Latest news with #Dunphy
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Eamon Dunphy changes tune on Hallgrimsson as he backs Ireland for World Cup play-off ‘if not more' after Senegal draw
EAMON DUNPHY seems to have changed his tune on Heimir Hallgrimsson following Ireland's draw with Senegal. The Aviva Stadium. 2 Ireland drew 1-1 with Senegal Credit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile 2 Eamon Dunphy praised Hallgrimsson Credit: Barry Cregg / SPORTSFILE They had taken the lead through Kasey McAteer before Ismaila Sarr's late equaliser. It could have been more, with Eamon Dunphy has been a vocal critic of Hallgrimsson, But after Friday's draw, he praised the Icelander for making Ireland hard to beat against a side ranked 19th in the world. Read More on Ireland MNT "They were easy on the eye, too, and easy to like, producing a display that reminded you of everything we like to pride ourselves on as a football nation." Dunphy singled out midfield pair Will Smallbone and Jason Knight for praise, in particular. star Smallbone was tidy on the ball while Bristol City's Knight demonstrated energy and tenacity off of it. Most read in Football Dunphy believes Ireland may have found their ideal partnership which he claimed has filled a void that needed filling. He said: "All this was needed because for the last little while it has become clear that we have an outstanding goalkeeper in Caoimhin Kelleher, several top class defenders, and three outstanding forwards. Heimir Hallgrimsson gives first call-up to four Ireland players in squad for friendlies vs Senegal and Luxembourg "But another uncomfortable truth was that we struggled in midfield. "Not last night because a change in personnel resulted in a change in attitude and a change in performance." Ireland will face Luxembourg in another friendly next Tuesday which will serve as a warm-up before the The Boys in Green host That will be followed by games home and away against Results elsewhere on Friday night gave Dunphy promise for the qualifiers , with Hungary and Armenia losing to But Dunphy remains bullish, declaring that Ireland can bag a play-off for a place at the 2026 World Cup - at minimum. He added: "I'm not shaking with fear at the idea of facing any of those sides. "There is reason to believe and that faith stems from the gradual progress this team has made and most of all from the growth of our two midfielders, Smallbone and Knight, who know how to press, how to win the ball, how to deny the other team space . So it is not unrealistic to say a World Cup play off is now attainable - if not more.
Irish Independent
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
My Money: ‘I grew up in a privileged household – but I was out working from a young age'
Dunphy is also a brand ambassador for the probiotic supplement Alflorex, and has recently been speaking of her experience living with irritable bowel syndrome. How did your upbringing shape your relationship with money? The one thing my parents instilled in me was a cast-iron work ethic. I grew up in a privileged household, but I was out working from a young age. There were the usual babysitting gigs from the age of 13 (which I may go back to, given what they can charge now). Then I did everything throughout my teens – from being a nurse's aide in a retirement home, to pub work and then I did a stint in a petrol station. I had friends who lived on the pocket money that they got from their parents, but the sense of independence that comes from working at a young age is a great gift. Have you ever felt broke? I've never earned a lot of money, so I'm always careful with it. But I was very broke in my early 20s, after a year in Australia followed by another year volunteering in Malaysia. I came home with nothing, and had to take the first job I could get, at a plastic injection moulding company. Feel free to ask me about widgets anytime. What has your TV career taught you about money? Unless you have a salaried job with a broadcaster or production company, then most TV jobs are contract to contract and are precarious beyond belief. ADVERTISEMENT I worked with a production company for 12 years but wanted the freedom that comes with freelance work. There's no sick leave and no pension contributions in freelance life. The truth is that I'm probably more suited to a more secure line of work. What's the most expensive place you've ever been to? The most expensive place was one I didn't pay for. My husband and I were put up in The Dorchester in London for an awards ceremony one year, and were given a suite overlooking Hyde Park. It was so opulent it was a bit ludicrous. I left the awards ceremony early just to come back and hang out in the room. There were only a handful of other suites on that entire floor, and Hugh Jackman and Tom Cruise were in two of them. Of course, I did the unsophisticated thing of googling what the room cost and it was about £3,500 (€4,118) a night, which is just silly. What was your biggest ever extravagance? I'm not one for designer clothes or very expensive things. I'd rather spend any money I have on experiences – especially food or travel. One of my best friends lived in Cuba for a while, and I'd been talking about going to see her, but it was so expensive and such a big trip. Then just before Covid, I checked my bank balance, booked it, and went a few weeks later. They're the sort of expenses I would never regret. Whereas the one expensive handbag I own is still sitting in its dust cover, 10 years later. What was your best-ever investment? My apartment. The aforementioned freelance career would not be conducive to getting a mortgage these days, and my heart goes out to people stuck in our outrageously overpriced rental market. I still live in the first home I bought 20 years ago, and I'm very relieved I didn't sell it when I moved to London 10 years ago, or I'd be very much affected by the housing crisis now. What was your biggest ever financial mistake? Offering to split the bill when I arrived at the end of a meal, not knowing the others had all been drinking vintage Champagne. Ouch.
The Irish Sun
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
‘George Best was a close friend' – Eamon Dunphy reveals Man Utd ‘journey' & how lifestyle left him ‘unable to pay rent'
EAMON DUNPHY revealed smoking and discos led to his short stint at Man Utd going to the dogs. The former Republic of Ireland international, 79, joined Advertisement 2 Eamon Dunphy opened up on his time at Man Utd Credit: Cody Glenn / SPORTSFILE 2 He revealed he was good friends with George Best Credit: Joe Bangay/He never managed to play for the first team, and went on to play for York City, Dunphy opened up on his experience at And he revealed that despite the tenure being short-lived, he was able to strike a bond with Man Utd all-time great He said: "I was at Law . Advertisement Read More on Eamon Dunphy "George was a very close friend of mine and a bright guy. "He was very quiet. George could sit on the coach for hours and say nothing but if you went to a disco with him, the girls were crazy. "He loved girls and he loved - it killed him in the end - the fame and the adoration. "He was kind of the fifth Beatle, they dubbed him in the papers. He was very good looking. Advertisement Most read in Football "He had a kind of quiet way about him, a bit of mystery. We were good pals. We used to go dancing together." Dunphy went to Manchester at the age of 15 at a time of flux in the club's storied history . Irish comedian Gary Cooke blows fans away with musical impression of Eamon Dunphy Two years earlier, in 1958, 23 people - including eight members of the team - died in the Munich Air Disaster. Among the players who perished was Liam Whelan, who also played for Ireland. Advertisement Ten years later, three after Dunphy left the club, the Red Devils won the first of their three European Cups. Among those who starred for the team that season were George Best, Denis Law, and The side that faced And Dunphy believes the tragedy and the decade that followed elevated the 'Busby Babes' onto another level of iconography. Advertisement He added: "To go to Manchester United from Dublin was a dream. "I went there in 1960, two years after the Munich air crash where eight of the team died. "They were a great team. They were champions and they were young. "Manchester United was a very big deal in Manchester and here too because one of those players, Liam Whelan, was an Irish international and a great player. Advertisement "That team made Manchester United famous around the world and the tragedy of the Munich air crash, or as it is called now the Munich Air Disaster, it elevated Manchester United into iconic status." LIFESTYLE OF SPORT The former One was the club's ability to draw the best and brightest, while the other was his lifestyle. He admitted: "In 1960, they had the pick of the best young players around the British Isles so I knew what I was going into. Advertisement "It was tough. I was there for five years but I never developed the upper body strength you need to be a top class player, mainly because I was smoking . "I was out all night at discos. "Another friend, Barry Fry, who is well known to Irish people, we used to go to the dogs maybe every night of the week sometimes. "I remember losing all of my wages on the Thursday which was payday and staying out all night because I wasn't able to pay my rent. Advertisement "I got bronchitis and the night watchman let me stay in his hut."
RTÉ News
01-05-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
Accumulated profits at Eamon Dunphy podcast firm climb to €336,006
Accumulated profits at the firm behind Eamon Dunphy's The Stand podcast last year surged to €336,006 - just days before Dunphy pressed pause on the podcast project. New accounts show that Dunphy's Pepperwort Ltd recorded post tax profits of €74,811 in 2024 - which was down 28.5% on the post tax profits of €108,963 for 2023. The profits for last year resulted in the company having accumulated profits of €336,106 on December 31st and only seven days later, Dunphy and his wife and co-owner of Pepperwort Ltd, Jane Gogan announced that they were taking a break from The Stand. The two stated that would be taking a break from The Stand for the "foreseeable future" and explained that they had commitments to other projects which required their attention. The former RTÉ soccer pundit, who is set to turn 80 in August, had been presenting the show for over eight years. In a busy year for the business, Pepperwort's cash funds increased by €76,176 from €270,749 to €346,925 Regularly at the top of the podcast charts, The Stand also attracted high-level commercial sponsorship, including from Tesco. Dunphy and Gogan co-own the company on a 50/50 basis and the accounts showed that aggregate pay to the directors in 2024 was €74,811 which was a marginal increase on the €72,719 for the prior year. As well as generating revenue from advertisers, people could subscribe to The Stand for a fee of €5 (ex VAT) per month. The last new edition of The Stand was posted on December 19 and the current affairs, sport and culture podcast posts up to eight new episodes each week that included Dunphy and his former RTE soccer pundit colleague, John Giles discussing the latest soccer results. The successful podcast venture was the latest chapter in the long and successful media career enjoyed by the former Irish soccer international, Dunphy. Dunphy is currently at work on the second half of his autobiography where the first volume, The Rocky Road, told his story up to the 1990 World Cup and in a press interview last year, he said "the next part will be funnier and lighter". Dunphy has been a mainstay providing soccer analysis on TV and radio since the early 1980s and the Dubliner continues to write a soccer column with The Irish Daily Star. Dunphy has also written five best selling books including an early critically acclaimed memoir Only a Game?, U2's biography Unforgettable Fire, Sir Matt Busby's biography A Strange Kind of Glory, Roy Keane's autobiography Keane, along with The Rocky Road. Addressing Pepperwort's going concern status, a note attached to the accounts states that the directors have a reasonable expectation that the company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. In 2022, Dunphy moved to voluntarily wind up his other media firm, Festuca Ltd and a liquidator's final statement of account shows that there was €392,931 available to return to the firm's shareholders after expenses were paid out.
Irish Examiner
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
John Patrick McHugh: 10 of the books that have influenced me through the years
Beano Let me cheat with the first selection: not a book but a humble comic. My earliest memory of reading was with the Beano. The Beano. I remember laying on my stomach while riffling through its pages, giggling and feeling as if I was catching up with friends in Denis and Gnasher, the Bash Street Kids. There was a cosiness to this experience, a safety, but it was also my first sense of interiority: here was an experience for me alone amid the noise of family, here was something that let me be in on the joke rather than my parents. Additionally: I probably owe my refined sense of humour to this magazine. Western Lane by Chetna Maroo My novel is a sports book, kind of – a distinction that still surprises – and when writing it, I hoped that the GAA side of it would feel integral to the emotional side: the football was not the thing itself but part of the overall package. This balance is handled deftly in non-fiction – Dunphy's Only A Game springs to mind – but rarer to find in fiction, and for that reason and more, Western Lane is a rare triumph. It is about grief, family and the racketed sport of squash: elements that all work together, enhance the other. A kind of sport book that gave me confidence in writing my own kind of sport book. Dubliners by James Joyce I feel like we all have those moments in our lives when suddenly something makes sense that didn't a moment before. For me this occurred upon reading Araby in Dubliners. I was eighteen. I was unsure about what I was doing in college, unaware of literature at large, and in my first week I was handed this story. I read it and I saw myself – my skin glowed when I played outside and how did Joyce know that?! – and I saw what writing can do. A door had been opened inside me, and it was a door I didn't know was there, nevermind that it had been locked. It's not hyperbolic to say this book changed my life. Sabbath's Theater by Philip Roth Tonnes of books are labelled brave these days but most of them, I feel, are not brave at all. Often, they read as if sculpted for our time: a chorus for the agreed. Noble and worthy, but not brave. A brave book, for me, should rally against the accepted, should feel wrong. Sabbath's Theater is a brave book. It's a twisted love story about a disgraced puppeteer and his affair with a married woman. It is a novel that astounds because Roth wrote it so late in the game and yet here is throwing everything at us. Rude, outrageous, ambitious and it houses the most romantic scene in literature involving the remembrance of urolagnia. Running Dog by Don DeLillo DeLillo: is there another cultural figure who has been more prescient about our modern world? Indeed, is there a writer alive better? The guy has authored too many bangers – The Names, Mao II, Libra – so I have gone for a book I feel is underappreciated (even by the man himself): Running Dog. It's about the hunt for a sex tape filmed by Hitler in his bunker in Berlin. It has all the DeLillo trademarks – those sentences, that dialogue as if it is off its axis – and what is especially haunting about this one is the eventual reveal of the 'sex' tape: shocking and humanising, a scene that will linger in the reader's mind. Amongst Women by John McGahern McGahern arrived to me after Joyce and shaped my writing to the point I had to forgot about him: his influence was sticky on my stories, Yew trees kept cropping up. I returned to him in the course of writing my novel, and I have been captivated all over again by this great work in particular. The story follows the brutal patriarch, Moran, and the shadow Moran casts on the lives of his daughters. I have gone to town on my copy of the novel – underlying entire passages, dismantling scenes – in my attempt to answer the almighty question: how does McGahern make the everyday rhythms of country life hook you like a thriller? Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel A novel set in Tudor times about a clerk and his sudden professional ascension should read dry, it should feel worn and dusty, and yet Mantel's trilogy about Thomas Cromwell is a whirlwind: invigorating, discombobulating, thrilling. We are in Cromwell's scheming mind, we are in the present moment, we are in the court of King Henry as men tug fortune their way while seeking to maintain their heads. It's a drama, it's a character study, it's a historical document, it's a modern novel set in the past. By the close of the third one, I was hoping against hope that Cromwell might slip free from the net of history. Happiness, As Such by Natalia Ginzburg The best book recommendations come in two emotional states: one, when the recommender has drink taken, and two, when they haven't even finished the book yet and still are compelled to gush: this second option occurred when a friend emailed me about Natalia Ginzburg and her genius. To read Ginzburg is to read someone who can see-through the world: who can present the essence of you and I. I adore her sentences, their conversational and stylish nature, and I have picked Happiness, As Such, but honestly, you can't go wrong with any Ginzburg. A remarkable individual besides being a remarkable writer: her struggle against a fascist Italian state could be as influential as her writing soon enough. The Ambassadors by Henry James I had never read James beyond a story or two, and at the start of this year, I set out to rectify this glaring omission by reading The Ambassadors: and yeah, I get it now. It's the turn of the 20th century and Lambert Strether is shipped from America to Paris by his soon-to-be-wife to check in on her delightfully named son, Chad – for suspicions abound about Chad and women. Look, no point fooling you: it is an intimidating book to read, but once you wade knees-deep into James's dense and playful style, something will click, and the novel will begin to flow brilliantly. And big surprise: Henry James is hilarious. Enter Ghost by Isabelle Hammad Here is an intelligent and artful book that is proof that the novel as a form still has something to add in this age of screens and disinformation: for here is our real world politics on stage, here is modern history made digestible. Our narrator is a Palestinian actress returning to Haifa and who subsequently joins up with a ragtag band scheming to stage the play Hamlet in the West Bank. What could go wrong? And what could easily and justly be a fiery polemic is instead an exquisitely crafted novel about family, displacement, resilient and grave injustice and repression. Timely is a descriptor that is batted about too much, but in this case... Fun and Games, by John Patrick McHugh, published by 4th Estate, is out now
