• Sanctuary

    Cinema has a soft spot for the disabled, or at least those with worthy and theatrically resonant types of disabilities, ones that can be overcome in three acts, and leave able-bodied audiences feeling good about abstractions like “the human spirit”. Actors are lauded as “brave” for embracing physical and verbal contortions: Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man; Eddie Redmayne’s Oscar for The Theory of Everything; and, last year, Andrew Garfield’s polio quadriplegic in Andy Serkis’ Breathe. Meanwhile, television is opening itself up to richer representations of those on the Asperger’s spectrum. But a feature film with an ensemble cast, all of…

  • Watch: Half Foward Line – Hey, Can I Try On Your Glasses?

    Having released one of our favourite Irish albums of the year, Half Forward Line are back with a video for their new single ‘Hey, Can I Try On Your Glasses?’ featuring a profane refrain that Henry Rollins would be proud of. The video is an everyday tale of madness and obsession revolving around the spectacle of spectacles starring Barry Richardson (a familiar name for So Cow fans via their tribute song to him) and Rusted Rail’s Keith Wallace. It was filmed in various locations around Galway and written, edited and directed by John Cavanagh. The group’s debut album The Back of Mass…

  • Album Stream: Kieran O’Brien – Turn

    Galway’s Kieran O’Brien has been honing his style for some time now. From the atmospheric folk that defined last year’s After The Storm to the dream-pop leanings of June’s ‘Only A Dream’, the songwriter’s work to date has been explorative, sincere and endlessly refreshing. Returning now with his second EP, Turn, the ventures into a full-band sound are becoming more sure-footed and assertive, taking as many cues from the likes of The War On Drugs and Real Estate as from stalwarts of the Americana folk tradition. Speaking of the new EP’s thematic foundation, O’Brien said: “After The Storm reminisced heavily on the ocean and past events. These songs look ahead, towards…

  • Exhibition: Something Momentous Germinating @ Galway Arts Centre

    There are a few more days to catch Aoife Desmond’s solo show Something Momentous Germinating in Galway Arts Centre. The work was inspired by Desmond recent return to her family home and the process of reverting the space while also trying to preserve and capture the essence of the building and memory associated of the space. The show also looks at the function of a domestic space and the qualities it emits in line with more traditional artistic spaces – the light falling through a window, the sculptural qualities of the everyday object. Something Momentous Germinating continues until Tuesday October 10th, with…