About Sinead Keogh

Sinéad edits books for her real job. She has never met a punctuation mark she didn't like. She likes cheese (both kinds). She is a lip-biter and a knuckle cracker. She has made a list of 50 things to do before she dies - you're not on it. In particular, she looks after movies, comedy gigs and the Event of the Week series for Culch. You can email her if you want, she loves attention. [email protected]

Events: The Plastic House Exhibition

If you’re into architecture (even in an amateurish way like I am … I once considered joining the Irish Georgian Society out of a love for sash windows and the possibility of meeting someone who owned some…) then The Plastic House Exhibition happening this weekend might be your cup of tea. Architecture Republic is opening its AAI* award-winning project The Plastic House as an exhibition space from 2nd to 4th September 2010. The theme - ‘the act of making domestic space’ - or looking at how we house the modern family, in layman’s terms, is really interesting. The style of houses we lived in thousands of years ago and hundreds of years ago is not what it is today, and will only continue to evolve. Maybe it’s my fetish for homewares talking, but I wouldn’t mind having a look at their vision for the future. The exhibition explores refurbishments, extensions, … There’s more

Theatre Preview: The Year of Magical Wanking @ Absolut Fringe

Yeah that’s right, you heard us: WANKING. Now try writing this post on the sly in your REALLY CONSERVATIVE WORKPLACE like I’m doing and you’ll get an idea of how much we want you to know about this show. Kicking off on September 9th and running until the 17th as part of the Absolut Fringe Festival, The Year of Magical Wanking is a THISISPOPBABY production which is written by and stars former Alternative Miss Ireland Neil Watkins. Described as ‘brave and heartbreaking’ the one-man show is a personal journey that takes us ‘from Catholic Ireland to the cruising bars of the world’. Grand says you, but what’s it actually about in plot terms and none of your fancy adjectives? It’s about porn addiction, destructive sexual behaviour and a dollop of Catholic guilt as well. Watkins has been described as a ‘writer to be taken seriously’ by the gang over at … There’s more

Competition: Win tickets to a Preview Screening of Troll Hunter

Fancy a pair of tickets to a preview screening of Troll Hunter on September 5th? Keep reading. Norway’s box office smash Troll Hunter was written and directed by Andre Ovredal and stars Glenn Tosterud, Otto Jesperson, Johanna Mørck and Tomas Alf Larsen. Troll Hunter opens with a group of students investigating a spate of bear shootings who soon become suspicious of a mysterious loner in a beaten up Land Rover who’s been spotted at every incident. Following him, they discover that the dead bears aren’t the worst of their problems. He’s the last remaining troll hunter - protecting the innocent from an ancient and deadly threat across the remotest mountains, deepest fjords and treacherous arctic tundra of Norway - and he’s their only hope. To celebrate the Irish release of Troll Hunter which hits cinemas on September 9th, we have double passes available to a special screening of the film … There’s more

Events: Live Webchat with Noel Gallagher happening now!

Get over to his Facebook Page sharpish because Noel Gallagher is doing a live webchat to give fans a chance to ask him questions about his upcoming live dates, the release of High Flying Birds or anything else that takes their fancy. You can submit questions through Facebook or on Twitter using the hashtag #AskNoel and if you can’t tune in right this minute, it’s being recorded and will be up on his YouTube channel later on. That’s all then… shove off.

ESB Launch Online Treasure Hunt for Electric Picnic Tickets

ESB Electric Ireland are running an online treasure hunt to win Electric Picnic tickets kicking off tomorrow, Monday August 22nd and finishing Friday August 26th. Online you say? Yes. Using the hashtag #sharetheenergy combined with a Live Google Map and Facebook App, users can find the five secret locations where the Electric Ireland Sparkheads are waiting with the tickets. Would be festival-goers simply need to tweet #Sharetheenergy. The more the hashtag is tweeted, the closer the map will zoom into where the tickets are hidden. Then, a special code word is revealed along with the exact details of the secret location where the Electric Ireland Sparkheads are waiting with the tickets. Once Tweeters have the location details they can use the mobile version of the map and the race begins as they make their way to the location to find the hidden Sparkhead for real. The first person to find … There’s more

Events: National Potato Day August 25th

The people at Keogh’s Potatoes (no relation!) are launching the first National Potato Day which will take place this coming Thursday, August 25th. A natural fit for a website called Culch.ie, how could we not cover it? If you like a spud, then The Spud Games in Merrion Square are the thing for you. Featuring potato takes on traditional games - the spud and spoon race for one - as well as activities like making your own Mr or Mrs Potato Head, potato dishes, goodies and competitions it looks like a great day out for all the family. Keogh’s are also encouraging everyone to eat at least one potato on the day or indulge in a potato-based dish - they’ll have special offers in the shops to help you out on that score. National Potato Day - we really REALLY wanted to say “get back to your root vegetables” but it … There’s more

Electric Picnic News: Body & Soul Village

Remember when Body & Soul had their own festival back in June and we raved about it? Well if you didn’t catch them then, the Body&Soul gang are heading back to their home and where it all began: Electric Picnic. Part of the stellar Stradbally line-up of music and delights is the Body&Soul Village which will feature:

Free Events: Bastien & Bastienne @ Farmleigh

Described as the ‘perfect production for people who would like to sample risk free opera’, Mozart’s Bastien & Bastienne is coming to Farmleigh House in the Phoenix Park on Saturday September 10th. It’s a story any Irish person ought know - about two young farmers, madly in love until Bastien (the boy) goes to the big city and gets involved with another woman. When he returns Bastienne (the girl) wants nothing to do with him and so ensues the comic attempt to regain her affections. Written when Mozart was just 12, the opera is just 45 minutes long - a taster to see if you’re into it - and is performed as Opera Theatre Company’s Autumn touring production for their 25th anniversary. As it’s free at Farmleigh, the OPW are managing tickets for the event and here’s the link to enter into the lottery: http://www.farmleigh.ie/Events/Title,16393,en.html If you miss out, other (paid) performances … There’s more

Pics: The ESB Electric Ireland Park @ Electric Picnic

A giant hamster wheel, see-saw, swings and more in delightfully grown up sizes will make up the ESB Electric Ireland Park at EP this year. Each one will generate energy for festivalgoers to charge their phones. Pictured above is comedian Karl Spain at the launch of the playgroundtacular news, and as well as Karl there’ll be a bunch of other comedians overseeing proceedings and running challenges throughout the weekend. These include Andrew Stanley, Gearoid Farrelly and Damian Clark. More pictures from the launch after the cut…

Linky Li: TheBurningHouse.com

While we don’t want to become known as a slaggregator (Aggregator is too good a term for what is essentially putting it about) sometimes we see things on the internet that we want to pass on. We’ve decided to preface such posts with the title ‘Linky Li’ - a vague pop culture reference, to dull the blow of the fact that we haven’t actually created any content. Cheeky bastards, us. Linky Li of the moment is TheBurningHouse.com where interneters send pictures of the items they’d save in the event of a fire. It fills us with nostalgia for Desked and makes us wonder why these people think they have a hope in hell of rounding up a dozen items without succumbing to smoke inhalation and dying on the floor surrounded by their favourite shoes, a worn out teddy and a packet of Rolos bestowed on them by their first love … There’s more

Preview: RTÉ Autumn Season

The RTÉ Autumn schedule, launched complete with drumroll in Studio 1 out at Montrose last Wednesday, has some gems across the 110 shows in the new line-up. You can view it in its entirety here and handpicked below, for your reading pleasure, complete with some of Culch.ie’s own footage of the launch, are our top ten highlights.

Theatre: Hay Fever @ The Gate

Having managed to get this far in life without seeing a Noel Coward play on the stage, we put things to rights at a preview showing of Hay Fever at The Gate two weeks ago. It was brilliant and you should go to see it. It was my first time in The Gate and I was entirely taken with the counter selling tea and KitKats at the interval (there’s also a bar if you’re so inclined…) Hay Fever is an entirely undated comedy about an eccentric family, the Blisses (parents Judith and David and grown up children Sorrel and Simon) who each, unbeknownst to the others, has invited a guest to their country pile for the weekend. The laughs ensue as each one makes a hash of entertaining - from Sorrel who’s trying to shrug off years of family convention to be a proper hostess to her guest Mr Greatham, … There’s more

Trailer: Red State

New in the inbox is Kevin Smith’s latest, Red State, is due for Irish release on September 30th. Described as “hell bent on leaving audiences uncomfortable” (not something we’ve come to expect from the man who brought us Clerks and Dogma) it’s a thriller set in Middle America (part of the Askewniverse Yes/No?) and tells the story of three teenagers lured to an older woman’s home by an online invitation for sex. The schoolboy fantasy turns sour when the boys are held hostage by a Christian extremist preacher and his congregation who force them to witness executions before preparing them for their own deaths. Not quite Jay and Silent Bob territory is it? Quentin Tarantino’s comment is “I fucking love this movie” and John Goodman’s in it so we’re still quite looking forward to it all the same. Trailer anyone?

Competition CLOSED: The Ultimate Girls Day Out

***COMPETITION CLOSED. WINNERS HAVE BEEN CONTACTED*** Attention lady Culch readers (and gentleman Culch readers, we won’t judge). The fine people behind The Ultimate Girls Day Out have given us some tickets to disperse amongst our masses. What’s the Ultimate Girls Day Out says you? It’s only this thing here… “The Ultimate Girls Day Out is back! The RDS will be the setting for another exciting three day pampering, fashion, beauty and lifestyle event from the 26th August to 28th August. This year there will be more amazing catwalk shows offering the latest looks as well as your favourite beauty and fashion brands and the Smart Girls Zone where you can get practical advice, career guidance as well as beauty and fashion tips. All your favourite exhibitors will be there, with the country’s best boutiques selling at special exhibition prices, and adornments galore at the Accessories Village.Come and check out the … There’s more