The Irish World

Ireland against New Zealand is the standout fixture of the Nations Championship this weekend as Andy Farrell’s side prepare for a huge All Blacks test at Eden Park. Ireland arrive unbeaten after victories over Australia and Japan, but New Zealand will provide their toughest challenge yet.

Joey Carberry returns to Leinster for the 2026/27 season after completing his move back to the Irish province. The Ireland fly-half rejoins Leinster following successful spells with Munster and French club Bordeaux Bègles. Joey Carberry is a Leinster player once again after completing his move back to the Irish province for the 2026/27 season. The 30-year-old Ireland fly half has spent the last two seasons with Bordeaux Bègles, helping the French Top 14 side to back-to-back Champions Cup titles.

Shamrock Rovers centre-back Roberto ‘Pico’ Lopes says Cape Verde’s World Cup campaign has put the country firmly on the map. The underdog story of the tournament, Cape Verde’s debut World Cup came to a heartbreaking yet heroic end with a 3-2 extra-time defeat to Lionel Messi’s Argentina in the Round of 32. The defending champions were grateful to avoid what would have been one of the World Cup’s biggest-ever shocks.

Derek Murphy and Amy Clarke told David Hennessy about their forthcoming play Mammy’s House which looks at the Irish experience of the AIDS/ HIV crisis of the 1980s. A new play that explores the untold story of the Irish experience of the AIDS crisis of the 1980s. Starting in Camden of 1985, Mammy’s House tells the story of how a small, queer Irish household deal with the AIDs disaster first in the distance and then more close to home.

Chelmsford-based cyclist Aidan Spence is cycling more than 2,200 miles around Ireland to raise funds for Irish community organisations in Essex and celebrate the historic links between Ireland and Essex. The challenge, titled Aidan Cycles for Cedd, saw Aidan set off from Rosslare on Friday 26 June and travelling the length and breadth of Ireland over the course of the summer.

Kevin Rowland, well known for being Dexys frontman, spoke to David Hennessy about his searingly honest memoir, Bless Me Father Kevin Rowland is well known as the frontman of the influential band Dexys (formerly Dexys Midnight Runners), who rose to prominence in the eighties with their first number one Geno and later with their iconic hit Come On Eileen. Bless Me Father, his best-selling and critically acclaimed memoir, has just been released on paperback.

Singer- songwriter Megan Burke told David Hennessy about her new debut EP Not All Men, Apparently. Swords singer- songwriter Megan Burke released her debut EP Not All Men, Apparently last week along with the focus track Make Me. The EP documents years of Megan’s bad relationships with men. At just 20 years of age, Megan was a hopeful on The X Factor. She would make it to boot camp of the 2011 show but was happy to be let go as she knew it was not what she wanted from a career in music.

To mark the centenary of George Bernard Shaw receiving the Nobel Prize for Literature 1926 The Irish Cultural Centre, in partnership with The Shaw Society, are hosting the inaugural Shaw Festival London to honour the playwright’s legacy. The festival programme includes theatre, films, talks and discussion.

Merseyside singer-songwriter IAN PROWSE on his new album No Names which blends protest songs with deeply personal stories, and reflects the Irish influences that have shaped his life and music. Merseyside singer-songwriter Ian Prowse’s biggest hit Does This Train Stop on Merseyside? was an Irish chart topper for Christy Moore.

Damian Farrell and Gerry Hoban told David Hennessy about their puppet film voiced by Colm Meaney and Sir Derek Jacobi that explores the great Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw and his attitude to William Shakespeare. Damian Farrell and Gerry Hoban’s Shakes Versus Shav will screen at The Irish Cultural Centre as part of the forthcoming Shaw Festival. Starring Colm Meaney and Derek Jacobi, the short film has won numerous awards including Best Comedy at the Bloomsday Film Festival Dublin.