Latest news with #GoingforGold
Irish Independent
5 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Limerick Going for Gold 2025 launches with €180,000 up for grabs for proud communities
Now in its 15th year, the annual competition, run by Limerick City and County Council and proudly sponsored by the JP McManus Charitable Foundation, continues to grow in scale and impact. Launched at the Desmond Complex and Castle Demesne Park in Newcastle West, the initiative encourages communities to come together to enhance their locality, promote sustainability, and improve biodiversity. This year's competition offers a top prize of €10,000, with additional awards of €7,000 and €5,000 across various categories. In addition, nearly €70,000 in grant funding will be distributed to community groups undertaking projects focused on biodiversity, nature conservation, circular economy, and sustainable living. Grant amounts range from €200 to €3,000. Speaking at the launch, Cllr Jerome Scanlan, deputising for the Mayor of Limerick, said: 'Going for Gold is about so much more than prizes. It's about people. It's about neighbours coming together to plant pollinator-friendly gardens, to reduce waste, to reuse creatively, and to build a more sustainable future for generations to come. It's about learning from one another, sharing ideas, and creating lasting change.' Gerry Boland of the JP McManus Charitable Foundation added: 'Whether it's through pollinator planting, waste reduction, or reimagining public spaces, these efforts are shaping a greener, more connected Limerick. We're proud to support this initiative that empowers people to make a lasting difference.' Categories for 2025 include: Tidy Towns Category – for groups entered in the 2025 National Tidy Towns Competition Limerick Bee Friendly in Bloom – open to all Tidy Towns groups, including those not entered in the national competition Residential Areas – for estates and residential groups, including those in regeneration areas, who applied for the 2025 Environment Improvement Grant Endeavour Award – awarded to the most improved Limerick entrant in the National Tidy Towns Competition ADVERTISEMENT Reuse Award (Circular Economy) – recognising groups that prevent waste through innovative reuse initiatives Judging will focus on a wide range of criteria including biodiversity, pollinator and vegetable planting, sustainability, use of recycled materials, waste prevention, circular economy practices, litter control, and the overall upkeep and impression of green spaces. Closing date for entry to Limerick Going for Gold 2025 has passed but late applications will be considered. Contact limerickgoingforgold@ for consideration.
Belfast Telegraph
23-04-2025
- General
- Belfast Telegraph
Mourners urged to ‘embrace life' as tributes paid at funeral of young mum who died after road crash
Shelley Feeney, who was in her 30s, died on Saturday, April 19, as a result of a single-vehicle collision, which occurred on Monday, April 14. Emergency services attended the scene in the Knockmore Road area of Ballymoney shortly after 10.30am and rushed Ms Feeney to hospital, where she remained in the intensive care unit until her death. A PSNI spokesperson said a child also sustained minor injuries in the crash. Tragically, Ms Feeney's father died suddenly at the Royal Victoria Hospital the day after the collision. The young mother-of-two's funeral and service of thanksgiving took place today at Mosside Presbyterian Church at 11am, with those attending the service encouraged to wear bright colours. Addressing the congregation, Rev Dr Andre Alves-Areis praised Ms Feeney's son's bravery in calling an ambulance for his mother when the accident took place: 'Faced with such a difficult situation, his immediate call for an ambulance made a critical difference, ultimately gifting the family invaluable time with Shelley. And for that, Jake, I am so proud. And I know your dad is too. Not just him, but the whole community is proud of how you handled last Monday and the courage you had in crisis.' He also fondly recalled Ms Feeney's contributions to the local community, saying: 'Shelley was a big part of Mosside village. There are many different events that have taken place over the last few years in the village and Shelley would have supported them well. 'She and Jake won the Mosside 'Going for Gold' grant a couple of years ago and got money to run a football camp in the village, which was great.' 'Shelley was involved in the Straidbilly PTA [Parent and Teacher Association], keeping Mr George and the school on the straight and narrow.' Referring to Ms Feeney's husband, Stephen, Rev Alves-Areis called for mourners to enjoy their lives, saying: 'Stephen wanted to emphasise that life is to be lived… that in remembering Shelley, we might all just pause and take stock. That we won't take things for granted. That we will appreciate the people we have, the little moments, the simple joys. 'It's so easy to take life for granted and get bogged down with work and stress and this and that. Stephen wants us, as a tribute to Shelley and her love for life, to really live, to embrace life.' To date, Mosside Presbyterian Church has raised more than £22,000 for Ms Feeney's family through an online fundraiser started by Rev Andre Alves-Areias. The church also held a prayer vigil for Ms Feeney last week while she was fighting for her life in hospital. In the funeral notice, Ms Feeney was described as the 'dearly loved partner of Stephen, much-loved mother of Jake and Sophie, beloved daughter of the late James and June, dear granddaughter of Elsie and Mary Jane, much-loved sister of Bobby and a dear sister-in-law, niece, aunt, cousin and friend'.
Cedar News
28-02-2025
- Cedar News
WhatsApp is down worldwide
Join our Telegram WhatsApp is down in multiple regions worldwide! Users are in a frenzy as messages go undelivered. Also WhatsApp is currently down for at least 7,500 users on Friday afternoon, with the majority of issues reportedly in London. Website Downdetector, which monitors where there are issues with websites and apps, showed largespikes for WhatApp, with people saying they had been affected by the outage. A map shows that most of the affected users are in London, however many areas across the UK have been affected. Cities such as Manchester and Glasgow also have large outages reported. Areas affected by WhatsApp outage ( Image: Downdetector) Multiple messages have been left on Downdetector's site complaining about the outage. The huge spike in reported problems began after 3:12pm today, according to the site. Richard Madeley halts Good Morning Britain with disturbing Donald Trump video Going for Gold star Henry Kelly dies aged 78 as family pay tribute to huge star Richard Madeley halts Good Morning Britain with disturbing Donald Trump video Going for Gold star Henry Kelly dies aged 78 as family pay tribute to huge star BREAKING: F1 Testing stopped twice as BUS drives around Bahrain track after smashed glass incident BREAKING: Skype to be axed by Microsoft as video calling app users handed urgent message BREAKING: BT down for thousands as users face broadband and email outage Richard Madeley halts Good Morning Britain with disturbing Donald Trump video Going for Gold star Henry Kelly dies aged 78 as family pay tribute to huge star Facebook X (Twitter) Play War Thunder now for free Fight in over 2000 unique and authentic Vehicles. Fight on Land, on Water and in the Air. Join the most comprehensive vehicular combat game. Over 2000 tanks, ships and aircraft. War Thunder Discover The World of Unsold Camper Vans Unsold Camper Vans | Search Ads | Sponsored Learn More MORE ON Breaking News WhatsApp Get email updates with the day's biggest stories Sign up We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info Top Stories Claire Knights murderer jailed after killing 'loving' mum while walking her dog End to hated 8am scramble for doctors' appointments as GPs sign game-changing deal Steve Hodson dead: Follyfoot and All Creatures Great and Small star dies after health battle Thousands of households to get £50 payment to help with cost of living Brendan Courtney brutally attacked and kicked in the head near home 'because I'm gay' Next's 'round tummy'-friendly hourglass jeans 'fit perfectly in all the right places' Mum of two loses 2.8 stone with 'life changing' app that's now 60% off Shamed referee David Coote handed hefty UEFA ban over 'white powder video at Euro 2024' Costco is making a huge change to memberships this weekend as shoppers threaten to 'cancel' How Keir Starmer won over Donald Trump with months-long 'Starm offensive' Skype to be axed by Microsoft as video calling app users handed urgent message Gene Hackman and wife's final moments from 'sudden fall' and scattered pills to mummification Prince Harry makes veiled Donald Trump swipe hours after King's unprecedented invite Gene Hackman's daughter breaks silence with harrowing admission after his death Home News UK News WhatsApp KEIR CHARMER: How Starmer won over Donald Trump with flashy gifts, posh dinner, and months-long 'charm offensive' as President gives one-word verdict on PM Donald Trump 'I broke down to wife after five years at Man Utd – I had to get out and escape the club' Manchester United FC 'I didn't realise my cabin bag was too big for this airline – this is the one you need' Travel Gene Hackman mystery deepens as police make surprise findings at actor's home – UPDATES Gene Hackman 'I need two seats on Disneyland rides – it's a nightmare and people are so cruel' Viral Subscribe Newsletter preference centre ©2025 a Reach plc subsidiary
The Guardian
27-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Henry Kelly obituary
Henry Kelly, who has died aged 78, was a hard-nosed Irish journalist who reported on the Troubles in Northern Ireland before finding television fame as a presenter of ITV's Saturday evening light-entertainment programme Game for a Laugh, which fashioned itself as a 'people show'. Viewers and the studio audience were declared to be the stars – game for a laugh and at the centre of the action, which included challenges and pranks. A regular game had an audience member sitting in the 'pie chair' and given an almost impossible task – if they failed, they would be on the receiving end of extra-foamy custard pies delivered by extendable mechanical arms with hands on the end. Fans of the programme were also featured displaying their talents, among them a vicar giving a believable impression of Liberace, a laundry worker building a magnificent robot and a man devoted to decorating the inside of his house with old master-style paintings. The four original hosts – Kelly, Jeremy Beadle, Sarah Kennedy and Matthew Kelly (no relation) – presented the show seated on tall stools and were remembered for signing off each episode, inviting viewers to tune in the following week, with the catchphrase 'Watching us … watching you … watching us … watching you' while the camera switched between each presenter and the audience as they delivered the words. Within two months of its launch in 1981, Game for a Laugh attracted more than 15 million viewers. Kelly, described by TV Times magazine as 'the fair, skinny one with the Terry Wogan accent', eventually left two years later after three series, along with Kennedy and Matthew Kelly. 'I realised that comedy really is a serious business,' he told the Daily Express in 2016. 'We had no script, no Autocue and no earpieces. It was a brilliant show. It changed my life … it opened doors for me.' Opportunities included the chance to host a BBC daytime quiz show, Going for Gold, featuring contestants from across Europe. When it was initially suggested, Kelly recalled, he regarded the idea as 'nonsense', but he took on the programme and it became a hit. The show was particularly popular with students, and Kelly was made honorary president of one student union. Going for Gold ran for 10 series (1987-96) and was later revived by Channel 5 with John Suchet presenting. Halfway through his run on Going for Gold, Kelly – who had been a BBC radio reporter before moving into television – returned to radio to become one of the launch presenters of the Classic FM station. From 1992 to 2003, he hosted the mid-morning programme, then the breakfast show, building up an audience of more than 3 million listeners with a format that included recipes and racing tips as well as music, and he was named national broadcaster of the year in the 1994 Sony radio awards. Born in Dublin, Henry was the youngest of five children. His father, also Henry, was a civil servant who had been private secretary to Kevin O'Higgins, the 1920s Irish politician responsible for the execution of 77 IRA members. 'He once showed me notes he had written about 20 minutes after O'Higgins was assassinated,' said Kelly, who pronounced his father a 'warm, lovable, generous man' while admitting to not having a close relationship with his mother. The family moved to Athlone when he was a baby and seven years later returned to Dublin. Henry was educated at the Jesuit school Belvedere college, where he was a friend of Terry Wogan's brother, Brian, and a frequent visitor to the Wogan family home. 'I was good at Latin and Greek and English, and talking, and not necessarily in that order,' he said. While studying English at University College Dublin, he wrote theatre reviews for the Irish Times. On graduation in 1968, he joined the paper as a reporter. When he became its northern editor in Belfast, Kelly reported on the violence that had reignited there. 'I was privileged enough to be one of that small group who knew the north was a serious story long before it became fashionable,' he told the Irish Times. 'It was a very exciting time. I loved it … I absolutely loved it.' Those years on the paper also included assignments in the Middle East and south-east Asia. Kelly's book How Stormont Fell, an authoritative account of the dissolution of Northern Ireland's parliament, was published in 1972. Four years later, he moved to London, joining BBC Radio 4's The World Tonight as a reporter for a five-year stint. He was also a regular reporter on Woman's Hour in 1979-80 before leaving to present Game for a Laugh. 'My colleagues at Radio 4 thought I was mad when I moved to light entertainment,' he said. Nevertheless, he continued on Radio 4 to host the Midweek morning show (1982-83) and co-presented the second and third series of the BBC TV programme Food and Drink (1983-84). In 1983, he joined the ITV breakfast service TV-am during its first year, to take over the Saturday edition of Good Morning Britain from Michael Parkinson. He also sometimes presented the weekday show before leaving in 1987. Kelly's regular return to radio came with his shows on Classic FM in the 1990s – and there was a storm of complaints from listeners after his breakfast programme was handed over to Simon Bates. He went back to the station to host a Sunday morning show (2006-08) after a stint presenting the drivetime programme on LBC (2003-04), which returned him to his news roots. He also had his own mid-morning programme on BBC Radio Berkshire (2005-15). He and his partner, Karolyn Shindler, a former BBC producer, wrote a travel guide to Connemara, titled Henry Kelly in the West of Ireland with Karolyn Shindler, published in 1996. Kelly's marriage to his childhood sweetheart, Margery Conway, ended in divorce. He is survived by Karolyn, their son, Alexander, and a daughter, Siobhan, from his marriage. Patrick Henry Kelly, broadcaster and journalist, born 17 April 1946; died 25 February 2025
The Independent
26-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Henry Kelly: The Troubles journalist who became a household name on TV
Henry Kelly's long career brought him from reporting on the frontline of the Troubles in Northern Ireland to fame as a presenter of light entertainment shows Game for a Laugh and Going for Gold. The broadcaster, who has died at the age of 78, became known for his Irish charm as one of the most recognisable faces on TV during the 1980s. Born in Athlone in 1946, Kelly moved to Dublin as a child and studied at Belvedere College and later University College Dublin. He began his journalism career at the Irish Times while still a student, writing obituaries and theatre reviews while studying for an English degree. He became the paper's northern editor in 1970 at the height of the Troubles, after being initially sent to Northern Ireland on a week's holiday cover in 1969 as a reporter. Kelly spent four years covering the worst of the Troubles and authored the book 'How Stormont Fell'. His experiences in Northern Ireland were recalled in a legacy inquest in 2022 when a coroner made an appeal for him to come forward as a potential witness to a loyalist bomb attack in Belfast in 1972. The court was later told he was unable to assist the process. His daughter Siobhan told the Irish Times that the years he spent covering Northern Ireland were among the proudest of his career. She said: 'He always held the Irish Times very firmly in his heart and was very proud of the work he did in Northern Ireland and the time he spent there. 'I think probably looking back that was his proudest time.' Kelly joined the BBC in 1976, working as a reporter and presenter for Radio 4's The World Tonight. However, his next move was to take him in an entirely different direction. Following the lead of Irish stars Terry Wogan and Eamonn Andrews, he switched to presenting light entertainment TV shows. LWT's Saturday night vehicle Game for a Laugh, which revolved around a series of practical jokes, regularly pulled in huge television audiences of more than 17 million and launched the presenting careers of Kelly, Jeremy Beadle and Matthew Kelly. Kelly later hosted TV-am before attaining cult status when presenting the daytime BBC quiz show Going for Gold for a decade. The show pitted contestants from across Europe against each other to win a grand prize. Later, Kelly, who had a lifelong love of classical music, was one of the original presenters on Classic FM, hosting its breakfast show for a number of years in the 1990s where his horse racing tips proved popular with listeners. In 1998 he wrote the book 'Classic FM – Musical Anecdotes'. Kelly was also to present radio shows on LBC and BBC London. In 2004 he declared himself bankrupt after suffering financial troubles over several years. His daughter Siobhan told the Irish Times that her father retained his interest in current affairs until his death. She said: 'Right till the very last minute, his mind was as sharp as anything, his fascination with current affairs never diminished. 'We were talking about rugby and Ukraine last Sunday – he was thrilled to have seen Ireland win the Triple Crown on Saturday.' He watched it with his son Alex. Henry Kelly is survived by his partner Karolyn Shindler, his son Alex, his daughter Siobhan and her mother Marjorie.
