On This Week: Taylor Swift blows away Irish audiences
1990: Nelson Mandela fulfils promise to the Irish
Nelson Mandela arrived in Dublin city with his wife Winnie for a two-day visit, fulfilling a promise made to Ireland.
Two years previously, he was honoured as a freeman of Dublin city while still in a South African jail. He vowed to collect that honour someday.
Mandela's arrival also coincided with another major return, where the Republic of Ireland team arrived home after their Italia 90 exploits.
Mandela received the Freedom of the City, congratulated the Irish football team, and praised the support that the Irish people gave to the South African cause.
2004: Dublin gets trams for the first time in 55 years
The LUAS was launched in Dublin, bringing trams back onto the streets of Dublin city for the first time in 55 years.
People queued up to be the first to travel on the green line from Sandyford in south Dublin to St Stephen's Green, with many recording the trip for posterity.
The last regular tram service before the LUAS was the Hill of Howth Tramway, which ceased operation on 31 May, 1959.
This Week In Irish Sports
1990: Italia 90 team return home to a hero's welcome
The Republic of Ireland football team returned home to a massive welcome after their Italia 90 journey.
The team reached the quarter-finals of the first World Cup they had qualified for, eventually losing 1-0 to the host nation Italy.
An estimated 50,000 people were at Dublin Airport to welcome the team home. Thousands more lined the route from the airport to College Green in Dublin city centre, where there was a civic reception.
After four games, the Leinster Football Championship was finally decided between Meath and Dublin.
After a tight game, Meath did enough to emerge victorious with a one point victory. The final score was Meath 2-10 Dublin 0-15.
This Week In Irish Entertainment
The Late Late Show made its Irish television debut on Friday, 6 July, at 11:20pm.
At the time, it was unusual to have a live talk and entertainment show happening so late in the day. It was also originally intended to be a filler show, but after its success, it became a mainstay in Irish television.
Gay Byrne was the first presenter and would remain in the hot seat for 37 years.
2024: Taylor Swift brings sold-out Eras tour to Aviva Stadium
Taylor Swift became the first tour ever to sell out the Aviva Stadium three nights in a row.
The singer was in Ireland as part of her blockbuster Eras tour, and over 50,000 people attended each night to see her performance.
The concerts had such a performance that the song 'Shake It Off' triggered seismic activity that could be felt as far away as Co Wexford.
This Week In Irish Culture
Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco made a state visit to Ireland.
Both were welcomed upon their arrival at Dublin Airport, greeted by Lord Killanin, Frank Aiken, Minister for External Affairs, and Charles Haughey, Minister for Agriculture, along with his wife, Maureen.
While visiting, they were distinguished guests at the Petits Lits Blancs charity ball in Powerscourt, county Wicklow.
1997: Saving Private Ryan shot at Wexford beach
The production of the Steven Spielberg film 'Saving Private Ryan' began shooting on Curracloe beach in Co Wexford.
The beach was the location for recreating the movie's famous D-Day landing scene at Omaha Beach, Normandy.
Members of the Reserve Defence Force, dressed in Second World War US Army uniforms and carrying period weapons, marched for their part in the $40m film.
The movie went on to win five Oscars, including Best Director for Steven Spielberg.
What was Number 1 in Ireland This Week?
1979: 'You're the One That I Want' by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John
The iconic hit from Grease is one of the best-selling singles in history, having sold over 15 million copies worldwide.
1996: 'Killing Me Softly' by The Fugees
The song, originally written by Charles Fox, Norman Gimbel, and Lori Lieberman, was covered by the R&B group and became a number-one hit in twenty countries.
2017: 'Despacito' by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber
The remixed version featuring Bieber has been credited for renewing the popularity of Spanish-language pop music in the mainstream.
Irish Celebrities Celebrating Birthdays This Week
Katie Taylor (39)
Professional boxer who holds the world super lightweight championship
David Norris (81)
Former independent Senator, gay and civil rights activist, and scholar
Róisín Murphy (52)
Singer, songwriter and record producer
Other Irish Trivia From This Week
1985: Dún Laoghaire baths transformed into a water slide park
Dún Laoghaire baths were transformed into Rainbow Rapids, featuring Ireland's first water slides.
Rainbow Rapids were operational during the summer months and could accommodate up to 250 users per day. The two slides were 300 feet long, and those using the attraction would complete a circle before dropping 40 feet into a plunge pool.
The duration of each ride was approximately 30 seconds, and experts could reach up to 15 miles (24.1km/h).
Looking Ahead
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
'It feels important, it feels big': Major-level crowds and strategic move elevate Women's Irish Open
Georgia Hall was taken aback by the crowds which turned out to watch last year's KPMG Women's Irish Open. 37,000 attended Carton House as Annabel Dimmock claimed victory. A similar number is expected this week at the same venue. There are hopes it could be exceeded. 'I was just actually shocked how many people turned up to watch, in a good way,' said Hall who finished tied for 15th last year. "I think we got more than we would in England." 'I remember playing with Leona (Maguire) in the final day and we weren't near the lead. We ended up finishing ok, but we had so many crowds. I was like 'this looks like the final group.'" Read More Golf will be the easy part of busy Irish Open week for Leona Maguire This year's tournament has been moved two months earlier in the calendar making it even more attractive for LPGA Tour players travelling across the Atlantic for the European swing. The Irish Open is followed by the year's fourth Major, the Evian Championship in France, before a week break to the Scottish Open and then the final Major of the year, the AIG Women's Open at Royal Porthcawl in Wales. 'That's the nice thing with the dates being a little bit earlier this year, the kids are on summer holidays,' said Leona Maguire. 'Hopefully there should be even more this year. The crowds are reminiscent of Major crowds having four or five people deep. There's only a handful of LPGA events where you can get that big of a crowd. It's nice and I know the girls on the LET appreciate it. 'There's some events they go to and there's a handful of people and their dog walking around. It's nice to have that feel. It feels important, it feels big. 'Also, the Irish fans are very knowledgeable. They'll clap for a good shot. Yes, they're a little bit biased probably towards the Irish players, but at the same time, they'll appreciate good golf and they want to come see good golf.' Anna Nordqvist had been trying to play the Irish Open since its return in 2022. 'Good friend' Maguire had been in her ear about the atmosphere. The Solheim Cup teammates will tee off for the opening round at 9am on Thursday alongside Lahinch amateur Áine Donegan. Word of mouth from Hall means her best friend, the world number 19 Charley Hull, will also make her Irish Open debut this year. The two English golfers get their tournaments underway at 2pm on Thursday with Cork LET player Sara Byrne also in the group. Hall believes moving the event earlier in the calendar is one of the reasons for the strong field but not the only one. 'In my opinion, this is one of the biggest events that we have on the LET,' said Hall. 'I think it would bring stronger players because of that.' The Irish Open also makes the transition to European courses easier. 'It's great to play the week before the Evian on the same grass,' explained Hull. 'I've come from America, playing those grasses, it does your head in. When I was in Texas, that grass at the KPMG (PGA Championship), the major, was like pretty crazy, but you do kind of get used to it. 'Then you come over here, you're kind of on the same grass the whole time. It's nice to have five events with the same grass, which you don't really get that in America.' Dimmock, unable to defend her title this year as she is pregnant, won last year's title in a playoff after shooting 19-under. Swedish pro Madelene Sagstrom, also making her Irish Open debut this year, feels the O'Meara Course is one which will reward aggression. 'I saw the back nine today, I'm going to see the front nine and back nine again tomorrow,' she said. 'It's a course where you have to be aggressive because in reality you're not going to make that many birdies from like 20 feet and out. You have to be aggressive, dare to hit close to the pins, go for par-fives. 'It all depends on the setup and on the weather, but there's some of the par-fours where I have an advantage; I hit it far, so I can get over some of the bunkers and just kind of give it a rip and then just trying to take advantage. 'Knowing it was a low-scoring course last year, you just have to go out and attack it, which is kind of a nice feeling because you know low scores are going to win.' KPMG Women's Irish Open – selected round 1 tee times: 1st tee: 9:24am: G Ding (HKG), A Angurasaranee (THA), O Costello (IRL) (a) 10am: A Uehara (JPN), D Zalewska (POL), R Gardner (NIR) (a) 1:36pm: A Wilson (NIR), O Cowan (GER), L Woad (ENG) (a) 1:48pm: B Law (ENG), O Mehaffey (NIR), K Davidson Spilkova (CZE) 2pm: S Byrne (IRL), C Hull (ENG), G Hall (ENG) 10th tee: 8:12am: P Babnik (SLO), L Pettersson (SWE), B Coulter (IRL) (a) 8:36am: L Walsh (IRL), M Sagstrom (SWE), C Tamburlini (SUI) 8:48am: A Foster (IRL), M Rhodes (ENG), C Gainer (ENG) 9am: L Maguire (IRL), A Nordqvist (SWE), A Donegan (IRL) (a) 9:12am: A Fuller (ENG), K Bennett (AUS), A Dawson (IRL) (a) 10am: T Melecka (CZE), A Nobilio (ITA), E Fleming (IRL) (a) 1:48pm: L Young (ENG), C Screene (IRL), P Mack (GER) 2:12pm: C Herbin (FRA), S Bringner (SWE), M Joyce Moreno (NIR) (a) 2:24pm: H Kreuzer (GER), E Givens (ENG), R Scanlon (IRL) (a) 3pm: S Nuutinen (FIN), G Bjorgvinsdottir (ISL), A Abom (IRL) (a)
Irish Examiner
2 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Bernard O'Shea: Observe the Constitution of the Irish Family Holiday
There's a particular look Irish people get when you mention a family holiday. It's a mix of hope, dread, and a kind of facial tension. On paper, it sounds idyllic: You, your siblings, their spouses, the grandchildren, maybe a stray cousin who's 'between places' — all heading off together for a glorious week of bonding in a rented house by the sea. But in practice? It's like being in a low-budget reality show called Survivor: Inch Beach Edition. Let me say this upfront: I love my family. But I also love silence, wi-fi, personal space, and not being judged for watching endless hours of old Dragons Den episodes on YouTube. The problem is that Irish family holidays have evolved in to something else entirely — a pressure cooker of good intentions, passive aggression, and 17 breakfast preferences. And it's time we acknowledged the truth: Without formal governance, Irish family holidays descend into chaos. This is why, dear reader, I am proposing something bold. Something brave. Something entirely unnecessary, but deeply satisfying: A family holiday constitution. Let's examine how we arrived at this point. IV. The Constitution of the Irish Family Holiday (Ratified somewhere between a broken beach chair and a tray of cocktail sausages) Article I: The Person Who Books the Accommodation Is Automatically the Taoiseach They are not the Mammy. They are not the boss. But they are the Taoiseach for the duration. You will respect their Google Sheets. You will not question the mattress's firmness. And you will definitely not say, 'Could we have gotten somewhere closer to the beach?' Article II: No Single Fry Is Truly a 'Shared Fry' If someone cooks a fry, they are not expected to also clean up, entertain children, or fetch brown sauce. And under no circumstances should anyone say, 'Are there no mushrooms?' That person may be legally ejected from the group. Article III: All Discussions of 'The Budget' Must Happen Before the Holiday There shall be no whispered accusations of overspending after the third bottle of rosé. If someone didn't chip in properly, bring it up in April, not now, while they're slicing brie beside the fire pit. You shall adopt the 'sure, it's only once a year' rule. Yes, the children will need braces, but you also need another pair of Raybans. Article IV: The Wi-Fi Password Must Be Shared Promptly and Without Attitude The smug withholding of the wi-fi password shall be considered a hostile act. You may not say, 'Oh, I have it, but I don't know if I should share it; it's acting up.' You shall share it. You shall do so gladly, even with that nephew who will absolutely use it to Google 'giant tractors' all day. Article V: Silent Judgement of Parenting Styles Is Permitted. Verbal Comments Are Not. You may raise your eyebrows when someone lets their toddler eat a Cornetto at 10am. But you may not say, 'Interesting technique.' That is an act of war. The full realisation of your own parenting limitations must be fully realised before raising one's eyebrow. Article VI: Dishwasher Tetris Is a Sacred Ritual Only the designated dishwasher priest may perform re-stacking ceremonies. Any interference shall result in a mandatory, three-day rotation of the tea towels. Article VII: Day Three Is for Fighting Everyone shall be allowed one passive-aggressive meltdown midweek. This is healthy and traditional. After which, all parties must apologise, blame tiredness, and go for a walk they don't enjoy. The participants shall be allowed to hold a grudge over the tiniest issue until the day they pass away formally. Article VIII: One Person Shall Cry. That Is Normal. It could be the toddler. It could be the gran. It could be you sitting in the car eating a breakfast roll, while Spotify plays an unskippable ad about a weight loss meditation app. Let it happen. Article IX: There Shall Be No Conversations About Fridges After 9pm All rows about who left what uncovered, what's going 'whiffy,' or whether the feta is yours must be postponed until the morning. Especially if there's drink involved. Article X: No One Is Allowed to Say 'Sure, It's Only a Week' Unless They're Doing All the Cooking If you say this while sitting down, holding a glass of wine, and watching someone else try to get sun cream onto a screaming child, you will be fined €50 and assigned bin duty. If anyone consistently brings up the day you have to leave, they shall be asked to leave. If someone tries to force the entire house to 'go to bed' on the last night of the holiday, so they don't miss the flight, they shall be ejected immediately. V. Final Reflections From the Car Journey Home You'd think we'd learn. You'd think, after the cold showers, the burnt sausages, the five-hour board game row about Monopoly rules, that we'd say, 'Never again.' But no. We're Irish. We thrive in this exact kind of chaos. We complain, we cry, we rebook. Because somewhere in between the burnt toast, the dodgy wi-fi, and the mysterious smell in the utility room, something real happens. The children bond. The cousins laugh. Someone finds a jelly shoe from 2003. And you remember that it's not really about the house, or the rota, or even the sleep. It's about family. The weird, wonderful, maddening, lovely family. So, yes — next year, we'll do it all again. But this time, I'm laminating the constitution.
Irish Examiner
5 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Juventus among admirers of Owen Elding but no Cork City approach for Patrick Hoban
Italian giants Juventus have joined the list of suitors monitoring the future of Sligo Rovers teen hotshot Owen Elding. The 19-year-old bagged his eighth and most stunning goal of the season last Friday to fire his hometown club ahead in a 1-1 draw at Bohemians. Sligo sensibly tied Elding down to a long-term contract until 2027, which doesn't contain a buyout clause, and his value continues to rise with each stellar performance. Bit O'Red boss John Russell admits it will take a 'hell of a bid' to prise their key asset from the Showgrounds but his array of admirers has swelled beyond the traditional UK market. Several were at Dalymount Park last Friday to observe the player in action first-hand. Juve, the most successful club in Serie A with 36 titles, have been tracking Elding in recent months and it's believed he features on a shortlist of potential targets. Read More Ex-Premier League striker Lys Mousset departs Bohemians Liam Brady is the Irish player most associated with Juve, collecting league medals in the 1981 and 1982 seasons he spent in Turin. Wicklow native Ronnie O'Brien was a surprise capture in 1999 but he made just one brief substitute appearance in the first-team over his three-year stint. In recent years, Udinese took an interest in a couple of Irish players, exposing Festy Ebosele and James Abankwah to top-flight game-time. The latter will spend another loan at their sister club Watford in the upcoming season. Elding has yet to represent Ireland. Born in England, he's spent most of his life in the west of Ireland since his Dad, Anthony, moved across during his football career, scoring Sligo's winner in the 2013 FAI Cup final against Drogheda United. Despite holding no bloodline links to Ireland, the FAI are exploring eligibility through residency rules that would facilitate his availability for Ireland's U21s. Meanwhile, there's no substance to reports linking Pat Hoban with a move to Cork City. The prolific striker has only played a peripheral role for title contenders Derry City this term but the notion of him moving south to Leeside hasn't been broached.
