Maria Doyle Kennedy: culture that made me
Maria Doyle Kennedy has spent decades moving fluidly between music and screen, building a career that refuses to stay in one lane. Born in 1964, she grew up across Dublin, Enniscorthy, and Bray, eventually channeling her artistic energy into both song and performance. After cutting her teeth in several bands, she took control of her musical destiny in 2000 by founding a record label with her husband, Kieran Kennedy. Since then, she’s released eleven solo albums, with her most recent, Fire on the Roof of Eden, arriving in 2021 to showcase her enduring voice and songwriting craft.
But Kennedy’s reach extends far beyond the recording studio. Her acting career spans over fifty films and television series, and she’s become a recognizable presence on screen for audiences around the world. She made an early mark in THE COMMITMENTS, the beloved 1991 film that captured Dublin’s soul music scene, and later delivered memorable performances in period dramas like THE TUDORS, where she portrayed Catherine of Aragon with quiet strength. More recently, she’s appeared in KIN, the Irish crime drama that brought her talents back to home soil, proving that whether she’s working in historical epics or contemporary thrillers, Kennedy brings an authenticity that grounds every project she touches. It’s this dual commitment to music and acting, maintained across decades, that makes her one of Ireland’s most versatile and enduring artists.
In a brand new interview with The Irish Examiner, Maria outlines the artists and art that formed her creative palette. Read the full “Culture That Made Me” list HERE.
Monaghan`s own @ardalohanlon is a busy man these days!
Ardal’s new novel A PLOT TO DIE FOR is almost here and Ardal is taking it on the road. Join him live at bookshops and festivals across the UK this May and September.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
THE MUMMY is coming to theaters Fri Apr 17.
Lee Cronin—the visionary behind THE HOLE IN THE GROUND and EVIL DEAD RISE—is back with an audacious, twisted retelling that`s already getting rave reviews. A young girl vanishes for eight years. When she finally returns, what should be a joyful reunion becomes a living nightmare.
Watch trailer now at irishfilmtv.com.
SNL UK IS BACK AND WE`RE LIVING FOR IT 🚨✨
Nicola Coughlan (yes, THAT Nicola Coughlan) is hosting on April 25th with the absolute legends that are @foofighters taking the stage 🎸
DERRY GIRLS fans, BRIDGERTON obsessives, this is your moment!
More Nicola at irishfilmtv.com.
Graham Norton is stepping into uncharted territory with THE NEIGHBOURHOOD—an ITV gameshow that`s about to flip the reality TV script entirely.
What happens when you put everyday people in extraordinary circumstances and ask them to compete against their neighbors for serious money?
More at irishfilmtv.com.
17 years old. A trip to Holland. Two Irish lads with big dreams and zero idea what was coming.
That`s where Ciarán Hinds and Liam Neeson bonded—and it changed everything. 🎬
In a beautiful moment on the Late Late Show, Hinds reflected on the power of those formative years—and why family, not accolades, is what truly matters. 💫
Watch now at irishfilmtv.com.
72 hours. One decision. Everything on the line.
Andrew Scott is stepping into one of WWII`s most untold stories in the upcoming film PRESSURE—where a meteorologist`s weather forecast became the most consequential prediction in history.
Watch new trailer at irishfilmtv.com.
🎬 THE YEAR OF ÉANNA HARDWICKE 🎬
From SAIPAN to THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD to NO ORDINARY HEIST—this is the actor`s defining moment. An IFTA winner. A West End star. Now a desperate man caught in a heist like no other.
In cinemas THIS WEEK: a gripping true story of the infamous Northern Bank robbery. £26.5 million. Two families held hostage. No way out.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
BELFAST`s Jamie Dornan will host SNL UK this weekend.
Dornan, known for his role in FIFTY SHADES OF GREY and THE TOURIST, will front the program alongside Brit-award winning band Wolf Alice.
The show marks the first British incarnation of the sketch series, which was created by Lorne Michaels and first launched in the US in 1975.
Watch now at irishfilmtv.com.
In a brand-new interview, OUTLANDER star/executive producer, Caitríona Balfe, discusses THAT pivotal Season 8, Episode 3 scene where Claire saves a baby.
A must-watch for OUTLANDER fans!
More at irishfilmtv.com.
