logo
‘I have to be honest' – RTE star Arthur Gourounlian makes confession after bump in the road on family day out

‘I have to be honest' – RTE star Arthur Gourounlian makes confession after bump in the road on family day out

The Irish Sun19-07-2025
RTE star Arthur Gourounlian was honest with his followers after a bump in the road occurred on his family day out.
The Dancing With The Stars judge spent some quality time with his mum Maria, sister-in-law Aoife, and kids Blake and Blu yesterday.
3
Arthur brought his kids for a day out in Wicklow yesterday
Credit: Instagram
3
Arthur's mum is currently staying at his Dublin home
Credit: Instagram
3
Arthur spoke about Blake's tantrum
Credit: Instagram
They visited Smurfs Village in Avondale in Wicklow and had an "absolutely amazing day".
Arthur shared snippets of their day out over on Instagram and raved over the unique experience.
The 45-year-old said: "Loved every single moment. The Smurfs Village is nothing short of enchanting.
"From the exceptional presentation to the welcoming atmosphere and the incredible professionalism of the team, everything was truly top-notch.
read more arthur gourounlian
"We are genuinely impressed and wholly immersed in the experience."
After having fun at the Smurf-themed family event, they went to see what the all fuss is about at Beyond the Trees in Avondale Forest Park.
The family-of-five took a leisurely stroll through the walled gardens and walked along the forest park trails.
Arthur said: "I love discovering new things everyday. I adore the view, the nature and the location. Wow."
read more on the irish sun
They decided they wanted to climb to the top of the viewing tower to go on the giant slide and look out at the stunning scenery.
However, after posting about the excursion, Arthur confessed that they didn't actually end up making it to the slide.
Arthur Gourounlian shares summer fun clip with mum
The dad-of-two told his fans: "Right, so I have to be very honest here, from the last video you saw Blake going up.
"We wanted to get to the top then do the slide, but we never made it to the top because my lovely daughter had a little tantrum.
"She didn't want to go into the buggy and she didn't want to walk but she wanted Papa to carry her.
"It was a long way up so we're trying to compromise but none of us wanted to give up. Yes I wasn't going to let her win, those little tears wouldn't fool me.
FAMILY FUN
"So we ended up going home. So we never made it to the top but I've seen people sliding through the slide and I'm definitely going to come back and revisit this place when Blake is 25-years-old.
"Honestly, the views are just spectacular. Oh, if you're wondering what happened after, she was absolutely fine. She sat in the car and said, 'Papa, let's go home', I was like, 'You won't break me'."
Arthur also shared some gorgeous photos from their day out and captioned the post: "What a beautiful Friday spent at Beyond the Trees Avondale with my gorgeous girls!
"We started with the charming Smurf Village and discovered the most magical walking path through the forest. It's always incredible to stumble upon new places, views, and little adventures that make your heart full. We loved every single minute of it."
The celebrity choreographer's friends and fans flooded the comment section with compliments.
Hubby Brian Dowling wrote: "Family."
Evelyn said: "Beautiful family."
One fan commented: "Aw beautiful family. J'adore. Tati is looking fabulous."
Karen added: "Gorgeous photos."
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Praising David Clifford's two-pointers simply highlighted Donegal's lack of same
Praising David Clifford's two-pointers simply highlighted Donegal's lack of same

Irish Daily Mirror

time11 hours ago

  • Irish Daily Mirror

Praising David Clifford's two-pointers simply highlighted Donegal's lack of same

hi Mom,I won't be phoning home tonight as I normally do after the All Ireland final but my love to Spot and, as always, I'm wondering about craic and of the pint in I've lost my voice screaming at the television here trying to find out what on earth was going on all through the second-half from had RTE here for the locals, yer man from Laois, your wan' from Liverpool and the guy with the baseball cap from Hong of us were left wondering are Kerry and Donegal playing different rules?Kerry were kicking two pointers through the first-half, indeed RTE's Darragh Maloney was in thrall as David Clifford pulled successive triggers."This is the first two-pointer in an All-Ireland final," he noted just before the 10th minute. And then as the next score was the same: "This is for two again, that's great from David Clifford, it is just what you'd expect." READ MORE: Shane MacGowan's love for Tipperary GAA, the Shannon Rovers funeral jersey - Siobhan MacGowan reflects on a brother less ordinary... A little later he was even more complex about it: "Who said 'Hammer the Hammer'?" before Clifford, taking his time, executed a perfect two-pointer on half-time, the poise, the timing, the it was Tomas O'Se who, talking in 2021 of the 'hammer' explained "In Kerry, it is how we describe going after the opponent's strongest point."O'Se is also a man who said "One man's grief is another man's punchline."And he called it at the half-time break speaking with Joanne Cantwell: "I would say Jim McGuinness is livid," and "unless Donegal can come up with a couple of two-pointers and a goal I'd still be favouring Donegal."The former Nemo Ranger with five All-Irelands and five All Stars was bringing up a reasonable point; why was he the only one?The second half began, mom, and it was as if Donegal had never heard the new rules, did they not get the memo from Jim Galvin's people?It seems inconceivable that Maloney with Eamonn Fitzmaurice on co-comms didn't want to discuss this, just why were Donegal not trying to score two-pointers - Kerry had 11 two-point attempts in the have come from a time when even RTE tired of a succession of Statler and Waldorf argumentative begrudgers engaging in a series of never-ending pre-game, half-time, full-time spats with the emphasis on the they at least asked questions about games, just as somebody needed to ask just why Donegal were not pursuing two-pointers/goals.I'm willing to bet 50 percent of the estimated viewing audience were experiencing the same sense of what on earth are we watching."This day last year we were talking about a seagull," offered Maloney at one point in the first-half, "well I know I've mentioned it now...".The commentary nearly got to analysis when offering "Eight points (behind) is a long way off from Kerry even with two-pointers and that sort of thing." And just as the 66th minute of the 70 was about to tick in: "They may as well start throwing the kitchen sink at Kerry, it's 26-19! Turned out David Clifford's punchline was Donegal's has been three winners of this year's All Ireland series, the 2025 Dairygold and Kerrygold double. That's Tipperary, Kerry and the RTE hurling commentary team who were excellent analytically, technically. See you soon, love to all at home and to Sally at Peadair's and the way she'd look at you PS: My best moment?: RTE's Damien Lawlor getting the last word in at half-time, wondering if we had already seen the 2025 'memory'. "We had a situation in the noughties, do you remember Joanne, Henry Shefflin was only on the ball for 16 seconds and scored 1-7, 1-8 - it is looking like this for David Clifford already." Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts.

Concern over future of planned €300m Wicklow film studio
Concern over future of planned €300m Wicklow film studio

RTÉ News​

time11 hours ago

  • RTÉ News​

Concern over future of planned €300m Wicklow film studio

Concerns have been raised about the future of a €300m film studio planned for Greystones in Co Wicklow because three years after the project was launched, there has been no sign of progress. Locals say there's a lack of information about what's happening to the site, and expressed concern about the €24m of taxpayers money committed to the project. They say if the media campus, which was expected to create 1,500 jobs, is no longer viable, the land should be used for other business purposes. Plans for state of the art studio and production facilities on the 44 acre site were unveiled to much fanfare in 2022, promising to build Ireland's largest tv and film campus, which was to have begun operating in 2024. A consortium called Hackman Capital Partners took a lease on IDA land for the Greystones Media Campus for 999 years at just under €600 a year Louise Gaskin, Chair of the East Wicklow Business Network, says her members are concerned about the lack of progress on the site and the "void" of information about the project. "It would bring a lot of community employment and it would bring for businesses locally, huge economic development. "Lying idle, it's becoming an ugly site, overgrown, just lying there doing nothing. "First of all we were being told it was about the actors strike going on. Then we were told it's commercially sensitive. Then we're getting blanks. "No one's coming back with information. So who has the information? Someone has to know something." Ms Gaskin said that - if there are questions about the viability of the project - she would like to see the lease agreement revoked and the land put to other business use. Since the launch of the Greystones Media Campus three years ago, planning permission has also been granted for a large media campus in South Dublin called Dublin Fields. However, those in the industry say that the facilities at Greystones are still badly needed. Larry Bass, Founder and CEO of ShinAwil Productions, says the lack of studio space in Ireland meant that his company had to build a new studio to film Dancing With the Stars when it returned after Covid-19 lockdowns. He said that, despite global uncertainty and the threat by Donald Trump of tariffs on the industry, Ireland's film industry personnel remain in demand, but the lack of studio space is a barrier to attracting productions here "Apple, Amazon, Netflix, the BBC, the big American networks, these studios will all still, thankfully, be creating new shows. "We're an English language country, we've got a fantastic crew base. "It has evolved from, maybe five or six thousand people working in the industry 20 years ago to over thirty thousand people, highly skilled, highly sought after. "All we need is the raw material, the place, to build. And you know, this has never been a truer statement. If you build it, watch them come." The Department of Finance said that while investment is likely to be on a phased basis, it can't say how much of the €24m committed to the Greystones Media Campus has been spent to date. It also says that the current Minister has not had any engagement on the project from the Irish Strategic Investment Fund or the consortium behind it, Hackman Capital Partners. A spokesman for the consortium said that they will make a statement on the project in the coming months.

People say I'm setting women back, but they're mums relying on boyfriends or benefits says Bonnie Blue in shocking chat
People say I'm setting women back, but they're mums relying on boyfriends or benefits says Bonnie Blue in shocking chat

The Irish Sun

time11 hours ago

  • The Irish Sun

People say I'm setting women back, but they're mums relying on boyfriends or benefits says Bonnie Blue in shocking chat

'DON'T stand too close to me, you might catch something,' quips Bonnie Blue as we pose for pics. As The Sun's Sexpert, there's not much that shocks me. I've been to swinging parties, witnessed 50-strong orgies and even taken part in an orgasm contest in New York. 5 Bonnie Blue is the disturbing reality of what happens when pornography and the world of 'influencers' collide Credit: Olivia West 5 Bonnie's controversial bonkfest during Nottingham Freshers' Week made headlines Credit: Tim Stewart 5 Bonnie has been branded as dangerous for women as toxic masculinity influencer Andrew Tate Credit: Instagram You could say I'm unshockable, and I'd have agreed with you — until Bonnie burst on to the scene. I've covered the industry long enough to know what's what, and I count porn stars, escorts and OnlyFans models as friends. But such is Bonnie's determination to perform the most degrading stunts imaginable, she's a tough one to defend. Her shock claim to fame — She has even been branded as dangerous for women as toxic masculinity influencer 'I love sex with public' So today, I'm sitting down with the 26-year-old to find out what really drives her — and maybe even get under her skin. Readers will know that The Sun does not make a habit of interviewing porn stars. But Bonnie is more than that. She is the disturbing reality of what happens when pornography and the world of 'influencers' collide, just as much a staple on the unregulated social media pages your kids scroll through as she is on adult sites. Bonnie is riding a new wave of anything-goes promiscuity that's genuinely worrying — and that's coming from someone who has built a career on being 'sex positive'. Real name Tia Billinger, she grew up in Draycott, a village between Derby and Nottingham, and was virtually unknown until she catapulted to fame in October last year. Bonnie Blue CANCELS disgusting 'petting zoo' event after extreme backlash, but reveals 10 THOUSAND men applied Her extraordinary story is laid bare in new fly-on-the-wall Channel 4 documentary, 1,000 Men And Me: The With immaculately blow-dried blonde hair and a preppy style, she's far from the stereotypical porn star. There's an old-money vibe about her — part of her appeal no doubt, and the shock factor. I ask her about being Claiming to be inspired by David Blaine, she wanted to tie herself up inside a glass box in the centre of London, which would be 'open for the public' to 'It's frustrating, I've never broken a single f * g rule,' she fumes. 'I went from "They [OnlyFans] would prefer me to do a cooking show or a dog's yoga retreat, but it's a sex site. People say I'm setting women back, but when I check their profiles, they're often stay-at-home mums relying on a boyfriend or benefits. Bonnie Blue 'I love having sex with the public and that is not going to stop. OnlyFans has tried to cancel me, but it's done the opposite.' So does Bonnie think she's setting women back with such degrading behaviour, teaching young men that it's OK to treat them as objects? 'I say I'm not a feminist, but a lot of my views are,' she says. 'I believe in equality, women being in control and not feeling intimidated by men. I do what I want, when I want, and I feel safe doing it. 'People say I'm setting women back, but when I check their profiles, they're often stay-at-home mums relying on a boyfriend or benefits — and I think, hang on a second.' Bonnie's controversial bonkfest during Nottingham Uni Freshers' Week, which saw her have sex with 150 18-year-olds — many of whom she claimed were virgins — made news. But it was her stunt in January that really caused outcry, as she claimed to have slept with over 1,000 men in 12 hours, working out at less than 45 seconds per fella. 5 Bonnie's shocking claim to fame was bedding 1,000 men in 12 hours Credit: bonnie_blue_xox/Instagram 5 A young Bonnie with with her ex Ollie Credit: Facebook She later revealed she was left covered in bruises and bite marks from the sex marathon and issued a thank-you to 'all the barely legal, barely breathing and the husbands'. One of the first things that strikes me about Bonnie is how tiny she is. When I go to give her a hug, she's so delicate and pint-sized I worry I might crush her. I can't help but think about her being thrown around in her infamous gang bangs and wonder how she wasn't seriously damaged. I imagine my young kids — already exposed to social media — stumbling across her content and shudder. I'd be heartbroken if my three-year-old daughter ever thought this was inspirational, and asked Bonnie what led her down this path. 'Everyone wants me to say I've been through something traumatic in my past,' she says. 'But it's not true. They just can't accept that I want to do this because I enjoy sex.' I enjoy sex, too, but I find it hard to believe anyone could genuinely enjoy a 1,000-strong orgy. I ask her if she actually orgasms during these stunts and how her body felt the next day. 'Oh it's completely hit and miss,' she explains. 'Even in my personal sex life, I have to remind them how I like it. "Most of these men are inexperienced, so I don't, but I enjoy giving them a good experience. My jaw hurt more than I did down there after the 1,000 challenge,' she adds nonchalantly. 'My legs were burning, too.' Some guys were just lonely and wanted a conversation, other guys wanted me to strip down within 60 seconds with a sex toy inside of me. Bonnie Blue Bonnie says she ordered a burger and watched Dexter on Netflix that evening as she was 'too excited to sleep', then treated herself to a massage and facial at a spa the next day. Another Brit OnlyFans content created, Unlike Bonnie, Lily, from Derbyshire, claims the experience left her in tears — yet she still pledged to go a step further and sleep with 1,000 men in 24 hours. But Bonnie nailed the challenge first — and in half the time. The pair previously made joint content, but Lily has since claimed their views 'don't quite align'. Last month, 'His opinion is that women have fought for years to be in control and have their say and do what they want with their bodies. I do exactly that. So if that's the outcome, so be it.' Like Andrew, she's a Marmite figure — loved by some, loathed by others — and receives hundreds of death threats a day online. 'Last time I went out by myself was six months ago,' she explains. 'It's not safe.' It's hard not to find this incredibly sad. What's the point of making big money if you can't actually enjoy it? 'I want to be the best at what I do,' explains Bonnie. 'I'm not driven by material things and would rather be at home doing a puzzle than glammed up at a red carpet event.' 'Part-time nun' When she's not filming controversial content, she spends her time fishing, surfing and doing jigsaws. She says the only time she's been hurt was when someone uploaded a photo of her late grandad and falsely claimed he had sexually assaulted her. 'My family are getting double looks in the street,' she revealed. 'It made me realise the impact I was having on my family.' So how did someone like Bonnie, who seems to have it all, end up here? 'Growing up, I loved dancing,' she explains. 'But you've got to have money to make it. All the big dance schools are in London and I couldn't even afford a train ticket there.' Bonnie was studying midwifery before she dropped out of college and worked for the NHS doing recruitment finance. She later moved to 'The move really helped me become a sex worker,' she recalls. 'It got me out of that small-town mindset where you're constantly comparing yourself to others.' She was inspired by women on TikTok flaunting their sex work earnings and decided to give it a go. 'I wanted money, freedom and to feel in control,' she says. Bonnie was racked with nerves before starting, but her ex-husband was her rock. 'My palms were sweating. I had no idea what I was doing — I didn't even know all the sex terms,' she recalls. 'I had a separate laptop next to me and any time someone asked something I didn't understand, I'd quickly Google it because I was too embarrassed to admit it. They expect me to drop my pants because they're famous. Bonnie Blue 'Some guys were just lonely and wanted a conversation, other guys wanted me to strip down within 60 seconds with a sex toy inside of me.' 'We had sex three or four times a week after watching Netflix,' she recalls. 'My friends would say they had a threesome at the weekend and I'd say, 'Oh my God that's crazy. I'd never even had a one night stand.' Bonnie separated from Ollie last year and their divorce will be finalised next month. 'I'll always love and care for my ex dearly,' she explains. 'But I didn't look at him in the end and think, 'Oh I want to have sex with you'. We became brother and sister in the end.' Bonnie tells how big celebs slide into her DMs, but she's not interested. 'They expect me to drop my pants because they're famous' she laughs. 'But unless they'll film content and be identified, I'm not going to sleep with them. I'm like a part-time nun. I'm one extreme to the next.' She would like to start dating, but it's not a priority. 'I've done what people think is happiness,' she says. 'Marriage, buying a house, a nice car, having money — and they didn't make me happy.' I like Bonnie — she's witty and self-deprecating, cracking jokes at her own expense and clearly enjoys shocking people. But I can't help wondering if it's her armour against the world. As we talk, I wonder what her life will be like five years from now. When her looks fade, will she have to go to even greater extremes for attention? 'If it doesn't make me happy, then I'll be the first to stop,' she explains. 'I'm in control.' Bonnie tells me she hopes the documentary will shift public perception — not just of her, but of the men who sleep with her. 'I want people to know these men aren't disgusting,' she says. 'They're nice people. 'I'm also happy because everyone assumes that behind the cameras, I must be crying, upset or broken — but that's not the case. 'People think I must be sick in the head to enjoy this. But I'm living a life I'm incredibly grateful for. I feel very, very lucky.' But at what cost? 1,000 Men And Me: The Bonnie Blue Story is on Channel 4 tomorrow at 10pm.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store