Prequels and sequels have a mixed history. I prefer the latter, because if I’m into a story I like to see it continued rather than reversed. Rings of Power (Amazon Prime, Wednesday), a Lord of the Rings prequel of sorts, is back for a second series, with the first three episodes ‘dropped’ already. I nodded…
With TV and Radio, I yearn for something different, unexpected and original. I rarely get it – predictability is the order of the day. The interview with Irish Times Religious Affairs correspondent Patsy McGarry on Brendan O’Connor (RTÉ Radio 1, Saturday) fell for the most part into the ‘predictable’ category as the host teased out…
Regular readers will know I’m a big fan of TV drama, especially drama series. I don’t watch too many comedies, but I have a few favourites. One of these is Young Sheldon (RTE One, Fridays). Comedy or not, of late it has been tackling some serious matters, like the mother, Mary (Zoe Perry), being alienated…
Modern Ireland, conceived by many in positions of power and influence as a secular entity that has thrown off the shackles of religion, is more complex that one might think. This Ireland has its heroes, heroines and gurus, including the late Sinead O’Connor and recently deceased writer Edna O’Brien. It is ironic that both of…
Last week I finished the good, the bad and the ugly of the opening ceremony of the Olympics. Since then, I’ve enjoyed the genuine sportsmanship and especially the impressive achievements of the Irish competitors. Watching Paris Olympics 2024, on RTÉ 2 for the most part, I’ve found it noteworthy to see so many participants blessing…
sometimes the secular media takes an interest in religious faith only when it involves some sort of distorted version of religion. Having reviewed it a few episodes in, last Monday I finally got to the end of Under the Banner of Heaven (RTÉ One)– the true crime drama about murder in a Mormon community. I…
Last week started with US President Joe Biden calling for a cooling of the temperature of public discourse. The week ended with him bowing out of the presidential race. On Morning Ireland (RTÉ Radio 1, Tuesday) Luke Ming Flanagan MEP hadn’t got the Biden memo on cooling and called Ursula Von Der Leyen a “monster”.…
It was one of those shocking moments when you’ll always remember where you were when it happened. I heard the first trickle of the news of the attempted assassination of Donald Trump in the car on the way back from a concert last Saturday night. Then it was straight on to Sky News and CNN…
How we treat our children is something of a conundrum, but doing it well is surely a mark of how caring and genuine our society is. I observe how much we love our children, how most parents would do anything for them, even give their own lives if required. We see the unbearable grief when…
Well, I think Mad World has to be my theme song this week. Maybe there’s nothing new under the sun, but previous generations would surely be mystified by some of last week’s goings on. One of the high-profile events of the week was a US presidential debate where an oldish guy, a convicted felon, debated…
Brendan O’Regan