Go For It

BACK IN STYLE

HARRY STYLES

Just a month after the release of his eagerly anticipated third album, Harry’s House (out May 20), Harry Styles is making his way to Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on June 22, for a sold-out show that’s guaranteed to generate a serious buzz around the city. The former One Direction star continues to expand his musical horizons as a solo artist, as he proved with his lauded headline slot at Coachella 2022. Irish audiences will be in for a special treat, with Mercury Prize winner Arlo Parks set to join Styles as a special guest for this tour date only.

NEED TO KNOW WHEN: JUNE 22 WHERE: AVIVA STADIUM

GOAL STANDARD

Republic of Ireland v Ukraine Aviva Stadium, Dublin June 8 In what’s sure to be an emotional occasion, Stephen Kenny’s Ireland welcome Ukraine to Dublin for the opening fixture in their 2022 Nations League campaign. After a patchy opening to their World Cup qualification campaign last year, Ireland eventually hit their stride, culminating in an impressive 3-0 away win against Luxembourg. On June 11, meanwhile, Ireland welcome Steve Clarke’s Scotland to the Aviva for another vital Nations League clash.

PADDY CASEY

BRIDGERING THE GAP

American indie star Phoebe Bridgers is no stranger to Ireland having recently visited with her boyfriend, Maynooth actor Paul Mescal, and contributed a brand new song, ‘Sidelines’, to the soundtrack of the highly anticipated adaptation of Sally Rooney’s Conversations With Friends. Following the release of her latest album, 2020’s Punisher, the singer-songwriter makes her triumphant return to Ireland on June 20, with a major headline show at Fairview Park in Dublin.

DO THE WRITE THING

Ireland’s oldest literary and arts festival, Listowel Writers’ Week, welcomes writers, artists, poets and audiences to the beautiful Co. Kerry town from June 1–5 for an inclusive celebration of the power of the written word. Soak it all up with literary panel discussions, moderated talks, poetry readings, interviews, tours and walks, or book a spot on one of an exciting array of workshops across the week, led by the likes of Kit de Waal, Catherine Dunne, Paul McVeigh, Emma Langford and more.

MARQUEE TO THE CITY

Kicking off proceedings on May 27 with a performance from The Coronas, the 2022 edition of Live At The Marquee is bringing some of the leading names in Irish and international pop, rock, comedy, podcasts, dance and more to the Docklands in Cork this summer. Among the many highlights for music fans are: Tom Grennan (May 31); Simply Red (June 1); The National (6); Tom Jones (11); Deadmau5 (17); Another Day Festival (18); Pet Shop Boys (22); Jenny Green & The RTÉ Concert Orchestra (24); Christy Moore (25); Crowded House (27); Nile Rodgers & Chic (28); and Olivia Rodrigo (29).

NEED TO KNOW WHEN: MAY 23–JUNE 21 WHERE: CORK IN BLOOM

Whether you’ve attempted to tackle James Joyce’s epic masterpiece Ulysses or not, Bloomsday has something for everyone. This year, the festival is running from June 11 to 16 – with the celebrations peaking on the last day, marking the date Joyce’s iconic novel is set in 1904. The uniquely Irish festival boasts a wide range of events, including readings, walking tours, theatre, screenings, music, and plenty of action and revelry at various locations associated with Ulysses across Dublin.

PADDY CASEY

BETTER DAYS ARE COMING

With his debut album, Without Fear, remaining a mainstay on the charts here a full two-and-a-half years after its release, Dermot Kennedy has firmly established himself as one of the most powerful forces in Irish music. In fact, despite the challenges of lockdown, the Dublin singer-songwriter’s star power has continued to grow exponentially on these shores and beyond, which means his upcoming Irish gigs are primed to be some of the must-see events of the summer. Following a string of international dates, he’ll head to the Gleneagle INEC Arena in Killarney, Co. Kerry for three nights (June 6, 7 & 8), followed by two major outdoor shows in St Anne’s Park, Co. Dublin (10 & 11). He’ll be back later that month for shows at Belsonic in Ormeau Park, Belfast (23); Malahide Castle, Co. Dublin (24); and Musgrave Park in Cork (25). If that’s not enough for you, he’ll also headline the Friday night (September 2) at Electric Picnic.