Tom Vaughan-Lawlor on life after Nidge: ‘This is the truth. I do a job, I play a character, and then it disappears'
Tom Vaughan-Lawlor is telling me about a brush with the paparazzi. It happened around the same time he was starring as gangland kingpin Nidge Delaney in RTÉ's much-vaunted crime drama Love/Hate.
'I remember this one time I was getting money out of an ATM and I had no funds. I can't remember why; my card was rejected or something,' he says, smiling a little at the memory. 'And it was in the newspaper, and then on telly, when they were going over the papers. And people were like, 'He's got no money.' I mean, maybe I didn't, I don't know, but some paparazzi got me with a long lens.'
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Irish Times
an hour ago
- Irish Times
Ryan Tubridy's on-air fervent cheer has a sour backnote
In a world riven by social division and online venom, there's a place where the vibe is unwaveringly upbeat, negativity is determinedly banished and everyone is nice to each other, or to one person at least. So fervently cheerful is the mood on The Ryan Tubridy Show (Q102, weekdays) that it's possible, just for a minute, to forget about troubles roiling the globe and even the payments scandal that saw the host exit RTÉ two years ago this month. Broadcasting from the London studios of Virgin Radio UK, the station he joined in January 2024, Tubridy approaches his late-morning show with Tiggerish verve, bringing an unflagging enthusiasm to the insouciant musings, breezy interviews and industrial-scale namedropping with which he punctuates his soundtrack of indie oldies. The net effect is akin to the opening monologue of his old RTÉ Radio 1 weekday programme being shorn of anything vaguely news-related and spread out over three hours. READ MORE Instead there are countless recollections of Tubridy's encounters with sundry celebrities, invariably cast in a glowing light. He lauds the idiosyncrasies of the Star Trek actor William Shatner: 'I had the pleasure of meeting him.' He highlights the musical talents of Michael Flatley while assessing the dancer's presidential aspirations : 'A nicer man you won't meet'. And on it goes. Even when he doesn't know someone, Tubridy can't help imagining them as friends: 'I think I'd get on okay with Bill Nighy'. Meanwhile, though his show is primarily aimed at a British audience, the host's frame of reference is still firmly Irish, whether he's giving tips on Dublin pubs or previewing the upcoming presidential election. In fairness, this characteristic seems to be a selling point for the British market – the tagline for his show on Virgin Media UK's website reads 'the craic continues' – while it surely chimes with his audience on Q102. [ The show mustn't go on for RTÉ underperformers, say RTÉ news staff Opens in new window ] Admittedly, the tone varies a bit. Tubridy enjoys the company of Tim Minchin , the Australian comic songwriter and musician, who proves a wry and perceptive guest during their interview. And the host has his own moments of disarming self-deprecation. 'I'm just a spoof,' he larkily says of his ability as a cinema critic. Mostly, however, the show is fuelled by an unceasing jollity: even his playlist of alternative classics by the likes of the Buzzcocks, The Cure and Primal Scream is stirring in tenor. Of course, as Roy Keane might say, it's his job. Tubridy is a natural behind the mic, and his radio show is predicated on his chirpy exuberance and ability to gab easily about mainstream pop culture, not his sensible civics-teacher persona, though that side occasionally seeps through. (He laudably offers listeners books he bought cheaply outside his local library.) But, taken together with his books podcast and his resurgent visibility in the social pages, the unmistakeable impression is of someone living his very best life. And, you might say, why shouldn't he? Having endured a torrid period of public approbation and political scrutiny following the revelations about RTÉ's controversial payments to him which were not disclosed publicly , Tubridy has come out the other end, if not quite redeemed, then refreshed and relaunched. So why does all this positivity carry a faint backnote of sourness? Tubridy may not have been the cause of RTÉ's need to remunerate presenters so handsomely in a market it dominated. But public outrage at the host's surreptitious top-ups – €150,000 of which hasn't been repaid – contributed to a precipitous drop in licence fees. And while Tubridy can be excused being permanently clad in sackcloth and ashes, his on-air jauntiness comes perilously close to making him sound pleased with himself at a time when his former colleagues face an uncertain future, as does the network that once promoted his career so lavishly. If Tubridy's old home at RTÉ Radio 1 has soldiered on since his departure, it's still grappling with more recent developments. First and foremost, there is the sad and dreadfully premature death of Seán Rocks , the presenter of the long-running arts show Arena, whose passing was announced as this column was going to press. The loss of such a versatile and engaging broadcaster is immense, to radio and the arts, and – most of all – as a warm, smart, friendly human being. [ Seán Rocks, presenter of RTÉ radio's culture show Arena, dies aged 63 Opens in new window ] Meanwhile, Liveline (RTÉ Radio 1, weekdays) putters on without the retired Joe Duffy , amid conclave-esque levels of speculation and opacity surrounding his successor. In the absence of a permanent replacement, the phone-in show perhaps unavoidably has the feel of an extended audition, with Colm Ó Mongáin currently helming after a fortnight's stint by Philip Boucher-Hayes. Whatever the outcome – Katie Hannon remains the favourite for the post – Ó Mongáin's spell highlights his virtues as a broadcaster while indicating the limits of the Liveline brand without Duffy. Ó Mongáin cuts a likably understated figure, his quietly encouraging manner drawing out stories from callers. When talking to Pauline, whose son Luke disappeared in Limerick in January, he lets his guest describe her son at length, painting a picture of a capable young man dealing with depression: her calm account has the quality of a tragedy foretold. 'I'm still hoping he went walkabout,' Pauline says, while admitting her older son isn't as optimistic. It's a heartbreaking tale, handled with sensitivity by Ó Mongáin, though one suspects Duffy might have injected more emotive drama into the segment. [ Liveline contenders: 'Crazy levels of speculation' about who will step in to replace Joe Duffy Opens in new window ] Joe Duffy hosted his final Liveline radio programme at the end of June 2025. Photograph: Colin Keegan/ Collins Dublin He's similarly attentive with Tony, who despairs about what will happen to his intellectually disabled daughter, Aoife, after he and his wife are gone. (Tony is 70; Aoife is 41.) With the waiting list for specialist residential care paused, he is despondent and angry – 'the HSE effectively expects families to care until they drop' – and even hints that he would see no future for his daughter if he knew he and his wife were dying. Having drawn out the wider ramifications of the story, Ó Mongáin goes into alarm mode, understandably cautioning against any drastic action that would be 'an appalling crime'. Such drama aside, it's yet more bleak testimony from an embattled family feeling let down by the State: Tony stresses that thousands more are in his situation. Not everyone can look on the bright side of life. Moment of the week The eternal question of art versus commerce is dissected on Culture File Presents: The Comfort Zone (Lyric FM, Saturday), the show that has the novelist Colm Tóibín discussing cultural works with its host, Luke Clancy. The pair are joined by the artist Kerry Guinan to examine what Clancy calls 'one of the art world's greatest pranks', the burning of £1 million, in 1994, by the K Foundation, aka the techno-pop act The KLF, aka the anarchic artists Bill Drummond and Jimmy Cauty. Tóibín is slightly aghast, his 'inner social worker' wary of the destruction of sums that could be used elsewhere, while Guinan approves, claiming the act took away the power of money: 'The money is not doing what it's supposed to'. Not that Tóibín is necessarily against incendiary cultural gestures. 'I burned a diary,' he reveals. 'It was pure freedom.' It's a thought-provoking conversation – sparky, even.
Irish Times
10 hours ago
- Irish Times
Ladies' Day at the Galway Races: ‘Get off Tinder – you have to come to the Galway Races'
Some are lucky on horses, while other are lucky in love. One such couple are Craig Devenny and Ruby O'Reilly Duff, who met at the Galway Races three years ago. 'We just love the buzz of it,' says Devenny. 'Every year since we have made a tradition to keep coming to mark our anniversary.' 'Get off Tinder,' he advises others looking for love. 'You have to come to the Galway Races.' READ MORE Craig Devenny and Ruby O'Reilly Duff, who met at the Galway Races three years ago. Photograph: Niamh Browne/The Irish Times O'Reilly Duff made her own outfit, having bought a sewing machine two weeks ago. 'I have grown up with horses all my life so I wanted to add some of the rosettes myself. I got the material from charity shops. I wanted to recycle materials instead of going out to buy something new.' Milliner Gillian Duggan at the Galway Races Summer Festival in Ballybrit. Photograph: Andrew Downes/Xposure Gillian Duggan, a headpiece designer living in Galway, also sports a home-made outfit for Ladies' Day on Thursday. 'I actually designed this headpiece for the 150th anniversary of the Galway races [in 2019]. They kindly let me use their logo.' Having originally designed the piece for a friend, the Mayo woman 'decided to get a go out of it myself'. Some attendees make their own outfits, others commission pieces for the Met Gala of Galway fashion. Eva Hayes Morrissey from Co Limerick at Ladies' Day of the Galway Races Summer Festival. Photograph: Andrew Downes/Xposure Eva Hayes Morrissey from Limerick, who has been attending for more than 25 years, opted for a custom couture design from Geraldine O'Meara. 'I designed it and Geraldine made it for me. It's in a Victorian style. Caithriona King made the headpiece to match using the same olive fabric.' The occasion merits the handmade outfit, she says, as the atmosphere in Ballybrit is 'just electric'. What Hayes Morrissey enjoys most is 'the craic, the nights out after, the getting ready, and the hangovers. Everything. We wouldn't miss it.' Áine Malone from Edenderry at Ballybrit. Photograph: Morgan Treacy/Inpho Áine Malone, wearing an Ella May dress and a Michelle Kearns headpiece, says she has 'as much chance as winning the lotto' as the €10,000 cash prize for Best Dressed on Thursday, but she would throw her hat in the ring anyway. Breda Butler from Tipperary, winner of the Best Hat competition at Ladies' Day. Photograph: Andrew Downes/Xposure Best Hat winner Breda Butler from Co Tipperary, wearing a headpiece by Michelle Kearns, is delighted to be taking home another trophy for her home county, after their All-Ireland Hurling win. The county is 'on a double', she says. Travelling from Thurles is 'an annual event' and 'the style is phenomenal', adds Butler. Megan Cunniss from Galway, winner of the Best Dressed title on Ladies Day at the Galway Races. Photograph: Andrew Downes/Xposure Megan Cunniss bagged the coveted Best Dressed title, wearing a hat from Newry brand Millinery by Mairéad. She styled the headpiece at the last minute with a black bow made from a bedsheet, along with a clutch hired from Mála Hire, lacy black gloves and black-and-white heels from Zara. Cunniss won the favour of the judges – stylist Mandy Maher, entrepreneur Lisa McGowan and Niamh Ryan of Ella & Jo cosmetics – with her monochrome ensemble. [ Hopes high that Galway will continue trend in increased attendances for week-long festival Opens in new window ] The Galway native is on a winning streak, having also won Dundalk Races Ladies' Day a few weeks ago. 'I actually thought that would go against me,' she says. Attending her first Ladies' Day in her home county, she says: 'Galway women are so stylish. They love putting outfits together, so it's hard to compete in Galway.' When it comes to the €10,000 cash prize, she has no plans. 'God, I haven't thought that far ahead.'
Extra.ie
12 hours ago
- Extra.ie
Robert Downey Jr assembles eye-watering fortune from new Marvel deal
Robert Downey Jr was the face of the Marvel Cinematic Universe for over a decade and seemed to be finished with the franchise in 2019. RDJ kicked off the global phenomenon back in 2008 when he first appeared on the big screen as the fan-favourite Iron Man. After Iron Man's death in 'Avengers: Endgame' in 2019, it looked like the charismatic actor was finished with the superhero life and went on to win an Oscar for his portrayal of Lewis Strauss in Christopher Nolan's 'Oppenheimer' four years later. Robert Downey Jr will play Doctor Doom in the next two Avengers films. Pic:for Disney Although, his Marvel retirement did not last long, as last year it was announced that RDJ will return to the franchise in next year's 'Avengers: Doomsday' and the following year's 'Avengers: Secret Wars'. This time, however, the 60-year-old is not returning as the beloved Iron Man and is instead taking up the villainous role of Doctor Doom. The announcement brought about confusion, excitement and overall mixed reactions from Marvel fans. It might not be too much of a mystery though as to why RDJ has returned so quickly after looking at the paycheck the iconic star is set to receive for playing Doom in the next two Avengers movies. Actor Robert Downey Jr. (Photo by) Variety originally reported that RDJ will be making over $80million on the films but according to 'people familiar with the deal', that figure could be closer to $95million. This will be the most RDJ has ever earned over a two-film spell with Marvel but it only adds to a gargantuan sum that he has already accumulated. Variety sources say that the actor has earned between $500million and $600million over the course of seven Marvel movies and three cameos. With a paycheck like this it seems certain that RDJ will be getting the most screen-time in Doomsday, which is set to release on December 18, 2026. RDJ won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in 2023. Pic:To put these earnings into perspective, the star's Doom payday is almost half of the entire budget for Marvel's recently released 'Fantastic Four: First Steps', which Disney pegged at somewhere north of $200million. It's no secret that Disney and Marvel can afford these big budgets with their blockbuster movies usually turning a mega-profit. Last year, their film 'Deadpool & Wolverine', starring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, made $1.34billion worldwide. It had a rough budget of $200million. However, 'Avengers: Doomsday' looks set to be Marvel's most expensive movie to date with massive production costs and a seemingly never-ending cast list, including RDJ's massive deal. It has been speculated that Doomsday could cost upwards of $1billion to make. While that may sound like far too much to gamble on a movie, Marvel probably won't be sweating too much after their last two Avengers films – Infinity War and Endgame – grossed $2.048billion and $2.799billion respectively. No matter how they turn out in the end, one thing is for sure – Robert Downey Jr's bank account looks more and more like Iron Man's with every movie.
