The Sigla Blog

Thus spake John Banville on RTE Radio 1’s Arts Show last night ahead of the Arts Lives Being John Banville documentary on RTE 1 last night (you should be able to listen to it later today here:.
If the radio interview was peppered with insight and writerly soundbytes, the programme itself was fantastic. People I […]

Feeling like a flutter on the Choice Music Prize? Here are the Paddy Power odds, so go here to - use audience voice from the Bully’s Special Prize round on Bullseye - gaaamble. David Geraghty at 7-1?
Delorentos - ‘In Love With Detail’ - 2 - 1
Cathy Davey - ‘Tales of Silversleeve’ - 7 - 2
Roisin […]

Alphabetically, here are the nominees on the shortlist for the 2007 Choice Music Prize:
1. Adrian Crowley - Long Distance Swimmer
2. Cathy Davey - Tales of Silversleeve
3. Delorentos - In Love with Detail
4. Dry County - Unexpected Falls
5. The Flaws - Achieving Vagueness
6. David Geraghty - Kill Your Darlings
7. Kila - Gambler’s Ballet
8. Roísín Murphy - […]

Speaking of short stories, the Independent’s run of books by women continues and today’s choice is definitely one to pick up. Antarctica by Claire Keegan has been recommended to me by various people and I’ve really liked other short stories I’ve read by her.
It’s yours for €4.99 with a copy of today’s Irish Independent.

Even though some people aren’t happy with the BBC’s Christmas TV schedule, there is a definite gem in there. Once again, the Beeb will screen more of their MR James adaptations. James, if you’ve never read him, was one of the best ghost story writers in the English language.
The Christmas Ghost Story season is sadly […]

Who’d have thought it? Lily Allen’s bookworkmery has landed her a spot on the

I’m a sucker for end of year lists. They’re good for two things: turning you on to something you may have missed, and a healthy bout of fist-clenching indignation about what’s been included and omitted.
The Irish blogosphere has started posting its best album lists (would love to see some book and film lists too) […]

Jim has finally revealed some details about the 2007 Choice Music Prize, but has left us dangling on who the judges are (I’m expecting a couple of bloggers) and no hint of who’ll make the shortlist.
It’s no mean feat wading through so many albums but there’s usually a healthy mix of opinion from […]

Still can’t access anything at all on my laptop so tonight I’ll be distracting myself by watching Boy A on Channel 4 at 9pm. It tells the story of 24-year-old Jack who, when he was 11, was imprisoned for killing a young girl. The drama follows his life and new identity post-release and has obvious […]

After Mike Murphy’s afternoon Arts Show, then Rattlebag, followed by The Eleventh Hour, the latest installment in RTE’s Arts review coverage - after last year’s upheaval - starts tonight at 8pm on Radio 1. The Arts Show, presented by Vincent Woods will not have to face scheduling hell and the graveyard shift that its immediate […]

Who hasn’t joined a completely pointless group on Facebook only to slink away a few days later when you get sick of the updates? From a group about naming your child Spiderpig if 100,000 sign up to groups formed by people who hate bad grammar/slow walkers/Irish tourists, there are more ways than Scrabulous to waste […]

From an email I received yesterday:

The 6th Digital Media Awards is now accepting entries into the category Best in Blogging. Entries are submitted online at www.digitalmedia.ie , and entry into this category is free.
The Digital Media Awards strive to evolve with the changing digital media sector, and to reflect the most up-to-date technologies in our […]