EVENT: THE 24 HOUR PLAYS: DUBLIN
For one night only — Sunday, 1st February — a choice selection of the country’s finest actors take to the stage of the Abbey Theatre to perform six short plays, all written, rehearsed and presented within 24 hours. Presented in aid of Dublin Youth Theatre, it’s one of the most entertaining nights on the Irish theatre calendar – find out more here (Abbey Theatre, Dublin, Sunday, 1st February)
EVENT: ST. BRIGID’S DAY
Happy St. Brigid’s! Brigit: Dublin City Celebrating Women is a weekend of over 120 events celebrating women’s contributions to culture, society and Irish life. Bridging ancient tradition and modern life, the programme honours women’s voices and achievements while welcoming the arrival of spring and all the renewal it brings. Taking place from 30th–31st January at Griffith College Dublin, the Imbolg Women Who Terrify Film Festival will celebrate women who terrify, both on screen and behind the camera. As winter draws to a close, this coven of creatives and connoisseurs will gather to mark the Celtic festival of Imbolg (Various venues, 30th January–1st February).
VISUAL ARTS: BLOODLINES
Make no mistake: a new show from artist Dorothy Cross is an event. Her Bloodlines series comprises unique works that layer archival photographs with hand-poured red and white glass. Taken by the artist’s father in the 1940s, these images reveal an inherited fascination with the sea — a personal history caught within a geological frame (Kerlin Gallery, Dublin, Opening Reception on Saturday 31 January, 12–2pm, then running until February 14th)
From Bloodines by Dorothy Cross
TV: THESE SACRED VOWS
Secrets of love, lies and betrayal unravel at an Irish wedding in Tenerife in RTÉ’s new original series, written and directed by John Butler. Over the course of six episodes, the action jumps back in time to revisit the key events of a wild previous week, each from the perspective of a different character. The incomparable Tom Vaughan-Lawlor plays Fr. Vincent, while India Mullen watches the chaos unfold as wedding-party guest Ava. Mother-of-the-bride Sandra is played by Justine Mitchell, with Jason O’Mara taking on the role of father-of-the-bride Jerry. The ensemble cast also includes Adam John Richardson, Tom Hanson, Aoife Hinds, Shane Daniel Byrne and Catherine Bohart (RTÉ One, Sundays from Feb 1st – catch up via RTÉ Player)
CINEMA: NOUVELLE VAGUE
His last movie, Blue Moon, is still in cinemas (and Oscar-nominated to boot); now the indefatigable and unpredictable Richard Linklater pays heartfelt homage to the making of director Jean-Luc Godard’s 1960 debut Breathless (À bout de souffle), one of the most influential films of all time and a defining example of what became known as the French New Wave (Nouvelle Vague). Linklater’s film follows the young JLG as he battles financiers and convention to realise his vision. Lensed in glorious black and white, it’s a joyous love letter to the movies, and the perfect amuse-bouche for the Irish Film Institute’s Godard retrospective this February – RTÉ Arena takes a deeper dive below (Selected cinemas nationwide)
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BONUS – THEATRE: BALLYBRIDGEWATER
For 40 years, the residents of this little hamlet with the highest death rates in Ireland have charmed and entertained viewers all over the country… But for the first time ever – and to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Ireland’s second-best-loved soap opera – be among the first audience members to witness the life-altering madness live on stage! One of Ireland’s most promising young theatre companies, Lemonsoap, presents a work-in-progress version (featuring a cast of 10) of Ultan Pringle’s affectionate tribute to the halcyon days of Irish soap (Smock Alley, Dublin, 5th/6th February)
Hear The Culture 5 every Friday on AedÃn in the Afternoon on RTÉ lyric fm, from 1pm – listen back here