Shows / Arena
Arena
A look at what's happening in the world of arts, culture and entertainment presented by Rick O'Shea.
Episodes
ArenaBarry Kerr performs live in studio
2026 RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards nominee Barry Kerr performs live in studio. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaFilm reviews - incl Onwards and Sideways
John Maguire and Cara O'Doherty review Onwards and Sideways, Wild Horse Nine and La Bola Negra. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaDrawing from the Well - Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh
Fiddler Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh discusses her upcoming performance as part of the Drawing from the Well series at the National Concert Hall. See…
ArenaGood Girls - Clare Monnelly and Aaron Monaghan
Award-winning playwright Clare Monnelly and director Aaron Monaghan about her new play Good Girls. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaYiyun Li on her new novel Music Against The Night
Author Yiyun Li on her new historical novel about the life of Irish composer John Field, Music Against The Night. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy…
ArenaCarrie at 50
Paul Whittington looks back at Brian DePalma’s adaptation of Stephen King’s Carrie 50 years on. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaAll Them Dogs - Djamel White
Author Djamel White chats to Ciara about All Them Dogs, his new gangland thriller set in west Dublin. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaCaitlín Nic Gabhann performs live in studio
Ahead of the release of her second solo album, An Ciúnas, concertina player Caitlín Nic Gabhann performs live in studio. See omnystudio.com/listener for…
ArenaStevie Wonder at Dublin’s 3Arena
Pat Carty reviews Stevie Wonder's recently performance of Songs in the Key of Life at Dublin’s 3Arena. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaArena - live from the Centre Culturel Irlandais in Paris
Live from the Centre Culturel Irlandais in Paris for a special evening celebrating Irish culture in the French capital. Rick is joined by Director of the…
ArenaThe One About Matthew Perry
Chris Wasser joins the programme to discuss the newly released Netflix series 'The One About Matthew Perry'. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy…
ArenaAmy Winehouse's Back to Black turns 20
Kelly Anne Byrne is in studio to dicuss Amy Winehouse's second album 'Back to Black' which turned 20 this week. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy…
ArenaFilm Reviews
Tara Brady and Justin McGregor review Primetime, All About The Money and Gentle Monster. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaRTÉ Short Story Competition Finalists
Kartikay Gupta and Stephanie O'Connor discuss their short stories which have been shortlisted for the RTÉ Short Story Competition 2026. See…
ArenaThe Irish Ghost Story
Writer Martina Devlin on the great tradition of ghost stories in Ireland. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaAudrey Niffenegger
Writer Audrey Niffenegger joins the programme to discuss her new book 'Life Out of Order' 23 years on from 'The Time Traveler's Wife' See…
ArenaThe Devils 4K Re-Release
Film critic John Maguire on Ken Russell’s 'The Devils' being re-released. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaAnakronos: The Red Book of Ossory
Caitríona O’Leary, Anakronos, on their new production at Kilkenny’s Toil & Trouble where medieval music meets jazz in this compelling reimagining of one of…
ArenaRemembering Dónal Lunny
Bill Whelan, Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill, Nuala O'Connor, Shaun Davey, and Iarla Ó Lionáird discuss the life and career of the late Dónal Lunny.ss the life and…
ArenaFilm reviews - incl Klara and the Sun
Hilary White and Arlene Hunt review the new films Klara and the Sun, Fatherland and Possible Love. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaChoreographer John Scott on the new Irish Modern Dance Theatre production
Choreographer John Scott chats to Rick about the Irish Modern Dance Theatre production 'Physical Landscape' coming to the Project Arts Centre. See…
ArenaRTÉ Short Story Competition - John Armstrong and Alison Jameson
John Armstrong and Alison Jameson, both finalists of this year's RTÉ Short Story Competition, chat to Rick about their work. See omnystudio.com/listener for…
ArenaGulliver: A Choral Symphony - Shaun Davey
Ahead of the 300th anniversary of the publication of Gulliver’s Travels, composer Shaun Davey discusses his Gulliver: A Choral Symphony. See…
ArenaGalway DJ Count Skylarkin
Galway DJ Count Skylarkin chats with Rick about his upcoming gig at the Lú Festival of Light in Drogheda. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaIs Grand Theft Auto still relevant?
Ahead of the release of its sixth iteration, we’ll be discussing the global pop-cultural phenomenon that is Grand Theft Auto. See omnystudio.com/listener for…
ArenaRalph McTell plays live in studio
Ralph McTell chats to Rick and plays live in studio. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaFiddle player Clare Sands
Fiddle player and RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards nominee Clare Sands chats to Rick about her new album and performs live in studio. See omnystudio.com/listener for…
ArenaMacnas at 40
As Macnas marks 40 years of creating extraordinary public art, Rick look back at the history of the company with Galway theatre-maker James Riordan. See…
ArenaHilma af Klint: Artist and Visionary
Jess Fahy discusses the National Gallery’s new exhibition, Hilma af Klint: Artist and Visionary. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaNiall Williams
For over twenty-five years, novelist Niall Williams has been crafting some of the most lyrical and resonant of Irish stories. See omnystudio.com/listener for…
ArenaOpera festival review
Wexford Festival Opera marks its 75th anniversary. From its modest beginnings in 1951, it has grown into one of the world's most respected opera festivals…
ArenaTV reviews - incl VisionQuest
Chris Wasser and Louise Bruton review VisionQuest (Disney+), Crystal Lake (Sky) and The Party (Virgin). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaAlbum reviews - incl Fontaines DC
Zara Hedderman and Nadine O’Regan review new releases from Fontaines DC, Arborist and Declan O’Rourke. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaFaber to stop supplying Rooney's books in the UK
Martin Doyle, Books Editor of The Irish Times chats to Rick about Faber confirming it will stop supplying Sally Rooney's books in the UK. See…
ArenaFilm reviews - incl Forever Is Now
Donald Clarke and Sarina Bellissimo review survival thriller Whalefall and documentaries NAZA and Forever Is Now. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy…
ArenaLuke Grimes on the latest series of Marshals
Actor Luke Grimes chats to Rick about the latest season of Taylor Sheridan's American neo-Western Marshals. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaWhozyerman? live in studio
Ahead of the release of his new album, Belly of the Beast, Whozyerman? chats to Rick and performs live in studio. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy…
ArenaDisco Pigs at 30
Playwright and director Enda Walsh and actors Séamus McLean Ross and Aoise Meaney discuss the major new production at The Everyman marking three decades of the…
ArenaMaya Libbey live in studio
Singer-songwriter Maya Libbey performs live in the studio. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaCork's most iconic music venues
Ashley Keating of The Frank and Walters chats to Rick about Cork's most iconic music venues. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaStrange Boy performs live in studio.
Limerick artist Strange Boy performs live in studio and chats to Rick about his recently released second album, Say Nothing. See omnystudio.com/listener for…
ArenaCircling the Square Festival - Vona Groarke and Martina Evans
Poets Vona Groarke and Martina Evans discuss this year’s Circling the Square Literary Festival. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaMarathon Man at 50
Paul Whittington discusses Marathon Man at 50. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaTV reviews - inc Celebrity Traitors
Jenn Gannon and Chris Wasser review Mike Flanagan’s reboot of Stephen King’s Carrie and Channel 4's comedy series It Gets Worse, and discuss why The Celebrity…
ArenaAlbum reviews
Graham Smyth and John Meagher review new releases from Troye Sivan, Morgana and Pet Shop Boys. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaExtra: Anne Carson - Arts Tonight (2011)
A look back into the RTÉ Archives to mark Anne Carson winning the Nobel prize in Literature, 2026. The Canadian poet joined Vincent Woods in studio in March…
ArenaFilm reviews - including The Social Reckoning
John Maguire and Cara O'Doherty review Aaron Sorkin’s new Facebook film The Social Reckoning, Andrew Garfield in The Uprising and new Irish documentary Lesbian…
ArenaFrom Out My Heart - Sue Rainsford
Sue Rainsford discusses her new novel From Out My Heart. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaBaboró International Arts Festival for Children - A Teen Odyssey
Jenny Vila, founder and Creative Producer of La Mecànica chats to Rick about A Teen Odyssey an immersive and highly original production at this year's Baboró…
ArenaNŌS by Luail - Akram Khan
Choreographer Akram Khan discusses his work Kaash, which will be part of a landmark triple bill of internationally acclaimed contemporary dance works coming to…
ArenaSide Stage - Ben Barnes
Acclaimed theatre and opera director Ben Barnes chats to Rick about Side Stage, a collection of his writing about theatre. See omnystudio.com/listener for…
ArenaJohn McGahern: Writer & Archive - Dr Barry Houlihan
Dr Barry Houlihan chats to Rick about a new exhibition marking 20 years since the death of John McGahern, which has opened at the University of Galway. See…
ArenaIrish premiere of Goebbels' Songs of Wars I Have Seen at the NCH
German composer Heiner Goebbels and internationally acclaimed violinist Claire Duff of the Irish Baroque Orchestra discuss the Irish premiere of Goebbels'…
ArenaMezzo-soprano Niamh O’Sullivan on Bizet's Carmen
Mezzo-soprano Niamh O’Sullivan on Irish National Opera's upcoming production of Bizet's Carmen. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaChasing Millions - Christopher Eccleston and Madeleine Madden
Christopher Eccleston and Madeleine Madden discuss Chasing Millions - the upcoming heist comedy about the 2004 Northern Bank robbery. See…
ArenaThe Wran perform live in studio
Ahead of the release of their debut album, The Stone Man, The Wran perform live in studio. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaThe Uprising - Andrew Garfield
Andrew Garfield discusses his upcoming role as a rebellious farmer in the historical action drama, The Uprising. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy…
ArenaThe greatest Austen adaptations
Paul Whitington discusses our obsession with Jane Austen. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaTV reviews feat East of Eden
Chris Wasser and Dee Molumby review War (Sky/Now), Kill Jackie (Prime) and East of Eden (Netflix). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.