Shows / Arena
Arena
A look at what's happening in the world of arts, culture and entertainment presented by Rick O'Shea.
Episodes
ArenaAt the Villa Celeste - Elizabeth Wassell Montague
Elizabeth Wassell Montague discusses her new novel, At the Villa Celeste. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaThe Gentlemen - Season 2
Ray Winstone, Giancarlo Esposito and Vinnie Jones chat to Cristín about the latest season of Netflix's The Gentlemen. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy…
ArenaIan Prowse performs live in studio
Liverpool singer-songwriter Ian Prowse chats to Cristín and performs live in studio. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaPatrick Street Studios
Studio director Clodagh Kenny and visual artists Brian Fay and Vanessa Daws discuss Patrick Street Studios, a brand new studio in Dun Laoghaire. See…
ArenaA Sunday Afternoon, With Strings Attached
What happens when family, old wounds and very different ideas about how to live collide? Director Annabella Comyn and actor Niall Buggy discuss Erica Murray’s…
ArenaFinding Her Way Forward
Derry singer-songwriter Roe returns with her second album, LOST DOG! - a deeply personal record shaped by grief, heartbreak and the quiet determination to keep…
ArenaSeeing the World Through Berger’s Eyes
Tom Overton’s new biography, John Berger: From Life, explores the man behind the ideas and a remarkable friendship that began with Berger’s archive.See…
ArenaDancing for Cake
What do you get when you mix traditional dancing, community spirit and a little something sweet? A Cake Dance! Edwina Guckian joins us to tell us more about…
ArenaThe Keys to New Ross
Two decades of world-class pianists, unforgettable performances and a love of music. Finghin Collins looks back at the New Ross Piano Festival’s remarkable…
ArenaAll Roads Lead to I, Claudius
Murder, intrigue, betrayal and enough family drama to fill a box set. Fifty years after I, Claudius first aired, we look back at the BBC classic that made…
ArenaTV reviews
Chris Wasser and Jenn Gannon review The Terror - Devil in Silver (Sky), season three of Vigil (BBC) and season two of Adults (Disney+). See…
ArenaAlbum reviews
Eoin Sweeney and Carol Moran review new releases from Mike D, Dinosaur Jr and Erykah Badu and The Alchemist. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy…
ArenaFilm reviews
Paul Whittington and Ruth Barton review One Night Only, The Dog Stars, Guggi and I Want Your Sex. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaWho to see at this year's Electric Picnic
Louise Bruton on the must-see acts of this year's Electric Picnic. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaCelebrating 60 years of Star Trek
Dave Rudden and Rick celebrate 60 years of Star Trek. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaAndy Irvine
Andy Irvine performs live in studio and chats to Sinead about reimagining the songs of Woody Guthrie in his new album, Rambling Round Your City. See…
ArenaTemple Bar the Musical - Molly Mew
Writer and director Molly Mew discusses Temple Bar the Musical, a new trad musical about modern Dublin. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaTime Frames: A century of proscenium playwrights - Dominic Dromgoole
Dominic Dromgoole discusses his new book about the history of theatre from 1865 to 1965, Time Frames.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaA Moon for the Misbegotten
Eileen Walsh talks about her role in the new Druid production of Eugene O’Neill’s A Moon for the Misbegotten.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy…
ArenaDolly Parton remembered
Dolly Parton, music legend, dies aged 80. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaForget Electric Picnic - Muldoon’s Picnic Is Bringing A New York Night of Music & Art
Interview with Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Paul Muldoon alongside Barry Devlin of Horslips brings together an extraordinary lineup of musicians, writers and…
ArenaFollow the Hare: Into the Wild World of Hill of the Hares
What happens when you follow the hare? Roscommon writer Maria Tivnan talks about Hill of the Hares, her new play from Fregoli Theatre Company where memory…
ArenaMacdara Yeates: Digging Deep into Dublin’s Folk Soul
Live music and an interview with Macdara Yeates, breathing new life into Dublin’s forgotten songs. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaTV reviews
Chris Wasser and Jenn Gannon review Little Bird (Sky Atlantic and NOW ), Lanterns (HBO) and Ludwig (BBC). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaAlbum reviews
Louise Bruton and Eamon Sweeney review new releases from Weezer, Sam Smith and Brandon Flowers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaSuper Furry Animals - Gruff Rhys
Super Furry Animals frontman Gruff Rhys discusses their upcoming gig at Collins Barracks. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaMasters of Tradition - Méav Ní Mhaolchatha
Ahead of her performance at this year’s Masters of Tradition singer Méav Ní Mhaolchatha chats to Rick. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaFilm reviews
John Maguire and Arlene Hunt review Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, & Sons and Coyote vs. Acme. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaNiamh Bury
Niamh Bury chats to Rick and performs live in studio. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaJim Lockhart on The Shield of Achilles
Jim Lockhart on why Auden’s The Shield of Achilles is still relevant in 2026.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaAnnie Atkins
Author and designer Annie Atkins on her work with Wes Anderson and The BIG Type Festival, a three-day celebration of print at The National Print Museum.See…
ArenaThe Jackson Harp
Dr Clare McCague discusses The Jackson Harp: Craft, Commerce and Conflict in Nineteenth-Century Dublin. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaCountry People - Daniel Mason
Daniel Mason discusses his latest novel Country People.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaReally Good Time
Really Good Time chat to Rick and perform live in studio. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaDays of Miracle and Wonder - Paul Simon and the Trials and Triumphs of Graceland.
Pat Carty reviews Days of Miracle and Wonder - Paul Simon and the Trials and Triumphs of Graceland.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaDublin Fringe Festival - Saving for a Helicopter
Writer and performer Gráinne Curistan discusses her show Saving for a Helicopter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaAlbum reviews
Zara Hedderman and John Meagher review new releases from Phoebe Bridgers, Really Good Time and Jungle.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaTV reviews
Chris Wasser and Jenn Gannon review Travis Barker: Louder than Fear (Disney +), Warren’s Vortex (Sky/Now) and Mourinho (Netflix).See omnystudio.com/listener…
ArenaArena - 14 August 2026
A look at what's happening in the world of arts, culture and entertainment presented by Rick O'Shea.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaFilm reviews
Tara Brady and Declan Burke review Sunny Dancer, Tony, The End of Oak Street and Our Hero, Balthazar.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaFritz Lang
Steven Benedict discusses Austrian film director, screenwriter, and producer Fritz Lang, 50 years after his death.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy…
ArenaMcgrath performs live in studio
Donegal singer McGrath (Mick Russell) chats to Rick and performs live in studio.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Arena13 Songs from Nobodaddy
Choreographer and dancer Michael Keegan-Dolan discusses ‘13 Songs from Nobodaddy’, a new work coming to Teac Da?sa’s home in the West Kerry Gaeltacht.See…
ArenaArena's eclipse soundtrack
To mark the partial solar eclipse, which fell during tonight's Arena, we opened the show with a specially curated selection of words and music, to accompany…
ArenaDublin Fringe Festival - Pretty Vacant
Director Jo Mangan and performer Ruth McGill discusses Pretty Vacant, a musical satire about Eurovision and gentrification which will part of this year's…
ArenaPedro Almodóvar
Ahead of the release of Bitter Christmas, Paul Whittington takes a look back at the incredible career of Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar.See…
ArenaThe Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra - 2026 Invincible Tour
Canadian-Ukrainian conductor Keri-Lynn Wilson, founder of The Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra, discusses their upcoming 2026 Invincible Tour.See…
ArenaEleanor McEvoy
Eleanor McEvoy chats to Rick and performs new music live in studio.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaJudy – End of the Rainbow at The Gaiety
Singer Anna-Jane Casey discusses playing Judy Garland in Judy – End of the Rainbow.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaKilkenny Arts Festival 2026
Deirdre Falvey reviews this year's Kilkenny Arts Festival.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaAlbum reviews
Graham Smyth and Eoin Sweeney review new releases from Role Model, Margaret Glaspy and Man/Woman/Chainsaw.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaTV reviews
Chris Wasser and Jenn Gannon review Ted Lasso S4 (Apple TV), The Shards (Disney+) and Possession (Sky).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaDublin Fringe Festival - Chronically Hopeful
Beth McNinch discusses Chronically Hopeful, a production blending live music, movement, text and visual design, coming to this year’s Dublin Fringe…
ArenaFilm reviews
Paul Whittington and Sarina Bellissimo review Love Me Tender, Have You Never Heard of Bill Fuller? and The Summer Book.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy…
ArenaHave You Never Heard of Bill Fuller?
Producer Jim Carroll discusses a new film about Kerry music mogul Bill Fuller, Have You Never Heard of Bill Fuller?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy…
ArenaFlood Tide
Eithne O'Neill discusses translating her father Seamus’s 1947 novel Flood Tide.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ArenaIntentionally Offline - Niamh Bagnell
Niamh Bagnell discusses Intentionally Offline, a literary journal produced and assembled entirely offline, without computers.See omnystudio.com/listener for…
ArenaWhitney Houston
Kelly Ann Byrne takes a deep dive into the life and work of Whitney Houston.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.