In The New Hot Press: Gay Byrne, The Young Offenders, Mango X Mathman and More

In a tribute to the iconic RTE broadcaster, we present the full unexpurgated version of Gay Byrne’s 1986 Hot Press interview. Speaking with remarkable candour, the Late Late host discusses his personal life, being ripped off by Russell Murphy, his teenage years, his thoughts on the near collapse of Ireland Inc – and lots more besides. Plus, we revisit the Late Late’s biggest rock and roll controversies.

In our big features this fortnight, rising hip-hop duo Mango X Mathman talk to Lucy O’Toole about the state of Dublin, Irish rap, mental health, and the long road to their excellent new album, Casual Work. Elsewhere, rockers Ghost talk to us about A-list fans, playing Slane, and what we can look forward on their next album, while Norwegian pop sensation Aurora talks to us about youth-led climate strikes, mental health, and her stunning album A Different Kind of Human (Step 2).

As they make their long-awaited return to our screens, Stuart Clark sits down for an extended interview with The Young Offenders, where they share all the shenanigans on the set of filming Season Two of the acclaimed show.

In our film section this fortnight, Roe McDermott talks Seamus Murphy about his powerful new documentary, PJ Harvey: A Dog Called Money, which follows the singer to Afghanistan, Kosovo and elsewhere, and examines how the experiences informed her album The Hope Six Demolition Project.

In our frontlines section, Ian Wilson – who was a seismic figure in RTE for forty years – offers his unique take on the problems now facing our national broadcaster. On top of that, we take an insightful look into fangirl culture, and the sexism which drives the shaming of it.

In our book section this fortnight, we talk to journalist and online sensation Una-Minh Kavanagh about her debut book Anseo – which shows the writer take an energetic look at why the Irish language is alive and well in 2019.

As if that weren’t enough, we have all the news, reviews, interviews and previews you’d expect from Hot Press. Reuben Raj – Our Man Down Under – reports from Australasian leg of U2’s Joshua Tree tour; we review the latest albums from Sorcha Richardson, Bob Dylan and Beck; and we catch up with magician Keith Barry, indie-folk star John Smith, and rising stars Easy Life.

The new Hot Press is in stores from Thursday November 14.