Filed under Drama …

2026 Irish Film Festival Reviews (Part II)

2026 Irish Film Festival Reviews (Part II)

A Review of TESTIMONY by Karen Lochhead Testimony (1925), Director, Writer and Executive Producer – Aoife Kelleher; Producers – Rachel Lysaght and Farah Abushwesha; Cinematographer – Eleanor Bowman. Featuring Dr Maeve O’Rourke, Philomena Lee and Michael O’Brien, and other contributors. This confronting documentary tells the story of the fight for justice for the women and … Continue reading →

Irish Film Festival 26

Irish Film Festival 26

From gripping dramas and powerful documentaries to fresh new voices shaping Irish cinema,the Irish Film Festival Australia (IFF26) returns from October 8th until November 15th 2026 with its biggest program in 12 years. Continue reading →

How to say ‘hello’ in Irish and the curious origin of ‘playboy’

How to say ‘hello’ in Irish and the curious origin of ‘playboy’

The Irish language is noteworthy in using religious terms for greetings: Dia duit ‘God with you’ is responded to by Dia is Muire Duit ‘God and Mary with you.’ The latter response is not as prevalent nowadays)….It is not clear what playboy means in the drama and it is not clear that playboy was used regularly in the English of the west of Ireland at that time. Why then did Synge use this word for his protagonist? Continue reading →

Antarctica!

Antarctica!

Rosán Sensory Adventures, founded by Phillida Eves, is taking its immersive sensory performance “Antarctica!” to the Lincoln Centre in New York and later to Sydney. Inspired by Ernest Shackleton’s expedition, the production incorporates sensory elements for neurodiverse audiences, emphasizing interaction and storytelling through visual imagery, music, and real ice. Continue reading →

MONTO: a search for the definite article

MONTO: a search for the definite article

The wicked history of ‘Monto’ spreads itself accommodatingly from the 1860s up to the 1950s. ‘Monto’ was, at one time, so it is claimed, to be the largest redlight district in Europe. It is estimated that there were at times up to 1,600 prostitutes working there. Continue reading →