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Don't ever let anyone tell you that turning 50 is hard; turning 50 is a doddle. For me, it involved an eight-month series of arm-chancing trips to New York, Portugal and Iceland after I made sad puppy eyes at my impossibly lovely and soft-hearted wife.
This week I turned 52, an age that is so unremarkable it seems pointless to mention it, let alone celebrate it. That has never stopped me before. I went to London and thoroughly enjoyed Conor McPherson's new play The Brightening Air at the Old Vic, was baffled but sort of entertained anyway by Here We Are, Stephen Sondheim's last musical – or half a musical if you want to be accurate – at the National Theatre, and I finally got to see the joyfully fun and incredibly complicated staging of My Neighbour Totoro.
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RTÉ News
6 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Heritage Week: 5 fun things to do for all the family
Get ready to celebrate all the best things about our heritage with 5,000 events taking place during National Heritage Week. We can't list them all, but here are 5 fun things to do this weekend to get you going. Our friends from the Heritage Council have thousands of fun activities and days out taking from 16 to 24 August. They will bring together communities, families, organisations, cultural institutions, academics and enthusiasts, to build awareness about the value of heritage and support its conservation. Come along to Áras na hOidhreachta, Church Lane, Kilkenny for a celebration of Ireland's traditional craft and building skills. This an entertaining day for all the family. It's free and no booking is required - just drop in! See master craftspeople in action, including lime plastering, stone cutting, blacksmithing, thatching, and glassmaking. Explore the history of the Heritage Council's headquarters, the former Bishop's Palace, a remarkable building that has stood witness to centuries of change in Kilkenny. There's engaging activities for children will be all day - come along and join in the fun! Athlone Castle Free Open Day - 16 August 10:30am to 5:30pm Storm the Castle! The Athlone Castle open day will feature lots of guest demonstrations, tours of the castle and more. Athlone Castle's flagship Heritage Week event returns once more, with free admission for all! The castle courtyard will be transported through the centuries to the heart of medieval life, with a spectacular array of traditional craftspeople, hands-on demonstrations, and engaging activities for all ages. The Rekindle Festival of Lost Skills returns to Ennistymon on Saturday, 16 August, celebrating heritage, community, and craft through a full day of activities. This free event brings together local makers, musicians, and storytellers to share traditional skills and cultural heritage in a welcoming, hands-on setting. Please note that all workshops have limited capacity, so early booking is strongly recommended. Woodstown Viking Festival - 17th August 12pm to 5pm Celebrate the heritage of Vikings in Ireland with a gathering on the edge of Waterford that was once home to the Vikings. Usually, the Waterford Greenway is very peaceful but for one day only, there will be war! The Woodstown Viking Site will see battle re-enactments, Viking games, a craft village and archaeology activities for children. The immersive event is brought to you by Déise Medieval in collaboration with Waterford City and County Council, Transport Infrastructure Ireland and supported by National Museum of Ireland, TVAS Archaeology, the Discovery Programme and SETU. Athenry Walled Town Day - 17th August 1pm to 5pm A big celebration of the Norman heritage of Athenry. Set in the shadow of the castle, this celebration will feature craft demonstrations, a chance to see medieval arms and much more. Join us at Athenry Community Park and Athenry Heritage Centre for a free family fun day celebrating the rich heritage of Athenry. This year's theme, Exploring Our Foundations, invites visitors of all ages to enjoy a vibrant mix of arts, crafts, music, song and dance, medieval reenactments, puppet shows, children's activities, food stalls, historical presentations, and a walking tour of the historic town. Step back in time and experience the magic of medieval Athenry!
Extra.ie
06-08-2025
- Extra.ie
Derry Girls stars reunite for new production
Two of Derry Girls' breakout stars are set to reunite later this year as they take to the stage in London in a new production of Playboy of the Western World. The cast was recently announced and eagle-eyed fans were quick to spot that both Nicola Coughlan and Siobhan McSweeney would be appearing. The duo starred in the hit Channel 4 series as Claire and Sister Michael, and now will be taking to the National Theatre stage in the UK in the John Millington Synge's story of youth and self-discovery. The Playboy of the Western World Pic: The National Theatre For those unfamiliar with the story, it depicts how Pegeen Flaherty's life is turned upside down when, on a normal day, a young man walks into her pub claiming that he's killed his father. Instead of being shunned, the killer Christy Mahon becomes a local hero. The welcome murderer wins hearts and races as he beds himself into village life. That is until a second man unexpectedly arrives on the scene… This iteration will be directed by the Artistic Director of the Abbey Theatre in Dublin, Catriona McLaughlin, with Nicola starring as Margaret Flaherty, and Siobhan as Widow Quin, alongside Éanna Hardwicke as Christopher Majon, Megan Cusack as Susan Brady, Lorcan Cranitch as Michael James Flaherty, and Marty Rea as Shawn Keogh. Siobhán McSweeney and Nicola Coughlan during the BAFTA Television and Television Craft Nominees' Party in April 2025 Pic: John Armour/BAFTA via Getty Images The show is actually a co-production between the National Theatre in the UK and the Abbey Theatre in Dublin. It's not the only collaboration between the two groups either as A Whistle in the Dark starring Paul Mescal will be staged in both London and Dublin. Speaking on the news, McLaughlin shared: 'It is very meaningful for us at the Abbey Theatre to have such fulsome engagement in this next chapter of the National Theatre of Great Britain. Mark O'Brien, Catriona McLoughlin and Darren Murphy at the opening of Landmark Productions' 20th anniversary production Krapp's Last Tape by Samuel Beckett. Pic: Brian McEvoy Photography 'It will be an honour to bring The Playboy of the Western World and A Whistle in the Dark before audiences in London. Every generation deserves to see these two seminal works of the Irish canon.' Playboy of the Western World takes to the London stage from Thursday, December 4, 2025 until Saturday February 28, 2026.
The Irish Sun
26-07-2025
- The Irish Sun
‘Green Jacket? It's on the yacht' – Rory McIlroy parties and jokes with golf fans on break in a beach club in St Tropez
RORY MCILROY has been enjoying some time away from the golf course as he was seen joking with fans in St Tropez. The Northern Irish clubber finished tied for seventh at the Open, which ended on Sunday. 3 Rory McIlroy won his green jacket in April after years of trying Credit: Sportsfile 3 It took him 11 years to complete his career grand slam Credit: PA The golfer was spotted by some fans partying in a beach club to loud music. The fans were keen to know why he was not wearing his green blazer that he earned for winning the Masters in April. They typed out a message on their phone reading "Where's the Green Jacket?". READ MORE ON SPORT They also tried shouting the question to McIlroy, but could not be heard over the loud music. McIlroy eventually spotted the fans and bounced his way over to them, clutching a wine glass. He answered their question brilliantly as he joked: "It's on the yacht ." The group of them burst out laughing as they enjoyed the vibes of the party. Most read in Golf SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET £50 BONUS WHEN YOU JOIN McIlroy appeared very relaxed with his friends as he wore a jacketless outfit of a black shirt and swim trunks paired with a backwards cap. The moment has gone viral on social media with plenty of fans enjoying the golfer's humour. Baffled Rory McIlroy hits TWO balls with ONE shot in incredible never-seen-before incident at The Open One posted: "Haters gonna hate but this is a W for Rory." A second commented: "Could be the hardest flex of all time." A third wrote: "This is the most I've ever liked Rory." A fourth said: "I like Rory now based off this video." 3 McIlroy was in the party mood in St Tropez Credit: Getty Another added: "Hate Rory but kinda love that he gets down." McIlroy landed the Green Jacket after 11 years of trying to complete his Grand Slam. However, he did fail to beat McIlory was left stunned at one point during the tournament as he hit two balls with
