Sinéad O’Connor (1966–2023): Premature Anti-Fascist Sinéad O’Connor (1966–2023): Premature Anti-Fascist
For years, O’Connor had been raising an alarm about pedophile priests exploiting children with impunity while an enabling Vatican hierarchy looked the other way.
Aug 1, 2023 / Margaret Spillane
How Paula Rego’s Abortion Pictures Changed the Conversation How Paula Rego’s Abortion Pictures Changed the Conversation
When well-meaning critics described her subjects as downtrodden, Rego shot back, “These women are not victims.”
Jul 1, 2022 / Margaret Spillane
Why You Should Be Watching the Film ‘Z’ Right Now Why You Should Be Watching the Film ‘Z’ Right Now
Costa Gavras’s classic antifascist thriller reminds us that the moment of reckoning constitutes not the end of the story, but the beginning.
Nov 3, 2020 / Margaret Spillane
Eavan Boland, Pillar of Irish Poetry: 1944–2020 Eavan Boland, Pillar of Irish Poetry: 1944–2020
She helped redefine the literary canon to include women’s voices and those on the margins.
May 6, 2020 / Margaret Spillane
Leo Varadkar, Ireland’s Fortunate Son Leo Varadkar, Ireland’s Fortunate Son
He’s the country’s first openly gay prime minister and first of South Asian heritage—but he offers little relief from the harsh austerity budgets that have done so much harm.
Jun 16, 2017 / Margaret Spillane
How the US and Israel Almost Caused Global Computer Catastrophe How the US and Israel Almost Caused Global Computer Catastrophe
In Zero Days, Alex Gibney examines the terrifying potential of cyberwarfare.
Jul 8, 2016 / Margaret Spillane
How the Irish Became the World’s Leading Gay Activists How the Irish Became the World’s Leading Gay Activists
Defying conventional wisdom, the huge win by the Yes Equality campaign involved young and old, rural and urban, Catholic and non-Catholic voters.
May 27, 2015 / Editorial / Margaret Spillane
Remembering Seamus Heaney Remembering Seamus Heaney
The contrarian poet refused to toe any party line.
Sep 4, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Margaret Spillane
The Democratic Paintbrush of Lucian Freud The Democratic Paintbrush of Lucian Freud
Freud made the case through his art that no body type inherently possesses more capacity to compel than another.
Aug 1, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Margaret Spillane
Tony Kushner’s Intelligent Homosexuals Tony Kushner’s Intelligent Homosexuals
Without turning into sentimental left-wing pageantry, Kushner’s new play illuminates radicalism and makes art of sectarian dreams and failures.
Apr 27, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Margaret Spillane