The Anglo-Celt 2025 Arts Review- Karina Charles

Karina Charles

Cavan Arts Officer

Best arts event: The Cavan Arts Festival, which continues to grow year on year, was certainly a highlight. Bailieborough Creative Hub’s Plein Air event earlier this year also stood out as an initiative with real potential to develop into a significant annual fixture. In the visual arts, Vanessa Fay’s exhibition Heal at Johnston Central Library was exceptional. The Border Biennale exhibition in Townhall Arts Centre with the Armagh Rhymers was a very special events celebrating local, national and international artists.

One to watch: Playwrights: Elaine Birkett whose one act play Wilding won the All Ireland Drama Festival with cast and crew picking up numerous award; and Charles McGuniness whose plays featured on RTE radio in 2025. Music: Ria Rua is making waves, Savage Hearts are gaining momentum. Film: Sean Connolly has a new short ready to be shot in Cavan in Feb 2026. Visual Art: Biddy Mulligan has a big solo show in Townhall in July that everyone should come and see.

Best film: Mostly kids movies for me at the minute. Megamind lol!

Best book: Starting on Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift this Christmas. In 2026 It’s 300 years since it was published and I only recently found out it was part written in Cavan. If I get through it over the holidays, it will be the only book I’ve read this year. It’s been a busy year.

Best TV: Any non-documentary from tv or streaming service. Right now, my dream is the couch and a line‑up of Home of the Year, The Great House Revival, Grand Designs, and Room to Improve. It completely relaxes me and has the opposite effect on my husband!

Best music: Enjoying the beautiful rise of bands like Kingfishr who are selling out the 3Arena and it feels as if they are tapping into a sense of pride in place and of course not to forget the new group BIIRD who have a strong Cavan connection and will be playing here in 2026.