Solidarity Forever: Bridging the divide in Pride and Good Vibrations

Matthew Warchus's critically acclaimed 2014 film Pride opens with the trade union anthem 'Solidarity Forever'. A recurring theme throughout the film is that there is strength in solidarity, particularly when people from different communities unite. In a key scene striking Welsh miner Dai tells young Northern Irish gay activist Mark: "That's what the labour movement means, should mean....

Tribute to a Troubadour: Remembering Mic Christopher

29th November 2016 marks the fifteenth anniversary of the death of Irish singer/ songwriter Michael 'Mic' Christopher. Referred to as "one of the most charismatic musicians of his generation" (Miller) Christopher left behind a stunning musical legacy in the form of his posthumously released solo album Skylarkin'.   I discovered Mic Christopher's music sometime in my...

‘Living, in our own terrible way.’* The disorientation of Ireland’s youth culture in contemporary film and television

Through a series of blog posts, I will explore how contemporary Irish film and television portray the difficulties faced by young Irish men and women. The last few years have seen a string of Irish films and TV series that portray a darker side of Irish life with issues like depression, alcohol and drug abuse, alienation,...