Tommy Tiernan’s knack for attracting controversy is matched only by his propensity to put bums on seats. Are the two connected? Does it matter? AARON DUNNE spoke to the Meathman on the eve of his biggest Aussie tour to date.
Tommy Tiernan doesn’t court controversy. Or at least he says he doesn’t. Yet, everywhere he turns, [...]
Breakthrough Irish musical comedy act Dead Cat Bounce are one of the hottest acts on stage at the Adelaide Fringe Festival at the moment, in more ways than one.
Their opening dates in Adelaide – their first ever Aussie shows – have seen them win rave reviews and a host of new fans, but it’s the [...]
They say laughter is the best medicine, and nothing could be closer to the truth when it comes to Des Bishop. The Ireland-based New Yorker has joked his way through the most difficult of times and come out the other side smiling, as he told AARON DUNNE.
Back in 2000, after being diagnosed with testicular cancer, [...]
Brian Kennedy’s voice is as evocatively Irish as those of Sinéad O’Connor or Máire Ní Bhraonáin or Luke Kelly. On the eve of his Australian tour, the Belfast troubadour tells ISABEL HAYES about his enduring affection for Australia, his forthcoming autobiography and the challenges of being a high-profile gay Irishman.
During this year’s Mardi Gras, [...]
Five Minutes Of Heaven, a hard-hitting new Irish film about the Northern conflict and which had its premier in Sydney last June, will go on limited release in cinemas in Australia from March 18, it has been revealed.
The film’s Irish stars Liam Neeson and James Nesbitt, as well as director Oliver Hirschbiegel, were all in Australia [...]
AARON DUNNE chats to trad legend and Riverdance creative force Máirtín O’Connor about his upcoming tour to Australia.
His memorable appearance as part of the Masters Of Tradition showcase at last year’s Sydney Festival turned out to be one of the musical highlights of 2009, and fans of accordion legend Máirtín O’Connor will be glad to [...]
Tuam’s finest – The Saw Doctors – are heading our way.
AARON DUNNE spoke to founding member Dave Carton
about the band’s 20-year history and why it’s been 17 years
since their last Aussie gig.
“There’s wild bad drink in Tuam hi/Get that wasp off my sandwich.”
With lyrics like that, and raucous trad/rock melodies to match, The Saw Doctors [...]
Heard the one about the fluent Irish speaking Dubliner who became the WWE champion? AARON DUNNE chats to Ireland’s first-ever world wrestling champ about his meteoric rise to the top of the professional game.
Stephen Farrelly was your average Dublin schoolboy. Growing up on the rough and ready flats on George Street, like many other kids [...]
With her tremendously successful new album, Saints And Scoundrels, still riding high in the Irish charts, trad legend Sharon Shannon brings her unique sound to Perth this week as she winds up her Aussie tour.
Sharon just finished a three-date stand at the Sydney Festival and will now jett across to WA to play the Perth [...]
Arrgggh, thar she blew.
What promised to be one of the most innovative showpieces at this year’s Sydney Festival turned out to be its most disappointing.
The shambles that ensued at the Rogue’s Gallery’s one-night stand at the Sydney Opera House Forecourt left many fans angry and the event’s creator, Hal Willner, embarrassed and apologetic.
The show began [...]
