From January 25th to January 29th, join us for Winter Nights, when internationally renowned guests and Irish Times journalists get together for a festival of conversation, culture and ideas.

Ticket price: €50. A ticket gets you access to the whole online festival.

All events will be recorded and in the week following the festival, attendees will receive an email with a link so you can catch up on anything you miss, or watch back an event.

All ticket holders will be sent instructions on how to join the festival in the afternoon of Monday, January 25th to the email address used to register on Eventbrite for the event.

Monday, 25th January.

6:30pm – 7:30pm

The Gospel According to Blindboy

Our opening event of the festival features podcaster, author and Limerick man Blindboy of the Rubberbandits in conversation with Irish Times columnist Hilary Fannin. They’ll discuss his life, his politics and his acclaimed short stories

7:45pm – 8:45pm

Going The Distance

Gold medal winning, world beating athlete Sonia O’Sullivan joins us from Melbourne to talk about her sporting life. She is in conversation with fellow Corkonian and Irish Times sports columnist Joanne O’Riordan.

Tuesday, 26th January.

6:30pm – 7:30pm

Ok, Let’s Do Their Stupid Idea

Ross O’Carroll-Kelly creator Paul Howard and Irish Times features writer Patrick Freyne are two of the funniest people writing in Ireland today. They talk about the sometimes underestimated art of making people laugh.

7:45pm – 8:45pm

Lessons For Living

In conversation with Irish Times columnist Róisín Ingle, celebrated psychologist and Holocaust survivor Edith Eger explores ways to change the thoughts and behaviours that can keep us prisoners of our past.

Wednesday, 27th January.

6:30pm – 7:30pm

Yes, Commissioner

Co Louth born MEP Mairéad McGuinness has been European Commissioner for Financial Stability, Financial Services and the Capital Markets Union since October 2020. She tells Irish Times columnist Kathy Sheridan about life since landing the big job.

7:45pm – 8:45pm

Don’t Touch My Hair

Irish-Nigerian author, academic and broadcaster Emma Dabiri talks to New To The Parish columnist Sorcha Pollak about racism, Ireland and the struggle for justice.

9pm – 10pm

Two Men In a Zoom

Comedian Dara Ó’Briain and Irish Times Political Editor Pat Leahy met and became friends as student debaters in UCD. They quiz each other about friendship, comedy, middle-aged angst, politics, space and much more.

Thursday, 28th January.

6:30pm – 7:30pm

Beyond Brexit

Scotland’s First Minister and leader of the Scottish National Party Nicola Sturgeon talks to Orwell prize winning Irish Times columnist Fintan O’Toole about Brexit, Scottish independence and the state of the union.

7:45pm – 8:45pm

Leading Through Lockdowns

Micheál Martin became Taoiseach at a time of unprecedented challenges. Irish Times Political Correspondent Jennifer Bray asks him about leadership in a pandemic and his hopes for Ireland in 2021.

9pm – 10pm

Is everything going to be alright?

Professor of biochemistry at Trinity College Dublin, Luke O’Neill was one of the leading scientific voices to emerge in 2020. Irish Times columnist Jennifer O’Connell picks his considerable brain about the light at the end of our pandemic tunnel.

Friday, 29th January.

6.30pm-7.30pm

Walk on the Wild Side

“When young autistic people are nurtured, miraculous things can happen,” says sixteen-year-old Dara McAnulty, award-winning author of Diary of a Young Naturalist. The Co Down teenager explores his passion for the natural world in conversation with Irish Times Northern Correspondent Freya McClements.

7:45pm – 8:45pm

Talking with Ghosts

Dubliner Gabriel Byrne was one of Ireland’s first movie stars. He talks to Irish Times Arts and Culture Editor Hugh Linehan about his life and times from The Riordans to The Usual Suspects to publishing an acclaimed memoir at 70.

9pm – 10pm

The American Dream?

Just days after the presidential inauguration of Joe Biden, Washington-based CNN commentator John King will talk to Fintan O’Toole about his Irish roots, his Magic Wall and the future of post-Trump America.

No refunds.