The IMAGE staffers are sharing how they’ll be spending their downtime throughout the month ahead, from books and television shows to curl up with to classes, restaurants and events to book now.
Dominique McMullan, Editorial Director
I’m watching Black Doves. It’s a gripping spy thriller, perfect for quiet January evenings. I’m reading Evenings And Weekends, the debut novel by Irish author Oisín McKenna. It’s been on my bedside since last year and I’m finally getting time to delve in. There are Sally Rooney/Zadie Smith vibes already — just my cup of tea. I’m staying local with my bookings and booking a month of reformer Pilates classes at One Pilates in Enniskerry and a weekend Art Course in Enniskerry Schoolhouse for Art.
Holly O’Neill, Editor, IMAGE.ie; Beauty Editor, IMAGE Magazine
I’m about to have the most fun start to the year, with the Young Hot Guys in the Olympia, Emma at the Abbey Theatre and Shane Daniel Byrne at the Moat Theatre all booked in to clear away any misery for the month – check out this list of January events to book some joy into your calendar. I’m watching The Traitors (mostly for Claudia Winkleman’s countryside wardrobe) and Lockerbie at the moment, which is brilliant but radicalising me, and do not try to get in contact with me next week, for I will be seated all week for a Barbenheimer-style double billing of With Love, Meghan and Molly-Mae: Behind it All.
Katie Brady, Marketing & Memberships Executive
I’m looking forward to starting Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe. I watched the limited series last month and really want to delve further. I always try to have a quiet month of reading, meal prepping and yoga classes in January, so it’s nice to have something planned for the end of the month. I have a birthday dinner in Variety Jones to look forward to and hope to nab some tickets to Jez Butterworth’s The Ferryman in The Gaiety to coincide!
Sarah Gill, Features Editor, IMAGE.ie
Over the Christmas break, I was glued to Say Nothing, which is a small-screen adaptation of Patrick Radden Keefe’s bestselling book of the same name. It’s a nine-part drama about the Troubles, the IRA’s Price sisters and the story of Jean McConville. It’s the kind of show that makes you want to stay up all night and binge it all in one sitting. I’ve also just finished season two of Bad Sisters, which has left a big huge massive Garvey sisters-shaped hole in my heart, and No Good Deed starring Lisa Kudrow and Linda Cardellini deserves an honorable mention here. I watched it through Baileys-tinted glasses on one of those hazy days between Christmas and New Year’s, but I love the whole darkly-comedic-while-actually-being-quite-emotionally-fraught genre.
Books-wise, I’m just cracking the spine of Fun and Games, the debut novel from John Patrick McHugh. His short story collection, Pure Gold, is one I’ve purchased maybe six times and counting, thrusting it into the hands of many with an arrogant nod that says, trust me, my friend, you will love this. The forthcoming novel is described as a darkly comic and moving story about a teenage boy as he comes of age on the west coast of Ireland. Sold.
As for booking, I will be leaving my social life for January up to a pair of Milan-based pals who will very graciously be hosting myself and my boyfriend later this month. There will be wine, there will be pasta, there will be a trip to Venice. Once I’m back in Cork, I imagine I still won’t have had my fill of carbs and will therefore finally try Da Mirco, a restaurant specialising in authentic Northern Italian food, which I will by that point know on an intimate level. My New Year can start in February. Until then: decadence.
Amber O’Shea, Social Media Manager
I’ve just finished watching Black Doves, I loved this show so much it was perfect for binging over the holidays, and patiently waiting for the third season of White Lotus to launch this month. I want to book some life drawing classes this month along with some extra driving lessons (lol). I have my eye on this fantastic performance and screening happening next week at the National Gallery of Ireland, ‘Don’t Forget to Remember’ by Artbestos. The Hugh Lane are also offering free live performances on Sundays at noon of live classical music, this is always so wonderful!
I’m currently reading Long Island by Colm Tóibín which is the sequel to Brooklyn and is brilliant so far! But my next book on my wishlist is Ravelling by Estelle Birdy, dying to read this soon!
Emily O’Neill, Marketing Account Executive
I’ve just started reading Intermezzo by Sally Rooney and I am really enjoying it so far! I love all of Sally Rooney’s books to date so I have high hopes. I also started watching the new series of The Traitors on BBC and I am hooked after one episode. I can see why so many people are obsessed with it. A new Pilates class started in my local area before Christmas and is based in Eden Rejuvenation so I am hoping to join once it kicks off again in the year. I’ve never done Pilates before so I am a little nervous, but I’m also looking forward to trying something new!
Sarah Finnan, Deputy Editor, IMAGE.ie
While many people love socialising over Christmas, I tend to go the opposite way and become a bit of a hermit so there’s very little I haven’t watched in the past few weeks. At the moment, I’m stuck into Somebody Somewhere. Set in Kansas, the series follows a woman called Sam as she returns to her hometown and navigates life after the death of her sister. I’m only a few episodes in but it’s funny and wholesome and surprisingly uplifting – the perfect January watch. I’ve also committed to signing my evenings over to The Traitors for another year. Claudia Winkleman forever!
TV aside, there are lots of great books on my to-be-read list – I’ve set myself the goal of a book a month but would love to exceed that! Santa very kindly gifted me The Rachel Incident by Caroline O’Donoghue and What A Way To Go by Bella Mackie (I devoured her debut novel How To Kill Your Family, which is being made into a Netflix series starring Anya Taylor Joy). First, though, I have to finish Coco Mellors’ Cleopatra and Frankenstein… so many books, so little time.
As for things I’m booking this year? Part of my boyfriend’s Christmas present from me was tickets to go see Life on Our Planet at the National Concert Hall. It’s an immersive concert experience where highlights from the series will be shown on the big screen accompanied by a live orchestra performance of Lorne Balfe’s dramatic soundtrack. I’m also very excited to catch Steve Coogan’s Dr Strangelove at the Bord Gáis next month.
Lizzie Gore-Grimes, Editor-in-Chief
First things first, in desperate need of shedding the festive excess and getting back into a bit of routine I have myself booked into Strong Pilates for a few classes. Also really looking forward to blowing off the cobwebs with a plan made to to take the Dart out to Howth with friends this weekend, to do the Cliff walk (which is really lovely if you haven’t done it yet), followed by reward fish and chips after at the Seafood Bar at the King Sitric.
To read, I am really looking forward to getting stuck into Kala by rising Irish star writer Colin Walsh, which I got as a Christmas gift. I’ve just finished You be Mother by Meg Mason, set in Australia, which I really enjoyed. I love Meg Mason’s relatable, witty writing style.
To watch, I’m regularly dipping into Breeders (with Martin Freeman and Daisy Haggard) for a bit of light entertainment; summed up perfectly by themselves as “the paradox experienced by nearly all parents, the willingness to die for one’s children coupled with the near-constant desire to kill them” and then looking forward to starting Drops Of God which has been recommended to me by lots of random people – so dying to see what it’s like. I’ll also be dying to take my mum to see Maria as soon as it comes out; she is a huge opera fan.
Sophie Power, Chief Operations Officer
I just finished reading The Hand That First Held Mine by Maggie O’Farrell and was utterly gripped from start to finish so I can’t wait to discuss all the twists and turns with my book club later this month. I am also hooked on Disney’s Rivals (I know I am late to the game!), but it is so much fun to watch; for the music throwbacks, the dodgy ’80s fashion, the frivolous characters, the husband-swapping, many an illicit rendezvous and lots of eye candy (hello Aidan Turner); all set in the stunning surrounds of the Cotswolds gentry. A real treat for a cosy night in!
Leonie Corcoran, Business Editor
This year is going to feature a very new rhythm for me (hello April baby!), so I am prioritising taking time this month to read, watch, listen and cosy up with non-work related titles. Even in Portugal, January nights are chilly so it’s the perfect time to hunker down in a way I often struggle with when the light is high in the sky.
I have finally started reading Graham Norton’s Frankie. I enjoy Graham’s storytelling as he explores challenging elements of Irish society while maintaining an easy reader experience through his characters. I am also reading Wild Thing: A Life of Paul Gauguin by Sue Prideaux, recommended by my mum (via art historian Jessica Fahy — thank you Jessica!). I have always loved the story of how Gauguin became an artist in his mid-30s after his career as a stockbroker crashed alongside the French stock market. What I wasn’t expecting was the stories of the two powerful women who shaped his childhood – his grandmother and his mother, Aline, who was widowed on a voyage to Peru to claim her family inheritance.
My third book accompanies a happy hobby – cooking. Paradiso, Recipes & Reflections is a celebration of Paradiso, one of my favourite Irish restaurants, which was and continues to be a leader in vegetarian dining experiences. The book, a Christmas gift from mum, features essays and recipes by the author and founder-chef of Paradiso, Denis Cotter, as well as a foreword from Cillian Murphy.
I’ve been looking forward to watching Black Doves and I have been ‘saving’ Mark Horgan’s podcast Stakeknife for this month. Three years in the making, it explores one of the many dark episodes of The Troubles.
My sacred morning walks with the dogs are reserved for the sounds of nature, my daily meditations and, sometimes, some early tunes with Ian Dempsey on TodayFM (later walks often feature active coaching sessions with clients). On my return, I do some free weights, but am committing to some pregnancy yoga to prep my body and mind for the new arrival.
Megan Burns, Editor, IMAGE Interiors; Deputy Editor, IMAGE Magazine
I’m counting down the days until the second season of Severance comes out on Apple TV+ on January 17 (so there’s time to catch up if you didn’t catch the first one). The first season remains one of the best things I’ve watched in recent years. It follows a man who signs up to work in a company where employees’ consciousness at work and at home is separated, so when they’re at work, they have no idea who they are outside it, and it has such an arresting and engrossing atmosphere throughout.
I’ve just finished The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden and really loved it, and am currently reading Michael Magee’s Close to Home, which had been on my list for a long time. I haven’t booked anything yet, but am considering signing up for a few yoga classes to get me back into the habit after abandoning my mat for a while (and hunching over my desk too much!).
Susan Vickers, Account Manager
2025 is my year for health and wellness. I’ve signed up for the Raheny 5-mile run at the end of the month (as a non-runner!), so I’ll be especially focusing on walking, running and reformer Pilates! I’m also trying to prioritise reading over TV, starting with Manifest: Dive Deeper by Roxie Nafousi, and plenty of journaling in my Head Plan. As a treat, I’ve booked into Brindle, for their food and wine tasting afternoon — highly recommend!
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