Latest news with #GaryBrown
Irish Times
13-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
‘When I sold my business, I bought a very expensive watch for around €7,000′
Gary Brown is a former Shelbourne FC footballer and club chairman. He is also a businessman and playwright. His play, Ollie ... One Love, One Life, about former Shelbourne FC chairman Ollie Byrne, which features Gary Cooke, plays at the Helix, Dublin, on Saturday and Sunday. Are you a saver or a spender? Now that I'm a writer and playwright and have retired from advertising, I'm definitely a spender, although I do squirrel away a few bob for special occasions. What was the first job you received money for, and how much were you paid? My first paid job was in 1973 as a lounge boy in a pub in Cabra – Matt Whelan's, which is no longer there. I was 13 pretending to be 16, and I worked with my then-pal Ashley Grimes, who went on to play for Manchester United and the Republic of Ireland. We were paid 30p an hour. Do you shop around for better value? I tend to shop around for high-value items and I always like the banter and a good look around in a market or a second-hand shop. READ MORE What has been your most extravagant purchase, and how much did it cost? When I sold my business, I bought a very expensive watch for around €7,000. It's worth a lot more now, and I've passed it on to family. What purchase have you made that you consider the best value for money? Any house I've ever bought has been of value over time, and not just monetary value either, as there have been great memories and occasions. Is there anything you regret spending money on? There were a few meals out in expensive restaurants that I regret spending money on – poor quality food and service, and really over-the-top prices. [ Niamh Kavanagh: 'Thanks to my mum, I learned how to pay my bills before I spent money on myself' Opens in new window ] Do you haggle over prices? Yes, I would haggle in markets. I remember once in an antiques shop in London, I offered about half the asking price for a painting. The owner said: 'Wait here until I ask my business partner what he thinks.' He went into an alcove, pressed a button, and the sound from The Laughing Policeman played full volume around the shop. That was class and hilarious! Do you invest in shares and/or cryptocurrency? I did invest in shares and I have done well, but also not so well – bank shares before the crash, we all remember those. Crypto? I know what I don't know, so no cryptocurrency for me. Do you have a retirement or pension plan? Yes, I have some ARFs [Approved Retirement Funds] that are in a mixture of property and cash. That said, I have some decisions to make soon. What was the last thing you bought, and was it good value for money? I've just bought some nuts for my bird feeder in Duncannon, Co Wexford, so that will keep the birds happy and me happy. So yes, good value. Have you ever successfully saved up for a relatively big purchase? When I was a teenager, I saved up for a brown leather jacket, which was a big purchase for me then. I loved it and thought I was the bee's knees in it. It was stolen, however, from a changing room while I was playing soccer. If I ever catch that louser! [ Johnny Lappin: 'I got scammed by a rogue so-called roofing contractor. I foolishly paid him in cash' Opens in new window ] Have you ever lost money? Yes. I was advised by a financial adviser, so-called, to invest in Custom House Capital. I got some of it back. Enough said. Are you a gambler and, if so, have you ever had a big win? I have the odd flutter on golf, soccer and horses, but not much. I had a tenner each way on Padraig Harrington at 35/1 to win his first major in 2007, so that was great. What are your best and worst habits when it comes to money? My best habit is trusting my own judgment over advisers. I have listened to advisers in the past but I would now say: listen, then make your own decisions and trust yourself. My worst habit is that I have probably been too conservative sometimes and missed out on certain opportunities. Invest in yourself and trust yourself is my advice. Describe Ollie Byrne in one sentence? Ollie Byrne was an enigmatic force of nature who was obsessive, generous, enterprising, pugnacious and kind all in equal measure. How much money do you have on you now? I have €120. I still love having cash in my pockets.
Irish Times
12-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
‘I have invested in shares and I have done well, but also not so well'
Gary Brown is a former Shelbourne FC footballer and club chairman. He is also a businessman and playwright. His play, Ollie ... One Love, One Life, about former Shelbourne FC chairman Ollie Byrne, which features Gary Cooke, plays at the Helix, Dublin, on Saturday and Sunday. Are you a saver or a spender? Now that I'm a writer and playwright and have retired from advertising, I'm definitely a spender, although I do squirrel away a few bob for special occasions. What was the first job you received money for, and how much were you paid? My first paid job was in 1973 as a lounge boy in a pub in Cabra – Matt Whelan's, which is no longer there. I was 13 pretending to be 16, and I worked with my then-pal Ashley Grimes, who went on to play for Manchester United and the Republic of Ireland. We were paid 30p an hour. Do you shop around for better value? I tend to shop around for high-value items and I always like the banter and a good look around in a market or a second-hand shop. READ MORE What has been your most extravagant purchase, and how much did it cost? When I sold my business, I bought a very expensive watch for around €7,000. It's worth a lot more now, and I've passed it on to family. What purchase have you made that you consider the best value for money? Any house I've ever bought has been of value over time, and not just monetary value either, as there have been great memories and occasions. Is there anything you regret spending money on? There were a few meals out in expensive restaurants that I regret spending money on – poor quality food and service, and really over-the-top prices. [ Niamh Kavanagh: 'Thanks to my mum, I learned how to pay my bills before I spent money on myself' Opens in new window ] Do you haggle over prices? Yes, I would haggle in markets. I remember once in an antiques shop in London, I offered about half the asking price for a painting. The owner said: 'Wait here until I ask my business partner what he thinks.' He went into an alcove, pressed a button, and the sound from The Laughing Policeman played full volume around the shop. That was class and hilarious! Do you invest in shares and/or cryptocurrency? I did invest in shares and I have done well, but also not so well – bank shares before the crash, we all remember those. Crypto? I know what I don't know, so no cryptocurrency for me. Do you have a retirement or pension plan? Yes, I have some ARFs [Approved Retirement Funds] that are in a mixture of property and cash. That said, I have some decisions to make soon. What was the last thing you bought, and was it good value for money? I've just bought some nuts for my bird feeder in Duncannon, Co Wexford, so that will keep the birds happy and me happy. So yes, good value. Have you ever successfully saved up for a relatively big purchase? When I was a teenager, I saved up for a brown leather jacket, which was a big purchase for me then. I loved it and thought I was the bee's knees in it. It was stolen, however, from a changing room while I was playing soccer. If I ever catch that louser! [ Johnny Lappin: 'I got scammed by a rogue so-called roofing contractor. I foolishly paid him in cash' Opens in new window ] Have you ever lost money? Yes. I was advised by a financial adviser, so-called, to invest in Custom House Capital. I got some of it back. Enough said. Are you a gambler and, if so, have you ever had a big win? I have the odd flutter on golf, soccer and horses, but not much. I had a tenner each way on Padraig Harrington at 35/1 to win his first major in 2007, so that was great. What are your best and worst habits when it comes to money? My best habit is trusting my own judgment over advisers. I have listened to advisers in the past but I would now say: listen, then make your own decisions and trust yourself. My worst habit is that I have probably been too conservative sometimes and missed out on certain opportunities. Invest in yourself and trust yourself is my advice. Describe Ollie Byrne in one sentence? Ollie Byrne was an enigmatic force of nature who was obsessive, generous, enterprising, pugnacious and kind all in equal measure. How much money do you have on you now? I have €120. I still love having cash in my pockets.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Yahoo
Southwest Detroit flooding • Pontiac mom abandoned kids for years • Armed robber shot by donut shop worker
SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (FOX 2) - A water main break last week flooded a Southwest Detroit neighborhood, a Pontiac mom has been charged with three counts of child abuse for abandoning her kids for years in a home full of trash and feces, and an armed robbery suspect was shot by a donut shop worker in Clinton Township: here are the top stories from FOX 2's Week in Review. 1. Southwest Detroit water main break repairs underway, cleanup starts on impacted homesThe first four houses of the 400 impacted residences in Southwest Detroit are being cleaned and sanitized Friday ahead of section, the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department said. 2. Water main break leaves Southwest Detroit neighborhood underwaterSeveral streets were underwater Monday morning in Southwest Detroit due to a water main break. "I've been running DWSD for 10 years now, and we've never had a water main break this large in a densely populated neighborhood," said Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) Director Gary Brown. 3. Former sister-in-law discusses Pontiac mother accused of abandoning childrenThe former sister-in-law of a mother accused of leaving her children to live in filth for several years is speaking out the day the mother was charged. 4. Child abuse charges for Pontiac mom who abandoned three kids in squalor for four yearsThe Oakland County Prosecutor has filed three counts of child abuse charges against a Pontiac mom who abandoned three kids in a home full of trash and feces for over four years. Prosecutor Karen McDonald called a 2 p.m. press conference on Wednesday where she announced the charges against Kelli Bryant, the 34-year-old mother of the three children. 5. 19-year-old killed after rollover crash in DetroitA 19-year-old driver involved in a roll-over crash in Detroit Tuesday afternoon has died. The vehicle was seen traveling at a high rate of speed before crashing at the Southfield Freeway near an overpass. 6. Armed robbery suspect shot, killed by Clinton Twp donut store workerOn Feb. 20, at 12:45 p.m., a male suspect armed with a firearm allegedly demanded cash inside Golden Donuts, 34155 Harper Avenue. The employee then pulled out a handgun and shot the robbery suspect. Police say the suspect, in his mid-30s, fled in a vehicle and was found inside his crashed SUV at the Sunoco gas station at 15 Mile and Harper. 7. Great Lakes ice coverage nears seasonal average with one notable exceptionAfter barely registering in satellite images during the 2024 winter season, ice coverage has returned almost to the seasonal average across the five bodies of water this year. According to the latest data out of the Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab (GLERL), ice coverage across the Great Lakes was near 35%, about 5% below the historical average. 8. Man charged with murder after shooting girlfriend in head twice in DetroitA 31-year-old Detroit man was remanded to jail Sunday following a Valentine's Day shooting that left his girlfriend dead. Prosecutors told the court that Desaun Ross, 31, shot Ebony Robinson in the head, and then grabbed another gun and shot her a second time. Court officials said that Ross told them it was "to stop her from suffering." 9. Detroit area teen takes part in groundbreaking type 1 diabetes study using 100-year-old TB vaccineA 100-year-old vaccine is getting a fresh look as it's being studied to treat an autoimmune disease. One local child who's hoping to help change the world for people with type 1 diabetes. There's no cure for type 1 diabetes but currently a Metro Detroit teenager and a team of researchers are working to understand how a tuberculosis vaccine might change the future for those with the disease. 10. Detroit food distributor closes, leading to 1500 jobs lostA major food distributor in Detroit is shutting down after more than 50 years in business. The closure is already impacting local markets and grocery stores. But could this affect your budget?
