. . . excited aboutNighthawks music and storytelling night at the Guinness Storehouse on June 17th, featuring music from Vyvienne Long, poetry from Colm Keegan and comedy from Colum McDonnell.
. . . Singing
The Golden Girls theme tune and Never Let Her Slip Away, in honour of the songwriter Andrew Gold, who died earlier this week, aged 59.
. . . Marvelling At
The Fadden More Psalter, a book of psalms that is as old as the Book of Kells. Found in 2006 in a Tipperary bog, it’s now on display at the National Museum.
Boxsets of Summer Heights High, Chris Lilley's genius multi-character comedy, now that his new series, Angry Boys, is on BBC4 on Tuesday nights.
. . . Reading
Down these Green Streets, a new anthology of stories and interviews with Irish crime authors, including John Banville, Tana French and John Connolly, published by Liberties Press.
Bon Iver, Justin Vernon’s hugely anticipated follow-up to For Emma, Forever Ago. Lush, epic, with the occasional tendency towards 1980s power ballads: it was worth waiting for.
... looking forward to
The Gate's production of Brian Friel's 1994 play Molly Sweeney, starring Dawn Bradfield and Peter Hanly.
... hats off to
Téa Obreht, winner of this year's Orange Prize for Fiction for her novel The Tigers Wife.
... watching
The Irish version of the competitive cookery show, Come Dine With Me, complete with snarky Dave Lamb commentary. Next week's is set in Dublin.
. . . wondering
Who will win next week’s International Impac Dublin Literary Award? Three Irish writers – Colm Tóibín, Colum McCann and William Trevor – are among the nominees on this year’s shortlist.
. . . Congratulating
Julia Donaldson – author of the classic children's books The Gruffalo, Stick Manand Monkey Puzzle– who has just been made the new children's laureate in the UK.
... curious about
Frances and Francis, a play about the artist Francis Bacon at Focus Theatre, Dublin, from Monday until June 25th.
