AGP Executive Report

Irish Fashion: Limerick designer Ber McNamara unveiled her Autumn/Winter 2026 collection “The Pure Line” at 1314 for Twilight Thursday, spotlighting timeless tailoring and luxury womenswear built for longevity. Casting & Screen: “Lord of the Flies” casting directors Nina Gold and Martin Ware opened up on the “wild panic” of finding 30+ child actors for Jack Thorne’s Netflix adaptation, shot in Malaysia. Music & Culture: Fontaines D.C. paid tribute to late manager Trevor Dietz, calling him “the sixth member of the band” after his death at 47. Film & TV: Marina de Van’s body-horror work “In My Skin” and “Dark Touch” is examined for how pain and trauma can literally break the skin. Sports Spotlight: Katie Taylor says her Croke Park finale is “like a movie,” then turns to training for Flora Pili’s undisputed title fight in Connecticut. Tech & Media: Elon Musk and X are challenging Ireland’s media watchdog at the High Court over its Digital Services Act probe into X’s EU complaint-handling. Local Arts: Cork City Hall hosts “On The Boards of City Hall,” celebrating Rory Gallagher’s 1974 gig with his first guitar and a recreation of his famous Stratocaster.

Football & Politics: The Tánaiste Simon Harris urged the FAI to “bring clarity” over whether Ireland’s Nations League home fixture against Israel will be moved to a neutral venue, as protests and boycott calls gather momentum. Legal Pressure: Irish Sport for Palestine has threatened a judicial review over the fixtures, warning ministers and the FAI to carry out due diligence on public spending and entry rules for the Israeli delegation. Sport Spotlight: Billy Loughnane is chasing more Ascot glory after winning the 2000 Guineas on Bow Echo, while Hardik Pandya has been cleared at the CoE in Bengaluru to return for India’s ODI series vs Afghanistan. Entertainment & Media: RTÉ’s kids’ soccer show Total Football returns on RTÉ2 with streaming on RTÉ Player, featuring Irish YouTube star DavidMC alongside Aisling O’Reilly. Local Business: Apache Pizza marks 30 years and opens 12 new stores, creating 120 jobs across Ireland. Arts & Culture: The Nobel-Artist International Music Competition announced its 2026 final-round winners, recognising musicians from 27 countries. Public Safety: A man is in critical condition after a “barbaric and brutal” knife attack in north Belfast.

Leaving Cert Wrap: Students shared relief after the higher-level Irish paper, with teachers praising accessible compositions—though one topic omission raised eyebrows. GAA Spotlight: Dublin’s Ger Brennan returns for the Cavan clash after a 12-week suspension, with Jack McCaffrey saying the punishment was “harshly” dealt with. Local Sport (LoI): Galway United’s Dundalk game shifts to Turners Cross in Cork due to pitch and stadium availability. Arts & Culture: Stratford Festival’s Waiting for Godot lands as a funny, human staging—led by Paul Gross and Tom McCamus. Music & Film: The Bluff gets a period-pirate thumbs-up, with standout costume work and a Jamaica-set story built for big-screen catharsis. Community & Family Fun: Cork Week 2026 returns to Crosshaven with a family day and live music, while Mayo’s Oweninny Windfarm visitor centre opens to the public this summer.

Broadway Buzz: Moroccan-American Tony winner Ali Louis Bourzgui, 26, picked up best featured actor for The Lost Boys, spotlighting Arab and Muslim representation on stage. World Cup Listening Guide: BBC Radio 5 Live and talkSPORT are set to broadcast all 104 matches live across the US, Mexico and Canada, with full Irish-friendly details on how to tune in. Munster Hurling: Limerick edged Cork in a dramatic Munster final, with Cork boss Ben O’Connor fuming at a “stop-start” refereeing style. Local Arts & Culture: Clonakilty rebrands as “The Soul of West Cork” with Irish-language sign-painting inspired branding. Music Spotlight: Derek Ryan announces a packed summer tour across Ireland and Scotland, including intimate songwriter shows. TV Pick: Bulgarian detective drama The Devil’s Throat lands on Channel 4’s Walter Presents for binge-worthy viewing. Community & Lifestyle: Cork’s IBAL litter survey shows improvements in parts of the city, while a Cork aviary owner shares the story behind rare birds worth thousands. Road Tragedy: A fatal single-vehicle crash on the N73 near Kildorrery, Co Cork, has prompted witness appeals.

Munster Hurling: Limerick dethroned Cork in a rain-soaked Páirc Uí Chaoimh classic, edging the Mick Mackey Cup 1-21 to 2-17 and setting up All-Ireland semi-finals at Croke Park. All-Ireland Fixtures: Quarter-finals are set for June 20/21 (Clare v Dublin, Offaly v Cork), with semis on July 4/5 and the final on July 19. Music & Live Performance: SETU Junior Strings wrapped up the academic year with a public showcase at College Hill, spotlighting young players and big classical moments. Community & Mental Health: Dublin’s Teen Buddy Program is pairing teens with older adults to tackle isolation through shared hobbies like art and pottery. Sports Drama Beyond Ireland: Denmark’s Christian Eriksen collapsed again in a friendly vs Ukraine, with the match abandoned. Irish Arts Calendar: Limerick Sings International Choral Festival ends after performances and workshops featuring Eimear Quinn and APOLLO5. Entertainment Buzz: Underscores hit out at Houston venue Meow Wolf as “misogynistic,” while Gorillaz introduced at Primavera Sound by Palestinian activist Aarab Barghouti.

Race & Safety in Ireland: Africans in Ireland say fear is rising after the death of Congolese man Yves Sakila, with community members describing a shift from welcome to targeting. Music & Culture: David Gray shares the playlist he wants at his funeral—Madness, Dolly Parton and more—plus a look at what songs still hit hardest. Sport (Ireland): Ireland’s Kyra Carusa and Carla Ward push for another “big-time moment” as the Girls in Green face France for automatic World Cup qualification after a dramatic win over the Netherlands. Cricket (Ireland-linked): 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi earns a first India call-up for tours including Ireland and England, with BCCI arranging travel for his parents. Interiors & Home: Designers are questioning the 60-30-10 colour rule as bold 2026 schemes lean on balance, light and mood. Fashion: M&S shoppers are snapping up a €77 faux leather bomber jacket said to instantly elevate any outfit.

Cricket & Leadership: India shake up their T20 setup for the Ireland and England tours: Shreyas Iyer is named captain and 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi earns a maiden call-up after a record-breaking IPL 2026, while Suryakumar Yadav is dropped. Workload Management: Ajit Agarkar says Jasprit Bumrah is rested for the Ireland/England T20Is to keep him fit for Tests and ODIs, with the Asian Games still on the radar. Irish Sport Spotlight: Galway beat Dublin in the Leinster hurling final, while Leinster book the URC final after a 20-11 win over the Stormers at the Aviva. Local Arts & Culture: Donegal gets a homecoming performance from Milford composer Gerard O’Donnell, and the Irish entertainment world mourns circus ringmistress Marion Fossett, who has died aged 71. Community & Language: A Carlow Gaelscoil wins top honours at the national Irish-language schools’ drama festival with a Lion King production.

World Cup 2026: A fresh guide to the early groups sets the scene for co-hosts Mexico, Canada and USA, with Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Brazil’s Vinicius Junior both getting “how to watch” breakdowns for Irish viewers. Sanctions & Sport/Politics: Ireland has imposed entry bans on Israeli far-right ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, with the wider Gaza context driving renewed debate around upcoming Ireland-Israel fixtures. Boxing at Croke Park: Katie Taylor’s Croke Park farewell is booked for 5 September against undefeated Flora Pili, with ticket details and a promise of major Irish entertainment on the night. Arts & Books: Katriona Lally’s memoir Home Economics lands alongside Katriona O’Sullivan’s searing body-focused memoir Hungry, while a new Irish writer’s crime fiction and a horror-movie round-up keep the streaming and shelf chatter going. Local Culture: Heartland Harp Ensemble prepares for a Waterford/Kilkenny cathedral trip, and Irish community notes include golf lotto winners and Castlerea choir highlights. Health Policy: The Rotunda Hospital escalates its fight over private maternity care, challenging Government Sláintecare rules on public-only consultants.

Katie Taylor Croke Park Finale: Eddie Hearn confirms Taylor’s retirement fight at Dublin’s Croke Park on Saturday, September 5, against unbeaten Flora Pili, with multiple titles on the line and tickets set to go on general sale June 12. Irish Sport Spotlight: Armagh Ladies captain Lauren McConville says squad depth will decide their push after another Ulster win, while Donegal’s Round 2A draw has fans eyeing a home run at Ballybofey. Arts & Culture: John Carney’s music comedy Power Ballad keeps the Dublin-set buzz going, and Maggie Smith’s final film The Miracle Club is set to leave BBC iPlayer soon. Local Life & Community: Athlone’s Croí na hÉireann awards drew 200+ guests, and Donegal Travellers Project marks 30 years with a conference and exhibition. Hospitality & Food: Limerick’s Canteen Coffee Shop celebrates 14 years with a McKenna’s Guides plaque. Public Affairs (Ireland): Ireland bars extremist Israeli ministers Ben-Gvir and Smotrich from entering, and a Dublin GP is found guilty over anti-vaccine social media posts.

World Cup & Irish sport: Republic of Ireland women host the Netherlands at Páirc Uí Chaoimh (RTÉ 2, 7.30pm) with Carla Ward chasing a Brazil 2027 ticket after a mixed qualifying start. Football & fandom: Katie McCabe’s Chelsea switch has sparked fresh Arsenal backlash, with the Irish captain taking a social media break to focus on Ireland duty. Rugby & Leinster: Leo Cullen insists Jacques Nienaber hasn’t “lost” the dressing room, defending the coaching setup ahead of the URC semi-final vs Stormers. Music & film: Dublin-shot musical comedy Power Ballad lands with Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas, while Gracie Abrams announces her The Look At My Life tour including Dublin’s 3Arena dates on sale today. Arts & culture: Belfast TradFest spotlights tin whistle legend Mary Bergin, and Castlemartyr’s Sculpture: Art & Soul exhibition brings major Irish and international names to East Cork. Irish business & travel: Tickets.ie collapse prompts festival organisers to fight for nearly €675,000 in due payments, and Aer Lingus launches transatlantic fares from €250.

AI & IP Protection: Dublin-based Midnight Labs has landed Sony Innovation Fund backing to tackle piracy and deepfakes, using automated enforcement to remove billions of infringing items. TV & Culture: Mary Kennedy returns to TG4 for the fourth series of Moving West, spotlighting people building new lives along the western seaboard. Music: Irish singer-songwriter Mark Geary releases the intimate six-track EP Antebellum, shaped by a stormy start to the year. Literary Festivals: Mullingar Literary Festival returns for three days of books, writing, poetry, music and workshops (July 3–5). Local Heritage: Ballitore gears up for Mary Leadbeater’s 200th death anniversary with events around the Annals of Ballitore and Quaker burial-ground restoration. Sports (Ireland): Heimir Hallgrímsson says Evan Ferguson’s ankle recovery means he’s unlikely to feature in Ireland’s first Nations League games; meanwhile, Canada’s Maxime Crepeau is set to start their friendly vs Ireland. Health & Regulation: Co Dublin GP Marcus de Brun found guilty of professional misconduct over Covid vaccine and guideline-critical social media posts. Crime (West Cork): Shirley Foster, the key witness who found Sophie Toscan du Plantier’s body in 1996, has died.

Irish Arts & Culture: Doireann Ní Ghríofa shares her Hinterland Festival picks, from the haunting film Sound of Falling to Nina Simone’s albums, while Mac Giolla Ghunna digs into his avant-garde world with a new self-titled release. Music & Film: Power Ballad lands in Irish cinemas/streaming conversation as Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas trade jokes and songs in a music-comedy that leans hard on its big emotional hooks. Local Stories with a Creative Edge: A new Dublin home for Irish-language and community learning gets a boost as Galway takes libraries “on the road” with an Irish-first initiative. Sport (GAA): Louth Ladies boss Kevin Larkin looks ahead to their Intermediate Championship opener, and Cork hurling manager Ben O’Connor doubles down on work-rate after Munster success. Community & Inclusion: Wheelchair hurling gets a spotlight in Limerick as it features at a European disability congress in Galway. Entertainment Events: Beyond the Pale brings sit-down festival dining to Glendalough Estate, Wicklow, with steak-focused menus and West African flavours.

Boxing Spotlight: Undisputed lightweight champion Katie Taylor is set to face unbeaten French challenger Flora Pili in a farewell fight, with WBC confirmation expected to land Friday and Croke Park tipped as the venue. Local TV Buzz: Channel 5’s new drama The Fortune launches this week, with Stephen Tompkinson starring as Boots Maddison and a look back at his on-screen romance with Dervla Kirwan. Irish Sports & Culture: Riverdance 30 lands in Biloxi for four shows, celebrating updated choreography and a new generation of performers. Irish Racing Moment: Rachael Blackmore has shared the first photo of her baby boy, naming him Bowie Martin Hayes. Community Arts in Galway: Athenry Arts & Heritage Centre marks 25 years with a free Family Medieval Experience on June 7. Music & Heritage: Fleadh Cheoil Luimnigh 2026 brings crowds and workshops to Croom over the June bank holiday weekend. GAA on TV: RTÉ hurling finals coverage is set for a big weekend, including Dublin v Galway and Cork v Limerick. Entertainment & Sports Crossover: Memorial Tournament pro-am at Muirfield Village brings Hollywood names Chris Pratt and Rob Lowe to the golf spotlight.

Munster Rugby x HelloFresh: Summer Camps 2026 roll out across 23 clubs with 2,000 kids (6–12) getting rugby coaching plus a HelloFresh voucher to make weeknight dinners easier. Snooker Spotlight: Ken Doherty confirms retirement from the main tour, while continuing on the seniors circuit after a landmark 1997 World Championship win. Local Politics & Heritage: Keelbeg Pier’s future remains in doubt as Minister Timmy Dooley tours the site and locals question why upgrades still aren’t moving. Music & Live Dates: Sharon Shannon tees up a June 7 Derry show, while experimental trad-folk band Rattling Ark share new single “Coleraine Jig” ahead of album and Dublin/UCC dates. Food Festival Buzz: Taste of Dublin returns to Merrion Square with 50+ dishes, chef demos and music across four days. Sport & Culture Watch: The GAA’s Jarlath Burns defends disciplinary decisions after the McGuinness/Brennan controversy. Big Screen Entertainment: “Power Ballad” lands a mixed review as Nick Jonas and Paul Rudd jam into a music-comedy story.

Arts & Community: Mother Art House has opened bookings for Dublin summer drawing classes, including an adult evening “Decaf + Charcoal” series and a mum-and-baby “Milk + Charcoal” session in Rathmines. Film & Midlands Culture: Harp Media launches the year-long “Harp Cinema Series” in Longford, kicking off June 11 with Frank Berry’s Michael Inside plus a Q&A with actor Dafhyd Flynn. Transport & Local Trust: Irish Rail says rumours that new Dart carriages are too big for Bray Head tunnels are false, adding only minor overhead-line tweaks are underway. Music & Media: Louis Theroux returns next month for season 8, with Gary Lineker, Mel C, Marco Pierre White and Andrew Callaghan among the guests. Sports Spotlight: St Patrick’s Athletic celebrate goalkeeper Joseph Anang after he made Ghana’s 26-man World Cup squad. Business/Enterprise: AwakenHub’s Lusty Beg summit (7–9 June) lines up speakers including BAFTA-winning filmmaker Louise Gallagher and broadcaster-entrepreneur Áine Kerr. Outdoor Fun: Killeshandra’s fifth Camino takes place June 20, with volunteer-led fundraising and waymarked stages around the Cuilcagh Lakelands.

Sports & Culture: Anthony Joshua says boxing is his “purpose” as he confirms a July 25 return in Jeddah, with a Tyson Fury fight still targeted for November. Irish Rugby: Leinster’s URC semi-final build-up has Leinster sweating injuries while South Africa’s Lions and Munster make key selection calls ahead of knockout clashes at the Aviva and Loftus. Love Island Ireland: Seán Fitzgerald hits the villa fast with a “wifey material” choice that leaves one Islander bruised, as the show ramps up controversy from night one. GAA Spotlight: Louth’s Ciarán Byrne opens up about tears after a Croke Park win over Dublin, while Munster moves to prevent jersey colour clashes for colour-blind fans. Music & Film: Cannes’ 79th edition is framed as a festival without blockbuster dominance, and Irish singer Sarah Casey debuts “Blind Eye,” while Ed O’Brien’s “Blue Morpho” gets a spotlight. Society & Safety: A global investigation exposes Telegram “sleep porn” networks sharing videos of drugged partners, raising alarms about domestic abuse going viral. Homegrown Arts Funding: Irish academics warn €4.55bn research priorities sideline arts and humanities.