AGP Executive Report

Boxing Spotlight: Katie Taylor’s Croke Park farewell vs unbeaten French prodigy Flora Pili is set for Saturday, Sept 5, with DAZN carrying the bout worldwide and the main event expected around 5.30pm ET/2.30pm PT. Local Heritage: Moylough Heritage Society has launched a six-part podcast series preserving village memories—from emigration and farming to traditional music and the discovery of an ancient log boat. Music & Film Buzz: Oasis are teasing a new wave of reunion-tour talk after a leaked schedule points to 23 UK gigs next summer, with a Venice Film Festival premiere for their reunion documentary adding fuel. Arts Funding: Waterford musicians can apply for Music Network Ireland’s National Musical Instrument Collection, with applications closing Sept 29. Community Culture: Graignamanagh’s Town of Books festival drew book lovers for talks, workshops, exhibitions and music along the Barrow. Sport Ireland: Rangers host Motherwell at Ibrox today (3pm), but it’s not live on TV in the UK/Ireland.

Boxing Spotlight: Katie Taylor’s Croke Park farewell is set for Saturday, with 80,000+ tickets snapped up fast and fans packing Trinity College Dublin for a weigh-in-style sendoff. Sportswear & Style: A new wave of women’s sports fashion is moving beyond “pink it and shrink it,” with design built around real female athletes’ needs. Fashion Feature: A cool grey wrap-style blazer coat and wide-leg trousers land as a contemporary power-suit moment. Food & Books: Sophie Morris’s new cookbook, Sophie’s Swaps Homemade Wins, targets ultra-processed food cutbacks with 70+ homemade swaps. Dublin Dining: Mark Moriarty’s Dead Rabbit partnership is bringing three special nights to a new private dining space and gallery. Film & Culture: Act 3 blends queer art history with deeply personal, metatextual filmmaking. Nightlife: Bruno’s nightclub is preparing to re-open after a six-year closure. Streaming Costs: Netflix prices rise in Ireland, with the standard plan jumping to €18.99.

Katie Taylor Farewell: Ireland’s boxing spotlight peaks at Croke Park on Saturday as Katie Taylor takes on unbeaten Flora Pili in her final fight, with DAZN coverage starting 7pm UK time and ringwalk expected around 10:10pm—plus Belfast ref David Irving and a packed undercard including Paddy Donovan vs Tyrone McKenna. Local Sport Buzz: Donovan credits trainer Andy Lee as he targets IBF world welterweight status on the Taylor card, while McKenna says his “dungeon” camp has him ready for a packed home crowd. Music & Culture: The Molotovs announce sophomore album Welcome To Urbia (out April 9) and share the title track, while Pauline Scanlon picks Gaza (Garry Keane/Andrew McConnell) as her standout film and names her summer music favourites. Arts & Community: Ballindoon’s layered landscape gets a new exhibition, Arrival, with Anna King’s work and a musical response from Shane Meehan. Charity Spotlight: Shanagolden hosts a charity night for Sunflower Children’s Hospice with a ball run, auction, raffle and DJ set. Sustainability in Focus: Two Waterford circular projects are shortlisted for the Full Circle Awards, with winners due in Carlow on Sept 17.

Katie Taylor & Flora Pili: Ireland’s boxing icon is set for her Croke Park farewell as the Croke Park megafight ramps up, with Westlife and other names tied to the night’s buzz. Venice Film Festival: Werner Herzog’s Bucking Fastard premieres with Rooney and Kate Mara playing twin sisters who speak in unison, turning the film into a Venice talking point. Irish music on tour: Riverdance lands in Scranton for its 30th anniversary run, with new choreography and costumes. Fashion & culture: Simone Rocha’s first Adidas collection drops with ballerinas, Mary Janes and mules, while Irish fashion coverage keeps spotlighting designers’ momentum. Tech & media: Hisense is confirmed as Official Partner for UEFA Euro 2028 across the UK and Ireland, and The Terror: Devil in Silver gets streaming guidance for viewers. Sports on the move: Shamrock Series Ireland-linked match coverage and Irish sport TV listings keep the week’s viewing plans front and centre.

Live Music & Tickets: Fontaines D.C. have locked in a big run of 2027 UK outdoor dates, with Little Simz and Viagra Boys as support, plus two Slane Castle nights in Ireland (June 26-27) featuring Hayley Williams, Damien Dempsey and Madra Salach; tickets for the new shows go on general sale Sept 10 at 10am. TV & Comedy: Saturday Night Live UK returns for season two with Jeff Goldblum hosting the premiere on Sept 12, and Irish singer-songwriter CMAT as musical guest. Film & Culture: The trans documentary Adam’s Apple lands in Ireland with an IFI Documentary Festival premiere on Sept 23. Online Safety (Ireland): IDR launches a free out-of-court dispute service for users in Ireland and the EU to challenge harmful content and platform decisions under the Digital Services Act. Arts Review: Judy: End of the Rainbow opens at Everyman Cork, focusing on Judy Garland’s final year with Anna-Jane Casey’s voice praised for carrying a deeply broken heart. Fashion/Design: IFTUK appoints a new curating team and year-round festival director ahead of its 2027 Irish Film Festival London plans.

NWOBHM Spotlight: Saxon have announced their new album Gods Of Thunder (out Jan 22) and dropped the epic title track, with UK & Ireland tour dates including Belfast and Dublin’s 3Olympia. Classical & Local Arts: Music for Galway’s 45th season, Breaking Boundaries, launches with Beethoven at its core ahead of a November start, plus a full Beethoven string-quartet cycle and a March piano recital. Community Fundraising: Oranmore Maree’s Win a Home Galway City draw has raised over €1.5m, with Medtronic R&D worker Jacqueline O’Gorman taking the first ticket. Galway Volunteering & Culture: Galway Communities in Action returns on Sept 5 at St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church, bringing together 13 local groups across arts, health, homelessness and climate action. Music Legacy: Dolly Parton’s impact is being revisited across literacy and community work, as tributes continue after her reported passing. Tech/Entertainment Buzz: Netflix crime drama We Solve Murders is in development, Richard Osman confirms. Sports Pop Culture: Ireland’s World Roundnet debut gets a boost as the first women’s team heads to Paris.

Irish Film & Ukraine: Galway Film Fleadh winner “Brace For Oblivion” follows an American filmmaker’s nearly four-year journey with Ukrainian soldiers and returns for a special screening at Odesa’s Zhovten Cinema on Sept 4. Music & Gender in Production: DJ/writer Kate Butler’s documentary “Control” digs into why women are still underrepresented behind the mixing desk, sparked by seeing Ariana Grande use Pro Tools in 2020. Live Music (Slane): Fontaines D.C. add a second Slane Castle date for June 27, 2027, after demand for the June 26 show. Dublin Gigs: Jake Bugg announces “vulnerable” new album Alamo (Nov 13) and a 3Olympia acoustic show on Feb 9, 2027. TV/Media (TG4): TG4 joins EIT Culture & Creativity as a cooperation partner to help test new approaches for public-service media. Sports Admin (FAI): The FAI confirms contract extensions for Ireland assistant coaches John O’Shea and Paddy McCarthy through to after Euro 2028. Community Cinema: “The People’s Emergency Briefing” lands in Ballyhaunis with a free screening and discussion on Sept 18.

Irish Arts & Culture: Dolly Parton’s death has sparked fresh tributes across Ireland, from campus mourning to her wider legacy as “the book lady” and global humanitarian. Charity & Community: Carraig Donn has announced Cancer Fund for Children as its 2026 charity partner, backing the Daisy Lodge therapeutic short-break centre due to open in Feb 2027. TV & Reality: The Traitors Ireland returns for Season 2 with new twists and banishments already driving fan chatter. Media & Safety: A new report warns underage social media access in Ireland is still not being stopped despite age-assurance rules, with more scams and harmful content reported. Sports & Irish Spotlight: FAI’s academy funding push is creating 42 new developmental jobs at clubs, with “academy industry stimulus” framed as a major boost for Irish football’s future. Entertainment News: Netflix confirms another Harlan Coben project—this time as a podcast—while Vogue Williams shares the arrival of her fourth child.

Boxing on RTÉ: Katie Taylor’s final fight at Croke Park airs on RTÉ 2 this Saturday, with the undercard starting from 8pm and ringwalk expected after 10pm. Music & tours: Kneecap add new UK, European and New Zealand dates for their FENIAN World Tour, while Fontaines D.C. announce a huge Slane Castle show on June 26 with Hayley Williams and Damien Dempsey. Irish arts in the spotlight: Waterford’s Dunmore East gets an immersive film and sound installation on Culture Night (Sept 18) exploring maritime heritage. Charity with a Nashville twist: Mayo’s Dooagh Folk Festival launches a charity raffle aiming to raise an extra €15,000 for Rosabel’s Rooms and St Colman’s Care Centre. Weather culture: Met Éireann marks its 90th anniversary by unveiling the 2026/27 storm name list. Local entertainment picks: Mary Coughlan brings a fully seated 3Olympia show to Dublin on Jan 9. Tech-meets-sport: Loophead Labs launches a free Steam demo for Irish Sport Manager, a GAA-focused management sim launching in Jan 2027.

Weather Watch: Met Éireann has joined the Met Office and KNMI to unveil the 2026/27 storm-name list, kicking off today and running to Aug 31, 2027, with 21 names including Austen, Boelo, Chloe, Heather, Laoise and Phelim. TV & Reality Buzz: The Traitors Ireland is back, and episode two already delivered a new Traitor reveal, a first murder, and a secret relationship twist that has viewers hunting for patterns. Music & Irish Culture: Electric Picnic 2026 wrapped with Fontaines D.C. landing a surprise Slane Castle announcement for 2027, plus Mayo champions and Irish acts bringing the weekend home. AI & Regulation: The EU has designated ChatGPT as a Very Large Online Search Engine under the Digital Services Act, alongside Reddit and Roblox, raising compliance pressure across the board. Boxing Spotlight: Emmet Brennan is gearing up for Croke Park after a tough Olympic run, aiming to leave the ring with “zero regrets.”

Abbey Theatre, Dublin: Marina Carr’s Mirandolina returns as a feminist, misogyny-and-violence update of an 18th-century comedy, staged in an Italian restaurant setting with English surtitles and a dreamlike, cross-cultural edge. Cinema deals: Limerick and Cork audiences can catch films for €4 during National Cinema Weekend (Sept 5–6), including a 10th-anniversary re-release of The Young Offenders. Centenary remembrance: Dromcollogher marks 100 years since the 1926 cinema disaster (“The Burning”) with a multi-day programme, including an An Post stamp launch at the GPO. Music big hits: Lola Young adds a Dublin date for June 22, 2027 at Fairview Park, while Fontaines D.C. announce a Slane Castle headline for June 26, 2027. Boxing spotlight: Katie Taylor opens fight-week ahead of her Croke Park finale vs Flora Pili (RTÉ2 live, Sept 5), with sparring partner Jennifer Miranda praising Taylor’s “incredible work.” Festival buzz: Baboró International Arts Festival for Children gears up for its 30th year in Galway from Oct 9, with 60+ events and low-cost school tickets.

Electric Picnic buzz: Tinie Tempah kicked off Saturday’s Main Stage with City Stages support for emerging Irish talent, while Role Model and Florence Road kept the Electric Arena bouncing through the rain. Festival costs: A new money diary-style breakdown looks at what a weekend at Electric Picnic can set you back, from ticket pricing to on-site spending. Music news: K-pop group Katseye says Sophia Laforteza will sit out the European and UK leg of her Wildworld tour to focus on mental health. TV spotlight: The Traitors Ireland is back for season two at Slane Castle, with 23 new players including six from Cork, and episode one’s key moments already turning suspicion up to full volume. Irish media industry: PwC projects Ireland’s entertainment and media sector will reach €8.2bn by 2030, driven by connectivity, internet advertising and video-on-demand. Sports with an Irish angle: Derry City’s new hybrid pitch has Stephen Bradley calling it “the best in the country by a mile” after a Brandywell comeback draw.

Irish Music & Festivals: Electric Picnic Day 2 brought big surprises and big feelings, with Lola Young stepping onto the Main Stage and CMAT returning in style—opening with a Dolly Parton tribute cover of Jolene as rain and wellies set the scene. Irish Arts & Culture: The Choir of Man is back in London this Christmas, returning to Arts at Marble Arch for a run from 10 December to 14 February after its UK & Ireland tour. Film & Streaming: Netflix has shared a first look at WWII drama The Mosquito Bowl, starring Bill Skarsgård and Nicholas Galitzine, landing 25 November. Sports (Irish interest): Boxing Ireland named its 2026 European Elite Championships team in Sofia, including Mayo’s Shannon Sweeney and Paris medalists Kellie Harrington and Aoife O’Rourke. Global Humanitarian: Nepal has begun burying flood victims after DNA sampling, with Irish citizens among those missing as the death toll rises. Pop Culture: Pistachio green has been crowned the trendiest colour of 2026, showing up everywhere from fashion to social media.

GAA Spotlight: Rounders is getting a big push for adults too, with Breaffy vs Limekiln in the senior women’s All-Ireland final at Abbotstown and all finals streamed on TG4’s YouTube. Music & Pop Culture: Electric Picnic kicked off in Stradbally with JADE’s soaked-but-sparkling Main Stage debut and Tinie Tempah spotlighting emerging Irish talent via City Stages. Film & TV: Sebastian Stan drama Fjord lands its first UK screening at the BFI London Film Festival (Oct 7–18) before a wider mid-November release. Sports (Ireland-linked): North Carolina edged TCU 15-10 in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, with wet conditions and 11 TCU penalties shaping a tense opener. Golf (Kildare tie-in): The PGA Cup roster for the US vs Great Britain & Ireland team event (Oct 2–4, 2026) is set, with the K Club in County Kildare hosting. Tech/Everyday Life: Vodafone broadband outages were reported across Ireland, leaving thousands offline.

Road Safety Debate: Fianna Fáil MEP Billy Kelleher says deliberately driving the wrong way down a motorway is “akin to attempted murder”, as social media keeps glorifying reckless daredevil driving after a fatal incident. College Football in Dublin: The Aer Lingus College Football Classic kicks off today at Aviva Stadium as North Carolina face TCU (ESPN, noon ET/5pm Irish), with plenty of free-stream trial options circulating. Pop & Charts: Dolly Parton’s death has sent her back into Irish charts, with Jolene, Islands in the Stream and 9 to 5 all climbing, plus her albums re-entering the Top 10. Music Live: Bon Jovi’s Edinburgh show featured rare returns for “These Days” (first time in seven years) and “Hey God” (since 2013), ahead of Ireland dates. Literature: A West Belfast debut novel set between Riverdale and the Glen Road has won an Irish Writers Centre international debut prize. Boxing: Kellie Harrington and the O’Rourke sisters are named in Ireland’s European Elite Championships team in Sofia. Local Culture: Uisce Bhéal Feirste whiskey club at Madden’s Bar is gearing up to mark three years.

Dublin Theatre Buzz: Mean Girls at Bord Gáis Energy Theatre was cancelled mid-performance after a power cut, with refunds to follow and the run now ending Sept 5. Screen & Streaming: ITV’s The Rainmaker (filmed in Ireland) lands on ITVX with viewers already reacting to the first episode and its starry legal cast. Sports Meets Entertainment: The UNC vs TCU college football opener hits Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Aug 29, with the Lord Mayor touting the huge US visitor impact and the event’s growing local pull. Local Football Update: Cork City’s Cillian Murphy and Seáni Maguire fire them to within a point of promotion, while Bohs keep pressure on the top with a big win over Sligo Rovers. Arts & Culture: A Cork centenary marks the 1926 Limerick fire that killed 48, and a fashion feature spotlights H&M Studio’s 1930s-inspired autumn/winter essentials. Wellbeing & Work: Workplace psychologist Dr Mary Collins says September can feel like a “fresh start” for some, but pressure for others as deadlines pile up.