‘He's the person you want at your shoulder in times of trouble' – Tony Holohan on his bond with Mike Ryan
Dr Mike Ryan and Dr Tony Holohan both became unlikely TV stars during the Covid pandemic but once the cameras were off they could be found having critical chats on the phone.
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Sunday World
9 hours ago
- Sunday World
‘She has brought happiness into my life' – Dr Tony Holohan weds Ciara Cronin
The couple are off to France for a few weeks of rest and time together 'It was a beautiful day from start to finish,' is how Dr Tony Holohan described his wedding yesterday to Ciara Cronin. 'We were surrounded by our families and closest friends. Ciara has a wonderful relationship with my children, Clodagh and Ronan — so it felt natural that Ronan was our best man and Ciara's sister, Elaine, was our best woman.' The couple tied the knot at the National Maritime Museum in Dún Laoghaire in an intimate ceremony surrounded by family and friends. The bride wore a beautiful floral- patterned silk shift dress by Dolce & Gabbana and carried a bouquet of red roses. The groom looked dapper in a navy suit. Tony Holohan, a medic who became a national figure when serving as chief medical officer during the Covid crisis, and Ciara Cronin, a mindfulness-based psychotherapist, began a relationship in 2023 — two- and-a-half years after the death of his wife Dr Emer Feely. The two doctors were married for more than 20 years, and Emer was diagnosed with multiple myeloma —an incurable cancer — in 2012. In the acknowledgements to his book, We Need To Talk — a book dedicated to 'Emer, Clodagh and Ronan, with love' — he said that he wants 'to tell Emer's story. So much of my career has been very public, but I was never on my own in any of it. Emer was with me through it all.' In the bestselling memoir, he also wrote: 'Ciara has given me the strength, belief and courage to write what I have. She has brought sunshine and happiness into my life, and has done so for Clodagh and Ronan too. I feel blessed and privileged to have her in my life.' One of the many tough conversations he and Emer had in the years between diagnosis and death concerned future relationships. Emer helped me to see myself moving on after her death 'She brought it up maybe half a dozen times over the course of her illness,' he wrote. 'She wanted to hear me say that I was open to the idea of another relationship, and for me to know she hoped this for me. 'We knew how much we loved each other... but she insisted I had to let her express herself. She wanted to talk about her hopes that I would meet somebody and enjoy a future with someone else.' This meant that when he did meet Ciara, the possibility of finding love again had already been considered. Ciara Cronin and Tony Holohan tied the knot at the National Maritime Museum in Dún Laoghaire on Saturday. Photo: Mike Mulcaire 'Emer helped me to see myself moving on after her death by being clear in her wishes for me — and now that I am with Ciara, I feel grateful... 'Telling Clodagh and Ronan was always going to be a sensitive moment — but because Emer had written down her thoughts, and they had read what she had written, I was able to talk to them easily and openly.' The hardship of the pandemic was universal. Within that, every one of us had our own specific challenges. For Tony Holohan, then chief medical officer and chair of Nphet (the National Public Health Emergency Team), these challenges were a mix of the professional and the private. Ciara Cronin and Tony Holohan on their wedding day. Photo: Mike Mulcaire Today's News in 90 Seconds - 09 June 2025 There was the immense responsibility of making huge decisions that affected the well-being and livelihood of the entire country — and then, on a personal level, there was the worry of living with a loved one who was utterly vulnerable. Emer had to isolate completely — even from siblings and parents. Clodagh and Ronan also had to severely limit their social interactions in order to protect her. In fact, every single one of the recommendations made by Nphet — for the country as a whole — were played out within the Holohan family, with the highest possible stakes. More than three years on from the easing of Covid restrictions, there is a brand new chapter in Holohan's life. Following the wedding, the couple are, he says, 'off to France for a few weeks of rest and time together'.
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
I'm spitting image of superstar Ed Sheeran – but I've become a hermit because fans mob me every time I leave the house
AN UNCANNY Ed Sheeran lookalike has been forced to become a hermit because he keeps getting mobbed by the megastar's fans. 9 Ed Sheeran lookalike Ty Jones at his home in Manchester Credit: Zenpix 9 Ty says he gets mistaken so often for the star he hardly ever goes out Credit: Rex Features 9 Ty look in the ring in April for the Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn fight Credit: Getty The 30-year-old professional impersonator, of Manchester, told how meeting Ed face-to-face was like 'looking in a mirror'. He is often forced to wear sunglasses and a hat because he gets stopped every time he goes to the shop. And Ty admitted that he still struggles to convince his two-year-old daughter that the Speaking to The Sun, he said: "Looking like Ed causes chaos - it's made me a bit of a hermit in my day to day life. Read more Showbiz 'I met Ed once at the Apollo in Manchester, but I didn't expect us to be the same height. 'I thought he would be a little bit taller, but it was eerily like looking into a mirror. He was shocked by the similarities too. 'Even my daughter she sees Ed and thinks it's pictures of her dad. "I'm still trying to teach her, but it's not easy when I struggle to tell us apart sometimes." Most read in Celebrity Ty continued: "I'm not a very outgoing person and socially I'm not always the best, so it is difficult. It's a blessing and a curse. "Quite often I'll wear a hat and sunglasses when I'm nipping out. Wearing a face mask during Covid was the best time for me, I felt like a normal person for once. 'I realise that I can never take a day off because to everyone else I'm always going to look like Ed. Whenever he gets busy, I get busy. 'Ed Sheeran lookalike replaces ring girl on Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn undercard' 'It's a job you can't leave and a mask you can't take off - I've accidentally become famous because of how I look!' Ty gave viewers shivers when he sat ringside at the Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn fight in London in April. During fights in the build-up to the blockbuster clash, Ty could be seen between rounds with other celebrity lookalikes David Beckham and Hannibal Lecter. The dad-of-one was invited by Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority to star as a 'tasteful alternative' to classic ring girls. His One viewer said: 'Is that Ed Sheeran? Ed Sheeran is the ring girl. 'That has caught me completely off guard. What's going on here?' It even prompted the Shape of You singer, 34, to come out on social media and clarify it was not actually him. Responding to a viral video of his doppelganger, Ed replied: 'That ain't me bruv.' 9 The lookalike gets swamped by fans if he's not in disguise Credit: Instagram / @ed_experience 9 In a spooky coincidence, his daughter was born two weeks after Ed's Credit: Paul Cousans 9 Meeting the Lego House singer was like 'looking into a mirror' Following his success at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, he was invited to appear in New York for the fight between US boxers Ryan Garcia and Rolando Romero just days later. But Ty explained that a number of He added: 'What I find weird is that we had a baby at the exact same time. 'His pregnancy was kept 'I sometimes wonder if I'm a very distant cousin. I would love to get an actual DNA test of me and him. 'I've done a bit of research on where his family comes from and it turns out both of our families are from the same place. 'We have some heavy ancestry originating from the same place in Wexford, Ireland. 'It's crazy to think where the paths have crossed in previous generations, with our ancestors and relatives living in the same place all those years ago.' I gave birth to 'Ed Sheeran's' baby – I was exhausted but still went to the singer's concert hours later By A WOMAN who had a baby with an Ed Sheeran lookalike was at the singer's concert just hours after giving birth. Ty Jones and his partner Amanda Baron They called their daughter Cherry Rose - in a nod to Ed's wife Cherry Seaborn - and added the middle names Leigh and Sheeran. And just hours after giving birth, mum-of-five Amanda, from Carrington, Gtr Manchester, was watching her idol in concert. Having had barely any sleep, the couple went to see Ed perform at Man City's Etihad Stadium. Amanda was introduced to Ty by pals who met him at one of the star's gigs. Ty, who looks so like the Shape of You singer that he works full-time as an Ed-alike, said: 'I feel phenomenal. Cherry is beautiful.' And Amanda, who is an Ed Sheeran superfan, said: 'She's perfect.' Cherry Rose, who arrived three weeks early, was born at Wythenshawe Hospital weighing 5lb 6oz at 4.08am. She said of the baby: 'I chose the name Cherry as it's so sweet. 'We also wanted to keep the Ed Sheeran theme in the family.' 9 Ty said that fans of the singer regularly approach him Credit: Instagram / @ed_experience 9 His job as an impersonator led him to be a 'ring girl' alternative Credit: tiktok/ 9 The pair share the same geographic ancestry Credit: tiktok/
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
Coronation Street star welcomes second baby as co-star brother pays sweet tribute
Coronation Street star Rebecca Ryan has given birth to her second child with husband Dan Acraman. The couple welcomed their first child, daughter Aurora , in May 2023. The 34-year-old actress, who played Advertisement 5 Rebecca played Lydia Chambers in Corrie Credit: ITV 5 The actress has welcomed her second baby with husband Dan Credit: Instagram / @rebeccaryan___ 5 Her brother, Jack James, looked smitten with his nieces Credit: Instagram / @jackjamesryan 5 Rebecca and Dan are already parents to daughter Aurora Credit: Instagram / @rebeccaryan___ Taking to Rebecca was quickly inundated with messages of congratulations from her friends and followers on her joyous news. Fellow While Advertisement Read more in TV Rebecca's real-life brother and fellow former Corrie co-star He later reshared Rebecca's post, adding: "That's my best friend right there." He also posted an adorable photo of him holding baby Oriana, with her older sister Aurora snuggled up to him. He captioned the beautiful scene: "My girls." Back in January, Rebecca, who shot to fame for her role as Debbie Gallagher in hit Channel 4 sitcom Shameless, revealed that she and her husband were expecting their second baby. Advertisement Most read in Soaps Exclusive Coronation Street star reveals she is pregnant with second child as she debuts baby bump in glam snap Captioning a snap that showed her cradling her baby bump, Rebecca jokingly wrote: 'sleeps overrated anyway… here comes baby no 2.' Rebecca and British Airways pilot Dan got engaged back in 2018, but had to delay their wedding due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The couple eventually tied the knot in 2022. The actress shared the news on her Instagram page, posting a black-and-white photo. She wrote: "Husband and Wife 24.09.22 - The best day of our lives!" Advertisement Rebecca left Corrie in 2022 after a year on the cobbles, sharing an emotional goodbye message to fans. She said: "That's Lydia over and out!! I have had the most amazing time on the cobbles and it's an experience that I will never forget!!" "Thank you so much for all the lovely comments, I see them all and I appreciate every single one! Bye Lydia it's been a blast." Discussing what she would like to do next, Rebecca told OK!: "I'd love to do a period piece, I've always wanted to do something like Downton Abbey, or Bridgerton. Something like that would be incredible. I'd love all of that, it would be amazing. Advertisement "I also love all the big dramas, like Succession. I think I'll go as far as to say it's the best thing I've ever watched. I just love it, so something like that would be incredible. A good, gritty drama." 5 Rebecca announced in January that she was having another baby Credit: Instagram / @rebeccaryan___
