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Ireland AM star slams ‘boring' backlash over Taylor Swift's new album & says ‘you wouldn't see this over football'

Ireland AM star slams ‘boring' backlash over Taylor Swift's new album & says ‘you wouldn't see this over football'

The Irish Sun3 days ago
IRELAND AM host Muireann O'Connell has defended Taylor Swift after her recent album announcement received backlash online.
The pop megastar sent fans into a frenzy this morning after she revealed her 12th studio album The Life of a Showgirl, would be released this year.
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Taylor Swift announced her brand new album The Life of a Showgirl this morning
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Ireland AM host has slammed trolls for claiming it's 'not real news'
The Cruel Summer singer is renowned for frequently dealing with hate online.
Since Swift made her major album announcement, Ireland AM star Muireann O'Connell has noted how multiple comments underneath news outlets claimed it was not "real news".
Taking to Instagram, the Irish host said: "All the, 'How is this news?' comments are just so boring.
"I mean pandas rolling down hills and cats setting up shops in libraries get their own posts. Everything is news. And yes this is alongside the horrors of whats happening in Sudan and Gaza."
The 41-year-old stated: "It's all news. There is no limit on how many posts can be put up an hour."
The breakfast show presenter highlighted how it was "interesting" that a "female leading story" was receiving such counterblast.
Muireann added: "You don't see this over football or under football scores that are posted by the second."
The TV star let out a dramatic sigh and emphasised: "Like she adds billions to economies globally, of course its news!"
Muireann gave a cheeky smile as she finished: "And its flipping brilliant."
Swift shared news of her latest album release on her boyfriend Travis Kelce's podcast.
Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift tipped to smash record after revealing shock New Heights podcast special
There was a huge buzz yesterday that the superstar singer, 35, would make her debut on her man's show, and she didn't disappoint.
Kelce, 35, and Taylor have been dating for two years, but this is the first time she has been on the podcast he shares with his brother, Jason Kelce.
The news was teased in a clip on social media, and saw Taylor produce a record case with "TS" written on it.
She then said to Travis and Jason: "So I wanted to show you something."
Tay Tay then pulled out a copy of a new album, although the cover was blurred.
She revealed: "This is my new album, Life of a Showgirl.", as gasps could be heard from her boyfriend and his brother.
Fans can pre-order the album right now, but as of yet, there is no release date.
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‘The first thing they did was put a pint in my hand': Cork fans relive Oasis memories ahead of Dublin gigs
‘The first thing they did was put a pint in my hand': Cork fans relive Oasis memories ahead of Dublin gigs

Irish Examiner

time3 hours ago

  • Irish Examiner

‘The first thing they did was put a pint in my hand': Cork fans relive Oasis memories ahead of Dublin gigs

A Cork man who was among the first people to interview Oasis as part of an assignment for his college newspaper says he is 'buzzing' to be attending their Dublin concerts this weekend. Michael Fitzgerald was just 17 years old when he met with the group at Manchester University's student bar in the early 1990s. At the time, they had yet to release their first single and were playing pubs and clubs around England. He said the first thing they did was place a pint in his hand to put him at ease for their interview. The Killeagh native, who was studying aerospace engineering, had been writing for the Mancunion at the time in return for free gig tickets. The now 49-year-old recalled the excitement in the air on the night he first heard Oasis play live. Now, three decades later, he is hoping to relive that same magic at both Croke Park gigs on Saturday and Sunday. The band's 2025 reunion tour was announced in August last year, with tickets selling out in less than a day. It will be Oasis's first time playing on Irish soil since 2028. Michael recalls his first meeting with group. 'Tony McCarroll, who was the drummer at the time, brought me backstage and introduced me to the lead singer Liam. Liam was quite hyperactive and had an amazing energy about him. It was obvious he was on a trajectory. He told me that I should talk to his brother because 'he writes all the songs',' he said. Noel told me that his influences were the Stone Roses and the Beatles. It was really nice to hear a young person flag these bands as musical influences. They were a breath of fresh air He described Noel and Liam at the time as 'your typical brothers'. 'They were like any other brothers really. One minute they were sitting with their arms around each other, the next they were having a cut off one other. They've had their ups and downs of course but that night, for me at least, it was like chatting with my own people. 'Liam was very personable and full of character. Noel was that little bit more introverted. It was while talking about music that he suddenly livened up and became a comedian. ' A lot of his lyrics were like jokes or punchlines. You can tell from his television interviews that he's a funny guy.' The band left an indelible impression on Michael. 'The first thing Tony McCarroll did was put a pint in my hand. For a penniless Irish student like me, a pint at that time was a fortune.' 'They had the humility but also that working-class confidence. They had huge belief in their songs. I think the band bought into it as an opportunity to get out of Manchester, play music, and just explore the world. 'They embraced that opportunity early.' Oasis fan Michael Fitzgerald said it was obvious the Gallagher brothers and the rest of the band were destined for stardom after he spoke with them for his college newspaper. Michael said it was obvious the Gallagher brothers and the rest of the band were destined for stardom. 'Six months later, their first single came out. I couldn't believe all the t-shirts and merchandise with their name. It inspired me to pursue a lot of my own dreams, even if they didn't involve music.' So how does he feel about this weekend's gigs? 'I've already been to Wembley. There is always an unbelievable atmosphere at Oasis concerts. 'It's like going to a match with 80,000 friends where everyone is singing for the same team. You have grandparents, mums, dads, and children. It's quite special actually.' Michael, who will be attending the concert with his sister, was determined to attend as many Oasis concerts as possible. It's like waiting for a bus for 16 years, and all of a sudden seeing three come along at once. I want to enjoy every minute Also making the pilgrimage to Croke Park this weekend will be Shane Farmer, who has been a superfan of the band for as long as he can remember. He will be attending Sunday night's gig. 'I was 15 years of age when I went to my first Oasis concert in Páirc Uí Chaoimh. It was a massive buzz. I was lucky enough to be there both nights. My grandfather was working on the turnstiles. I snuck in as his helper, but I spent the whole gig on the stand watching Oasis.' The experience was life-changing for Shane, who has taken to impersonating Liam on stage. 'I didn't have to pay to go to the concert when I was a teenager, but I made up for that over the years with all the trips and concerts. I've entered karaoke competitions as Liam and won a trip to New York. On one occasion, I got a call from the production team at Stars in Their Eyes, BBC. Superfan Shane Farmer, right, was 15 years old when he went to his first Oasis gig in Cork. Picture Dan Linehan 'They had seen videos of me performing and asked if I would be interested in travelling to the UK to audition for the show. I just froze. I decided against it in the end, because I felt it would just be stressful and take the fun out of it for me. 'I'm far from having a good singing voice, but Liam Gallagher has a very distinct sound that I did my best to try to recreate. I always dressed like him. He wore a zipped up top with a bucket hat, which is quite easy to put together. I've been wearing bucket hats since the nineties, so much so that friends often laugh at me. It's all about the image. Even though I was a lot heavier than Liam Gallagher, it still worked out for me. I still wear the bucket hats to this day.' Shane has enjoyed many Oasis highlights over the years. 'I was lucky enough to shake hands with Liam in Slane in 2009. It only lasted a few seconds, but I'll always remember it. Another highlight was standing outside the front window where the album cover photograph for Definitely Maybe was taken. 'It was that song that kicked off my whole love affair with Oasis so to be standing outside that window was surreal.' The 44-year-old's love for the band has rubbed off on other family members too. 'My five-year-old son Kelvin knows their music because I play it in the garden all the time. He likes wearing bucket hats, but I don't think he knows where that came from.' Shane says he is well known locally for his love of Oasis. 'If you mention Oasis in Midleton, my name will always come up. If there's ever a karaoke session I'll be pushed up to sing Oasis. 'Friends told me I was foolish not to have gone for Stars in Their Eyes, but I just do it for the pure enjoyment.' Kelvin Farmer with his Oasis superfan dad, Shane Farmer, proudly rocking a Liam Gallagher jacket. Picture: Dan Linehan Meanwhile, many fans who weren't lucky enough to secure tickets for Croke Park gigs have made alternative plans to mark the reunion tour. Laura Aherne says she was keen to get her own 'band' back together more than 25 years after they attended an Oasis concert in Atlanta together. 'I was at the concert with my friends Sinéad Kelleher, Margaret O'Mahony, and Lil O'Sullivan in Atlanta years ago. We all lived there at the time, but the four of us are back in Ireland so we really wanted to get the group back together to go to the concert. 'It was the four of us, all on our computers at the same time, the usual carry on. We couldn't get tickets, so we went to see an Oasis tribute band in Bantry.' The concert brought back fond memories for the gang. 'The tribute band was done very well. The concert we went to with the real band was a very different experience. 'The night we were in Atlanta, Liam threw down his instruments and walked off stage but Noel stayed on for a bit longer before telling us all to go home. I can't remember his words exactly, but it was something along the lines of 'go away the lot of you', so more of a drunk rumble. It seemed to happen a lot. 'There was always one walking on and walking off. It was dreadful but fierce entertaining. We always wanted to see them again, but I'm glad we were able to mark their reunion in some way.'

Rarity and celebrity add value in the memorabilia market
Rarity and celebrity add value in the memorabilia market

Irish Examiner

time3 hours ago

  • Irish Examiner

Rarity and celebrity add value in the memorabilia market

A Fry's Five Boys c1900 advertisement at Victor Mee's next auction underlines how rarity and celebrity add value in a memorabilia market which continues to grow strongly in Ireland. This particular enamel sign is rare. It harks back to days when chocolate — taken in moderation and highly prized — was a special treat for children. The enamel sign, which depicts five boys expressing desperation, pacification, expectation, acclamation and finally realisation that it's Fry's chocolate, leads the online August sale of 930 lots by Victor Mee next Tuesday and Wednesday. The estimate is €4,000-€6,000. A framed advertising mirror for Bendigo Tobaccos. Copper figures of musicians on painted boards from Slattery's of Capel St. in Dublin are of interest. This pub venue and early house licensed since 1821, steeped in music, history and character, has long been a gathering place for market traders, musicians and storytellers. Slattery's is a much-loved hub of Irish culture and traditional music known for performances by everyone from Christy Moore, Donal Lunny and Seamus Ennis to the Arctic Monkeys, Bloc Party, Kate Nash and Townes van Zandt. The unique embossed figures of a fiddle player, a button accordionist, a bodhrán player, a pip player and a tin whistler, a banjo player and a flute player are estimated at €300-€600 each. With hand-drawn illustration by Brian McCormack and copper work by John A Brennan they are redolent of the cultural atmosphere which Slattery's is renowned for. A Youghal Choral Society poster from 1952. An Old Irish Reindeer Whisky Kiloh and Co Cork framed showcard is estimated at €1,200-€1,800 and the auction kicks off with an Allman's of Bandon Old Irish Whisky advertising sign (€50-€80). A Beamish Stout light-up box for a counter dating to the 1970's has an estimate of €50-€100. A framed advertising mirror for Bendigo Tobaccos produced for W & M Taylor Ltd., Dublin and manufactured by A & H Pemberton of Liverpool has an estimate of €3,000-€5,000. In Art Nouveau style, it features hand gilded and reverse painted lettering in rich red, gold and cobalt blue and few examples survive in such well preserved condition. An original Will's Woodbine Cigarettes enamel sign, 150 cm x 92 cm, in well-preserved condition is the sort of lot that is sought after by collectors. The estimate is €300-€500. An embossed copper figure of a fiddle player from Slattery's. Sales like this serve to remind us of how quickly things move on and can stir many memories. Lot 159, for instance, is a framed February 1952 poster for A Royal Jester by Youghal Choral Society at the Town Hall (€40-€80). The catalogue is online.

Esther McCarthy: Signing up to the We Do Not Care Club
Esther McCarthy: Signing up to the We Do Not Care Club

Irish Examiner

time3 hours ago

  • Irish Examiner

Esther McCarthy: Signing up to the We Do Not Care Club

I would not have thought I'd have much in common with a black lady from Florida, but one of the many wonders of the internet is you can find communion in the most unlikely of places. Melani Sanders is a 45-year-old wife and mother and the founding member of the 'We Do Not Care' Club (we know this because she has it written on a bit of paper and paper-clipped onto her t-shirt). She posts videos aimed at women of a certain age who are sick to the back teeth of... well, everything. I remember seeing the first video she posted back in May. I was like, 'Yes! This gal gets it'. In a few short months, Melani's amassed 1.6m followers on Instagram, 1.3m on TikTok and 475,000 on Facebook, along with sponsorship deals, merch, and a global fan club. Turns out us mad bitches with startling mood swings and malfunctioning body thermostats just can't get enough of her. Melani sits there in her car, or kitchen, or sideways on her bed, with a travel pillow around her neck, multiple pairs of glasses perched on her person, ready to call to order another meeting of the WDNCC. She sometimes has a sleep mask slung around her neck, and often wears a robe and a satin sleep turban. (If you don't like it, she does not care.) She then uncaps her yellow highlighter, with a hint of menace, it has to be said, and proceeds to name out all the things we do not care about, as shared by her followers in the comments. All her videos start with her explaining the very simple premise. 'I started the club for all the women going through perimenopause and menopause. We are putting the world on notice that we simply do not care much anymore.' She calls out the first item, declares that we do not care, then scratches it off her list. She has this earnest look about her, like she is on serious business. And she is. One of the things on her list in a video I watched recently is: 'We do not care if the tag says hand wash. It's getting washed how it's getting washed. It's in the Lord's hands now.' Another one: 'We do not care if something is 'dishwasher safe'. It is now.' One more for the laugh: 'We do not care if you want us to go somewhere last minute. Once the bra comes off, forget about it.' Her slow, deadpan delivery is just brilliant. And to be honest, that club makes me feel a little better. Because, although I'm at the batshit-crazy (medical term) stage of my hormonal journey, I haven't quite mastered the fully not caring part yet. The other day, I started crying over the position of a fruit bowl on the table, and made the cat run into the sliding glass door in confusion. Then I had to add 'worry about cat concussion' to my checklist. I like knowing the WDNCC is there for consolation. There was one recently about not caring if a partner has had a long day. 'So did we,' drawls Melani. 'Our day included brain fog, night sweats, insomnia, frozen shoulder, and rage.' One thing that's stoking my rage at the moment is the pair of underpants strewn on the stairs. (Sidenote: Why is it called a pair?) I'm 67% sure it's clean and simply fell out of the laundry basket on the way up the stairs. Two things I'm 100% sure about, though. 1. It's not mine. 2. I am not, I repeat, NOT going to sniff it to confirm said cleanliness. It's a gamble though. It's been there a while now, no one else seems to notice it. Sometimes, on my dark days, I wonder… is it an illusion? Am I the only one who sees it — a figment of my fragile, foggy brain? Is it a metaphorical manifestation representing the mess in my mind? But then I remember that empty shopping bag on the kitchen floor. I decided I'd use it as a barometer of how much notice my fellow house inhabitants take of random things left around the house. And wasn't I was stepping over that bag every time I went to the fridge? It would have gone on until infinity so on day four, I folded it up with a martyred sigh, put it back in the boot of the car, and went and had a cry by the fruit bowl for myself. The ridiculous thing is, I'm a messy person anyway, I love a bit of creative shite thrown around the place. My office could be used for carbon dating. The kids' rooms are way tidier than mine. It's just things left in communal areas start my left eye twitching. But I'm going to work on it. The wonderful thing about Sanders' club is that it's fast becoming a movement. She's giving voice to all the women out there who can identify with these changes and challenges and who raise their hands and their voices up and say, OMG, me too! There's a real power — and comfort — in that. Sanders posted recently about the effect her club is having. 'You are not crazy. You are not alone,' she writes. 'You are surrounded by a tribe that sees you, loves you, and refuses to whisper about what we were taught to hide. We're just getting started.' On an unrelated matter, does anyone know the best way to glue a fruit bowl back together and the name of a good feline vet?

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