Latest news with #AmyHuberman
Extra.ie
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Styled By Niamh: Designer Doireann Healy on celeb clientele and her surprising greatest fear
Fashion designer Doireann Healy is quite the character. A native of County Kerry, Doireann lived in rural Kenmare until age five, but spent her formative years in the Cork Gaeltacht area. However, despite a childhood spent in the countryside and being surrounded by farms and fields as far as the eye could see, in adulthood Doireann developed a fear of a staple farmyard animal. Begley & Bowie sweater €120Adidas Gazelle sneakers €120 'I have a huge fear of cows,' Doireann laughed. 'I grew up in the countryside and I was never afraid of them until I read some articles in recent years about how dangerous they are and now they terrify me.' Fear of bovines aside, Doireann's immersion in nature was to prove her inspiration for her clothing brand Begley & Bowie – which is named after her two beloved pooches. Despite Begley & Bowie being a relative newcomer to the Irish fashion market, Doireann has amassed quite the faithful following and counts actress Amy Huberman and presenter Angela Scanlon among her celebrity clientele. Begley & Bowie Tily bomber jacket €315 Light grey flower slogan tee €42 'My pieces have been worn by Amy Huberman, who purchased at one of my first pop-up shops in Dublin,' says Doireann proudly. 'And Helen Cody, Muireann O'Connell, Triona McCarthy, Sabrina Hill, Nadia El Ferdaoussi and Emma Doran have all bought some of my pieces.' Doireann hails from a large family and when she was young she flitted between school in Cork and family time at her uncle's bar in Kenmare town. And despite developing her love of fashion design at college in Dublin, Doireann found herself returning to her old stomping ground of Kenmare – where she now sells her fashion brand just doors away from her uncle's pub in the picturesque town. 'I am from Kenmare as my mother was from here and she was from a large family of eight, so I have lots of cousins and family here,' she says. 'We moved not far over the border when I was five to the Cork Gaeltacht, where my dad was from, so all of my education was through Irish. We were over and back all of the time and I started working summers here in Kenmare at 16 and – voila – I'm still here.' From the Gaeltacht Doireann went to Dublin to study art and design and it was here she caught the fashion bug. 'I qualified in interior design, which I still love, but art and fashion were also huge loves of mine. 'I had always been drawing and illustrating since my early teens. I'm very into the visual and always have been since I was a child. Sweater and linen skirt both Begley & Bowie 'I studied screen printing in Dublin and worked with textiles including Irish linens in Belfast. I originally released those illustrations as art prints and then progressed to textiles. I now work with all types of textiles.' Like many fledgling designers Doireann was producing, selling and packaging her designs from her home – but Begley & Bowie quickly began to go global, so she decided that her brand needed a home of its own outside of her Kenmare pad. 'I opened my store in July 2021. The brand was selling worldwide and customers coming to Kenmare would message to see if I had a store – and I hadn't a base. 'At this stage I had a lot of Irish stockists too so I needed a space, and I found a premises that I loved and I opened the store the day before my collection launched in Brown Thomas Dublin.' The quirky, playful nature of Begley & Bowie combined with the eye-catching colour palette is what make Doireann's designs stand out in a very crowded clothing marketplace. 'I think because Begley & Bowie is full of colour and joy that my pieces suit every age. I design both children's and adult clothing and customers – particularly in Ireland – love colour. 'I also design a range of Irish linens with a neon pop, all made in Dublin, and they are very popular too particularly with US and French customers.' 'I tend to see colour everywhere and I notice colour combinations that work in everyday objects and places. 'I'm hugely into nature and I walk Reenagross here everyday in Kenmare and I feel like I see a different pop of colour every time. 'At the moment the purples of the rhododendron have filled the woods as they are in bloom and the contrast with the green is stunning.' Of her own style Doireann is a mix-and-match, splish-splash kind of dresser. Quirky, free spirited and blended beautifully with her bubbly personality. 'I'm very particular about clothing and my style. I love colour but nothing too chaotic or loud – just beautiful pops of colour,' she admits. 'I am also very into the quality of my pieces and I would rather purchase one good piece than a few that won't last or wash well. I love to mix styles too.' Summer Lovin' Adidas Gazelle sneakers €120 Summer is here – and that means free flowing skirts, daisy duke denim shorts, loose fitting tees and lots and lots and lots of colour. Summer should be the easiest time of the year to dress your best (there's no need to dither over whether it's a duffle or overcoat kind of day). It's easy-peasy summer breezy dressing of simply jumping into a skirt, shorts or linen trousers with summer sandals or scruffy sneakers and off you pop – looking like Little Miss Sunshine herself. Although that said, this is Ireland and while we have just enjoyed some unseasonably sun-filled weeks, rainy spells are upon us. So investing in a fun raincoat will not only add an extra dimension to your daywear it will also keep you dry and can be scrunched up and stuffed into a bag when the sun reappears. Stereo-Stripes The commonly held sartorial belief is that that vertical stripes are slimming while horizontal stripes can be unflatteringly fattening. However, to quote that dapper dresser himself Donald J Trump 'fake news, fake news'. The contrary is in fact true, and horizontal stripes are more flattering. And if you don't believe me, then trust the science… The stripes fashion myth was debunked back in 1925 by a German psychologist Hermann von Helmholtz. And hey, who wouldn't trust a guy called Hermann when it comes to fashion choices. Known as the Helmholtz illusion, Helmholtz's explanation of the illusion was that a filled out area looks longer than an unfilled area of the same size. So rock those horizontals – the more colourful the better – with pride. Say it with pride I am a sucker for slogan tees, though I actively steer clear from any slogan tees beating the 'be kind' or 'Save the planet' blah blah nonsense. I prefer instead to have my style say something with a bit more individuality and depth. These Begley & Bowie slogan tees are bright, bubbly and bespoke. Come GAA final season, ditch your county jersey for something with a bit more swag like a Begley & bowie county name tee. My other all-time favourite slogan tee website is Truffle Shuffle which have an eclectic range of 80's cartoons like The Care Bears – right up to today's hit movies like Lilo & Stitch. Jeepers Sneakers Big chunky platform trainers appear to have – pun intended – run their course. Instead, petite plimsoll sneakers are back en vogue. The slim sneakers are more ladylike and far less chunky and can add that girlie touch to any outfit. Erica Stoll, the wife of champion golfer Rory McIlroy, exemplified this type of style when she was course-side cheering on Rory when he won the Masters at Augusta. While Rory took home the green jacket, Erica's sartorial win was a simple, yet, standout pair of Golden Goose trainers. At €490, Erica's particular pair of runners are pricey but there is a vast range of affordable similar type runners to choose from like Doireann's pink Adidas Gazelles. Photography by Evan DohertyHair by Jessica DowdallMakeup by Ciara O'Toole Shot on location at Dunloe Hotel & Gardens, Killarney, Co Kerry
Extra.ie
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Amy Huberman's emotional tribute to dad Harold on third anniversary
Amy Huberman has shared a beautiful tribute to her late father on his anniversary, detailing the 'small details' about him that 'both hurt and sooth.' The actress' father, Harold, passed away in a Dublin nursing home following a lengthy battle with Parkinson's Disease in 2022. Harold was 84 years old. Amy Huberman has shared a beautiful tribute to her late father on his anniversary, detailing the 'small details' about him that 'both hurt and sooth.' Pic: Instagram Taking to social media on Tuesday morning, Amy shared a sweet poem, Tell Me Their Name, written by Pip O'Neill. The poem encouraged those grieving loved ones to speak about them — about the cardigan they wore and they way they liked their eggs. 'Speak confidently, and often, so I can see them sitting at the end of the table, reading glasses askew,' the poem read. Amy Huberman with her father Harold. Pic: VIP Ireland 'Do not question their space here, there is room. 'Give me their stories, and let's share in the living of it. Give me their stories, and let's share in the living of it. 'Carry them out in our coat pockets, into the night, like pebbles from a beach.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Amy Huberman (@amy_huberman) Sharing the poem, Amy said: 'Remembering my Dad on his anniversary I really love this poem by @pjo._ The Finding Joy star wrote: 'It's the small details of things and bits and ways of who we are, who we were, the things that both hurt and sooth us to remember we will, to keep their memory. 'My Dad's tea; teabag in and out in less than .5 of a second, slice of lemon. Saying 'good news' anytime he ate something he liked. Calling you 'daft git,' accompanied by a wry smile being his convivial greeting to anyone in his inner circle.' Amy Huberman with her mother Sandra and her father Harold on her wedding day. Pic: Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland Amy recalled her father's dog sitting by his feet in the evening and his tweed flat cap and the way he would call 'bring me back a parrot!' whenever someone left the house. 'Laughing at every episode of Only Fools And Horses like he hadn't already watched it a thousand times,' she added. Amy encouraged her followers to share little details of their own loved ones, with Roseanna Ruane writing: 'Our little girl Saoírse, how she giggled and showed affection for people she loved.' Another shared: 'I think of my Dad sitting at the top of my table with the biggest smile when he had a slice of cake & saying 'mind yourself' every time I was going out the door.' A third commented: 'This is just beautiful Amy, thank you for sharing. It's all the little things isn't it… the daily calls and the check ins… which used to bug me at times, but I'd happily take one from my Mum or Dad any day now.'
RTÉ News
07-05-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
Public access to 'beloved' Wicklow beach secured by Council
Public access to a well-known Co Wicklow beach has been secured after Wicklow County Council announced it has purchased a site overlooking the beach. The land near Magheramore Beach close to Brittas Bay had been bought at auction by Paddy McKillen Jr in 2021, outbidding the local authority for the site. However, his company failed to secure planning permission for a boutique-style holiday resort and leisure centre on the site. In March, the clifftop site was sold again at auction to a Chinese investor for over its guide price of €550,000 with Wicklow County Council once again failing to secure the sale. There were concerns about local access to the beach because the sale involved a gated entrance from the main road to the lands surrounding Magheramore Beach. It has featured in a number of TV and film productions including Vikings and Camelot, the EastEnders spin-off series Redwater, and Amy Huberman's Finding Joy. However, Wicklow County Council has announced it has now purchased the 21-acre site. "This land, which offers panoramic views of the beach and the Irish Sea, was previously owned by the Colomban order of sisters before being sold multiple times," the council said in a statement. It added: "Long celebrated for its natural beauty, clear waters and unspoiled surroundings, Magheramore Beach has become a popular destination for residents and visitors alike." "Wicklow County Council had previously attempted to secure public ownership of the land for beach access. They were unsuccessful bidders at the initial auction in 2021 and again at the auction held in March 2025. "However, after the successful bidder decided not to proceed with the sale, the council was given the opportunity to intervene and complete the purchase of this important coastal amenity. "The acquisition of the land at Magheramore will guarantee continued access to the beloved beach. "Furthermore, it is a step towards the County Development Plan objectives to protect the Special Area of Conservation and the National Heritage Area." Wicklow Municipal District Cathaoirleach Councillor Gail Dunne described the purchase as fantastic news. "The Council has secured continued access to an amenity that will be enjoyed by young people and families for generations to come," she said. Director of Finance for Wicklow County Council and Wicklow District Manager Brian Gleeson described the bidding process as "long and repeated". "Following a long and repeated bidding process, the Council was afforded the opportunity to purchase the land and we immediately acted on this to ensure a swift and efficient transfer of ownership. "I also wish to acknowledge the strong community support that helped highlight the importance of preserving Magheramore Beach for public use."
Irish Independent
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Laura Whitmore celebrates turning 40 with birthday bash at Guinness Storehouse
The former Love Island host, who first shot to fame by hosting on MTV in 2008, served up cocktails including an Espresso MTVini, an 'I'm not that' Old-Fashioned, and a Pal-ora Sipmore. Some of her wardrobe over the years was on display, including her school uniform, a dress she wore presenting the I'm A Celeb spin-off show in 2015, and the famous heart-shaped suit she wore when she hosted the Love Island final a few years ago. A number of celebrities were also in attendance including her husband and the voice of Love Island, Ian Sterling, Amy Huberman, Brian O'Driscoll, Imelda May, Darren Kennedy, Lyra Samantha Baines, and Pips Taylor. There was also personalised Guinness served at her party in the Gravity Bar that read, 'Laura's Eras Party'. On her Instagram, Laura shared snaps as she partied the night away. The now 40-year-old wore a black mini dress which featured a large white bow. Her guests dressed in their favourite Laura era, with one friend dressing as Laura attending The MTV Europe Music Video Awards in 2008. Another dressed as Laura while she was pregnant with her daughter, and Amy Huberman dressed up as in one of Laura's Barbie pink looks. There was a photobooth for guests and the dancefloor was packed with guests forming a conga line and dancing in a circle. Laura and Imelda May also did a jig to Riverdance.
