Stuart Clark

Gary Gannon of the Social Democrats has accused Tánaiste Simon Harris of “politics of the lowest form” – and of “cowardice” on the drugs issue – in a major interview in Hot Press magazine. These sweeping criticisms of the Fine Gael leader feature in a powerful, in-depth conversation with Gannon, the Social Democrats TD for Dublin Central, who chaired the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Drugs Use Final Report.

Now that Dave Grohl has officially relinquished the title – “If I wanted to be a priest, I’d be a fucking priest,” the Foos commander-in-chief told Hot Press – I think that Nicest Man In Rock status should be bestowed on Matt Berninger who’s turned affability into as big an art form as his music. The latter was embellished in 2025 by Get Sunk, his brilliant second solo album which was accompanied by two equally killer Vicar St. gigs.

Moody rock ‘n’ rollers are great but I also like ones who have shit-eating grins on their faces, so gleeful are they to be up on stage performing. Falling into the latter category are Child Of Prague, the shapeshifting Dublin six-piece who will soon be gracing the pages of Hot Press’ Hot For 2026 special issue. I say ‘shapeshifting’ because over the course of forty glorious minutes, they run the full gamut from folk, indie and math rock to jazz, punk and grunge.