Five for your radar: Love is a Stranger festival, Nobody 2 and more
Ballyvolane House, Cork, Friday-Sunday, August 15-17
Niamh Regan plays Love is a Stranger music festival in Ballyvolane House this weekend. Picture: Molly Keane
From the team behind Another Love Story, Ballyvolane House hosts the latest iteration of Love is a Stranger — a mini-boutique festival comprising acclaimed Irish acts and DJs. Caoilian Sherlock, Tessa Rose Jackson, and Fish Go Deep's Shane Johnson get the party started on Friday, before the likes of Niamh Regan, Elaine Howley, and Lullahush take over on Saturday. Expect to befriend plenty of strangers at LIAS.
Cinema: Nobody 2
General release, Friday, August 15
Bob Odenkirk reprises his role as lethal-but-lovable Hutch Mansell in this sequel to 2021's Nobody. Connie Nielsen, RZA, and Christopher Lloyd all return too, alongside new faces like Sharon Stone, Colin Hanks, and John Ortiz in director Timo Tjahjanto's English-language debut. The plot: suburban dad Hutch, a former lethal assassin, is pulled back into his violent past after thwarting a home invasion... setting off a chain of events that unravels secrets about his wife Becca's past and his own.
Architecture: Cork Heritage Open Day
Saturday, August 16
Cork's Geological Heritage A walking tour through the city's ancient past with Thomas Heising. Meeting point 12pm outside Cork City Council on Anglesea Street. Cork Heritage Open Day 2025
Cork Heritage Open Day celebrates 20 years showcasing the city's remarkable architecture and history. More than 35 buildings — many usually closed to the public — will open their doors, alongside guided tours, walks, talks, and exhibitions that bring Cork's story to life. Organised by Cork City Council with the Heritage Council, this free event marks the start of National Heritage Week and remains the country's largest celebration of its kind.
Concert: Sharon Van Etten and the Attachment Theory
Cork Opera House, Tuesday, August 19
Sharon Van Etten returns to Ireland with her band the Attachment Theory, bringing her powerful voice, magnetic stage presence, and their brilliant self-titled 2025 release to the Opera House. A master of blending raw emotion with soaring melodies, Van Etten has long been a favourite of Irish audiences (they also play Dublin's Collins Barracks on Thursday, August 21). Joined by special guest Angie McMahon, this promises a night of unmissable performances from one of the most compelling artists of her generation.
Theatre: The Girl on the Train
Everyman Theatre, Tuesday-Saturday, August 19-23
Much-acclaimed psychological thriller, The Girl on the Train, comes to The Everyman stage - starring Laura Whitmore
The Girl on the Train pulls into the Everyman in a gripping stage adaptation of Paula Hawkins' global bestseller from 2015. Rachel Watson (Laura Whitmore) escapes her own life by watching a seemingly perfect couple from her daily commute — until the woman vanishes, pulling Rachel into a web of secrets, suspicion, and shocking truths. Following a sold-out UK tour, this psychological thriller promises to keep you on the edge of your seat.
— Compiled by Eoghan O'Sullivan
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A Cork man who was among the first people to interview Oasis as part of an assignment for his college newspaper says he is 'buzzing' to be attending their Dublin concerts this weekend. Michael Fitzgerald was just 17 years old when he met with the group at Manchester University's student bar in the early 1990s. At the time, they had yet to release their first single and were playing pubs and clubs around England. He said the first thing they did was place a pint in his hand to put him at ease for their interview. The Killeagh native, who was studying aerospace engineering, had been writing for the Mancunion at the time in return for free gig tickets. The now 49-year-old recalled the excitement in the air on the night he first heard Oasis play live. Now, three decades later, he is hoping to relive that same magic at both Croke Park gigs on Saturday and Sunday. The band's 2025 reunion tour was announced in August last year, with tickets selling out in less than a day. It will be Oasis's first time playing on Irish soil since 2028. Michael recalls his first meeting with group. 'Tony McCarroll, who was the drummer at the time, brought me backstage and introduced me to the lead singer Liam. Liam was quite hyperactive and had an amazing energy about him. It was obvious he was on a trajectory. He told me that I should talk to his brother because 'he writes all the songs',' he said. Noel told me that his influences were the Stone Roses and the Beatles. It was really nice to hear a young person flag these bands as musical influences. They were a breath of fresh air He described Noel and Liam at the time as 'your typical brothers'. 'They were like any other brothers really. One minute they were sitting with their arms around each other, the next they were having a cut off one other. They've had their ups and downs of course but that night, for me at least, it was like chatting with my own people. 'Liam was very personable and full of character. Noel was that little bit more introverted. It was while talking about music that he suddenly livened up and became a comedian. ' A lot of his lyrics were like jokes or punchlines. You can tell from his television interviews that he's a funny guy.' The band left an indelible impression on Michael. 'The first thing Tony McCarroll did was put a pint in my hand. For a penniless Irish student like me, a pint at that time was a fortune.' 'They had the humility but also that working-class confidence. They had huge belief in their songs. I think the band bought into it as an opportunity to get out of Manchester, play music, and just explore the world. 'They embraced that opportunity early.' Oasis fan Michael Fitzgerald said it was obvious the Gallagher brothers and the rest of the band were destined for stardom after he spoke with them for his college newspaper. Michael said it was obvious the Gallagher brothers and the rest of the band were destined for stardom. 'Six months later, their first single came out. I couldn't believe all the t-shirts and merchandise with their name. It inspired me to pursue a lot of my own dreams, even if they didn't involve music.' So how does he feel about this weekend's gigs? 'I've already been to Wembley. There is always an unbelievable atmosphere at Oasis concerts. 'It's like going to a match with 80,000 friends where everyone is singing for the same team. You have grandparents, mums, dads, and children. It's quite special actually.' Michael, who will be attending the concert with his sister, was determined to attend as many Oasis concerts as possible. It's like waiting for a bus for 16 years, and all of a sudden seeing three come along at once. I want to enjoy every minute Also making the pilgrimage to Croke Park this weekend will be Shane Farmer, who has been a superfan of the band for as long as he can remember. He will be attending Sunday night's gig. 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Irish Examiner
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