Event of the week
First Fortnight
From Tuesday, January 6 until Saturday, January 17, various locations nationwide/venues/prices, firstfortnight.ie
“How a single spark becomes a conversation” is how Stephen James Smith, one of First Fortnight’s curators, describes the progression of the arts/mental-health festival over the past 15 years. Its mission remains the same, however: “to use art to change how we speak about mental ill health, and how we listen to one another.” This year’s opening event celebrates Nollaig na mBan (Tuesday, January 6th, Whelan’s, Dublin, 7.30pm, €25/€20) with music and poetry from Tolu Makay, Jan Brierton and the Ireland professor of poetry, Vona Groarke. The first week of events continues with Therapy Sessions Dublin (Friday, January 9th, Workman’s Club, 7.30pm, €20/€18), featuring spoken word from Stephen James Smith and the bilingual poet Cormac Mac Gearailt, and soul/hip-hop from the Irish artist Nealo, with Inuit/First Nations artists and singers Taqralik Partridge, Melissa Shaginoff and Leslie Kachena McCue.
Gigs
The Dedication to Philip Parris Lynott
Sunday, January 4th, 3Arena, Dublin, 6pm, €79.95, ticketmaster.ie
Another year passes, and the legacy of Thin Lizzy’s Phil Lynott continues to be celebrated. This event features an appearance by the former Lizzy members Eric Bell and Darren Wharton, plus Lawrence Archer’s Grand Slam (the band Lynott formed after Thin Lizzy split up), Ricky Warwick (of Black Star Riders and The Almighty), an excerpt from the hit musical Moonlight: The Phil Lynott Enigma, and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, which in the second half of the show will perform classic Lizzy songs.
Hilary Woods
Friday, January 9th, and Saturday, January 10th, Kirkos, Stoneybatter, Dublin, 8pm, €23 (sold out), kirkosensemble.com
The Irish musician, writer and film-maker Hilary Woods is no longer in the spotlight she was under in the early 2000s, as a member of the band JJ72. Over the past dozen years she has delved into an especially diverse form of creative expression through layered, experimental albums such as Colt (2018), Birthmarks (2020), Acts of Light (2023) and last year’s Night Criú. These two shows take place in the intimate Kirkos venue, which bills itself as “trying to develop the ecosystem that thrives at the fringes of Irish new music”.
Biffy Clyro
Friday, January 9th, SSE Arena, Belfast, £73; Saturday, January 10th, 3Arena, Dublin, €72.70, ticketmaster.ie
The beginning of every year needs a kick-start, so it’s a big thank you to Scotland’s Biffy Clyro for supplying the boot this coming weekend with two arena shows that are promoting Futique – “a vulnerable yet life-affirming blast”, according to NME – the band’s UK number-one album from last year. With a total of 10 albums to their name, expect a trip through the back catalogue with hits such as Mountains, That Golden Rule and Many of Horror, as well as a broader array of fan-favourite album tracks.
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Torann: Galway’s Punk & Metal Weekender
Friday-Sunday, January 9th-11th, various venues, Galway, €28, roisindubh.net/torann.live
The city walls will shake next weekend when Torann: Galway’s Punk & Metal Weekender, makes its debut. It’s an introduction to performances by the Irish metal bands Primordial, Death the Leveller, Shardborne, Genuflection, Ornith, Okus, Chewie and The Hungry Buzzards. The weekend also features sidebar events such as Document, a panel discussion presented by Hope Collective and Irish Pop Archive; an all-ages day; and a merchandise fair. For those refusing to wear earplugs, we salute you.
Spoken word
Midwinter: An Evening with Michael Harding
Friday, January 9th, NCH, Dublin, 8pm, €32, nch.ie
In an evening named after his latest, Irish Book Awards-nominated publication, Michael Harding is set to talk about the importance of human connection in an online world, the hardship and beauty of the winter months, and why January hints at new beginnings. Expect the event to be like the man himself: reflective, humorous and honest. Copies of the book will be on sale at the venue.
Festival
Nollaig Na mBan: North Inner City
Tuesday, January 6th, various venues, times and prices, Dublin, nollaignamban.ie/eventbrite.ie
Ballybough, North Strand and Clonliffe, in north central Dublin, celebrate Nollaig Na mBan (Women’s Christmas) with art, music and panel discussions. Among the events are the historian Caitriona Crowe hosting Celebrating Local Women (Charleville Mall Library, 3pm); and music from Hamsandwich and Ailbhe Reddy (St Columba’s Church, 6.30pm), Camille O’Sullivan (Annesley House, 9pm) and Mary Byrne (Clonliffe House, 10pm).
Stage
Robin & Dawn
From Monday, January 5th, until Saturday, January 31st, Bewley’s Cafe Theatre, Dublin, 1pm, €15/€10, bewleyscafetheatre.com
Robin (John Cronin) and Dawn (Roseanna Purcell) are at a troubling crossroads in their 20-year marriage. As a musician, Robin gigs most nights, driving home to remote west Co Kerry to open the front door just as Dawn is getting ready to begin her day. During one night’s journey, Robin witnesses something that leaves him profoundly unsettled, prompting him and Dawn to have an in-depth conversation for the first time in years. Michael Hilliard Mulcahy writes, and Padraig McIntyre directs.
Still running
Maurice Marinot: On Paper, in Glass
Until Sunday, January 25th, National Gallery Ireland, Dublin, free, nationalgallery.ie
The celebrated French artist Maurice Marinot (1882-1960) specialised in transforming the expressive potential of glass by infusing the vivid colours of his paintings into objects such as paperweights, vases and bowls. The works on display, including designs and drawings, have never been exhibited at the NGI before.
Book it this week
Reneé Rapp, 3Arena, Dublin, March 22nd, ticketmaster.ie
CMAT, St Anne’s Park, Dublin, May 30th, ticketmaster.ie
Maroon 5, Malahide Castle, Co Dublin, June 30th, ticketmaster.ie
James Taylor, Live at the Marquee, Cork, July 10th, ticketmaster.ie
