On a chilly day in December, I find myself squeezed into the back of a room in the Club Chonradh na Gaeilge bar on Harcourt Street in Dublin. I’m at a stand-up gig, but it’s not your typical comedy ...

It's a remarkably cool time to be Irish. Cillian Murphy has his Oscar, Paul Mescal wears his short shorts, and Sally Rooney's forthcoming novel is one of the most anticipated of the year. It was only ...