Lauren Murphy

Freelance journalist and broadcaster, writing about music and the arts.

Yes, it's okay if you haven't seen Adolescence yet.

Too. Much. Content. Are you suffering from cultural burnout?

Take it from me: this is a hard pill to swallow. As an arts and culture journalist, there is an added pressure on me to keep up with every new album, book, movie, play, exhibition, TV show and podcast available for consumption.

The Lauren Murphy Column • 21 Jun

CMAT on the red carpet at this year's Brit Awards ceremony in London

Summer of CMAT: the rise and rise of Ireland's gobbiest pop star

It's out with the cigs, the Bic lighters, the "strappy white tops with no bra" and all the other garish lime green accoutrements; time to drag out the cowboy hats and boots, tooth jewels and brightly coloured tights from storage.

The Lauren Murphy Column • 14 Jun

"What do you mean 'A Song For Europe' didn't make the top spot?"

Careful, now - the 10 best Father Ted episodes, ranked!

It's one of the best sitcoms of all time, and certainly one of the most iconic and beloved Irish shows ever. If you want to spark a lively debate across a pub table, however, you need only utter the words: 'What's the best Father Ted episode?'

Listicles • 01 Jun

AI, journalism and the importance of human voices

It was inevitable, but it doesn't make it any less terrifying. Most people working within the creative arts - musicians, animators, filmmakers, designers - have already felt the ramifications of AI within their industries.

The Lauren Murphy Column • 24 May

Rising star Sexy Tadhg is a highlight of the Carlow Arts Festival programme

10 smaller arts and music festivals to check out this summer

Whisper it - lest you provoke the weather gods - but with this prolonged period of glorious sunshine we've been having, it's the perfect time to start planning your summer festival schedule.

Festivals • 17 May

The vampire Riverdance scene in Sinners was not on our movie bingo card for 2025

From Sinners to luas surfing: 8 surprising Irish movie moments

In all fairness, it was the last thing I expected to see midway through a horror film set in 1930s Mississippi: a gaggle of vampires, dancing Irish jigs, baring their fangs and giving it socks...

Listicles • 06 May

Debut author Roisin O'Donnell (Pic: Ruth Medjber)

Fresh reads - 7 recent Irish debut novels you might have missed

The Irish literary scene has never not been in rude health - but its robustness is found in the new writers and work that is coming through.

Listicles • 27 Apr

We're gonna say it... Even Baby Reindeer could have done with a wee trim.

Have we already passed peak TV?

It was Ardal O'Hanlon who provided the voice of reason...

The Lauren Murphy Column • 19 Apr

Ryan Adams' recent Belfast and Dublin shows divided audiences (to say the least)

Ryan Adams, bad gigs and the fine art of the sh*t show

It was clear from the first few seconds that this was not going to be an ordinary gig...

Opinion and Analysis • 10 Apr

Sally Rooney is one of the Irish authors whose work has been 'scraped' to train Meta's AI programme

How did Irish authors' books end up in Meta's AI data?

We've been here before. Remember the 'You wouldn't steal a car' piracy ads in the early noughties, ushered in by the increase in dodgy DVD copies of the latest Hollywood blockbusters?

Opinion and Analysis • 08 Apr