Aldous and Joyce too: Frank McNally on a literary pilgrimage to Zurich
The odd circumstances that brought our visit about were in part the influence of another Irish novelist – Flann O’Brien
Flann O’Brien
Séamas O’Reilly: ‘As I’ve grown older I’ve realised how formative the Troubles were’
Author’s debut novel, Prestige Drama, channels humour, anger and sadness in story about a TV show set during the Troubles
How a 16th-century English failed monk tried to bridge Anglo-Irish linguistic gulf
You wouldn’t want to mistake squish for huff
EL by Thaddeus Ó Buachalla: An early contender for most ambitious Irish novel of the year
Equal parts Flann O’Brien and Dan Brown, EL is a novel of impressively epic sweep
‘It was as if Louis Stewart and James Joyce were kindred spirits’
JoyceNotes was the great Irish guitarist’s only fully self-composed large-scale project. It’s finally being released, four decades after its first performance
Anna Burns: ‘When I got damaged in surgery, nothing else mattered. I’ve always lived in survival mode’
The Booker Prize-winning author on writing through the pain, growing up in Belfast’s Murder Triangle and getting sober after leaving the ‘boozy’ city for London
Joseph O’Connor on Anthony Cronin: ‘Tension between content and style is where his wonderful energy arises’
Dead as Doornails ‘hugely important as a picture of its times, of the desolate condition of Irish writers and artists and the society around them’
A history of Ireland, as told through the medium of... rain
It has rained in Ireland every day of 2026 so far. From Samuel Beckett to Flann O’Brien, the country’s literary heritage is awash with the stuff
Ireland’s weather has been like our tax regime – a nice little arrangement. Until now
Delusion that climate change might take the edge off Ireland’s rubbish weather has finally been laid to rest
Even the most pinch-mouthed Ulsterman is yearning for a rain-free moment
Rain does a lot for popular culture. You’ll see a fair bit of it in Wuthering Heights if you check it out
The Irish Times view on the price of a pint: not so plain
Guinness is a multinational product, a cultural artefact and a shorthand for everyday affordability
Art in 2026: 10 shows to watch out for, from Phil Collins to Hilma af Klint
Echoes of the past haunt the year ahead. Are there lessons to be learned?
Annemarie Ní Churreáin: ‘There’s a deep respect embedded in Gaeltacht culture for troublemakers’
Poet reflects on how here upbringing has shaped her works, including her latest collection Hymn to All the Restless Girls
New poetry: Jessica Traynor, Molly Twomey, Alan Gillis, Dean Browne
Martina Evans on New Arcana; Chic to be Sad; Over Here; Afterparty
Crosswords & Puzzles
Crosswords & puzzles to keep you challenged and entertained
Common Ground
How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands
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