‘'Hellraiser' was a story he himself fed to the press' – Jared Harris on his father Richard's legacy
When the Limerick-born actor Richard Harris was in hospital being treated for advanced Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2002, he began writing his autobiography. It probably goes without saying that it would have made a hell of a read, for he was a man who had lived several lives, each one more colourful than the last.
'Unfortunately, there was some notepad [that he was writing in] that was wrapped up in all these newspapers, and one of the nurses came in and chucked the newspapers away,' Jared Harris, Richard's son, recalls. 'He was going to start again though, but… yeah. I think he definitely had an appetite for more [living].'
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The Irish Sun
10 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Harry's response to charity row is typically him – blame others and then flounce off instead of trying to fix things
Harry has never learned to sit with discomfort, to fix what's failing - instead, he blames... then bails ROYAL BAILOUT Harry's response to charity row is typically him – blame others and then flounce off instead of trying to fix things PRINCE Harry has flounced out – yet again. This time, not from the monarchy. Not from a podcast deal. Not from the Army, that many believe he quit too soon. Advertisement 6 Prince Harry's response to the Sentebale row is typically him Credit: PA:Press Association 6 Harry exited the charity following an ugly row with the chair of trustees, Dr Sophie Chandauka Credit: PA 6 Harry co-founded the charity in memory of his mother, Princess Diana Credit: PA:Press Association This time, from Sentebale – the worthy African children's charity he co-founded in memory of his mother, Princess Diana. Once a passion project. Now just another scorched bridge. The exit wasn't quiet or dignified. It followed an ugly row with the chair of trustees, Dr Sophie Chandauka, a punchy Zimbabwean-born lawyer and major donor. Advertisement Several trustees stepped down, too. What followed was familiar: leaked emails, bullying allegations, duelling statements and headlines Harry tried — and failed — to control. Now comes the Charity Commission's verdict: No laws broken. But the rebuke was clear: governance failures, damaging behaviour and a serious lack of leadership. Advertisement Harry insists he was forced out. That the chair was impossible to work with. That the environment had turned toxic. What else could he do? Harry always throws toys out of pram - latest charity move is childish But leadership isn't about walking away when the mood turns. In any serious institution — royalty, the boardroom or charity — you don't storm out. Advertisement You stay in the room. You resolve the problem for the greater good. Instead, Harry bailed. Same old story. And like so many of his recent exits, this one fits the pattern. When pressure mounts and compromise is needed, he withdraws. Rather than engage, Harry flushed red and scarpered back to the luxury of Montecito, and Megs to mop his furrowed brow Robert It's a shame. Because Sentebale mattered. Advertisement Founded in 2006, it provides long-term support to children in Lesotho and Botswana affected by HIV and poverty. It wasn't a vanity project. It was purposeful — touching the lives of 100,000 youngsters — and at one point, so was Harry. I travelled to Lesotho with him twice. I saw the work up close. Those children in need of help didn't see him as a prince. They saw someone who listened, who cared, somebody who came back. Advertisement His presence wasn't performative. It was real. His royal rank and media profile opened doors. His conviction helped break stigma of HIV/AIDS, just as his late mother had done right at the outset of the fight. For years, he gave Sentebale visibility and momentum. It was, without question, his most meaningful contribution. But cracks appeared. His decision to quit royal life was costly. In 2023, Dr Chandauka initiated a financial review. Advertisement She flagged a sharp drop in donations following Harry's withdrawal from royal duties; income fell to £2.39million in 2020, though later rebounded. She reportedly labelled his image a 'reputational risk' and raised questions about whether he was now more liability than asset. Rather than engage, Harry flushed red and scarpered back to the luxury of Montecito, and Megs to mop his furrowed brow. No formal rebuttal. No quiet diplomacy. No attempt to repair. Advertisement He threw his toys out of the pram. He could have shown resolve, offered solutions, and strengthened the structure. Instead, he vanished. And that's what makes this so frustrating. Harry had no shortage of templates to help lead through turbulence. His grandfather, Prince Philip, oversaw the Duke of Edinburgh's Award for more than six decades — often in silence, always with rigour. His son Edward, the new Duke, is its leader. Advertisement His father, King Charles, spent years building The Prince's Trust — now the King's Trust — from a niche programme into a national institution. 6 Harry listens to American PR consultants and is guided, above all, by his Duchess, Meghan Markle Credit: Instagram His sister-in-law, Catherine, champions important causes such as early years development with longevity, consistency and focus. His brother, William, leads Earthshot, a well-structured mission with financial backing. Advertisement None of them walked out mid-crisis. They worked through it. Harry could have done the same. He could have stayed on the board in a non-executive role. Helped recruit new trustees. Brought in independent mediators. Stabilised the organisation rather than adding to the unrest. Advertisement But that would have required discipline — and a willingness to listen. 'Squandered legacy' Instead, he defaulted to the same script: leave, blame, reposition. And this time, the people most affected weren't palace courtiers or out-of-pocket podcast executives. They were the children of Lesotho — many living with HIV, others orphaned, some still stigmatised. Those were the ones who stood to lose most. Advertisement The pattern goes back further. His early exit from the Army — ten solid years of exemplary service, but he chose not to be a career soldier and go on, to rise further through the ranks and gain his braided uniforms on merit rather than royal birthright. His abrupt departure from working royal life. His mudslinging. His family ties frayed. Promises to reinvent himself in California have mostly yielded media spats, stalled projects and carefully lit documentaries. What's missing is institutional maturity. And staying power. Advertisement This isn't about empathy or charisma; Harry has plenty of both. But he's never learned to sit with discomfort, to fix what's failing. Instead, he blames. Then bails. Since relocating to Montecito, his inner circle of advisers has narrowed. 6 The Prince defaulted to the same script: leave, blame, reposition, pictured with charity leaders and Dr Chandauka far right Credit: Getty Advertisement He listens to American PR consultants and is guided, above all, by his Duchess, Meghan Markle — who built her brand around control and survival, not compromise or tradition. The problem is that leadership — particularly in the charitable sector — requires grit, continuity and people willing to challenge you, not flatter you. It's not that Dr Chandauka is beyond reproach. Under her tenure, annual accounts remain unpublished, and the next set is delayed until 2025. She may face valid questions. But here's the telling detail: the Commission didn't ask her to go. She stayed. Harry didn't. Advertisement Now his team says Harry will support African kids 'in new ways.' In practice, that means nothing. His seat at the Sentebale table is empty. His voice, once essential, is absent. It's the institutional equivalent of ghosting. And this wasn't just another cause. This was personal. Advertisement A living tribute to his mother. One of the few initiatives he helped build from the ground up. He could have pushed for reform. Brought in fresh trustees. Set a better standard. The Harry I saw in Lesotho back in 2006 –- he had a purpose. A spark. A sense of something larger than himself. Now, all we're left with is another clean break, and another promise unkept Robert The options were there. What they didn't need was drama. What they couldn't survive was abandonment. This isn't scandal. It's waste. A squandered legacy. A cautionary tale. Advertisement Another institution left to sweep up the debris of brand-driven burnout. The headlines will fade. The charity may recover. But something has shifted. The Harry I saw in Lesotho back in 2006 –- he had a purpose. A spark. A sense of something larger than himself. Now, all we're left with is another clean break, and another promise unkept. Advertisement When Harry chose the name Sentebale, it meant forget-me-not — a tribute to Diana and her favourite flowers. It was a promise never to let her memory fade. Well, sadly, it looks like he's done just that. Robert Jobson is a royal editor and the No1 bestselling author of Catherine, The Princess of Wales – The Biography
Extra.ie
14 hours ago
- Extra.ie
Friends pay tribute to 'truly special' Irish fashion designer found dead on Hamptons yacht
Tributes have been pouring in for an Irish fashion designer who was found dead on a yacht in the Hamptons region of New York. East Hampton Town Police confirmed that Martha Nolan-O'Slattara, 33, was found dead on a yacht at the Montauk Yacht Club in East Hampton. Ms Nolan-O'Slattara, originally from Carlow, was a fashion designer who moved to the USA when she was 26. Pic: Martha Nolan/TikTok She had founded East x East fashion brand, and had just launched a pop-up shop in Montauk last month. Dylan Grace, who owns a number of hip clubbing venues in New York and is understood to be a close friend of the Carlow native, took to social media to pay tribute. He wrote: 'We dreamed big together, laughed harder than anyone else could understand, and built so much from nothing. I'm truly blessed and grateful to have had you in my life. Pic: Martha Nolan/TikTok 'Love you so much Mar. Fly high girl.' Irish-born businessman Dylan Grace owns a number of hangouts stateside, including Long Island's hippest new socialite venue, Chelsea Living Room. In a previous interview, Martha credited Dylan with helping her fund and grow her fledgling fashion firm, saying he was her 'best friend'. Martha Nolan-O'Slatarra. Pic: TikTok Paying tribute, another person wrote: 'No words! Sorry for your loss. She was so sweet and nice to everyone she encountered. Rest in peace, beautiful Martha.' Another person commented: 'We love you so much Martha. Devastating doesn't even describe it. God bless you,' while a third added: 'She was truly a special human. No one will ever replace her.'
RTÉ News
15 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Ed Sheeran: 'It was school and Ireland in my childhood'
Ed Sheeran has spoken about his Irish heritage and his frequent visits to Ireland when he was growing up, saying it was "school and Ireland in my childhood". Ahead of his impromptu appearance at the 2025 Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Wexford town on Tuesday night, the chart-topper sat down with 2fm host Tracy Clifford for a wide-ranging interview in which he chatted about his Irish roots, new music and love of Westlife and Jedward. The 34-year-old singer-songwriter complimented the "vibey" energy in The Sky and The Ground pub on Wexford's South Main Street, where he performed some original songs and trad tunes with Irish bands Amble, Beoga, Aaron Rowe and BIIRD, who he said are "stars - they radiate great energy." In a pre-recorded interview for The Tracy Clifford Show on 2fm, Sheeran spoke about spending huge amounts of time in Ireland during his formative years. "I mean, it was summers, winters, autumns and springs," he said. "We came here every single break we got from school, we were here. It was kind of school and Ireland in my childhood which was quite nice, actually. "Then growing up and then travelling the world and experiencing different countries and cultures, having been so rooted here in my childhood. We never really did beach holidays, I mean, look at me. I don't think my family wanted to sit on beaches and get fried to a crisp!" The Yorkshire-born music star, who has a large Irish family, including his Belfast-born father, also addressed the backlash he received in some quarters when he said that he identified "culturally as Irish". "I feel like people are a bit like 'gatekeepey' sometimes," Sheeran explained. "I think it comes from Americans that are 1/16th Irish... I do understand it. "But also - no one can tell me what my childhood was, or what the culture that I grew up with, or the music I grew up with, or the humour I grew up with, or the movies I grew up... I grew up with it, therefore, it's part of me. "Therefore, I feel like it's part of my culture and how can someone else tell me what is or isn't how I feel?" The Shape of You singled out some tastes and smells that were synonymous with Ireland for him when he was growing up. "Tayto [crisps] really and my grandmother had so many grandkids she bought a deep fat fryer, so she did proper chips," he said. "And burning peat smell, because they had a fireplace, so those would be my childhood smells and tastes. Oh and a lot of stew, my uncle, that's all he cooks - big stews." Recently, Sheeran was playing a homecoming gig in Ipswich when he brought Irish boyband Westlife out for a rendition of one of their hit tracks. He said of the experience: "I was playing my hometown and I wanted to do something special for my hometown shows and I feel like Flying Without Wings, it's just a songbook song now, it's a classic. "Everyone loves Westlife so it was a big honour to get to sing on stage with them. I also don't feel like enough pop stars give Westlife their flowers because pop is still this sort of dirty word from the 90s, early 2000s. "You need to give flowers to people that have achieved great things and Westlife have achieved incredible things and we should celebrate them." Sheeran has a lot of love for another iconic Irish act - none other than Jedward. He said: "I love Jedward. I first met them I was in Toronto, 2012, driving through the streets and I just see these two quiffs and I was like 'Is that Jedward?' And I just put them in the car, never met them before, and I just said 'Come with me'.
