Latest news with #CoCork
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Irish Times
Woman charged with stealing €70,000 from TV chef's restaurant further remanded on bail
A book of evidence will be served later this year on a woman charged with stealing more than €70,000 from TV chef Martin Shanahan who owns the award-winning Fishy Fishy restaurant in Kinsale, Co Cork . Nessa Gilsenan of Copper Beech House, Mellifontstown, Kinsale, who was an employee of the restaurant, was not required to appear before Bandon District Court in Co Cork on Monday. Her solicitor Daithi O'Donnabhain agreed to an application that was made by the State that Ms Gilsenan be remanded on continuing bail until September for service of the book of evidence. Judge Joanne Carroll remanded the accused on bail until her next court appearance on September 18th next. Ms Gilsenan (51) faces 132 charges that relate to theft and the alleged submitting of false documents. More than 110 charges are for theft while she faces additional charges relating to false documents. The charges are that Ms Gilsenan did steal property, to wit various sums of money from Fishy Fishy, the property of Mr Shanahan. The various sums she allegedly stole range from €82 to €1,650. READ MORE Ms Gilsenan is also charged that she dishonestly, with the intention of making a gain for herself or another, in furnishing information for her employer, for the purpose of weekly staff payroll approval, did produce or make use of a document made or acquired for accounting purposes that was misleading, false or deceptive in a material manner. The alleged offences occurred between 2017 and 2022. The charges are contrary to the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001. Ms Gilsenan first appeared before the court in March of this year. Fishy Fishy was established by Mr Shanahan in 2006. Mr Shanahan embarked on his first venture in television in 2009, filming the first of a successful series of programmes, Martin's Mad about Fish. He also teamed up with chef Paul Flynn to feature in the series Surf 'n' Turf, which aired on RTÉ. Mr Shanahan has also written a number of successful cookery books.
Telegraph
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Michael Flatley could face Conor Mcgregor in battle for Irish presidency
Michael Flatley and Conor McGregor are squaring up for a battle to become the next president of Ireland. In a one-on-one few would have predicted, the Lord of the Dance could challenge the MMA champion in presidential elections in October 2025. Flatley's ambitions for high office were inadvertently revealed during a High Court case about works carried out at his Castlehyde mansion in Co Cork. The man credited with reinventing traditional Irish dance notified the court of a 'material change in circumstances' – he was moving back to Ireland to run in their presidential elections. It raises the prospect of the man who once held the Guinness World Record for tap dancing 35 times per second facing off against McGregor. McGregor, 37, who recently lost a civil case accusing him of rape, declared his intention to run for president in March this year at the White House, where he gained the tacit endorsement of Donald Trump. Flatley, 67, who is eligible to run as an Irish citizen, hinted at the presidential bid last week in a radio interview, saying: 'Somebody has to speak for the Irish people.' The Riverdance star said that he did not believe the Irish people 'have a voice, not a true proper deep voice that speaks their language'. The 'average person on the street' is not 'happy right now', added a man whose feet were once insured for $57.6 million. Flatley was in Ireland to perform on a flute at a July 4 celebration at the residence of Edward Walsh, the US ambassador to Ireland. Mr Walsh was recently appointed by Donald Trump, the US president. In a breathtaking innovation, Flatley introduced upper body movements to a dance style famous for its blur of leggy stamping and rigid torsos. His dance spectaculars are said to have been seen by more than 60 million people in 60 countries and have grossed more than $1 billion. The choreographer and dancer, whose other shows include Celtic Tiger Live and Feet of Flames, has a potential rival in McGregor, who is also expected to launch a bid. McGregor has reinvented himself as an anti-immigrant populist who even suggested recently that Ireland should leave the EU rather than fight a trade war with his beloved Mr Trump. Sadly, this clash of Irish dance with Irish boxing may not happen. McGregor is expected to struggle to clear the threshold necessary to qualify for the race and it is unclear if Flatley will have sufficient support. Candidates need to be nominated by at least 20 members of the Irish parliament or at least four local authorities. A candidate must also be an Irish citizen who is 35 or older. They are not the only famous faces who could throw their hat in the ring. There has been speculation that Gerry Adams, the former Sinn Féin leader, could join the race after he successfully sued the BBC in a Dublin court. Mr Adams won £84,000 after he was accused of sanctioning the murder of a British agent. The role of president is largely ceremonial but carries symbolic weight. Some have mooted former boxer Barry McGuigan, the Catholic Ulsterman with a Protestant wife who did much to unite communities in Northern Ireland, as a possible candidate. The election must take place in the 60 days before outgoing President Michael D Higgins's term ends on Nov 11. The 84-year-old Mr Higgins, a Left-wing politician and a poet, has served since 2011. Two candidates have so far secured sufficient backing to enter the race. Catherine Connolly, a Left-wing independent and former Galway mayor, has received the backing of opposition parties and independents and former farming journalist and EU commissioner Mairead McGuinness, who is the Fine Gael nominee. Ms McGuinness was also deputy speaker of the European Parliament and an outspoken critic of Brexit. She caused headlines after she cut off Nigel Farage in his final speech as an MEP before Brexit. She told Mr Farage and his party to stop waving their Union Jack flags, which breaks European Parliament rules. 'Put your flags away, you're leaving... and take them with you... goodbye,' she said in a widely viewed video clip from the session. At the High Court on Friday, defence barristers in Flatley's case argued against the affidavit being accepted by the court, and stated that it was an attempt to 'move the goalposts'. Andrew Fitzpatrick SC said Flatley had said before in 2024 that he intended to move to Paris and then Valencia. 'That didn't happen,' he told the court. He also said that if the court was prepared to admit the affidavit, it would undermine previous assertions that the reason he is living in Monaco and cannot return to Ireland is because of the condition of the Castlehyde. Ms Justice Eileen Roberts said that as Flatley's residence 'is so central to the issue of security of costs' in the case, she would allow the affidavit to be taken into account, but said she 'entirely' heard submissions about the characteristics of the affidavit and what weight it should be afforded. She said she expected the judgment in relation to the costs application to be delivered in a 'reasonably short period', and that it would be given 'shortly after' the end of the court's term.
BreakingNews.ie
7 days ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Funeral of teen (19) who died in Cork crash to take place on Friday
The funeral will take place on Friday of a 19-year-old man who died in a two-vehicle accident on the N71 in Co Cork earlier this week. Dovydas Palkis of Gortnaclohy Heights in Skibbereen, Co Cork, died when the car he was driving collided with a truck on the motorway between Ballinhassig and Innishannon at 7.15am on Monday. Advertisement Mr Palkis was a staff member at the Kerry-based construction firm Jovin Projects. He was also a past pupil of Skibbereen Community School. Tributes have been paid to the teenager. Skibbereen AFC said in a statement that Dovydas played with the club for many years. 'Our thoughts and prayers are with his mother Stella and father Vidmantas, step father John and Vidmantas partner Agne, step sister Chloe and all of his family and friends. "Dovydas was a really lovely young man with a fabulous left leg. He will be greatly missed by the club, his former coaches, teammates & the wider Skibbereen community. Ar dheis dé go raibh a anam. ' Advertisement O'Donovan Rossa GAA Club spoke of their 'wonderful memories' of Dovydas as a young boy playing football with his friends. 'He played all the way up to U17 where he stepped away to concentrate on his leaving cert exams. He was a fantastic corner back with great strength and determination, who for such a quiet character was fearless on the pitch. "He will be remembered by all who had the pleasure of playing or coaching him as a quiet, respectful young man who we will miss dearly. Rest in peace Dovydas.' Dovydas is survived by his parents, sister Chloe, grandparents, extended family, friends and his 'canine friend Peppa.' His requiem mass will take place on Friday at noon in St Patrick's Cathedral, Skibbereen with cremation following at the Island Crematorium in Ringaskiddy, Cork following at 4pm.
BreakingNews.ie
21-07-2025
- Automotive
- BreakingNews.ie
Gardaí at scene of collision in Co Cork
Emergency services are dealing with a serious crash in Co Cork on Monday. The N71 has been closed between Ballinhassig and Innishannon as a result. Advertisement The collision happened at around 7.15am. Local diversions are in place.
Irish Times
21-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Sys Group sets sights on €1bn in client assets with two additions
Sys Group, the fast-growing Irish financial services group, has announced the acquisition of two financial planning firms as it sets its sights on having assets of €1 billion under management this year. Founded by Tony Delaney, the Nenagh, Co Tipperary -headquartered group has agreed to add Qifa Financial Planners in Mallow, Co Cork , and Efficient Financial in Arklow, Co Wicklow , to its growing stable of brokerages. Combined, the two transactions will add €126 million to the value of Sys Group's assets under management, which now stand at more than €650 million, the group said in a statement on Monday. Qifa, which was founded in 2006 by managing director Sean Lynch, manages some €76 million of client assets. READ MORE Efficient Financial, meanwhile, was founded in 1976 by Henry Crummy and is now operated by his sons Harry and Derek. The firm manages client assets of €50 million and, like Qifa, provides specialist financial planning, wealth management and other services. Mr Delaney, the chief executive of Sys Group, said the transactions are a 'landmark moment' for the group. 'These acquisitions strengthen our presence in key regional markets and reinforce our ambition to be the leading provider of client-focused financial planning in Ireland,' he said. 'I'm particularly pleased that Sean and Harry will take on senior roles within SYS Financial. Their involvement ensures continuity for clients and adds significant leadership depth to our team.' Mr Lynch said joining the Sys stable will allow Qifa to continue its growth path 'with the backing of an exceptional organisation'. Mr Crummy said the deal will give Efficient Financial access to 'enhanced resources, cutting-edge technology, and broader expertise'. Sys Group has grown rapidly in recent years, acquiring the likes of Cork-based Global Life & Finance last year, which added €100 million to its asset base. The deal was one of four transactions completed by the group last year, which Sys Group said would position it 'as one of the leading Irish financial services businesses'. The group, which Mr Delaney founded in 2015, is aiming to have €1 billion in assets under management by the end of 2025, through further acquisitions. Sys Group employs 67 people across its four offices nationwide.
