Thornley?

Four songs from Ride the Lightning is an easy ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ tbh My review of Metallica night 2 at the Aviva www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/ar...

CMAT in Cork - Feb 2020 v June 2026

Went to Metallica, had a good time www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/ar...

"A kind of beautiful human-made slop, the flower arrangement at the gates of hell." www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Fabulous WOW interview with Louise O'Neill in @echolive.bsky.social in advance of her WCLF event on 17 July. Louise and Liz Nugent will be chatting to @esthermcarthyread.bsky.social in Bantry for this year's festival finale 🎟️ www.westcorkmusic.ie/events/2026/... 🗞️ www.echolive.ie/wow/arid-418...

Planning schmlanning Boxd said the drive-thru unit, located at Knockgriffin in Midleton, has been "fully viable and incredibly well received... clearly demonstrating the need for facilities such as ours within the town." www.irishexaminer.com/business/com...

Happy Bloomsday! www.rte.ie/culture/2026...

A grand total of three acts mentioned in this 'roundup' of this weekend's big music festival. Dunno if excluding young people from events should be a 'high' either tbh www.irishtimes.com/culture/musi...

Mariska doing a matinee and a 7 pm performance of her one-woman Broadway show and then watching the greatest comeback in Finals history actually looks like the Jordan flu game

I love him I hate him

My novel is the Guardian's Book of the Day today www.theguardian.com/books/2026/j...

Such a depressing email from the Wire: "You may remember that this time last year we put out an urgent call for support, citing rising costs and changes to the music and media landscapes as increasing threats to the magazine’s ongoing existence. Many of our readers heeded the call...

I dunno, feels like some miscasting here... www.youtube.com/watch?v=gM4L...

What I’m Into… is a weekly series where Irish artists share a snapshot of what they’ve been enjoying lately - music, books, films, places, and whatever else has been sticking with them. This week is Havvk's Julie Hough on Oklou, Amelie, The Houseguest and watching Romeo + Juliet as an actual adult…

Nobody does summer like cricket in England

Just $5,000 for this writing retreat in West Cork... www.bogandthunder.com/care-and-fee...

TPOE 397: Ae Mak Aoife McCann on the long-awaited debut Ae Mak album Folk Songs for Mama & Papa, the story of heartbreak behind it, writing the songs on a grand piano in her friend's flat, collaborating with the late Eoin 'Talos' French, and lots more. tr.ee/wRaeyCGjOt

I just went 74-8, think you can go 82-0? www.82-0.com/share?id=IKZ...

HULK GOOD EMPLOYEE SERVING PUBLIC NOW, WORK FOR SOUTHEASTERN

Finn McRedmond: The Leaving Cert is dense, demanding and far superior to the UK’s A-levels

CMAT: "it was really difficult to have to go home to dublin and play my biggest headline show ever smack bang in the middle of the discourse" substack.com/home/post/p-...

Knicks in 6

How can this have happened? We made literally no efforts and did none of the things that would help?

Motorist found with knuckleduster in stolen car told Cork gardaí: 'It's dangerous out there'

If you're in London on June 16th, @patrickfreyne.bsky.social and I will be talking about Joyce (for Bloomsday) and our own work - and you'll get to hear Patrick read from his brilliant new novel. dauntbooks.co.uk/shop/events/... It's at @dauntbooks.bsky.social Marylebone at 7pm (with wine).

Olivia covering CMAT Incredible in so many ways

Sore thighs, right ankle, shoulders, headache - would recommend though

"If Arsenal are unpopular with neutrals, it’s because they waste everyone’s time. Not just their opponents’ time, but our time too. Football fans everywhere are suffering Arsenal’s consequences." www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer...

Monday night. RTÉ 1 9.30 FRAN THE MAN PREMIERE

When a guy does this and misses the penalty might be the best soccer thing out there

Phew

"Now, the young Irish in London have conquered Hackney, Islington, the northeast – Arsenal territory. In fact, spend a Saturday afternoon wandering around the affluent London Fields and you might find it harder to locate an English accent than an Irish one" www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2026...

My novel, Experts in a Dying Field, is OUT IN TWO WEEKS, June 11th. Here are some nice things people have said about it

Beautiful interview with the parents of Ellen Cassidy, who died after completing the half marathon in Cork last year. www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/pe...

I wrote about Victor Wembanyama's performance in Game 1, one of the best we've ever seen. www.theringer.com/2026/05/19/n...

Genuine question: what exactly are we all doing.

Long interview with Roy Duffy on 15 years of Squarehead open.substack.com/pub/tpoe/p/s...

Celtic-Hearts 30 minutes in - and absolutely brutal game so far. As you'd expect I suppose

Drunk man told gardaí on busy Cork street: 'I'm hunting coppers' and 'I will f***ing break you' www.irishexaminer.com/news/courtan...

Watch out for Shark School chewing your eardrums on new series of Sessions from Oblivion coming up shortly on @2fm.rte.ie with Beta da SILVA.. recorded live @roisindubh1.bsky.social

Loads of great culture picks here from Galway trio Shark School open.substack.com/pub/tpoe/p/w...?

My music podcast this week - a rarely spotted interview with Dublin band Squarehead Listen/subscribe: tr.ee/-YSmmpWJ6n

After seven-and-a-half great years, this is my final week working at The42. Thanks to everyone who has read and listened to my work. I am very grateful to have worked with a fantastic group of people, and to have been given the opportunity to do some very cool stuff.

"I think they underestimated the fact that I knew exactly what I wanted. I just didn't know how to verbalise it" Clip from my hour-long interview with Gemma Hayes ahead of her show at Dublin's National Concert Hall on Tuesday, May 12, celebrating 25 years in music