William Shakespeare is back in the cultural spotlight with the release of the film Hamnet, starring Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley. But while the film renews interest in the playwright’s life and legacy, it also raises an awkward question closer to home: why does Shakespeare still hold such a dominant, compulsory place in Irish schools? 

English teacher Conor Murphy joins Shane Beatty on the podcast to argue that while Shakespeare’s brilliance is not in doubt, his privileged position in the curriculum is. Conor suggests that making Shakespeare mandatory crowds out other voices — including Irish writers and dramatists — and reinforces the idea that English literature has a fixed centre with the Bard permanently at its core. 

They discuss whether students are engaging meaningfully with Shakespeare or simply learning how to “pass” him for exams, whether plays are being taught in the wrong way, and how much space is left for writers like James Joyce, John McGahern, Marina Carr, or Doireann Ní Ghríofa. With curriculum reform on the horizon, the conversation asks whether it’s finally time to rebalance what — and who — we value in Irish classrooms. 

Hamnet opens in Irish cinemas this Friday. If you go to see the film, we’d love to hear your reviews! Send us an email to newstalkdaily@newstalk.com.