- The practice of O'Donnell + Tuomey have won this year's top prize, the Royal Institute of British Architects Gold Medal. Of particular note is the practice's winning of the international competition to design the prestigious East Bank Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London. The success prompted thoughts about what great things they do on home turf (3);
- the O'Donnell Tuomey success revived memories of another Irish architectural practice, Grafton Architects, headed by Shelley McNamara & Yvonne Farrell. Only five years ago they won architecture's premier global accolade, the Pritzker Prize, a first for Ireland;
- the practice of Heneghan Peng won the largest architectural competition in history in 2003. The prize was to design the world's biggest museum for a single civilisation. In response to an Egyptian Government call to create a home for its unique archaeological treasures, more than 1500 firms from 83 countries had applied. On November 4 this year, after numerous set-backs, and at a cost of $1billion, the entire Grand Egyptian Museum complex at Giza designed by these Irish architects was officially opened (4) at last. It was also on a November 4 - in 1922 - when the archaeological team led by Britain's Howard Carter found the steps that led to Tutankhamun's tomb. The new museum accommodates the entire Tutankhamun collection. Another attraction (if that is not also a complete understatement) is the Khufu ship, an intact solar barque originally sealed into the Great Pyramid more than 4000 years ago. The architects' design has cleverly aligned the museum with the three big Pyramids and used the elevation of the Giza plateau to give a sense of ascending towards Egypt's past majesty (5). Taking heed of the previous question about what could this practice do on home turf, the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Giants Causeway's Visitor Centre in County Antrim is one answer to note.
- In late September the "House of Guinness" Irish-British historical drama series about the Dublin brewery family was premiered by Netflix. Filmed in various locations in England and Ireland, it has been described as an Irish Peaky Blinders (a reference to its British screen-writer Steven Knight). Devised by Guinness family descendant Ivana Lowell who told the BBC (6) that "our family history was a lot juicier and more interesting than Downton Abbey plus it was all true," it comprises of eight episodes. As a substantive and compelling work it provides a showcase for its mostly - but not exclusively - Irish acting talent. There is also the addition of sonorous background music from the Fontaines DC, Lankum and Kneecap. The Guardian's critic (7) summarised the drama as "a ratings hit and (has) garnered rave reviews."
- Three other locally-produced television dramas have also been broadcast nationwide recently, notable for their variety of theme and content. One such is the BBC Northern Ireland's hard-hitting crime drama "Blue Lights." Set and filmed in and around Belfast, the series follows the careers, challenges and family lives of Police Service officers, warts and all. The cast are from all parts of Northern Ireland - and beyond. After series two was aired, it won a BAFTA award for the U.K's best drama series earlier this year. Tellingly, work has already begun on a fourth series.
- "Leonard and Hungry Paul" is another BBC Northern Ireland drama series, this one being co-produced with RTÉ. It has strong Irish cultural connections being based on the debut novel by Rónán Hession. Its setting is Dublin. In a way it is a polar opposite of Blue Lights, with a lateral approach and storyline at least a zillion miles away from crime; it has a beautiful emphasis on primary colours, and its production carries striking American vibes with Hollywood star Julia Roberts narrating throughout - in contrast to the polite Dublin accents of the actors. The two male lead actors, incidentally, hail from England. As an Irish Times critic wryly observed (8), "nothing happens on an ongoing basis...yet the effect is absolutely absorbing - it's like watching paint drying (as) if that was a gripping spectator sport..." Just six delightful 25 minute episodes - relaxing escapism at its best.
- Channel 4 has broadcast an emotionally-charged love story set in the bad times of the Troubles in Belfast in the early 1970's. As with Leonard & Hungry Paul, "Trespasses" is also based on a bestseller Irish novel of the same name. The book was shortlisted for the 2023 Womens Prize for Fiction as written by Louise Kennedy. With a cast line-up lauded by the Evening Standard's critic (9) featuring the American X-Files actor, in his words, "Gillian Anderson at her most heartbreaking," and Belfast actor "Lola Petticrew (who) steals the show," the story created uncomfortable reminders (for local viewers anyway) of horrible times (hopefully confined to the past). All viewers, however, are eventually glued in to follow an unmissable drama unfold over five short episodes. Epic story-telling.
More drama - 2 examples
Other examples of locally-produced film dramas - about to film new series - have also been creating glowing reviews. Recently, for instance, Northern Ireland Screen reported that "the hit Irish language crime drama Crá from BBC Northern Ireland and TG4" will begin filming a second series of six episodes in Donegal in early 2026. It announced the news at the Belfast Media Festival (10) adding that series one reached audiences in more than 60 countries. This success reflects the growing cultural interest across the community and more widely in the Irish language.
And in another funding announcement, Northern Ireland Screen reported (11) that the ever-popular police drama, Joe Mercurio's award-winning "Line of Duty" will return for a seventh series. Filming will start in Belfast next spring with actors Adrian Dunbar, Vicky McClure and Martin Compston taking another well-deserved bow, reprising their roles.
It looks like outward-looking Ireland, fabled as a land of Saints and Scholars, subsequently as an abode for Writers and Musicians, is now also making constructive modern space at home and abroad for artistic design,for acting and film-making. And why not - the arts and culture deserve priority, our means of self-expression.
© Michael McSorley 2025
References:-
1. BBC News 20 Nov 2025 "Trump signs bill ordering US justice department to release Epstein files"
2. https://michaelmcsorleycurrent.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-grand-old-duke-of-york.html
3. "How to Revitalise a City" Gemma Tipton Irish Times Ticket Sat 4 Oct 2025
https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/art/2025/10/06/irish-architects-have-designed-a-new-london-neighbourhood-what-could-they-do-here/
4. "A Cultural Colossus in the Desert" Gemma Tipton Irish Times The Ticket 1 Nov 2025
5. Heneghan Peng Architects https://www.hparc.com/m/work/the-grand-egyptian-museum/
6. BBC Culture Clare McHugh 23 Sept 2025 The real-life family drama behind new Netflix show House of Guinness https://www.bbc.co.uk/culture/article/20250922-the-real-family-drama-behind-house-of-guinness
7. The Guardian Rory Carroll 1 Oct 2025 "A steampunk Mr Tayto" https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/oct/01/irish-critics-netflix-series-house-of-guinness-ireland
8. Irish Times Ed Power 20 Oct 2025 "Droll Dublin dramedy narrated by Julia Roberts is Normal People for nerds" Leonard and Hungry Paul review: https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/tv-radio/2025/10/20/leonard-and-hungry-paul-review-droll-dublin-dramedy-narrated-by-julia-roberts-is-normal-people-for-nerds/
9. Belfast Telegraph 8 Nov 2025 Michael Hogan ©Evening Standard
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/film-tv/reviews/trespasses-review-anderson-is-at-her-most-heartbreaking-while-petticrew-steals-the-show/a1312949739.html
10. NI Media Festival 1 Nov 2025 https://northernirelandscreen.co.uk/news/irish-language-crime-drama-cra/
11. NI Media Festival 1 Nov 2025 https://northernirelandscreen.co.uk/news/line-of-duty-returns-for-series-seven/
