Latest news with #Ashling
RTÉ News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
This week's Uncharted: 'it's going to be hardcore'
When Ray Goggins describes a task as "hardcore" you know that he isn't being hyperbolic - and that's he labels the challenge faced on this week's Uncharted with Ray Goggins. On this Wednesday night's episode, paralympic gold medallist Ellen Keane and six-time All-Ireland Camogie star Ashling Thompson travel to Bolivia to the start of the fabled "Death Road" and meet Ray Goggins' latest challenging journey. This hair-raising descent of the world's most dangerous road is just the start of an incredible seven-day journey for Ellen, Ashling and Ray as they trek close to 100km through the dense cloud forest of Bolivia. The trio have to negotiate raging rivers, punishing terrain and wild jungle as they climb ever higher into the Andean mountains. As the trio climb higher into the mountains, the altitude starts to affect them all. On meeting Ashling and Ellen in Bolivia, Ray warns: "We are going to negotiate some of the worst and most dangerous terrain on the planet - it's going to be hardcore, you are going to be at altitude so it's not going to be for the faint hearted. It will be hellish at times" Ellen recalls crossing a makeshift wire bridge over a fast flowing river. "I had to figure out how to get across a little differently to everyone else," she explains. "Ray was not offering help too soon which was really reassuring to me because it meant that he believed I could do it. "When you are a person with a disability, everyone always expects you not to be able to do something or to always need help, and I don't like that narrative," she adds. "I can do anything that Ashling does, I just have to do it a little differently. I think that's a really important lesson for people to learn that it doesn't matter how something is done, as long as it is done at the end of the day, that's the most important thing." As well as the endurance factor, Uncharted with Ray Goggins is also about getting inside the head of the participants. Opening up around the campfire three nights into the trip, Ray questions Ashling about her anxiety. She's quite candid about her experience. She reveals: "I was constantly tipping away with the camogie but I had a fairly bad car accident and camogie was the thing that always kept my feet on the that was taken away, I completely lost control of my life." Ashling also points out that camogie later saved her, recalling: "Something clicked in my head . . . eventually I got called back up to the Cork squad and all of a sudden, my life completely changed." The pair form a strong bond throughout the trip, with Ellen telling Ashling: "I actually don't know what I would do without you, I'm glad that we are here together" Ashling compliments Ellen's mental strength as the expedition intensifies: "The resilience she shows, nothing can stop her, anything is possible when it comes to Ellen Keane and I love it," she says. On the fifth day the majestic peak of Huayna Potosi is revealed. This is the final, most brutal of challenge of them all. In two days, the group will need to traverse sheer ice walls, snow fields and mountain glaciers as they to attempt to summit the 6088 metre peak. It will be the toughest test of their lives.
Irish Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
RTE sends Irish stars to conquer 'Death Road' in Bolivia
Camogie star Ashling Thompson and Paralympic gold medallist Ellen Keane are set to take on some of the world's 'worst and most dangerous terrain' in this week's Uncharted with Ray Goggins. On this Wednesday night's RTE One show, the athletic pair travel to Bolivia to the start of the fabled 'Death Road' to meet Ray Goggins. This hair-raising descent of the world's most dangerous road is just the start of an incredible seven-day challenge, trekking close to 100km through the dense cloud forest of Bolivia. The trio will have to negotiate raging rivers, punishing terrain and wild jungle as they climb ever higher into the Andean mountains. As the trio climb higher into the mountains, the altitude starts to affect them all. On meeting Ashling and Ellen in Bolivia, Ray warns: "We are going to negotiate some of the worst and most dangerous terrain on the planet - it's going to be hardcore, you are going to be at altitude so it's not going to be for the faint hearted. It will be hellish at times.' Crossing a makeshift wire bridge over a fast flowing river, Ellen says: "I had to figure out how to get across a little differently to everyone else. 'Ray was not offering help too soon which was really reassuring to me because it meant that he believed I could do it. "When you are a person with a disability, everyone always expects you not to be able to do something or to always need help, and I don't like that narrative. 'I can do anything that Ashling does, I just have to do it a little differently. I think that's a really important lesson for people to learn that it doesn't matter how something is done, as long as it is done at the end of the day, that's the most important thing." Opening up around the campfire three nights into the trip, Ray questions Ashling about her anxiety. She said: "I was constantly tipping away with the camogie but I had a fairly bad car accident and camogie was the thing that always kept my feet on the that was taken away, I completely lost control of my life." Ashling added that camogie later saved her. "Something clicked in my I got called back up to the Cork squad and all of a sudden, my life completely changed." The pair form a strong bond throughout the trip, with Ellen telling Ashling: "I actually don't know what I would do without you, I'm glad that we are here together" Ashling on Ellen as the expedition intensifies: "The resilience she shows, nothing can stop her, anything is possible when it comes to Ellen Keane and I love it" On the fifth day the majestic peak of Huayna Potosi is revealed. This is the final, most brutal of challenge of them all. In two days, the group will need to traverse sheer ice walls, snow fields and mountain glaciers as they to attempt to summit the 6088 metre peak. It will be the toughest test of their lives. Uncharted with Ray Goggins: RTÉ One | RTÉ Player Wednesday, May 28th 9.35pm.
Irish Independent
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Churchill Forge set to welcome New York based musician and Clare harpist this Friday, May 9
The show is organised by the team at 'nonfaction' and it will kick off at 8pm and run until 10pm. Paul, a musician based in New York, is known for his uncanny ability to bring together classical guitar, baroque chorales, 808s, and Irish traditional melodies and turn it all into a sound his own. A prolific artist, he has released four albums in the past four years. Between 2023's Always Almost Home 'meshing 90s pop and Bach' (MPR) and the 'hidden pop gem' (Irish Times) of 2022ʼs Thunderhead, he experimented with minimal electronic production and folk. As well as being a regular fixture at the local Irish Trad sessions in NYC, he is a singer, guitar player, and aspiring Irish Flute player; as well as this, for the past two-and-a-half years, he has also played a weekly gig in Manhattan performing Bach on classical guitar. Clare harpist Ashling meanwhile is just as accomplished. She is a highly acclaimed traditional Irish musician and composer from who is regularly praised as one of the finest harpists in the country. She holds eight All-Ireland titles and has performed internationally across Europe, the U.S., Australia, and China. She has academic accolades including First Class Honours degrees in Irish Music and Education, and she teaches harp and concertina widely, including at major universities and festivals. She has worked with several bands such as 3 on the Bund, Merfolk, and Harpanno, and her 2021 debut album Aistear received critical acclaim. Aisling has collaborated on high-profile projects, including work with Aideen Barry, Tolu Makay, and poet Moya Cannon. She has been nominated for two RTÉ Folk Awards in 2022 and continues to compose and perform internationally. She is currently working on her second album and touring with storyteller Aindrais de Staic. If you want a chance to see these two in action right here in Kerry, tickets are on sale via the link HERE and they will cost €15 (plus a booking fee). This event is supported by Kerry County Council through their Arts Act Grant.
