The Indo Daily: Ryan Tubridy, Joe Duffy, Eurovision... is the RTÉ soap opera back in business?
Though he has long decamped to London for the halls of Virgin Radio, Tubridy and his superstar agent Noel Kelly are keenly focused on goings-on in Donnybrook.
The pair are entrenched in a lengthy search for answers related to Tubridy's headline-making departure two years ago, with the ongoing hunt for clarity said to be costing a hefty sum.
Speaking of money problems, well, RTÉ has plenty of those to deal with already, including a seven-figure write-down, and a contentious staff redundancy scheme.
Meanwhile, the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest and Liveline presenter Joe Duffy's shock exit announcement are causing their own unique headaches.
Is the RTÉ soap opera back for a brand-new season?
On this episode of The Indo Daily, host Ellen Coyne is joined by Fionnán Sheahan, Ireland Editor with the Irish Independent, to look at the latest goings-on at the national broadcaster.
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Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Irish Examiner
Rose of Tralee co-host Dáithí Ó Sé: 'I can't wait. It's going to be something special'
It was full steam ahead for this year's Rose of Tralee contestants on Tuesday as the festival kicked off in style aboard the former tender ship the MV Cill Airne. The vessel, which is now a floating restaurant located on North Wall Quay in Dublin, played host to participants as well as the show's presenters Dáithí Ó Sé and Kathryn Thomas. Now in its 65th year, the Rose of Tralee International Festival has become a staple cultural event celebrating Irish identity and ambition. 2010 Rose of Tralee Clare Kambamettu, a clinical psychologist, has joined the panel of judges for this year's contest. She recently got engaged to former Late Late Show host Ryan Tubridy. Picture: Marc O'Sullivan The five-day festival will culminate in the selection of the 2025 International Rose of Tralee. It will be televised on Monday, August 18 and Tuesday, August 19 from 8pm on RTÉ — with a break for the news and resuming at 9.35pm. Some 32 women from all over the world gathered in the capital as anticipation grows ahead of the big event. Dáithí Ó Sé shared his excitement about this year's festivities. 'Every year, the Rose of Tralee brings something new — new faces, new stories, and a renewed sense of pride in the achievements of Irish women across the globe,' he said. 'I've been part of the festival for 15 years now, and I still get that buzz when the dome lights up and the Roses take to the stage. Co-presenter Kathryn Thomas with some of the contestants at the launch of the 2025 Rose of Tralee International Festival on board the MV Cill Airne, North Wall, Dublin. Picture: Andres Poveda "I can't wait to do it all over again this year It's going to be something special.' Co-presenter Kathryn Thomas added: 'I'm absolutely thrilled to be returning to Tralee for this year's festival. Over the past two years I've found it incredibly energising to be surrounded by accomplished, inspiring women who are all part of the same tribe. 'What I love most is that it's not all about gowns or glitter, it's about grit, grace, and the powerful stories behind each Rose. I can't wait to meet this year's group and be part of the magic all over again.' Queensland Rose Siobhán Edwards, South Australia Rose Beth Mooney, and Tyrone Rose Cloideach Donaghy at the 2025 Rose of Tralee launch. Picture: Andres Poveda The Rose of Tralee is expected to be watched online by audiences over the world. Influencer James Patrice is also set to return with some behind-the-scenes antics. New Zealand Rose Keely O'Grady was crowned the 2024 International Rose of Tralee at last year's festival. She was the third Rose from New Zealand to win the title in the competition's 65-year history. She is now preparing to hand over her crown. Former Rose of Tralee Clare Kambamettu has been announced as one of the judges for this year's competition. It follows her recent engagement to former Late Late Show host Ryan Tubridy. She will be joined on the panel by RTÉ's Nuala Carey, fashion designer Don O'Neill, and Aisling Murphy of sponsor Murphy's New Homes. Fans of the show can follow all of this year's action across Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok. The official hashtag is #roseoftralee.
RTÉ News
a day ago
- RTÉ News
'Dream ticket' - Brendan Gleeson on returning to stage after ten years
After a ten-year absence from the stage, Brendan Gleeson is returning to the stage for The Weir, describing the opportunity as a "dream ticket". The Olivier Award winning play, directed for the first time by its writer Conor McPherson, will have a three-week run at the 3Olympia in Dublin before opening in London's West End. Final touches were being put to the play and stage today ahead of the official opening tomorrow night. Gleeson plays Jack in the play about four regulars in a Co Leitrim pub, who tell tales of folklore, ghosts and fairies with a young woman recently arrived from Dublin, before she tells a story, which leaves them shaken. The actor said The Weir is the reason he has returned to the stage after a decade, saying: "It's kind of a dream ticket for me, it really is, to be back here with this particular play, at this time with these actors, it's just thrilling." Joining him on stage are Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, Owen McDonnell, Sean McGinley and Kate Phillips as Valerie in the play produced by Landmark Productions and Kate Horton Productions. Gleeson said the cast have been having great fun with McPherson directing, almost three decades since he wrote it. "We're having fun with it, and he's having fun with it. But ultimately, you know, the bulk of the play is the kind of emotional content of it and all those vulnerabilities…I mean, we're all vulnerable," he said. He said it is an important and "very profound" play about communication and people talking to each other, not being on mobile phones and supporting each other. McPherson said: "It feels like a real privilege to be able to get to revisit an old play like this and just direct it for the first time with such an amazing cast, kind of discovering it in a whole new way after all this time." He said it was a pleasure to work with such an experienced cast, saying he "couldn't be happier and I feel very blessed, because everywhere I look in the rehearsal room or on the stage, there's just somebody doing something really interesting and with lovely depth and lovely humour and great comedy and great timing, and also lovely sentiment and emotion". The writer said when the play was originally performed in 1997 it was only supposed to run for three weeks, but went on to win the Olivier Award for best new play two years later. Gleeson also paid tribute to RTÉ broadcaster Sean Rocks, who died following a brief illness recently, saying he showed extraordinary support for the arts. He said he would love to see a dedicated arts section as part of RTÉ's Six One News. He said: "Wouldn't it be great testament to [Sean Rocks] and to Michael D who's going to finish up this year, if there was a dedicated section in the six o'clock news for an artistic segment the same way as there is for sport. "Everybody thinks of us as an artistic people, we are, but I think for young people looking at the news, to see something as a section like that….would be fantastic." The Weir runs in the 3Olympia from 13 August until 6 September. The production will then transfer to London's West End at the Harold Pinter Theatre from 12 September to 6 December marking Gleeson's West End debut.
Irish Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Ryan Tubridy's fiancee on unique wedding dress hunt ahead of Rose of Tralee role
Ryan Tubridy's fiancée Dr Clare Kambamettu has confirmed she will be a judge at this year's Rose of Tralee. A former contestant herself, Clare took part in the festival in 2010 as the London Rose, while living and working in the UK. She will now join a distinguished judging panel that includes RTÉ presenter Nuala Carey, Aisling Murphy of sponsor Murphy's New Homes, and fashion designer Don O'Neill - all tasked with selecting the next Rose. The judges will also evaluate 30 international Roses, who are currently on their Rose Tour, making stops in Meath, Limerick and Tralee before the competition kicks off in Kerry from August 15 to 19. Clare confirmed her attendance this year while shopping for a second hand wedding dress ahead of her nuptials to Ryan Tubridy. The couple got engaged while on holiday in the west of Ireland earlier this summer. Clare told the Leinster Express / Laois Live that she is already shopping for her preloved wedding dress and paid a visit to the bridal floor of St Vincent's shop in Portlaoise. "I've bought second hand clothes for years - my pal Sarah Kate Byrne from Tullow (now living in London and working as a very successful stylist using mostly vintage fashion) helped me to put together my wardrobe for Tralee in 2010 using our local charity shops in London and ever since I've continued the habit. Ryan Tubridy shares stunning photos with fiancée Dr Clare Kambamettu at sun-soaked Wimbledon "I try to reduce my environmental footprint where I can and buying a wedding dress definitely feels like a good opportunity to do that, there's tonnes of second hand wedding dresses out there that are just gorgeous and I'm only going to wear it once. "I think now more than ever the charities around Ireland, particularly SvP are doing so much to support vulnerable people, buying second hand is a wonderful way to give something back. "I didn't find my wedding dress in VdP Portlaoise but I did find a couple of fab dresses which I'll be wearing in Tralee this year," Clare added. Dr Clare Kambamettu and Ryan Tubridy join Elgin Loane, Publisher of The Irish Post, for The King George for a day of hospitality curated by Zafar Rushdie at Ascot Racecourse on July 26, 2025 in Ascot, England (Image:for The Irish Post) Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
