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

Ordinary Saints - author Niamh Ni Mhaoileoin (Pic: Julie Broadfoot)

Niamh Ni Mhaoileoin on faith, family, identity & her debut novel

Writer Niamh Ni Mhaoileoin introduces her debut novel Ordinary Saints, an exploration of family, grief, queer identity, and the legacy of the Catholic Church in Ireland.

Books • 02 May

A Fix Of Light by Kel Menton - read an extract

We present an extract from A Fix Of Light by Kel Menton, a new YA novel from a debut Irish author that blends queer romance and fantasy.

New Irish Writing • 01 Mar

Cynthia Erivo (L) and Arianda Grande R) in Wicked

How Wicked's Defying Gravity became a battle cry for outsiders

As director Jon M Chu's first instalment of the mega-musical adaptation Wicked arrives in cinemas, a new audience of fans is connecting with Stephen Schwartz's memorable score, writes Hannah Thuraisingam Robbins.

Opinion and Analysis • 26 Nov 24

Something For The Weekend: CHRISTEENE's cultural picks

On Sunday 27th October CHRISTEENE brings The Lion The Witch And The Cobra to the National Concert Hall paying homage to Sinead O'Connor for 'her capacity to survive, her private and very public wars, her compassion and vulnerability'.

Something For The Weekend • 17 Oct 24

The new play telling the story of NI's pioneering gay helpline

Callings, a new play by Belfast-based theatre company Kabosh, celebrates the activism of the dedicated people who set up the helpline Cara-Friend 50 years ago to offer support and friendship at a time when homosexuality was still illegal in the North.

Theatre • 03 Nov 24

The incomparable Sexy Tadhg (Pic: Kate Lawlor)

Something For The Weekend: Sexy Tadhg's cultural picks

IMRAM returns to Dublin from 7th – 16th November 2024, showcasing the rich diversity of modern Irish-language literature through a mix of live performances, author interviews, readings, and multimedia shows.

Something For The Weekend • 16 Oct 24

Aoife Sweeney O'Connor on mammies, queer joy and Wee Daniel

Dublin Fringe Festival • 10 Sep 24

'John Broderick was a writer of prickly truths.'

John Broderick at 100: a pioneering queer Irish writer celebrated

On Tuesday the 30th of July, the Arts Council in partnership with Westmeath County Council will pay tribute to Athlone native, writer, literary critic and patron of the arts, John Broderick with a celebration on what would have been his 100th birthday.

Books • 18 Jul 24

'Pride is a time to wonder at the distance we've travelled'

To kick off this year's Pride celebrations, we present the text of a moving speech delivered by LGBTQ+ activist and archivist Tonie Walsh at the National Concert Hall, Dublin, earlier this month.

Opinion and Analysis • 01 Jul 24

Andrew Scott is Tom Ripley in the new Netflix mini-series (Pic: Netflix)

Is Andrew Scott's Ripley mesmerising or charmless?

Fresh from All of Us Strangers (2023), Andrew Scott plays the title role in Netflix's new series Ripley, a miniseries based on Patricia Highsmith's 1955 novel The Talented Mr. Ripley.

opinion • 17 Jul 24

Pregnant with a Drag Queen - Veda talks to RTÉ Arena

Ireland's most formidable drag artist and HIV activist, Veda, on their new film Pregnant with a Drag Queen.

RTÉ Arena • 29 Feb 24

Xnthony is bringing his Big Gay Ball to Donegal (Pic: Declan Kelly)

New Year's slay - Xnthony on cabaret hi-jinks and quitting booze

Nightlife Visionary and playwright extraordinare Xnthony comes to this year's First Fortnight Festival as writer and producer of the Big Gay Ball...

First Fortnight • 12 Jan 24

Seán Hewitt: "I definitely saw myself in this book as a sort of conduit"

Seán Hewitt on exploring the "emotional territory" of queer love

The Rooney Prize winner speaks about the importance of language in translation, revelling in the ordinariness of queer love and restoring queer identity and sexuality to the pinnacle of culture.

Books • 06 Dec 23

The Undetectables by Courtney Smyth - read an extract

Be gay. Solve crimes. Take naps.

Books • 05 Nov 23

The incomparable Xnthony returns to Irish stages this October and November (Pic: LUXXXER)

Oliver Cromwell is Really Very Sorry: Xnthony on his hit musical

Performance artist Xnthony introduces his acclaimed pop musical, Oliver Cromwell is Really Very Sorry, a wickedly funny exploration of English colonialism in Ireland, which takes to the road this October and November for a national tour.

Theatre • 10 Oct 23

'Egg is an invitation to let loose, have a laugh and tap into something wonderful, queer and a little bit feral.'

Only yoking: meet Dublin's spiciest DIY queer cabaret collective

Pea Dinneen and Aoife O'Connor give a cracking account of their latest all-inclusive live show, Egg: The Proclamation of The Irish Republegg, coming to the Dublin Fringe Festival this September.

Cabaret • 06 Sep 23

Something For The Weekend: GoblinsGoblinsGoblins' cultural picks

Acclaimed performer GoblinsGoblinsGoblins is part of Dublin's spiciest queer collective Egg, who present Egg: The Proclamation Of The Irish Republegg at this year's Dublin Fringe Festival this September.

Something For The Weekend • 16 Aug 23

'Party Scene is not about teaching any moral lessons' (Pic: Luca Truffarelli)

'Chemsex is a complex subject matter' - POPBABY on Party Scene

Celebrated theatremakers Phillip McMahon and Philip Connaughton of THISISPOPBABY introduce their acclaimed high-octane dance theatre work Party Scene.

Dance • 24 Jul 23

Zainab Boladale's new short film Worthy will play at GAZE 2023

10 films to see at GAZE - Dublin's LGBTQIA film festival

Greg Thorpe, Festival Director of the GAZE International LGBTQIA Film Festival gives RTE Culture his Top 10 picks from this year's programme.

Film • 20 Jul 23

In The Cards: Shauna Higgins (L) and writer, director and star Leah Moore (R)

In The Cards: filmmaker Leah Moore's 'celebration of queer joy'

In The Cards is a new short romantic comedy celebrating queerness, disability and working class lives, written and directed by Dubliner Leah Moore.

Film • 11 Jul 23

Slant author Katherine O'Donnell (Pic: Emma Jervis)

Fresh Irish fiction: Slant by Katherine O'Donnell extracted

We present an extract from the debut novel by Katherine O'Donnell.

Books • 19 Jun 23

The stars of new audio series Fruit (Pic: Owen Clarke)

Bearing Fruit - how we made the new queer audio dramedy

Fruit is an ambitious new six-part audio series from LemonSoap Productions, telling the story of the flirtations, trials and tribulations of four LGBTQ+ gals in Dublin City today

Audio Drama • 20 Jun 23

Broadcaster Vincent Hanley, pictured in 1983

Vincent Hanley: Sex, Lies and Videotapes - Fab Vinnie and me

In the deeply personal documentary, Vincent Hanley: Sex, Lies and Videotapes, producer, broadcaster and gay activist, Bill Hughes, tells the story of his friendship with radio and TV star Vincent Hanley.

Documentaries • 19 Jun 23

Listen: Mother's Pride playlist - your essential Pride mix

On Friday and Saturday, June 23rd and 24th the Mother Pride Block Party returns to Collins Barracks in Dublin for a Pride Block Party weekender

Music • 20 Jun 23

Conor Burke stars in his play Everything is Grand, and I'm Completely Okay

Everything is Grand, and I'm Completely Okay - meet Conor Burke

Writer and performer Conor Burke introduces his new play Everything is Grand, and I'm Completely Okay, a tale about growing up, and the lessons we learn along the way...

Theatre • 23 Apr 23