Booker Prize-winning author Paul Lynch joins Alison Cowzert to reflect on the intense demands and deeper meaning of a writer’s life.
After 18 months promoting his acclaimed novel Prophet Song, Lynch still has plenty to say — about the discipline of writing, the risks of pursuing it as a vocation, and why, for him, there was never really a choice. “The thing about true vocation is you don’t have a choice,” he says. “To do anything else is to risk a loss of core identity.”
In a wide-ranging conversation, Lynch discusses the role of the artist, the importance of state support for writers, and why Prophet Song — a novel often described as dystopian — is in fact a mirror to the modern world. Arts Matters is supported by HLB Ireland.
Ever wondered what it really takes to get a major production like Game of Thrones or Star Wars onto Irish soil? In this episode of Arts Matters, John Gleeson, one of Ireland’s most sought-after advisors in film and television finance, talks to Alison Cowzer.
A partner at boutique accountancy firm Saffrey, Gleeson has worked on some of the biggest screen projects filmed in Ireland. He shares insights into how the sector has matured into a billion-euro contributor to the national economy—and what’s needed to take it to the next level.
While tax incentives like Section 481 have been key, Gleeson argues that Ireland’s creative talent and reputation for quality are just as important. But there’s a catch: without serious investment in infrastructure—especially sound stages—the country risks falling behind. Art Marters is sponsored by HLB Ireland.
In this episode of Arts Matter, Alison Cowzer sits down with Mark O’Brien, executive director of the Abbey Theatre, and Lynne Parker, artistic director of Rough Magic, to explore the true value of theatre in Ireland — beyond the stage.
They reflect on the golden era of independent theatre in Dublin, the struggles of a generation priced out of creativity, and the need to reframe arts funding as strategic investment, not subsidy. They also examine how corporate support could revolutionise the sector, and why the arts must be recognised as one of Ireland’s greatest economic and cultural assets. Arts Matters is sponsored by HLB Ireland.
Ed Guiney, co-founder and CEO of Element Pictures, has spent his career blending creative instinct with strategic acumen to shape one of Europe’s most influential film and television production companies. From early days making student shorts at Trinity College Dublin to producing globally acclaimed works like Room, The Favourite, and Normal People, Guiney’s journey is rooted in a deep love of storytelling and a clear understanding of how to bring it to market.
In this episode of Arts Matters, Guiney tells Alison Cowzer that he sees intellectual property ownership as the cornerstone of a sustainable industry and is a strong advocate for supporting emerging writers through initiatives like the Story House festival. While others speculate on the impact of AI, Guiney remains confident in the irreplaceable value of human creativity.
Regnum Defende is the motto of MI5, but defending the realm seemed to matter more than the defending its subjects. Chris Moore has spent a lifetime pursuing the Kincora story and he talks to Dion Fanning about the obstacles that were placed in his way and those who bravely told him their stories of abuse.
How can artists build sustainable careers without compromising their creativity? In this episode of Arts Matters, Alison Cowzer speaks to Bruce Stanley, advisor to Ireland’s leading creatives, about the often-overlooked business side of art.
From financial planning to intellectual property management, Stanley, global leader of arts and entertainment with HLB, explains why thinking like an entrepreneur is essential in today’s cultural economy. Arts Matters is sponsored by HLB Ireland.
Aubrey McCarthy can remember those moments when he felt alone. They were the moments that shaped him. They drove him in business and they drove him to make a difference in society. He talks to Dion Fanning about the presidency, addiction and Ireland’s unhealthy relationship with alcohol.
Don O’Neill doesn’t speak in slogans. He speaks in stories — slow-burning, salt-air-soaked, stitched through with a kind of quiet resolve. Raised in the small seaside town of Ballyheigue, County Kerry, O’Neill grew up sketching gowns in secret, dreaming of runways far from the Atlantic’s reach. But even as he dressed icons like Oprah and Michelle Obama, the pulse of home never left his designs.
His journey wasn’t a straight line. It zigzagged through kitchens and catwalks, through heartbreak and hard-earned success. O’Neill trained in design in Paris while working restaurant shifts at night. He spent years as Creative Director at THEIA, only to see the brand shutter suddenly — a moment that cracked open his identity but didn’t break his belief. In this episode of Arts Matters, he speaks with Alison Cowzer. Arts Matters is sponsored by HLB Ireland.
With a career spanning nearly four decades, Eleanor McEvoy remains one of Ireland’s most passionate musical voices. But behind the melodies lies a fierce advocate for creators’ rights, a seasoned entrepreneur, and the chair of IMRO, fighting for fairness in the age of AI and streaming.
In this episode of Arts Matters, McEvoy recounts her early breakthrough — a chance encounter with a Geffen Records executive in Dublin — and the evolution of a career that has since produced 15 albums.
Her deep belief in the transformative power of music is matched by a pragmatic understanding of the industry’s inner workings.
Arts Matters is sponsored by the HLB Ireland.
Ireland has the capital. It has the ambition. But does it have the people and planning in place to deliver the next wave of major infrastructure projects?
In this podcast, Ian Kehoe sits down with Aidan Scollard, Partner at Baker Tilly Ireland, and James Smith, Partner at MHA in London, to explore the real challenges behind turning billions of euro into concrete results—literally.
Together, they advise governments, developers, and international contractors on how to deliver large-scale infrastructure projects in challenging environments—and how to move the talent that makes it all possible. In this podcast, they explain the practicalities of delivering big projects on time and on budget.
This podcast is sponsored by Baker Tilly Ireland.
In this episode of The Tech Agenda, Darren O’Neill, Consulting Partner and Insurance Industry Leader at PwC Ireland, tells Ian Kehoe why reinvention is no longer a buzzword — it’s a survival strategy.
Drawing on insights from PwC’s Global CEO Survey, he explores how rapid technological advances, AI, and empowered consumers are reshaping competitive landscapes across industries. O’Neill challenges the myth that change is new, instead framing today’s “fourth revolution” as a natural — but dramatically accelerated — evolution.
The Tech Agenda with Ian Kehoe podcast series is sponsored by PwC.
