54 h. ago A Sip of Irish review – knocking it back around the world in the diaspora of drink

Producer-director Frank Mannion follows his cordial guide to champagne with a cheerful celebration of beloved tipples of Irish originThe always likable figure of Irish producer and film-maker Frank Mannion has, in the past, given us a cordial guide to champagne, a slightly more chaotic essay on Britishness, and its counterpart on Irishness. Now, in his cheerfully celebratory and slightly corporate-promo way, he has made a film about Irish viticulture and drink in general, which means not simply wineries, breweries and distilleries actually in Ireland, but also abroad: this is about drinks producers with an Irish background, such as Hennessy brandy, which has an obvious Irish ancestry.It’s what this film calls “an Irish drink in a French terroir” – or, in fact, a terroir anywhere in the world, meaning places in Europe, the US and occasionally Australia and New Zealand. The film even jauntily insists that Ireland invented whiskey before Scotland. Prince Albert II of Monaco is intervie...

Politics

4 d. ago ‘You worry what’s going to come next’: Iranians brace themselves as war looms

Israel’s successful strikes against Tehran’s military leadership make the already unpopular Islamic government look increasingly shakyDespite the strikes earlier in the day, Sahar* and her family decided to take a stroll in one of Tehran’s parks on Friday night, the eve of Eid al-Ghadir, a major Shia holiday. But, instead of the usual festive fireworks, the sky was lit up by bright red anti-aircraft missiles streaking across the horizon.“Seeing Iranian missiles over your heads worries you, you worry what’s going to come next. Will it be a war, destruction?” said Sahar over the phone. She sent a video to the Guardian that shows people in the park hurriedly packing up and looking up as the crack of anti-aircraft munitions rings out overhead. Continue reading...

Events

5 d. ago Minister asked to comment on detention of Irish politician in Egypt

The partner of an Irish politician who was detained in Egypt has called on Ireland’s Foreign Affairs Minister to make a statement on the matter.

Politics

5 d. ago Glastonbury Festival issued major warning by experts over 'super spreader' disease

As hundreds of thousands of festival-goers get ready to head to Glastonbury later this month, worries over possible measles outbreaks have been raised by experts

Events

7 d. ago Ozzy Osbourne's Black Sabbath health fears ahead of the group's star studded concert

Rock legends Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne are set for a major UK festival with the likes of Metallica and Guns N’ Roses joining them at Villa back next month, but the singer's health is causing concern

Politics

9 d. ago Music festivals have become more open to harm reduction initiatives. How far will it go?

Harm reductions initiatives are becoming more commonplace at major music festivals, both through partnerships with festival organizers as well as volunteer efforts done without explicit permission

Culture

9 d. ago Fifteen police injured amid suspected racially motivated attacks in Ballymena

Northern Irish politicians condemn violence that erupted after vigil for girl who was allegedly sexually assaultedFifteen police officers were injured and several homes attacked during what has been called a “mob fury” of racially motivated disturbances in the Northern Irish town of Ballymena.Members of a crowd threw petrol bombs, fireworks, heavy masonry and bricks at police and tried to burn the homes of a handful of foreign families in the County Antrim town on Monday night. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago The Peak District town with country walks and old pubs holding a major festival this summer

It's a town full of Georgian architecture, beautiful walks and charming pubs, and every summer famous faces descend upon it for a major arts festival

Politics

2 w. ago What is Shavuot? The Jewish festival that started hours after Boulder, Colorado, attack

The attack in Boulder, Colorado, took place hours before the start of a major Jewish festival, Shavuot

Events

2 w. ago Google and Home Depot drop Pride Toronto sponsorship amid Trump’s DEI war

Organizer points to president’s anti-diversity push as companies join Adidas and Clorox in withdrawing supportIn another blow to one of the largest celebrations of LGTBQ+ people in North America, Pride Toronto has unexpectedly lost two more major corporate sponsors, just weeks before the festival in a setback the festival’s organizer says is direct result of Donald Trump’s campaign to eradicate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the US.Google and Home Depot both announced their plans to abandon the festival in the form of one-line emails, said Kojo Modeste, the executive director of the Canadian event. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Kneecap TRNSMT: Did the band pull out of Glasgow festival or were they axed? Here's what's been said

The band have responded after it was announced they would no longer be playing a Glasgow music festival.

Culture

3 w. ago Kneecap pull out of major UK festival following calls for Irish rap act to be axed

Kneecap have pulled out of this year's TRNSMT Festival after member Liam O'Hanna was charged by the Metropolitan Police following a controversial performance

Politics

3 w. ago Irish rap group Kneecap call on fans to turn up at court en masse to offer support during terror charge trial

Controversial Irish group Kneecap have incited their fans to turn up at court to support them when a band member faces a terror charge.

Events

3 w. ago Cannes Film Festival is hit by blackout caused by 'sabotage' as police hunt perpetrators

The Cannes Film Festival was briefly brought to a halt following a major power outage that has struck south-eastern France just hours after a fire at an electrical substation overnight.

Events

3 w. ago Sabotage suspected as Cannes Film Festival struck by major power outage

Cause of the widespread outage is under investigation, with foul play reportedly suspected

Culture

3 w. ago Kneecap defiant at Wide Awake festival in first major gig since terror charge

Kneecap defiant at Wide Awake festival in first major gig since terror charge  BBC

Events

3 w. ago ‘Revelatory, magnetic, unknown’: how Frank Dillane became a star at Cannes

With a breakout performance in Urchin, the actor has emerged from cult TV fame to the cusp of major stardom – a new ‘post-alpha male’ lead to join the ranks of Paul Mescal and Josh O’ConnorFew actors make an instant impact on their first major film festival appearance, but Frank Dillane, star of fellow actor Harris Dickinson’s directing debut Urchin, is one of them. Critics are near-unanimous in their praise, with Variety calling his performance “revelatory”, and IndieWire describing it as “magnetic”. Influential film industry publication Deadline said that Dillane “arrived in Cannes a virtual unknown, but Harris Dickinson’s directorial debut has made him a star”.In Urchin, Dillane plays Mike, a man living on the streets who ends up in jail after committing an assault and then struggles to go straight after his release. Despite being given a place in a hostel and helped into employment, Mike is tempted to fall back into his old ways. With a script written by Dickinson, Dillane commi...

Politics

3 w. ago Kneecap to headline festival days after Liam O'Hanna terror offence charge

Kneecap will tonight headline a major festival at Brockwell Park just days after one of the members were charged by the Metropolitan Police with a terror offence

Events

4 w. ago Film festival to premiere clergy sex abuse documentary partly based on Guardian reporting

God As My Witness details priest’s relationship with teen who later killed himself and other abuse allegationsA new documentary examining the Catholic clergy molestation scandal in New Orleans – based in part on journalism by the Guardian and its local reporting partner WWL Louisiana – is making its world premiere at London’s Raindance film festival in June.God As My Witness is also nominated for best feature-length documentary at the major film festival’s 33rd edition, according to the movie’s director, Lindsay Quinn Pitre. Continue reading...

Culture