John Adams

Happy Hutcheson Day – Frank McNally on the most influential Irishman you’ve probably never heard of

Sex offender denied appeal of sentence for abusing young girls

John Adams made victims take Polaroid pictures of themselves as he molested them

Pub contract gives royal carpet maker a less than luxurious image

Renowned Axminster Carpets became linked with JD Wetherspoon’s 900-strong pub chain

Saint Sister: Shape of Silence review – Atmosfolk to see you through the wee hours

If Republicans lose Congress, Democrats will enact ‘violent’ change, says Trump

US president told evangelical leaders Democrats will ‘overturn everything we’ve done’

Developer defends skyscraper planned for historic Cork site

Proposal for €250m complex will take account of port’s heritage, says Kevin O’Sullivan

Green Party calls for scrapping of €100-million plan for Port of Cork site

Spokesman claims proposal for 40-storey skyscraper on Lapps Island is ‘ludicrous’

The best classical music this week: RTÉ NSO Christmas Gala

Lauma Skride, UO/Olari Elts – Ailish Tynan (soprano), ICO/Katherine Hunka (violin)

Electronic music is everywhere, except the classical mainstream. This should change

Three festivals showcased electronic works that deserve to be heard by a wider audience

Musical taste: There’s no accounting for it, especially new stuff

Last weekend’s New Music festival finally delivered on its celebratory promise

Presidential inaugurations: from top hats to fears of assassination

Patrick Freyne looks at how US presidents have been sworn in across the centuries

How designers do Christmas

Heirlooms and oranges, an all-white tree and introducing blue : designers and curators reveal the looks they like at home

Ennio Morricone, Sergio Leone and the elusive Oscar

Ennio Morricone revolutionised cinema music but has never won an Oscar for one of his scores. He’s up again, for ‘The Hateful Eight’. Does he care? Just a little

Classical music: Playing outside the pit can broaden your horizons

Orchestra members fulfil vital extracurricular functions such as providing music education and road-testing new music

Classical music: The Arts Council allows a crisis to go to waste

Times have been hard, but the decision to cut funding to three musical organisations is unnecessarily damaging

Dublin has never had the contemporary music festival it deserves

New Music Dublin has suffered numerous abuses in its short life and has been postponed for 2016. Can it be fixed?