Tony Clayton-Lea

Tony Clayton-Lea

Contributor

Tony Clayton-Lea is a contributor to The Irish Times specialising in popular culture

The Music Quiz: Lady Gaga’s Bad Romance references three films by which director?

Plus: Former Beastie Boys member Mike D is performing at this weekend’s Beyond the Pale festival. What does the D stand for?

‘I was a single mum when my first son was small, and it made me ultra careful with money’

Me & My Money: Sarah Webb, children’s author

Fiachna Ó Braonáin’s Leaving Cert: ‘I stayed up very late at night, drinking coffee and cramming’

The musician and broadcaster sat the exams in the summer of 1984

Event guide: Nick Cave, Beyond the Pale and the other best things to see in Ireland in the week ahead

June 6th-12th, 2026: The best movies, music, art and more coming your way

My Leaving Cert: ‘Remembering the fun, very silly, happy-go-lucky people we were is like a warm hug’

Erin McGreehan, TD for Louth

The Music Quiz: Which Taylor Swift song won best female video at the 2009 MTV VMAs?

Plus: Which two former Beatles have children that share the same birthday?

My Leaving Cert: The school secretary took me to lost property and kitted me out with a new uniform

Author Liz Nugent sat her Leaving Certificate in 1985 and still has nightmares about it

My Leaving Cert: ‘I was upset with a performance anxiety-related false start’

Fionnuala Moran, broadcaster, sustainability influencer and DJ

‘One of my first jobs was as a pony boy in Dublin Zoo, earning seven shillings a day’

Me & My Money: Ciarán Casey, author

‘I love going home to see the horses and to see my parents, obviously’

The RDS Dublin Horse Show director Fiona Sheridan on silently fuming at bad drivers, her cherished childhood pony, and obsessing over details

Event guide: Borris House Festival of Writing & Ideas, Forbidden Fruit and the other best things to see in Ireland in the week ahead

May 30th-June 5th, 2026: The best music, theatre, art and more coming your way this week

The Music Quiz: Dua Lipa’s new live album and concert film was recorded in which city?

Plus: Which music artist is the latest to appear on the front of the Barcelona FC jersey?

‘I’ve lost money many times. If you’re building businesses, it comes with the territory’

Me & My Money: James Lenehan, WinWin founder and chief executive

Rachel Eliza Griffiths: ‘One of the gifts my mother gave me is I’m now not afraid to die’

The US multimedia artist, poet and novelist who is married to Salman Rushdie on her ‘kaleidoscope of quirks’

Event guide: Florence Road, Luke Kelly Festival and the other best things to see in Ireland in the week ahead

May 23rd-30th, 2026: The best movies, music, art and more coming your way this week

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE...

Common Ground

How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands