Arts picks: Julie Corcoran

Highlights of 2023

Published: Tue 2 Jan 2024, 2:17 PM

Last updated: Tue 2 Jan 2024, 2:28 PM

Julie Corcoran

Artist and Arts Facilitator

Best arts event: Border Biennale Exhibition at Cavan Townhall, curated by Rita Duffy and Joe Keenan. The design of the exhibition by Mark St. John Ellis was just superb with all the large artworks given the reverence they deserved as the entire theatre space was transformed into a beautifully lit exhibition hall. A fantastic concept; more please.

One to watch: Cavan band, Marcus Magee and the Hollaw Men. Catch them live if you can; their shows sell out fast. We Are Young and Mac Dee are beautiful original songs filled with special meaning, but the whole set is rocking. Their first album is in the pipeline, so keep an eye out for that!

Best film: The Killer. Director David Fincher waited patiently for a gap in Michael Fassbender’s busy car racing schedule for him to play the lead role in this stylish thriller. The soundtrack featuring The Smiths and original music by Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails elevate this film to an instant cult classic. Highly recommend.

Best book: Negative Space by Cristín Leach. Part memoir, part love letter to the art world, Cristín’s debut book is built on over two decades as an art critic and four decades as a human being. It is incredibly deep, personal and uplifting, a real gem of a book.

Best TV: Fargo Season 5. It’s 2019, it’s Minnesota and the identities have been changed once again as this true tale sees a new reincarnation. Jon Hamm plays a conservative cowboy sheriff tracking down his wife with the customary dire consequences. The cinematography is also quite brilliant in this black comedy thriller.

Best music: I discovered larger than life Irish band CMAT this year as she was playing support at Florence and the Machine at Malahide Castle. Wow! Seeing Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson perform live is like watching a country music panto, especially when she sings instant classics like I Wanna Be A Cowboy, Baby! Hugely entertaining and a truly gifted songwriter, definitely one that’s headed for the big time.