Winter Nights 2022: Irish Times festival includes Brian O’Driscoll, Helen McEntee, David Baddiel

Join international guests and our top journalists for four nights of debate and discussion


From Monday, January 24th to Thursday 27th, internationally renowned guests and Irish Times journalists get together for four nights of debate and discussion.

Irish Times writers and columnists will be joined during the week by Dr Mike Ryan, Ellen Keane, David Baddiel, Helen McEntee, Brian O'Driscoll, Annie Mac, Paul Muldoon, Bonnie Greer, Caitlin Moran, among others.

A single price of €50 admits ticket holders to all events at the online festival. Our subscribers can purchase tickets at the discounted price of €25 per ticket. The full line up is as follows.

Monday, January 24th

6.30pm: State of the Nation
Helen McEntee & Jennifer Bray
Minister for Justice Helen McEntee talks to Irish Times political correspondent Jennifer Bray about new legislation, the pandemic and the changing face of Irish politics.

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7.45pm: The Post-Pandemic Economy
David McWilliams & Cliff Taylor
What's next for the Irish and global economy? Irish Times columnist Cliff Taylor speaks to author and economist David McWilliams about the "great resignation", the housing crisis and the economic challenges ahead.

9pm: Our Man In The WHO
Dr Mike Ryan & Jennifer O'Connell
Dr Mike Ryan of the World Health Organisation is a familiar and trusted voice on the pandemic. He talks to Irish Times columnist Jennifer O'Connell about vaccine equity and navigating a global pandemic.

Tuesday, January 25th

6.30pm: Across the Water
Bonnie Greer & Sorcha Pollak
Chicago-born author and playwright Bonnie Greer went viral in 2019 when she declared "Ireland owes the UK nothing" during a Brexit debate on the BBC. The commentator talks politics, race, feminism and culture with New to the Parish writer Sorcha Pollak.

7.45pm: On the Record
Annie Macmanus & Patrick Freyne
Irish Times columnist Patrick Freyne talks to the acclaimed BBC Radio 1 DJ and author popularly known as Annie Mac. Macmanus and Freyne discuss late nights in Ibiza, her debut novel Mother Mother, and her hit podcast Changes.

9pm: Jews Don't Count?
David Baddiel & Hugh Linehan
Comedian, children's author and presenter David Baddiel talks to arts & culture editor Hugh Linehan about how in a time of heightened awareness of minorities, Jews don't count as a real minority – and why they should.

Wednesday, January 26th

6.30pm: Going For Gold
Ellen Keane & Joanne O'Riordan
From Clontarf in Dublin, Ellen Keane became a Paralympic champion at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games, winning gold in 100m SB8 breaststroke. She talks to Irish Times sports columnist Joanne O'Riordan about her life in and outside the 50m swimming pool.

7.45pm: In Bod We Trust
Brian O'Driscoll & Paul Howard
Irish rugby legend and sports pundit Brian O'Driscoll is a hero to many including Irish Times columnist Ross O'Carroll-Kelly. O'Driscoll talks to Ross-creator Paul Howard about his sporting life.

9pm: We Don't Know Ourselves
Fintan O'Toole & Hugh Linehan
Award-winning Irish Times columnist Fintan O'Toole's latest book We Don't Know Ourselves won Irish Book of the Year in 2021. This astute chronicler of Irish life talks to Hugh Linehan about his decades of reporting on the State we're in.

Thursday, January 27th

6.30pm: Poetry, McCartney & Me
Paul Muldoon & Róisín Ingle
Acclaimed Co Armagh poet Paul Muldoon talks to Irish Times columnist Róisín Ingle about his life in poetry, Northern Ireland, America, his love of music and his five years exploring Paul McCartney's ouvre for bestselling book The Lyrics.

7.45pm More Than A Woman
Caitlin Moran & Kathy Sheridan
Bestselling author and influential feminist Caitlin Moran's latest book, More Than A Woman, is full of her trademark common sense, wit and irreverence. She talks to Irish Times columnist Kathy Sheridan about middle-age, parenthood and her writing life.

Tickets

A single price of €50 admits ticket holders to all events at the festival. Irish Times digital subscribers can purchase tickets at the discounted price of €25 – just make sure you are signed in and follow this link. The discount will be automatically applied.

Ticket buyers receive a link by email on the day of the festival, allowing them to attend the events on all five evenings via their phone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer.

For more information, see irishtimes.com/winternights. Buy tickets here.