Mac attack

Irish author, DJ and broadcaster Annie Macmanus (aka Annie Mac) shares her summer cultural highlights…

This summer, I’m looking forward to my first show back [since before the pandemic] at Manchester Pride Festival, August 27-30. I couldn’t think of a more fun way to celebrate festivals being back up and running.

I’ve really missed Ireland this past year-anda-half. The choice to live in London was with the condition that I could jump on a flight from Heathrow and come home as much as possible. I’ve found it really hard not being able to spend real time with my family.

Over lockdown, I really enjoyed having time to focus on just broadcasting and writing.

I’ve always wondered how it would feel to really streamline my life and focus on just a few things, rather than juggling loads.

I have a big pile of books to read this summer.

One I’m really excited to read is Northern Irish author Séamas O’Reilly’s memoir, Did Ye Hear Mammy Died? (Fleet, out July 22).

As for what I’ll be listening to – I really enjoy Krista Tippett’s On Being podcast and there are so many brilliant albums due out, including Wolf Alice’s album

Blue Weekend in June and Laura Mvula’s ’80s-inspired album Pink Noise at the start of July… not forgetting Billie Eilish’s Happier Than Ever at the end of July. I’m also judging the Mercury Prize this year, which takes place in September, so will be listening to a lot of great British and Irish albums over the summer.

As for TV, I might get a chance to finish

Schitt’s Creek – I live for Moira Rose’s outfits.

If restrictions, time and money were not a factor,

I’d hire a big sprawling house with a private beach on the west coast of Ireland for the whole of August and have all my family and friends come and stay. Can I ask for the sun to shine every day?

Annie Macmanus’ debut novel, Mother Mother

(Headline, approx €20) is out now.