'An infrequent conversation between fans of music, some of it long-lost’
Last February marked the tenth anniversary of the death of Fergus O’Farrell, the Cork-born singer, writer and leader of his band, Interference. Born with muscular dystrophy, he died after a well-documented struggle with the disease. His music and his spirit –which are formidable in equal part - are captured with elan in Michael McCormack’s film,... Continue Reading →
A December run of shows with The Frank and Walters in Cork and Damien Dempsey in Dublin prompts a look at ageing, live music, and loyal hometown crowds. It’s a reflection on two enduring acts and why they and their gigs still resonate
On April 10, 1999, I was in the producer’s chair in Studio 4 in RTÉ while we aired a special episode of a live Saturday night chat show called Kenny Live, hosted by Pat Kenny. The show was paying its respects to the late actor and comedian, Dermot Morgan, who died unexpectedly the previous year... Continue Reading →
For the week that’s in it, we asked our Toronto Bureau Chief – and long-time Oasis anorak – Eoin O’Callaghan, to file a guest post about the Irish influence on Noel Gallagher’s work. Margaret ‘Peggy’ Sweeney was an emotional wreck when she arrived in Manchester from Charlestown, Co. Mayo, in 1962. Like so many... Continue Reading →
In a triumphant return to Dublin’s 3Arena, Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker took fans on a nostalgic journey through the band’s early Irish gigs—culminating in a sharp, hilarious callback to their very first Dublin show in 1993 at The Rock Garden. This piece dives into that chaotic, shoestring early gig, the roots of the city’s live music scene in the '80s and '90s, and the long, winding road Pulp took to stardom. From basement venues to festival stages, dodgy hotels to stolen gear, this is a story of perseverance, wit, and a band that finally claimed its moment—thirty years in the making
The Blackpool Sentinel 
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