The Borris Broadcasts

Pulitzer Prize winner Anne Applebaum and irish Times columnist Fintan O'Toole take on the rise of populism, it's morphing with the religious right and it's subjugation of "Old School Conservatism" in a journey that takes us through Poland, Russia, Ukraine and the Western Liberal Democracies.

Discussing the critical issue of climate justice are two distinguished guests: Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Lord David Puttnam, renowned filmmaker and advocate for sustainable development. Our moderator for this discussion is Gabrielle Walker, a leading voice on climate change and energy transition. 

Welcome to this performance of T.S. Eliot's The Waste Land, featuring Jeremy Irons and Sinéad Cusack. In this event, we witness a stunning interpretation of Eliot's groundbreaking poem, which explores the themes of post-World War I disillusionment, despair and the quest for rebirth. But before we begin, author and biographer James Lever, introduces us to the historical context and literary significance of The Waste Land.

https://festivalofwritingandideas.com/

Booker Prize winning novelist (and lifelong Chelsea fan) Roddy Doyle sits down with former Chelsea footballer, analyst, music aficionado and now author of "The Accidental Footballer" Pat Nevin for a dive into writing, creativity, Roy Keane, John Peel, football punditry and lots more besides. Asking the questions is journalist, broadcaster and novelist Edel Coffey.

Join John Ilsley and Fiachna O'Bráonain as they delve into the legendary bassist's life in music. From his days in Dire Straits to his solo projects, John shares stories and insights about his musical journey and the impact it has had on his life as laid out in his recent(ish) autobiography from which this episode takes it's title. There's also a few tunes thrown in for good measure. This is a must-listen for any music fan and a rare opportunity to hear from one of the industry's most revered musicians.

https://festivalofwritingandideas.com/

EATING FOR THE PLANET: Dan Saladino (Eating to Extinction) talks to Isabel Hilton about the world’s most endangered foods - from a red coloured rice in China and a mucus- dripping maize plant in Mexico. Can food diversity help us save the planet?

https://festivalofwritingandideas.com/

The multi-talented Sharon Horgan (Bad Sisters) & director Lenny Abrahamson (Ordinary People) talk to author Patrick Freyne about the ins and outs of television production in the age of streaming.

https://festivalofwritingandideas.com/

Actor Ruth Wilson talks to director Lenny Abrahamson about her quasi-autobiographical BBC drama Mrs Wilson about her Grandparents. Bizarre, emotional and weirdly meta, her tale reads more like a John le Carré novel than a standard family drama. For fans of the TV drama it also brings a fresh postscript to the story in the form of a visit to MI6 HQ.

Jon Ronson: author, journalist, filmmaker and podcaster; talks to author (and self confessed Ronson superfan) Patrick Freyne about his various works and how his attitude to his subjects has changed over time. Insightful and often hilarious, this is Ronson in full flow. As he says himself, this is "The Full Ronson".

Watch on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/RbMaqqfZt2M

https://festivalofwritingandideas.com/

Agony Aunt, journalist, author and now TV writer Dolly Alderton talks to Róisín Ingle about her book (and now TV series) Everything I Know About Love and does her best to solve the audience's relationship problems.

On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmZ3vK8UHO4

Tickets available for this year's festival at: https://festivalofwritingandideas.com/

These two Oscar winning titans of the movie industry discuss their collaboration on The Mission and their lives in cinema and beyond.

https://festivalofwritingandideas.com/

On Earth as it is in Heaven clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMB0e...

On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/2fOlcW...

On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/ie/album/the-...

"HORROR UPON HORROR'S HEAD ACCUMULATES": War correspondents and sufferers from PTSD Ben Anderson and Ed Vulliamy talk about the enduring nightmare of shell shock and post-traumatic stress disorder with neuroscientist Shane O'Mara.

"IMMOBILITY IS GASOLINE FOR THE IMAGINATION": Sinead Gleeson talks about her remarkable memoir of resilience, Constellations, with Anne Enright.

FIDELITY AND REPRESENTATION IN STORY-TELLING: Hisham Matar (Anatomy of a Disappearance, The Return) and Christina Lamb (I am Malala, The Girl from Aleppo) talk with BBC journalist Kirsty Lang about constructing narratives from real-life events.

SEX, LIES AND THE GENERATION GAP: Agony-aunt Philippa Perry considers how searching for love, and staying sane, have changed with the advent of social media and shifting values.

Historian and passionate cultural commentator Simon Schama luxuriates in what he calls 'the performing tumble of language' with fellow writer William Dalrymple.