Online content to keep you busy during lockdown

Here are the new performances, TV shows, online tutorials and discussions not to miss

The only downside of all the brilliant online events going on at the moment, is hearing about it after the fact.

There has been a wealth of fun and informative content for us all to stream into our homes in recent weeks. But there is nothing more annoying than feeling like you were the last to hear about the best new show to watch, or missing an Instagram Live by an hour or two.

Here’s what to make a note of in the coming fortnight.  Also, check out what’s inside the new issue of Irish Country Magazine here.

Thursday, 23 April at 7pm: World Book Night 

UK charity The Reading Agency started the lovely initiative #ReadingHour. A much-needed nudge to delve into a brilliant book for an hour. 

Can you believe that #WorldBookNight is in one week? Everyone is invited to join us for #ReadingHour at 7pm on 23 April. Read alone, with or to other people, or talk to someone about books. You can do anything as long as it’s about reading! @readingagency pic.twitter.com/RlNqYvtEfz

— World Book Night UK (@WorldBookNight) April 16, 2020

Thursday, 23 April: Coronavirus: America’s Reckoning, tonight at 8pm on Sky Atlantic

This compelling documentary sees Sky New Correspondent Cordelia Lynch exploring the humbling impact of coronavirus on the most powerful country on earth. 8pm on Sky Atlantic. Repeats during the week.

I've been working with @EmilyPurser and @skycameraguy, looking at the impact of the pandemic on America and meeting those at the sharp end of it. Looking forward to talking about it on @11thHour tonight. Coronavirus: America's Reckoning airs on @skyatlantic tomorrow at 10pm bst. pic.twitter.com/BxOvp8a7yW

— Cordelia Lynch (@CordeliaSkyNews) April 21, 2020

Thursday – Saturday, 23-25 April, 11am: Livestreams and podcasts of Cúirt Literature festival

As Cúirt Festival in Galway can no longer go ahead, the team behind the festival have planned a brilliant line-up of live streams and podcasts for people to tune into from home. With high profile names taking part, such as Eimear McBride, Kevin Barry, Jan Carson, Anne Enright, Sinéad Gleeson and more, it’s going to be terrific. Don’t miss Eimear discussing her latest novel Strange Hotel tonight at 7.30pm.

There will also be the chance to hear from new writers too. Join writers Melatu Uchenna Okorie, Owudunni Mustapha and Jess Traynor for a live podcast recording to hear some of the best new writing Ireland has to offer. Simply sign up for a free ticket on Eventbrite and you will receive an email with the link to join the event.

Friday, 24 April: New music from Dermot Kennedy 

Dermot Kennedy’s track All My Friends came out in mid April, as a glimpse of his new stripped back EP. On 24 April he releases Lost in The Soft Light. It is a selection of five reworked versions of tracks from his debut album Without Fear. The collection will come with visual performances and includes Outnumbered, All My Friends and The Corner. 

Here, watch the video of this new version for All My Friends. 

Everyone is talking about…

Stardust, the podcast

This podcast is a six-part series delving into one of the worst tragedies in the history of the State. In 1981, 48 young people died and more than 200 were injured when a fire broke out during a Valentine’s Day disco at the Stardust nightclub in Dublin. The families of the victims are still fighting for justice four decades on, and the podcast, produced by TheJournal.ie, asks how did Ireland get it so wrong first time around? The podcast recently won a gold medal at the New York Radio Festival’s Radio Awards.

So far this week: Feelgood content

Read The Women’s Prize Shortlist

The Women’s Prize Shortlist has been announced. Judging panel Martha Lane Fox, Scarlett Curtis, Melanie Eusebe, Viv Groskop and Paula Hawkins whittled the list down to six books. 

• Dominicana by Angie Cruz
• Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo
• A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes
• The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel
• Hamnet by Maggie O’ Farrell
• Weather by Jenny Offill

The 25th winner of the Women’s Prize for Fiction will be announced on Wednesday,  September 9. 

Niamh O’Sullivan’s simple chicken satay

Cooking all our own food at home is getting tiresome, but this chicken satay is a quick and easy meal to throw together. Perfect for a tasty, hassle-free mid-week dinner. 

Now on Netflix

Series five of Peaky Blinders is now on Netflix. The series focuses on Tommy’s new role as an MP. 

For an uplifting true success story, watch The Last Dance, a docuseries about the phenomenal career high of Michael Jordan. 

Meanwhile, Irish star Niamh Algar stars in the comedy Pure that is also now on Netflix. It’s about a woman who can’t stop thinking sexual thoughts, who decides to move to London to try to find answers. 

Gastro Gays #covcookclub

On Wednesday Patrick and Russell served up some flavours of childhood.

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Swipe ↔️ what if we told you one of Patrick’s favourite biscuits as a kid was a fig roll… and then we showed you these little babies hot from the oven!? Our own entry to today’s #COVcookClub with the theme of ‘Flavours of Childhood’ is our very own: DATE ROLLS! A recreation of the classic biscuit with its figgy filling except switched out for dates. We spent weeks recipe testing these when we first moved to London in 2013, and now in 2020 we’ve lost the recipe — can’t find it anywhere and we never blogged it! 😫😩😖 So making these from a shaky memory, but they taste SO comforting and these are the ultimate teatime snack. Who might want the recipe if we can perfect it again?Hands up! 🙋‍♂️🙋‍♀️ #figrolls #fignewtons #fignewton #gastrogays #figroll #daterolls #dateroll

A post shared by Patrick + Russell (@gastrogays) on Apr 22, 2020 at 1:29pm PDT

Fitness 

Yes it may seem like you should have more time on your hands to fit in a workout, but carving out a chunk of time for a long session can be challenging. Anna is encouraging her followers to break up exercise sessions into manageable chunks throughout the day. Try her #Strivefor5 challenge today.

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𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝟓⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ Sometimes we can’t get exercise done every day….maybe the thoughts for a walk/ run/ full workout doesn’t appeal to you right now. Maybe your home/work circumstances doesn’t allow you to take 30-60 minutes during the day.⁣⁣⁣ This simple challenge will make it EASIER to fit exercise in… ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ So what is it? ⁣⁣⁣ 𝟓 𝐞𝐱𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐬 – 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝟓 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐬- 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝟓 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ This block of 5️⃣ exercises is a full body workout. ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣ ☑️ Press-Ups⁣ ☑️Squats⁣ ☑️Glute Bridges ⁣ ☑️Dead Bugs (core)⁣ ☑️Jumping Jacks⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ You have 2️⃣ options how to use the 5️⃣ minutes:⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ ☑️ For each exercise work hard for 4️⃣0️⃣seconds then take 2️⃣0️⃣seconds rest before moving on to the next exercise. ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ ☑️ 𝐎𝐫 for a more 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘰𝘶𝘵 try and do the 5️⃣ exercises, continuously for a minute each, for the FULL 5️⃣mins (i.e. no rest in between exercises)⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ If you could do this 5️⃣minute block of movement just 3️⃣times during the day, that’s a 1️⃣5️⃣minute HIIT workout. 💪🏻💥💪🏻💥⁣⁣⁣ Great for your body and your mind .⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ Get your kids, partner or housemates involved, or virtually team up with your friends. ⁣⁣⁣ Pick 3️⃣ SPECIFIC TIMES during the day to set yourself up for success, then try to stick to the 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 every day for 5️⃣ days. (For me I think I’ll go with 11am, 2pm & 6pm). ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Choosing the times in advance will help with accountability and consistency (you know exactly when you have to do it, so no deliberating necessary)⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ TAG A FRIEND BELOW to do this with you ( or challenge them 😉) and then tag me in your workouts 💪🏻💥💪🏻💥 Let’s all 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝟓 together. Get involved this week. You won’t regret it 💪🏻👌 #strivefor5 #movement #takeabreak #doittogether

A post shared by Anna Geary (@annagcork) on Apr 20, 2020 at 8:57am PDT

Sustainability

It is Fashion Revolution Week. Use your voice online to ask ‘Who Made My Clothes?’

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Fashion Revolution Week starts now. We’re kicking off the week by focusing today on the crisis of overconsumption and looking at solutions to make our clothes last longer – swap and share with one another and call on brands to take responsibility for the waste they create. It is estimated that we produce 150 billion items of clothing per year* and though the fashion industry may have taken a pause in the current pandemic, we need it to radically shift course. Let’s demand that brands produce less, make clothes of higher quality, and invest in their supply chain so that workers are properly trained and fewer garments are disposed of at the quality control phase. Brands must urgently adopt new models of circular sales, offering to repair the goods they sell, take back those that fail consumers and repurpose both their pre- and post-consumer waste. As citizens, we can begin this revolution within our own wardrobes, buying only what we’ll cherish for years to come, and by caring and repairing. Join us in kicking off #FashionRevolution Week 2020 by spreading the message that #LovedClothesLast! *Source: Sustainable Apparel Materials, 2015

A post shared by Fashion Revolution (@fash_rev) on Apr 20, 2020 at 12:45am PDT

Educate yourself by reading the Fashion Transparency Index 2020 too. Remember though — this list is soley based on transparency, which is good to know of course, but it may not translate to ethical standards in other aspects of the business. Find it here.

A fun activity to try at home is The Nuwardrobe’s #5wears5days challenge. Choose an item of clothing you already own and wear it five different ways for five days. 

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🏅Win a year’s membership!🏅⁠ .⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ In a time where your wardrobe might be self-isolating too, we invite you to take part in a new challenge: #5wears5days. Wear the same item of clothing for 5 days in a row, styled in 5 different ways, and give your forgotten pieces some love.⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ So how does it work?⁠⠀ ✨ Pick an item from your wardrobe that hasn’t been loved enough⁠⠀ ✨ Wear it for 5 days across Fashion Revolution Week @fash_rev, from Monday 20th to Friday 24th April⁠⠀ ✨ Add to your Instagram stories (or post!) with #5wears5days and tag us @thenuwardrobe⁠⠀ ✨ Upload a carousel of your 5 amazing looks on Instagram for the chance to win a year’s free membership to Nuw!⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ Good luck 💖⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ #outfitchallenge #stylingchallenge #fashionrevolutionweek #fashionrevolution #thenuwardrobe #nuwardrobe #nuw #selfisolation #ethicalfashion #sustainablefahion #ecofashion #sustainablestyle #zerowaste ⁠#borrowdontbuy

A post shared by Nuw – We Share Fashion (@thenuwardrobe) on Apr 16, 2020 at 9:17am PDT

Meditation

Start the day with a morning affirmation meditation with Insight Wellness. Robyn Taaffe shares inspiration for nutrition, movement and meditation ideas to try at home, to help you keep well during lockdown. 

Monday – Friday, 20-25 April: Instagram Live

On Instagram this week, Aoibhín Garrihy’s series #AtHomeWithBEO continues, with yoga, cooking demos and chats.

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We’re back with #AtHomeWithBEO to see you through another week of isolation and this week we would love you to join in as well as tune in. 30 minutes each day of all the good stuff! First up, some zen as @aoibhingarrihy is joined tomorrow by @sileseoige for some morning meditation. Tuesday evening @jeenymaltese @mynutritionireland will walk us through a delicious healthy meal as we cook along (we’ll share ingredients details in advance). On Wednesday morning @_michellemoroney @cliffs_of_moher_retreat is our answer to hump day with some gentle yoga (so mats at the ready!) On Thursday evening @aoifedroneyfitness helps with any quarantine stiffness and tension bringing us a stretch sesh. And on Friday pull up a chair and hear from our real life BEO health hero, the incredible Doctor @elyshax. See pic for all Insta Live times and hopefully see you then 🌿

A post shared by BEO Wellness🌿 (@beowellness.ie) on Apr 19, 2020 at 5:08am PDT

Holly White is also doing another week of fascinating conversations, kicking off with chats with author Louise O’Neill, makeupartist Leonard Daly and thought-provoking discussions on emotional eating and stress reduction.

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Next Week’s series of Lives is focused on looking towards brighter times:⁣ ⁣ 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲 – @8.30 PM – with @oneilllou -Best selling author. ⁣ Using creativity for social change and the writers journey. ⁣ ⁣ 𝐓𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 – @8.30 -with @LeonardDaly – make up artist and beauty expert. ⁣ 5 make up mistakes and how to fix them and also his cruelty free make up essentials. ⁣ ⁣ 𝗪𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 -@8.30- with @Sarah_tobin – EFT for stress reduction and restful sleep. ⁣ ⁣ 𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 – @8.30 – with @MaryJaneNewman – exploring emotional eating and handling cravings in a holistic way. ⁣ ⁣ 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 – @8.30 – 5 simple sustainable swops with @jo_the_futurist – journalist and podcast host. ⁣ 𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲 – @11 am- aromatherapy for calming and energising. Simple tips and solutions with @floraplusfiona ⁣ Hope to see some of you there! 😘⁣ As always all Lives are added to my IGTV within 24 hours also. X

A post shared by Holly White (@hollywhite.ie) on Apr 18, 2020 at 12:20pm PDT

Coming next week:

Tuesday, April 28: Normal People, RTÉ One 

The TV adaptation of Sally Rooney’s stunning novel is finally here. Made by BBC3, the series will also be shown on RTÉ One as well. From the trailer below, we feel it will be very close to the novel, so fans won’t be disappointed.

Wednesday, April 29: Nadiya’s Time to Eat on Netflix 

Nadiya stole our hearts on Great British Bake Off with her breathtaking bakes. Now, she has created the show we all need right now — how to make delicious food at home, as quickly and easily as possible. We’re going to be taking note of all her cheats, that’s for sure.

Great British Baking Show winner, the all-around delightful Nadiya Hussain finally gets what she deserves: her own show! pic.twitter.com/Jalbvuy0gx

— Netflix (@netflix) April 15, 2020