On This Week: THAT 'Normal People' Chain raises €70k for charity
Welcome to On This Week, where we delve into the standout stories from the years gone by, featuring standout news stories, major sporting events, and pop culture highlights that helped shape Irish life.
Here's your dose of Irish nostalgia from 2nd - 8th June.
This Week In Irish News
McDonagh Tower, a 15-storey block of flats in Ballymun, north Dublin, was reduced to rubble as part of a regeneration project.
Thousands of people gathered to witness the tower's demolition, which was brought down by a controlled explosion.
Oscar McAuley, the great-great-grandson of Thomas McDonagh, one of the leaders of the 1916 Rising, after whom the tower was named, pressed the detonator.
2024: CSO marked 75 years of counting the Irish economy
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) celebrated its 75th anniversary this week.
The CSO was established in 1949 to gather, analyse and publish independent statistics and insights about Irish society, its economy, and the environment.
In 1951, it carried out its first census, the first Census of Population, which is conducted every five years.
This Week In Irish Sports
Barry McGuigan captured the WBA and lineal featherweight titles after 15 rounds against Eusebio Pedroza.
The fighter, nicknamed the 'Clones Cyclone', was on a 27-fight winning streak before facing Pedroza, who held the title for seven years and made 19 successful defences before this fight.
Yet it was McGuigan who had the upper hand, flooring Pedroza in the seventh round before winning unanimously.
2024: Gold for Ireland in 4x400m mixed relay in Europe
Team Ireland produced a magnificent performance to win gold at the European Athletics Championships.
The relay team included Chris O'Donnell, Rhasidat Adeleke, Thomas Barr & Sharlene Mawdsley who finished in a time of 3:09:92, a championship record.
The four join Sonia O'Sullivan as the only gold medallists for Ireland in the 90-year history of the European Championships.
This Week In Irish Entertainment
Gay Byrne returned to the Late Late Show set to mark the 50th anniversary of the talk show.
After receiving a standing ovation upon his arrival, Byrne spoke about how people hated it when the show started, but it quickly became popular, and the rest is history.
The anniversary also included Brendan Balfe, who was in the audience for the very first Late Late Show, who recalled his memories of the first show.
2020: Paul Mescal raises €70,000 raffling THAT chain for charity
Paul Mescal raised over €70,000 for suicide prevention charity Pieta by raffling off the iconic chain worn by his Normal People character Connell.
The chain became a hit with fans to the point that it had its own Instagram account with over 180,000 followers.
Mescal said he particularly wanted to help Pieta because "suicide and depression are themes directly linked to Normal People."
This Week In Irish Culture
2003: St Anthony relics tour Ireland
The relics of the Franciscan monk Saint Anthony of Padua, one of the Catholic Church's most popular saints, came to Ireland for a nine-day tour.
Saint Anthony is famous for his power to return lost possessions, and his tour began at Fairview in Dublin.
At one point, the poles used to carry the reliquary were lost in Dublin Airport, but Franciscan Conventual friar Father Xavier Goulet, who helped organise the tour, knew who to turn to. They found them about an hour before the official reception of the relics in Fairview started.
2023: Largest collection of Cumann na mBan memorabilia goes on display
One of the largest and most comprehensive collections of Cumann na mBan memorabilia has gone on display at the Cork Public Museum after its surprise discovery in a dusty attic.
The archive, which contains over 5,000 items, including photographs, letters, pamphlets, and newspaper clippings, gave insight into the role of the women's Republican paramilitary organisation during tumultuous times in the country's history, especially during the Civil War.
The collection would have been lost forever if a house owner had not contacted the museum and asked them to assess the material before selling the property in 2007.
What was Number 1 in Ireland This Week?
1979: 'Sunday Girl' by Blondie
Sunday Girl was written by Blondie's guitarist Chris Stein and was inspired by Debbie Harry's cat having run away.
1983: 'Every Breath You Take' by The Police
The Police's signature song was recognised by BMI in the US as the most played song in radio history.
1998: 'C'est La Vie' by B*Witched
The iconic song from B*Witched made them the youngest girl group ever to have a UK number one.
Irish Celebrities Celebrating Birthdays This Week
Liam Cunningham (64)
Actor best known for roles in Game of Thrones, The Wind That Shakes The Barley, and Hunger.
Donal Skehan (39)
Television presenter, chef and food writer.
Helen McEntee (39)
Minister for Education and Youth, and Deputy Leader of Fine Gael.
Other Irish Trivia From This Week
2019: The Irish pigeon who played a vital role in D-Day
An Irish pigeon played a small but vital part in bringing the news of the Normandy landings on D-Day 75 years ago.
Paddy the Pigeon was one of 32 pigeons released from Normandy to bring back the news of D-Day to England.
He travelled 368 km (230 miles) in four hours and 50 minutes.
For this feat, Paddy was awarded the Dickin Medal, which has been described as the animal equivalent of Britain's Victoria Cross, and is the only Irish animal to have been so decorated.
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Irish Examiner
32 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
Nancy McGillivray takes a road less travelled to Ireland honours
Ireland 27 Scotland 21 Planning for one World Cup should be plenty for anyone's plate. Not Scott Bemand's. If first priority for the Ireland head coach is the upcoming tournament in England then Australia's hosting in 2029 never seems far from his thoughts. It was the global gathering in four years' time that was uppermost in the Englishman's mind when he took over the girls in green, and he has referenced the tournament more than once in recent weeks even as England 2025 gets more real with every passing day. So, while Saturday's five-try, six-point warm-up defeat of Scotland in Cork served an obvious and immediate purpose, it also fed into that longer-term goal with Ivana Kiripati, Nancy McGivillray and Ailish Quinn all making their debuts. The first two are 22, Quinn is still a teenager at 19. For McGivillray, this was the peak point to date on a rugby journey that began as an eight-year old in Hong Kong and playing for the Discovery Bay Pirates. It was only when she was 18 and left for uni in England that XVs became a thing. Her potential led to Exeter Chiefs and a transition contract with England's RFU that concluded at the end of June. That allowed the centre to make the switch to Ireland and make a debut which peaked with a try shortly after half-time. So, why Ireland? 'Well, my dad [Raymond] is Irish so start off there,' said a player once labelled as a 'huge talent' by England legend Emily Scarratt. 'I'm not actually English at all. I just have an English passport. So a big part of it was also family and culture. Ireland debutant Nancy McGillivray scores her side's third try. Pic: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile. 'I was in and around England, but I kind of had two years to figure out what I want, and I think, for me, that's to put on the green jersey. And a big part was family. My granddad would dream about that all the time, and he's not here today, but that's a big part.' Her granddad is Donald McGivillray, from Balbriggan in Dublin. Ireland's new recruit, whose mum Phatcharin is Thai, spent plenty of summers in Cong as a child. Other disparate strands played their part in this story too. Ireland head coach Scott Bemand was still an assistant with England when McGivillray was coming through that system and the player had gone through the Irish union's IQ pathway system when she first moved to the UK. All those lines were kept open. What impact she, or the other rookies, can make in the here and now remains to be seen. Back row is an area of serious depth, even with injury absentees, while Aoife Dalton excelled in the 13 shirt in the Six Nations and played every single minute. 'They're going to be big hitters for not just this World Cup but the one after,' said Bemand. Every shoulder is welcome against this wheel. Ireland, without Erin King and Dorothy Wall in their pack for the World Cup, and with Aoife Wafer n onlooker here and a doubt for at least some of the tournament, will have been thrilled to come through this first prep match unscathed. Captain Sam Monaghan, Eimear Corri-Fallon and Beibhinn Parsons all made reappearances in Irish shirts after long-term injuries and the manner in which a much-changed and relatively inexperienced Irish team recovered from 14-0 down bodes well. Only four of this starting side had been named to kick off their last game, the round five Six Nations trip to Scotland, and that had been over three months previously. Early rust was no surprise, but they largely bossed the Scots for long periods after it. The hope will be that more impressive auditions are the order of the day when Ireland play their second and last warm-up next week against Canada before the squad is named two days later and a World Cup opener against Japan on August 24th. For McGivillray it will also be an opportunity to catch up with Florence Symonds who was a teammate growing up with the Pirates and is now on the Canadian XVs squad having won a silver medal in sevens at last year's Olympics. 'Someone like her, it's an inspiration just to see one of my best mates go to Olympics and now she's in the World Cup squad as well. We grew up playing rugby together.' And look at them now. Ireland: M Deely; B Parsons, N McGillivray, E Higgins, A-L Costigan; D O'Brien, M Scuffil-McCabe; S McCarthy, C Moloney-MacDonald, S McGrath; E Corri-Fallon, S Monaghan (capt); G Moore, I Kiripati, B Hogan. Replacements: D Nic a Bhaird for Moore (3-14) and for Hogan (60); F Tuite for Monaghan (36); L Djougang for McGrath and N O'Dowd for McCarthy (both 50); E Lane for Scuffil-McCabe and E Breen for O'Brien (both 60); A Quinn for Kiripati and N Jones for Moloney-MacDonald (both 70). Scotland: C Rollie; R Lloyd, E Orr, L Thomson, L Scott; H Ramsay, C Mattinson; A Young, L Skeldon, E Clarke; E Wassell, R Malcolm; R McLachlan, A Stewart, E Gallagher. Replacements: E Martin for Skeldon (32); L Bartlett for Young (HT); L Brebner-Holden for Mattinson (51); M Poolan for Clarke (55); B Blacklock for Ramsey (57); A Ferrie for Wassell and E Donaldson for Malcolm (both 65); C Grant for Brebner-Holden (71). Referee: C Munarini (FIR).
Extra.ie
32 minutes ago
- Extra.ie
Bundee Aki's baby born in car just before test kick-off
Connacht rugby star Bundee Aki has become a father again after his wife Kayla gave birth to their fifth child in a car on her way to the hospital before the first Test of the series. The rugby international has been based in Australia in recent weeks as he lined out for the British & Irish Lions while his wife and their children were in their native of New Zealand. As a couple of the Irish lads decided to stay in Oz for some rest and relaxation, Bundee was straight over to New Zealand to meet his fifth child. Bundee Aki. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile Earlier this year, Bundee and his wife Kayla announced they were expecting baby number five, with the couple already having three girls and one son. Speaking following the end of the test series against Australia, Bundee revealed his child had arrived with Kayla giving birth in the car on the way to the hospital. He said: 'The missus calls me and she's like, 'Water hasn't broke but I'm going to the hospital, I'm feeling contractions.' She goes to the hospital, we're getting ready for the team meeting pre-match, and then she calls me and says she's on the way to the hospital. Bundee Aki with his family. Pic: INPHO/Dan Sheridan 'Five minutes later, she sends a photo, her water broke. This is like 30 or 40 minutes away from the hospital. Ten minutes later, she video calls me. 'I saw a baby on the video call, so she had it in the car on the way to the hospital.' Bundee then had to play in the opening Test against Australia in Brisbane with Andy Farrell's side winning 27-19. The father-of-five admitted he 'knew' the match would be successful. Pic: Bundee Aki/ Instagram Bundee and Kayla named their newest arrival, Aine, keeping with the theme of their children's names starting with A. The couple also share Armani-Jade, Adrianna, Ailbhe and Adronicus.
Irish Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Farrell gets a 'C+' for 2025 Lions Tour but 'must do better' for 2029
Andy Farrell is expected to be offered the Head Coach role for the Lions 2029 tour to New Zealand. But the poor send-off against Argentina and the nose-diving of the performance with regards the three tests in Australia will see a lot of his 2025 freedoms reigned in. Farrell won't be given as free a hand in squad selection again; and it is a certainty he will not be allowed to pack the backroom staff with so many Irish/echo-chamber opinions. Quite simply, there is war expected in the Land of the Long White Cloud as the All Blacks remain one of the most aggressive, committed sides in world sport. That not least as far as the Lions are concerned and relations have always been distinctly sour, witness the spectacular flashpoints through the years notably 2005. Let's face it, the All Blacks publicly stated 'No Dickheads' policy seems more suited to an outtake from South Park than the case in reality. Moreover, the Lions 2029 tour with tests and meaningful midweek matches is unlikely to be policed adequately by the current inadequate Laws of the Game that reward aggression bordering on reckless. Penalties are not stiff enough and the assistant referees don't have enough on-the-spot power. Specifically there is too much happening in too quick a timeframe at high-stakes breakdowns. The Laws here are too loose to cope. This Lions 2025 series hung on the last cleanout in the Second Test by Jac Morgan on Carlo Tizzano, referee Andrea Piardi calling play-on and, following Hugo Keenan scoring, the TMO upholding his view. Thus Andy Farrell Lions beat Australia 2-1 in the series despite having lost four of the six halves, while they also lost the fourth international game, to Argentina. The aggregate score of the three Wallabies tests ended up 69-68 to the Lions; that's how much Will Stuart's try, the last act of the game in the Third Test was worth. As it stands Farrell has indicated he would like to stay on for another term as Lions coach but that won't be decided until after all the after-party reports have been written and digested. The Ireland coach will be able to write 'winner winner, chicken dinner' as his headline and, should he wish to, point to two of the most respected refereeing voices, Nigel Owens and Wayne Barnes, agreeing with the Second Test decision to allow Hugo Keenan's try to stand. The flip side of that is they are seen as north hemisphere-centric and every Southern Hemisphere voice seemed to be at the, er, polar opposite. There were 17 players in the party involved in all three tests, asterisks denoting starts: Keenan***, Freeman***, Jones***, Aki**, Russell***, Gibson-Park*** Genge*/Porter** Sheehan***/Kelleher, Furlong***/Stuart, Itoje***, Cheesum**, Beirne***, Curry*** and Conan***; a further seven were involved in two tests: Kinghorn*, Lowe**, Farrell, Mitchell, Earl, Ryan*, Morgan Given there are 11 Ireland players in that 23 this appears to back the Head Coach's top-heavy Irish selection but if there is an Achilles heel it may come in the form of a pile-on from the other three Unions aimed at choosing his 'advisors'. Was there enough meaningful dissent/discussion surrounding selection of the squad and specifically team selection from Second to Third test... Had there been more than just Scotland''s John Dalziel and England's Richard Wigglesworth among the seven-strong top table there may have been more debate... Were the five Irish coaches all 'yes' on the same subjects leaving lineout coach Dalziel and the relatively inexperienced Attack Coach Wigglesworth outgunned There is little point on Farrell focussing on what Joe Schmidt did but it was of interest to us here in Ireland. We have an affection for him and understand some of his ways but the newspaper that labelled him 'Sleepy Joe' got it right albeit if not for all the right reasons. A former scrum-half himself, and given he had an inexperienced waif at no10 in Tom Lynagh, he got the no9 shirt so wrong in the First Test it was unbelievable, still didn't fix it for the Second Test, before bullseye in Third. Starting rookie Jake Gordon with Lynagh's experienced Reds captain Tate McDonald on the bench and leaving out Nic White for the first two tests was so wrong. Starting the combative veteran White - who had been so good in the opening game against Force - in the Third Test wasn't just right, he proved leadership-incarnate and brilliant, brilliant, brilliant. 'Sleepy Joe' also took time to work out his front-row options finally arriving at starting Slipper-Pollard-Tupou with Bell-Paenga-Amosa-Nonggorr on the bench - a four person change from the First Test and they dominated the Lions scrum in Sydney. Logic would suggest Farrell will be given a senior coach next time around as back-up (one of the England, Scotland or Wales';s Head Coaches) , a strong voice to at least put the 'what ifs' on the table. Farrell will gain a 'C+' for 2025 but it will come with the biro note 'must do better'. Meanwhile Tadhg Beirne returned from Australia with the Player of the Series award. Somewhat strange to note, the Munster captain played no6 in the three Lions tests having played second-row all season for Munster and for Ireland in the 2025 five Six Nations games. The Eadestown Easy's only three starts last season at no6 were in November against New Zealand, Argentina and Australia. Indeed before this tour Beirne had only played back-row 15 times in 111 starts in the last six seasons which makes his performance in Australia all the better. Beirne sets the rating bar at 10/10, elsewhere the Irish backs rated: Keenan 8.5, Gibson-Park 8, Hansen 7, Lowe, Ringrose 6, Aki 5 The Irish forwards: Sheehan 9, Conan 8, Furlong, McCarthy 7, Porter, Ryan 6.5, Bealham, Kelleher 6. Van der Flier 5 Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts.
