Unpacking Ireland's cultural and creative renaissance

From Sally Rooney's bestsellers to actor Paul Mescal, Ireland, which holds a general election on Nov 29, has been enjoying a cultural and creative renaissance.

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In the past few weeks, it has been hard to miss Rooney's fourth novel Intermezzo (2024), the Grammy nomination of rockers Fontaines D.C. or Mescal's muscles on posters and trailers for Gladiator II, which is in theaters now.

"We're having a cultural moment and there's a lot of energy around Irishness at the moment," said Dr Ruth Barton, professor of film studies at Trinity College Dublin.

The success of the 2020 television adaptation of Rooney's Normal People, which introduced Mescal to the world, has played a key role.

Dr Christopher Morash, professor of Irish writing at Trinity, said: "There's a new wave of Irish writers, novelists - particularly women - who came up with books on experiences that were not articulated before."

Irish writers, musicians and filmmakers have been praised for their humor and being down-to-earth.