Latest news with #Brendan
Daily Record
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Celtic fans smash the panic button as worried Hotline desperately demands to know who's really calling the shots
Robbie Copeland takes your calls after Celtic's reality check against Ajax in Como and fans want to know what comes next Whoever said friendlies don't matter clearly doesn't read the Hotline – because it's already panic stations among Celtic fans after their 5-1 hammering against Ajax. Paul Price, Belfast, said: "I had an argument with one of my best mates Johnny yesterday about our lack of signings. He accused me of panicking, well after last night's second half performance I believe I've been vindicated and I'll be texting him to remind him later, I've said before the board have obviously learned nothing from what happened with John McGinn." Denis Bruce, Bishopbriggs, said: "How embarrassing was that Celtic second half performance against Ajax? The Ajax players were clearly enjoying themselves as they cut through the Celtic defence like a knife through butter. "We could witness many more embarrassing moments of this type this season as the Celtic bubble looks like it is collapsing, if that pathetic display is anything to go by. Watching from behind the sofa could be on the cards for the Green Brigade." Brendan Rodgers once again hinted he wants more quality signings and Paul Price, Glasgow, said: "Can Celtic please clarify who is behind their signing policy? Brendan says one thing then another! Firstly he says that he has final say on signings, then after being humbled by Ajax comes out and says Celtic need to show ambition on who they wish to sign! If they want to show intent then cough up the money Motherwell are asking for Lennon Miller, that would be a starting point." Paul McCormack, Coatbridge, said: "Losing 5 goals to Ajax, friendly or not, might force the board's hands in this transfer window and if that doesn't then manager's comments after the game surely must. Nygren and Tierney are top quality but more players of that ilk are required. Oven-ready players, not development types. Or it's very obvious, Brendan walks..." As for Rangers fans, they're very much enjoying the fallout. Alec Morrison, Musselburgh, said:" Well that brought a near full strength Selic side back down to earth after thinking they were world beaters beating a knackered Newcastle side. Oh well, nearly time for yous to get back to your actual level - beating Hibs and St Mirren etc." Alan Flett said: "So the champions are just around the corner are they? What corner would that be? The one that leads them straight into their latest European thrashing! The season hasn't even started yet, but already it's business as usual for Celtic." Rangers beat Panathinaikos 2-0 to take a Champions League lead to Athens next week and George Wilson, West Sussex, said: Comical reading the Celtic camp on here this week talking about how poor and lucky Rangers were. Despite limited TV coverage, as with the Brugge friendly, they knew of every move and ball kicked in both games. I suppose if you've paid your Rangers TV subscription you might as well watch the game and just pray Rangers get pumped. "I only watch Celtic against Rangers or when they are getting their regular humiliations in Europe. Maybe they just guessed what actually happened? Panathinaikos were foiled 3 times by Jack Butland whose job is to keep the opposition out. Against 11 then 10 men Rangers were eventually totally dominant and could easily have scored six to finish the tie whereas at only two it's still open." And in the capital, a 1-1 draw away to Midtjylland was a creditable result for Hibs who have set up a thrilling decider at Easter Road. Neil Renton, Leith, said: "There's still a long way to go but that was a fantastic result for Hibs against a very good Danish side. Let's hope when we play them at Easter Road next week we manage to progress to the next round and we do it with the whole of Scottish football backing us. Especially Hearts fans, as they'll have nothing better to do." Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport's newest podcast, Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.
Irish Times
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
US congressman Brendan Boyle: ‘Kerry are the Yankees of Gaelic football, aren't they?'
'Dad! Brendan here . . . remember I was going to call you at 4.15pm,' the Congressman says into the speaker phone, but Francis Boyle picks up before his son has finished leaving his message. Philadelphia has been home since Francis Boyle left Donegal over half a century ago, yet the accent remains undiluted Glencolmcille, low spoken and clear as spring water. On Sunday, the Boyle men will watch the All-Ireland final together. Francis has been riveted to the All-Ireland championship season, to Donegal 's ascent. Brendan set his father up with a season GAA pass so he has been watching all the games live. In the decades of more limited transatlantic communication, following the local and All-Ireland championships was an act of both imagination and perseverance. 'Well, there was a couple of ways,' Francis tells us. 'The first way was the Democrat. You'd always read up on the games in the Democrat. The second way was to go up to New York and they'd always have the results of the games there. It was one of the things you always did at home. You followed the games. It was Michael O'Hehir when you were growing up. And you followed the local Glencolmcille team. That was the way.' Brendan Boyle nods through this, listening intently. There's a view of the Capitol from the window behind him. His office is spacious and comfortable, the walls decorated with photos of political highlights and, he later points out, a painting of the untamed coastline where his father's home stands in Donegal. READ MORE 'I remember going with you to a bar in northeast Philadelphia in 1992 to watch Donegal win its first All-Ireland. And then sometimes the Irish Centre would show the games as well. As a sports nut as a kid, and to a certain extent still today, I would always pay attention. Still every Sunday I'll get a text from him saying, oh Donegal won today. And now, so-and-so is on. And I'll get the score from him. As kids, the radio was always on in the house on a Sunday. Or Dad would be on the phone with one of his siblings to get the scores. I think it is one of those things that maintained the link across the Atlantic.' The Boyle story is at once the archetypal Irish emigration story, but also unique. Francis left school at 16 and then left Glen because there was little choice. Now, his son is the only member of Congress with an Irish-born parent. Philadelphia was an obvious city: his older sisters had made lives there and were in a position to sponsor him. 'My aunt and uncle were there 30 or 40 years before that. They were here during the Depression. When I came out here first there were an awful lot of people from Glencolmcille. Older people that I would meet at certain things. It was almost like everybody in the houses at home had somebody here. I remember going to the village one time home on holidays. And I met up with five or six people that had been over here and then went back and retired. 'And then I met a couple more who had brothers and sisters in Philadelphia. So even at home, people would talk about Philadelphia. And then here, I would meet people from home and we would talk about Glen. Wakes and weddings, you always ran into people from home.' He met his wife, Eileen Boyle, the daughter of Sligo emigrants, in Philadelphia. She worked as a school crossing guard in the city. They'd been married for 36 years when Eileen died, aged just 61, in 2013. But she lived to see both of her sons, Brendan and Kevin, elected to the Pennsylvania state house, the first brothers to achieve that since William Penn presided over the first session in 1682. Francis worked as a warehouse worker for decades. When that closed in 2000, he worked as a janitor for the Philly city subway company. His hearing isn't the greatest on the phone; 50 years of noisy machinery and trains take their toll. Brendan was the first in the house to go to college, graduating from Notre Dame. He caused a national ripple of true Democratic sensation in 2015 by beating Marjorie Margolies, the mother-in-law of Chelsea Clinton, to win a congressional seat on Capitol Hill. Congressman Brendan Boyle speaks at a rally for student loan forgiveness in Washington. Photograph:At 48, he remains one of the more youthful faces of the party. He is also one of the more prominent, clear-voiced Democratic consciences of the current administration and Donald Trump, whose impact, he says, has thrust American politics into 'an alternate reality' since he was elected for a first term as president in 2016. We talk for a while about the Irish-American experience. In summer times, the Boyles often headed to the Jersey shore. Brendan remembers his father chatting to the summer staff serving ice creams or behind cash registers: they were usually Irish. 'And he would find out where they were from, who he might know from their town. And by the early 1990s, that suddenly changed. All of a sudden, it was eastern European kids. And they haven't been Irish since. Philly is still a city that is very proud of its Irish roots. But there is no question that basically in a generation or two, the numbers coming out is a trickle of what it used to be. 'That's partly because Ireland has become so successful. But for those who still would like to come to America from Ireland, we have to make it easier. It has been far too difficult. We have been close to passing measures a number of times.' Francis remembers that Jim McGuinness was out in Philly years ago for a football summer, in the 1990s. And he returned as Donegal manager in the autumn of 2012. Before they hang up, the Boyles agree to make a plan for Sunday. It's a 10.30am throw-in on the east coast of America. They'll be among tens of thousands watching. Both are hopeful, nervous. ' Kerry are sort of like the Yankees of Gaelic football, aren't they?' the Congressman says with a laugh. 'That tradition of theirs. Although I will say I have had the most blessed sports year of my life. It began with Notre Dame in January. Then the Eagles in the Super Bowl.' 'So,' he says, knocking on the desk, 'hopefully Donegal can keep that going,' before rising from his chair, already late for a late afternoon meeting.
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
All-Ireland hurling final 2025: See your matchday photos!
Corkman Tipperary were crowned All-Ireland hurling champions following their 3-27 to 1-18 defeat to Cork in Croke Park on Sunday. Whether you are celebrating or grieving we want to see your photos from the action. We are asking supporters from Cork and Tipperary to send us their matchday or homecoming photos – from the stadium, your local pub or from the comfort of your own home. All Ireland Final 7 contributions 0 Sisters Leah, Megan, Erin and Clara O'Brien at the homecoming in Semple Stadium, Thurles. Maura O'Brien July 22, 2025 Thurles, County Tipperary, Ireland 0 First cousins Megan O'Brien from Tipperary and Ruadh O'Brien from Cork come face to face before the match. Great friends and cousins but rivals for the day!! Maura O'Brien July 22, 2025 Dublin 1, County Dublin, Ireland 0 Brendan and Christine Ryan, lifelong Tipp fans with their friend Billy Curtain from Cork. BRENDAN Ryan July 21, 2025 Dublin 3, County Dublin, Ireland 0 Brendan and Christine Ryan. Lifelong Tipp fans. BRENDAN Ryan July 21, 2025 Dublin 3, County Dublin, Ireland 0 Lily-Marie & Robyn O'Connor patiently waiting to see the final. 🫶 Sara Wroblewska July 20, 2025 County Cork, Ireland 0 Emilia and David Jakubowski Cheering on Cork in Millstreet AnnMarie Jakubowski July 20, 2025 County Cork, Ireland 0 This is three-year-old Lucy Rooney getting ready to supper Tipperary in the All-Ireland. Eleanor Sutton July 19, 2025 County Wicklow, Ireland Do you want to be featured? Then send us your photos through the form below.
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Brendan O'Carroll reveals ‘believe it or not' real life inspiration for Mrs Browns Boys antics & new series plot details
BRENDAN O'Carroll has revealed the crazy antics Mrs Brown gets up to in his hit comedy are based on real things that happened to him or his family. The Finglas man was speaking ahead of the first new 5 Mrs Brown shoots to internet fame in the upcoming episodes 5 Dublin man Brendan revealed his favourite scene to film Credit: BBC However, despite the shake-up, the stand-up has vowed it won't change Agnes Brown. Brendan said: 'The ideas for these episodes are no different from the previous 53 episodes. 'Believe it or not, most of the storylines are based on true events that either happened to my 'Everybody has a story, and it's quite common for someone in a family to say in the middle of a family disaster, 'This is like an episode of Mrs Brown's Boys'.' READ MORE IN TV The 69-year-old Brendan said: 'The writing of the mini-series is much more relaxing for myself and Paddy Houlihan, who joins me as a writer. 'With the Christmas specials, I have to keep it within the "But, unlike in the specials, we can now focus on anything — within reason.' MOST READ IN THE IRISH SUN As usual, Agnes is at the centre of all the chaos, with Mrs Brown becoming an online sensation when daughter Cathy gets involved with a She also gets behind the wheel herself to help her pal Winnie pass her Mrs Brown's Boys star insists racist joke at Christmas special filming 'was a good thing' for the BBC because it 'raised awareness' Quizzed about his favourite moment filming, Brendan said: 'Having Agnes on that mobility scooter was such fun. "She goes nuts, with hilarious consequences. 'Look, in every episode there is something that stands out for me. I love being Agnes Brown and I love her family, and her neighbours like Winnie and Birdy.' While Brendan takes centre stage as Mrs Brown, O'Carroll believes the And quizzed if he could play any other role in Mrs Brown's Boys what it would be, Brendan said: 'I'm not lying when I say… I could not play any of the characters better than the actors who play them now.' 'LOST WITHOUT THEM' Speaking to The Irish Sun last May, comedian June Rodgers, who plays neighbour Birdie Flanagan in the new series, told how fans queue around the block from early morning to be in the audience for the recordings at the Brendan revealed how important they are to each recording. He said: 'Filming in front of a live audience is essential to the show. So many times, at the end of rehearsals for an episode, our director, Ben Kellett will say, 'All this needs now is the audience,' and he is so right. 'They add so much to our performances. We'd be lost without them.' The upcoming Mrs Brown mini series also features an episode where Agnes Brown gets into erotic fiction, when she accidentally picks up one of her daughter Cathy's novels. Another episode sees Grandad announce he is leaving Agnes because he fancies living in a nursing home. THE new four-part series of Mrs Brown's Boys will air on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player from Friday August 1 at 9.35pm. 5 The new series is the first for the show since 2013 Credit: BBC 5 The new series shows Agnes become interested in erotic fiction 5 Brendan O'Carroll said he enjoyed having a co-writer to bounce ideas off Credit: PA
Sydney Morning Herald
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Hey Oasis, this is how you do a proper comeback tour
There are a couple of ways a rock band can go about a long-awaited comeback tour. On the one hand, there's the Oasis model: enormous hype, a world tour, reams of merch, and, most controversially, dynamic ticket pricing. And then there's the approach favoured by Eddy Current Suppression Ring. Cited by some music writers as the best live band this country has produced in recent times, they are about to embark on their first live shows since 2016, with a recently released seven-inch, a sold-out show at Fitzroy's Night Cat on Friday, and a one-off, free, all-ages gig on grand final eve at Federation Square. And that's it. 'When we got asked to do this, we were all pretty excited at the scope of it,' says drummer Danny Young of the gig at Fed Square, a venue that last summer hosted Robbie Williams, Glass Beams, Sun Ra Arkestra and the now-infamous (and frequently misrepresented) Northern Irish rap act Kneecap. 'We didn't want to even have to think about anything else.' 'One thing on the plate is enough at this size,' says singer Brendan Huntley. 'And the idea of it being free to anyone at all ages, it's like, that's enough.' The band's last official live show was at Dark Mofo in December 2016, shortly after headlining Golden Plains. They planned to tour in 2020, on the back of fourth album All In Good Time, but COVID put the kybosh on that. 'And then we lost momentum, and life got in the way,' says Mikey Young, guitarist, keyboardist, brother of Barry, and somewhat reluctant unofficial spokesman for the band. They all have other careers: Mikey is a sound engineer, Brendan a sculptor and painter, Danny a tattoo artist, and Brad in his final year as an apprentice fitter of sprinkler systems on commercial building sites. And that means they can keep the band as a side project, to which they return as and when the mood takes them. Around 18 months ago, bassist Brad Barry – the fourth wheel in this vehicle that famously emerged out of a jam at the 2003 Christmas party of vinyl pressing plant Corduroy Records – felt the mood and hoped everyone else did too. 'It was, 'we'll just have one jam', and of course, it gets addictive,' says Mikey. 'I forgot how much fun it was. And so, most Tuesdays for the last year and a half, we've jammed every week, and just written songs, and it's been this really insular thing with no regard to showing it to anyone.' But earlier this year, the band started to think about playing some of the new stuff live. They didn't want to make a fuss, though, so they took up a friend's invitation to slot into the line-up of a free show at Prahran skateboard shop Snake Pit, under the name Thin Ice. 'We wanted a low-key gig so we could just play the new songs – not that we don't like the old songs,' says Danny. But word quickly spread, and a couple of hundred people turned up. 'Someone else let the cat out of the bag,' says Brendan. 'We've since learned that secret shows are nigh-on impossible,' adds Mikey. 'People go, 'but I only told one person…',' Brendan adds. 'It was still rad, though.' Two more shows under fake names – The Top Hats and Jimmy and the Ringtones – followed, again featuring only new material. But, says Mikey, 'we got heaps of friends complaining, like: 'Why didn't you tell us about the show?' So, doing something like this, that's big and free, we can just tell everyone to shut the hell up. Everyone can go to this. You won't miss out on a ticket.' Loading It's doubtful that there's a band in the Australian music business less interested in selling out than Eddy Current Suppression Ring. They remain resolutely committed to the DIY ethic that has always informed everything they do. They have never let the need to pay bills be the reason to keep them going. They only want to play when it's fun to do so. And if one of them thinks it isn't, they all do. So, could there be more shows to come after Fed Square? 'I think we'll just take it really slow,' says Mikey. 'Like, 'let's book some shows and see how they feel. Okay, that was good; let's book some more'. Or, 'that didn't feel so good; let's go back in our hole and just keep jamming for ourselves'.' 'We'll just see how this feels,' he adds. 'I mean, we had no real drive to be successful [in the past], but I'd say we've got even less now.'
