AGP Executive Report

Music Video Awards Buzz: Irish acts KNEECAP, Makeshift Art Bar, Kettama and Gurriers have landed nominations for the 2026 UK Music Video Awards, with KNEECAP racking up multiple nods for “Sayōnara” and “Irish Goodbye.” Tour News: Fontaines D.C. announce a big North America run for 2027, while Beoga add winter Belfast and Dublin dates with special guests. New Releases: Bróna McVittie previews her folklore-to-song album Supernatural (out Oct 16). Live Dates: Keo confirm Belfast and Dublin shows in March 2027. Community & Culture: KNEECAP show support for the Garvaghy Road community as legal action continues in Belfast. Film & Screenwriting: Mary Kate O’Flanagan brings her storytelling masterclass and autobiographical show “Making a Show of Myself” to Romania after a sold-out Dublin run. Theatre: The Everyman announces its Christmas 2026 season, including a drag panto. Sport-Adjacent Drama: Ireland’s Nations League Israel saga continues to dominate headlines, with coach Heimir Hallgrímsson calling for UEFA to keep the teams apart.

GAA Leadership Change: Éamonn Fitzmaurice steps into the Galway hot seat after leaving Kerry, sharing he’s “full of ideas” and admitting the adrenaline hasn’t let up. Music & Culture: Irish harp master Maire Ni Chathasaigh teams with guitarist Chris Newman for a Danbury-area show, while Ireland’s wider arts calendar keeps rolling with StoryFest’s 25th anniversary literary programme and a Late Late Country Music Special line-up. Rural Pubs Debate: A fresh pushback hits the claim that alcohol excise is the main driver of rural pub closures, arguing the real causes are market demand and wider industry shifts. Nations League Fallout: Ireland’s Israel double-header ends in a 1-1 draw in Serbia amid allegations of spitting, a chaotic press atmosphere, and UEFA stepping in to separate future media access. TV Pop Moment: Taylor Swift pops up on Saturday Night Live to console Dakota Johnson, turning “therapist” jokes into a viral SNL highlight. Strictly Come Dancing: Chris Appleton and Amy Dowden are eliminated first, as Movie Week routines kick off the new series.

Republic of Ireland vs Israel: Ireland’s Nations League return match is set for Sunday (7:45pm) in Bačka Topola, Serbia, with coverage via Amazon Prime Video pay-per-view, as tensions and calls for the fixture to be cancelled continue. Press-room flare-up: Ahead of the game, Ireland’s media conference was cut short after a reporter accused players of racism, with the FAI branding the claims “completely untrue.” Celtic protest at St Andrews: Celtic owner Dermot Desmond was targeted by tennis-ball protest during the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, with supporters alleging he’s “hiding from accountability.” Music & TV: Taylor Swift surprised Dakota Johnson on Saturday Night Live, while Maura Higgins opened up about crying during Dancing With the Stars rehearsals amid harsh feedback. Arts & community: Ensemble Galilei brings “The Twelve Wild Geese” to Camden Opera House; Waterford’s Urban Aran Knitwear won a national fashion prize; and the GALAS LGBTQ+ awards returned to Dublin’s Radisson Blu. Sporting culture: Westlife dedicated “You Raise Me Up” to Danielle O’Keane after her fatal rickshaw crash following a 3Arena show.

Irish Arts & Culture: Irish playwrights Phelim McAleer and Ann McElhinney bring survivors’ words to the stage with verbatim drama “OCTOBER 7”, staged in Ireland after research trips to the region. Music & Pop Culture: Rod Stewart announces his final U.K. and Europe tour, kicking off at Dublin’s 3Arena on April 23, with Howard Jones as support. Fashion & Celebrity: Vogue Williams denies rumours she uses a night nanny and private chef, pushing back on “extra help” claims after welcoming baby Remy. Sport & Entertainment Crossover: Munster’s Charlie O’Shea shines in a bonus-point win over the Bulls, while Strictly Come Dancing’s Movie Week sees Delta Goodrem top the leaderboard. Irish Football Spotlight: Celtic hit back at Dermot Desmond protestors at St Andrews, condemning tennis-ball attacks and escalating tensions around the club’s shareholder. International News With Irish Angle: Heimir Hallgrímsson says UEFA should consider keeping Ireland and Israel apart in future draws, after a tense press-conference clash.

Galway GAA: Éamonn Fitzmaurice has been appointed Galway senior football manager for the next three years, saying the “quality of the squad” and a well-timed call from chairman Paul Bellew pulled him back into inter-county after stepping away from Kerry. Streaming & TV: JustWatch TV has launched in Spain, letting some titles play directly inside JustWatch with a mix of free ad-supported, rentals, and an ad-free subscription. Equestrian: Westmeath teen Ted Fagan wins silver at the FEI Pony European Championships, taking team silver with Ireland and individual silver in his first appearance. Music & culture: Zach Bryan wore a “Free Palestine” shirt at Gillette Stadium, adding to the wider Palestine politics that have swirled around major US tours. Local leisure: Cork city plans a new Lane 7 entertainment hub (bowling, pool, darts, arcade and karaoke) in a vacant basement near Cork Opera House. Sport & community: Westmeath’s Ronan Wallace credits mental resilience for Leinster final success, while Blueballs Midlands keeps building a weekly space for men to talk beyond the pub.

Irish TV & Comedy: RTÉ sketch show No Worries If Not returns for a third series next month, with Seán Burke teasing the new season’s “insults a baby” promise and a sharper focus on Irish comedy’s slow-burn punchlines. Streaming & Irish production: Netflix confirmed Wednesday season 3 has wrapped filming in Dublin and Paris earlier than expected, with a 2027 return planned after heavy post-production. Music & Irish TV: Nathan Carter becomes the youngest inductee into The Late Late Show Country Music Hall of Fame, celebrated on the Country Music Special with a star-studded line-up. Fashion & lifestyle: Brown Thomas unveils its Autumn/Winter 2026 catwalk edit, while ghd launches “Sculpt” to upgrade DIY hair styling with AI temperature control. Sports & culture: Heimir Hallgrímsson warns Ireland’s behind-closed-doors Nations League clash with Israel “is not going to be a friendly,” as players prepare for another tense, protest-charged night. Anime for fans: Crunchyroll adds 10 new series to its fall 2026 lineup, including Super Psychic Policeman Chojo and Dandivine.

Fashion & Fundraising: Conor O’Mahony and local community figures are among six “local models” set to join professionals at Newport Convent Primary School’s Fashion Show on Oct 9, raising money for STEM equipment. Mental Health & Community: Tipperary Mental Health Week runs Oct 5–11 under “Creating Meaningful Connections,” with a free flagship event in Thurles on Oct 7. Music Releases: Slash announces his 2027 solo album Flying Blind (out Feb 26) and teases the title track, ahead of a spring/summer world tour. Theatre & Rights: Dublin Theatre Festival’s Without Distinction of Sex at Draíocht revisits the Free State vs 1937 Constitution shift on women’s citizenship and rights. Film & Screen Culture: Belfast City Airport continues as main sponsor of Cinemagic’s 37th Youth Film Festival, bringing films, workshops and career inspiration for children and families. Arts in Mayo: Galway City Library hosts Sinéad Burke’s When God Was a Gasúr, built from 1960s family footage and immersive audio-visual storytelling. Streaming Theatre: Jack Lowden and Martin Freeman’s The Fifth Step is now available via National Theatre at Home.

Performing Arts: Irish National Opera has bought the former Methodist Church on Abbey Street Lower for €2.5m and plans to turn the chapel into a performing arts space for recitals, string quartets and rehearsals. Music & TV: RTÉ lyric fm’s The Lyric Feature returns Oct 4 with Vocal Chords, starring Glen Hansard, while The Late Late Show’s Country Music Special lines up Ashley Campbell and Una Healy. Live Music: Macklemore’s “Free Palestine” Europe dates include a sold-out 3Arena Dublin show on Oct 26, billed as “Macklemore and Friends.” Film/Industry: A bipartisan US bill proposes a 20% federal tax credit for US-made film and TV, with potential boosts to 30% for qualifying projects. Sport & Culture: At Aviva, Troy Parrott’s brace was cancelled as Ireland drew Austria 2-2, with Palestine-linked protests including tennis balls and a pitch invader disrupting the match. Business/Tech: TheraDep opened a BioDep Innovation and Surface Coatings Centre of Excellence in Youghal, expanding R&D and cleanroom manufacturing.

Irish Music Week: The Trevor Dietz Management Bursary has been launched in honour of Fontaines D.C. promoter Trevor Dietz, with Madra Salach manager Erin Barker named as the first recipient, including €5,000 plus mentoring and support. U2 & Vinyl Collecting: U2’s Carnaval de Luz gets a special independent record store edition with Third Man Records—opaque yellow vinyl, creative direction by Gavin Friday, and release on November 13. Live Music & New Releases: Take That announce studio album Dreamers (out November 20) and a big 2027 Dreamers Tour hitting Belfast and Limerick; Mogwai drop new single “Underground” featuring Iggy Pop. Irish Stage & Storytelling: Ériu: The Story of Ireland’s Music lands at the Ambassador Theatre in December, tracing Irish music from trad to pop with a live band and narration. Comedy Workshop: Dice Players host a one-day Dublin comedy workshop (Nov 14) featuring Father Ted writer Arthur Matthews and rising TV comic Katherine Lynch. Community Arts: Headford’s Something in the Water festival runs Oct 1–4 with a Beethoven bicentenary concert, author events and an all-female visual arts programme. Film Festival: The 13th Riga International Film Festival reveals a near-100-film programme and an industry forum for Baltic and wider European projects. Sport & Culture Crossfire: Ireland’s Israel Nations League saga continues to dominate headlines, with renewed debate around player protests and federation handling.

Irish Arts & Theatre: Brokentalkers bring Heroes of Tomorrow to Dublin’s Black Box Theatre for one night only on Wed Oct 7, exploring what art can do through fictional artist Jan Hansen. Live Music: Ten Ton Slug return for a homecoming at Róisín Dubh on Sat Oct 3, celebrating new single Livid and 10 years since their debut EP. Comedy & Performance: Headford’s Creative Communities workshops wrap up this week at Something in the Water Festival, with free guitar care and storytelling sessions. Animation & Film: Anna Mantzaris’ Please wins Grand Prize at Animasyros 2026, with Ireland among the festival tributes. Music Industry: Macklemore’s Free Palestine tour dates in Dublin, Paris and London sold out “immediately” after his Ed Sheeran Loop fallout. Sport & Culture: Republic of Ireland coach Heimir Hallgrimsson confirms the second Nations League game vs Israel will go ahead on Sunday amid ongoing protest pressure. Music & TV: Mercury Prize 2026 performers announced for Oct 22 at Newcastle’s Utilita Arena, including Olivia Dean, Raye, Jade and Pulp.

FAI Israel Fixture Update: Republic of Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrímsson says the second Nations League match will go ahead in Serbia as planned, despite public opposition and a player boycott threat, while insisting the squad is focused on Thursday’s Austria clash and that Gavin Bazunu has been welcomed back after his Gaza-linked withdrawal. Grassroots Sport Funding: SPAR and EUROSPAR have awarded over €60,000 to 30 Irish grassroots clubs, including ATU Mayo Kayak Club, as the campaign wraps with high-profile Team Ireland ambassadors attending regional celebrations. Women’s Rugby Milestone: Beibhinn Parsons became Ireland’s all-time record try scorer in a 31-24 WXV win over Japan at Dexcom Stadium, sealing the comeback after a strong first half. Music & Radio Spotlight: Cork 96 FM named Shimmer Boy (Aaron O’Sullivan) as its New Local Hero, while Sunshine 106.8 picked Karol Sadlier; Pillow Queens also released new single “Kiss Kiss.” Health & Access: The Department of Health says dental reform plans will address improved access to general anaesthetic for people with disabilities. Boxing Update: Limerick boxer Lee Reeves is set for surgery following a serious brain injury, with family urging prayers ahead of Thursday’s operation.

Laneway Festival 2027 (Sydney & Melbourne): Fontaines D.C. and “The Hayley Williams Show” top both line-ups, with Irish post-punk and Paramore frontwoman’s solo debut billed alongside Slayyyter, Kim Petras, MUNA, Rico Nasty, Ninajirachi and more. Irish music & culture: Cork’s Crowleys Music Centre marks a century as a community hub for instruments, workshops and gigs, while Peaky Blinders star Charlene McKenna shares the birth of her second child. FAI & sport politics: The FAI CEO David Courell faces the Oireachtas Sports Committee over how Ireland’s controversial Israel fixtures were handled, as protests are planned ahead of the next match. Social issues: A DRCC survey finds over a third of young men doubt rape should be believed without a conviction, adding pressure to how sexual violence is discussed and handled. Business & insolvencies: Deloitte Ireland reports 632 insolvencies in 2026 so far, with retail and IT hit hardest. Spooky Season picks: New horror streaming suggestions include Hokum and other 2026 releases to watch now.

Irish Arts & Culture: The Abbey Theatre is set to premiere Blindboy Boatclub’s short fiction-inspired work Animals, with Ruth McGowan spotlighting the commissioning process and Dan Colley’s role in bringing the vivid stories to stage. Film & TV Buzz: France’s TF1 is gearing up for Cat’s Eyes season two, a female-driven manga adaptation built around spectacular art heists across landmark sites. Music Spotlight: U2 drummer Larry Mullen Jr. opens up about neck surgery and how pain nearly pushed him away from performing. Streaming & Media: Netflix will expand its ad-supported plan to nine more European countries, including Ireland, from March 1, 2027. Live Entertainment: Rod Stewart confirms The Final Encore tour will be his last active rock run, with Dublin dates among the stops. Local Community Arts: Youthreach Ballina launches a new book, Stories and Art Inspired by Friendship, created through creative writing and art workshops. Travel & Tech: Aer Lingus completes Starlink rollout on its narrowbody trans-Atlantic fleet, bringing free high-speed Wi-Fi for passengers via Dublin.

Irish Music & Pop Culture: Sir Rod Stewart has announced his final major rock tour, “The Final Encore,” with a Dublin start at 3Arena on April 23, 2027, after cancelling dates following a heart procedure. Streaming & Film: Oasis: Don’t Look Back In Anger lands on Disney+ and Hulu from October 9, with extra footage and performances. Irish Talent on the Global Stage: Dermot Kennedy plays Forest Hills Stadium in New York on September 29, his only Big Apple stop on The Weight of the Woods Tour. TV & Movies: Lindsay Lohan is back for Netflix’s Return to You, a 2008-set rom-com with Henry Golding, now in production. Music Industry Ireland: Sonny Takhar is appointed chairman and CEO of Warner Music UK & Ireland from January 2027. Irish Sport & Controversy: The FAI is reviewing claims of racist chanting aimed at Adam Idah after UEFA said its process can’t start due to reporting procedure issues.

Football & Protest: Ireland beat Israel 3-0 in a Nations League match in Hungary after a Gaza-linked boycott row, with players bowing heads during the anthem, wearing black armbands, and refusing handshakes; goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu had already withdrawn over his stance, while the FAI says it may review footage and seek action over alleged racist abuse toward Adam Idah. Music & Live: Sir Rod Stewart confirms “The Final Encore” as his last UK/Europe tour, kicking off at Dublin’s 3Arena (April 23) and ending in Germany (July 24), with Howard Jones as special guest. Radio & TV: BBC Radio 2 names Irish Strictly star Angela Scanlon as Sara Cox’s Drivetime replacement from November, and TG4 will broadcast the Irish Life Dublin Marathon live and free-to-air for the first time since 2011. Arts & Culture: WildeDay launches in Enniskillen (Oct 16-17) celebrating Oscar Wilde with readings, music, drama and fashion talks. Indie Music: Dublin bands WineMom and RuntheRed are named Radio Nova and LMFM “Local Heroes” for Irish Music Month. Film Industry: BFI London Film Festival’s Works-in-Progress Showcase reveals eight UK and Ireland projects for 2026.

Irish Football & Gaza Protests: Republic of Ireland beat Israel 3-0 in Debrecen, but the night was dominated by politics: black armbands, players bowing during the Israeli anthem, and no handshakes after a squad vote triggered by goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu’s Gaza-linked withdrawal. FAI Fallout: FAI president Paul Cooke defended the handling of the week, saying sanctions were “undetermined” and insisting the team showed courage amid “unprecedented coverage.” Irish Player Moment: Jack Moylan removed his armband and kissed the badge after scoring, while manager Heimir Hallgrímsson called it the toughest days of his coaching career. Music: Oasis’ 2027 tour tickets have sold out across 42 dates, with Liam Gallagher posting “that’s all folks.” TV Pop Culture: Love Island host Maya Jama says her “public persona” could be her edge in Celebrity Traitors. Irish Arts & Community: A programme in Tipperary and Galway is giving Traveller kids aerial circus training via Sauropod workshops.