Latest news with #BrianKennedy
Belfast Telegraph
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Belfast Telegraph
‘I've survived cancer and grew up on the Falls – I can take being called sh**e': Brian Kennedy on criticism and his first acting role
Singer opens up to Kirsty Blake Knox about playing one of his literary heroes, his past health scares, Pride, and taking a stance on Gaza at Eurovision 'It's unrecognisable,' singer Brian Kennedy says in relation to the music industry, and how it's changed throughout his career. Kennedy is in the middle of recording his 19th album, which has the working title How Can I Keep From Singing?. '[The industry] is run more than ever by accountants and people who count numbers. There aren't really any artistic people out there running the machine, as it were.
Belfast Telegraph
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Belfast Telegraph
‘I've survived cancer, I grew up on the Falls Road': Brian Kennedy on resilience, taking criticism and his first acting role
Singer opens up to Kirsty Blake Knox about playing one of his literary heroes, his past health scares, Pride, and taking a stance on Gaza at Eurovision 'It's unrecognisable,' singer Brian Kennedy says in relation to the music industry, and how it's changed throughout his career. Kennedy is in the middle of recording his 19th album, which has the working title How Can I Keep From Singing?. '[The industry] is run more than ever by accountants and people who count numbers. There aren't really any artistic people out there running the machine, as it were.
Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
‘I've survived cancer and a heart attack. I grew up on the Falls Road' – Brian Kennedy on taking criticism and his first acting role
'It's unrecognisable,' singer Brian Kennedy says in relation to the music industry, and how it's changed throughout his career. Kennedy is in the middle of recording his 19th album, which has the working title How Can I Keep From Singing?.
Irish Independent
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Three Irish Eurovision singers among 72 performers seeking ban on Israel from song contest over Gaza
©UK Independent Today at 21:30 Three singers who represented Ireland at the Eurovision are among 72 former contestants who have signed an open letter calling for Israel and its national broadcaster KAN to be banned from this year's competition. Brian Kennedy, Charlie McGettigan and Mickey Joe Harte signed the letter addressed to Eurovision organisers, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) . It blames the EBU for the uproar that surrounded last year's event in Sweden, which, the letter states, was 'the most politicised, chaotic and unpleasant in the competition's history'. The letter was also signed by Mark Caplice, who co-wrote Ireland's 2018 entry, Together. It accuses KAN of being 'complicit in Israel's genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza and the decades-long regime of apartheid and military occupation against the entire Palestinian people'. Israel vehemently denies it is committing genocide. Court proceedings at the UN's highest court, the International Court of Justice, are continuing. In 2023, KAN reporter Rotem Achihun was filmed joking with Israeli soldiers while appearing to write a 'message for Gaza' on the side of a tank shell. KAN received heavy criticism last year for its delegation's alleged treatment of contestants. Ireland's Bambie Thug, who did not sign the letter, accused the network in 2023 of 'inciting violence against me, twice, three times'. The singer withdrew from dress rehearsals over the controversy, prompting the EBU to confirm it had spoken with KAN about its coverage. Among the other signatories of the letter are 2023 UK contestant Mae Muller and Portuguese singer Fernando Tordo. 'By continuing to platform the representation of the Israeli state, the EBU is normalising and whitewashing its crimes,' the letter states. 'The EBU has already demonstrated that it is capable of taking measures, as in 2022, when it expelled Russia from the competition. We don't accept this double standard regarding Israel. 'We stand in solidarity with this year's contestants and condemn the EBU's repeated refusal to take responsibility.' Last year's Eurovision was plagued by controversy due to Israel's participation amid its ongoing attacks on Gaza. Some critics accused the EBU of hypocrisy for refusing to remove Israel, having previously ejected Russia in 2022 following Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. 'It can't be one rule for Russia and a completely different rule for Israel. You bomb, you're out,' said Thea Garrett, who represented Malta in 2010 and signed the letter. Israel was ultimately allowed to compete last year with its delegate Eden Golan, despite threatening to withdraw after she was asked to amend her song October Rain due to its perceived lyrical references to the October 7 attacks. This year, Israel is being represented by October 7 survivor Yuval Raphael, who will sing the track New Day Will Rise at the event, in Basel, Switzerland. The letter was published after broadcasters for three participating countries – Spain, Iceland and Slovenia – questioned Israel's role in the competition earlier this year. KAN and the EBU were contacted for comment.
Irish Independent
28-04-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
‘We are very disappointed' – Dublin café appeals planning rejection
Goats Gruff, based in Dublin's Strawberry Beds and run by husband and wife Brian Kennedy and Ciara Cummins, said the refusal from Fingal County Council left them 'very disappointed'. A petition has since been started to drum up support from members of the public. 'Our application for retention planning was rejected by Fingal County Council,' they said. 'However, we are working on our appeal to An Bord Pleanala and will address the small issues in the planner's report. 'Generally, the report was very positive, although there are some points that need to be clarified. 'A lot of people are asking if we are closing down, absolutely not. Trading as usual and we will get sorted one way or another. 'We have to say we were blown away by the support on the petition. 'A huge thanks to Mick Daly (Anatomic Fitness) for getting that going and to everyone who took the time to sign it and leave a comment. 'It was very emotional for us to read. We've all come a long way together over the last almost six years Goats Gruff is part of the community, and we won't let you down.' According to the planning rejection, the café is in the Liffey Valley Special Amenity Area Order (SAAO) which is within a 'highly sensitive landscape'. 'The food truck by virtue of its use, nature and operation, materially contravenes the High Amenity zoning objective of the Fingal Development Plan 2023-2029,' the planning document says. '[It] is a form of inappropriate development which fails to preserve the natural beauty of the highly sensitive landscape and the special amenity value protected under the Liffey Valley Special Amenity Area Order. 'The retention development is therefore contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.'
