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Irish Daily Mirror
10-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Oasis Croke Park: Explained - The deep Irish heritage of Liam and Noel Gallagher
Oasis are set to hit the stage in Dublin's Croke Park on August 16 and 17 in front of an excited sold-out crowd on both nights. Ahead of the gigs, their deep Irish roots, shaped by summers in Mayo and Meath and lifelong family bonds, have been explored by Irish Heritage, who traced back the Gallagher brothers' deep Irish genealogy. Born in Manchester to Irish Catholic working-class parents, the Gallagher brothers are the sons of Margaret 'Peggy' Sweeney from Charlestown, Co. Mayo and Thomas 'Tommy' Gallagher from Duleek, Co. Meath. In the early 1960s, Peggy Sweeney and Tommy Gallagher were among thousands of Irish emigrants who moved to Manchester, drawn by a boom in the city's construction industry. Liam Gallagher and his mother, Peggy The pair met for the first time in Manchester. Peggy and Tommy's first child was Paul, followed by Noel, born on 29 May, 1967 and then William 'Liam' on 21 September, 1972. The Gallagher family lived in a council estate and were part of Manchester's vibrant working-class Irish community. Several of Peggy's sisters and brothers also settled in the same part of Manchester, creating a tight-knit family network. The boys attended Catholic schools and Noel even played Gaelic football in his teenage years. Their marriage was troubled and Tommy left the family when the boys were still young, becoming estranged from his children in later years. Tommy Gallagher, father of Noel and Liam (Image: Matthew Pover) Growing up, Noel and Liam's mother was the central figure in their lives and the strongest influence in shaping their Irish sense of identity. A spokesman for Irish Heritage said: 'All the individuals we researched in Noel and Liam's family tree were Roman Catholic. 'Certain lines on both the maternal and paternal sides of the family can be traced back to the rockstar brothers' great-great-great-grandparents. 'Most of Liam and Noel's ancestors on the maternal side of the family tree were from the Charlestown and Swinford areas of east Mayo. A number of them spoke Irish in addition to English. 'The surname Sweeney, along with its variants MacSweeny, MacSwiney and Swiney, derives from the Irish Mac Suibhne. 'Historically linked with the Scottish Gallowglasses who settled in Co. Donegal, it is now a common name throughout Ireland, particularly in Cork and Kerry.' "William 'Bill' Sweeney was Noel and Liam Gallagher's maternal grandfather. In 1938, he married Margaret O'Brien in Charlestown's parish church in Co. Mayo. At the time, William was living in Ballaghaderreen in Co. Roscommon and working as a labourer. "Together, William and Margaret established their home in the countryside near Charlestown, raising a family of 11 children. "William predeceased his wife. His father, Patrick Sweeney, was a farmer – he was Noel and Liam's great-grandfather. 'Research into this branch of the Gallagher family tree is ongoing.' "Noel and Liam Gallagher's maternal grandmother, Margaret Sweeney née O'Brien, was born on 29 October 1920 in Ballydrum townland, south of Charlestown. Noel Gallagher on stage at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff. Picture date: Friday July 4, 2025 (Image: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire) 'She was a twin and arrived into this world 30 minutes before her younger sister Bridget. 'Their other siblings included Mary (b.1911), Anne (b.1912), Anthony (b.1913), Ellen (b.1915), Catherine (b.1919), Daniel (b.1921) and Frances (b.1923). 'In 1938, at just 17 years old, Margaret married William Sweeney, but the marriage record incorrectly states she was of 'full' age, implying she was 21 years or over. 'She was then living in the townland of Mullenmadoge, between Charlestown and Swinford. "Margaret passed away in 2000, just shy of her 80th birthday, in her 19th-century house in the townland of Sonnagh on the Swinford side of Charlestown.' At the height of their fame, Noel and Liam attended their grandmother's funeral in Charlestown, where they were left alone to mourn in peace, surrounded by family. On the paternal side of the family tree, Noel and Liam's ancestors were primarily based in and around the towns of Duleek and Slane in Co. Meath. In 2007, the Gallagher clan set a Guinness world record in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, for the largest gathering of people with the same surname. Six years' later, organisers in Gortahork, Co. Donegal, invited Noel and Liam Gallagher to another record-breaking attempt. While thousands of Gallaghers showed up, the rockstar brothers didn't attend and Guinness refused to officially recognise the attempt. The Gallagher roots of these global superstars, however, lie in Co. Meath and as kids, Noel and Liam spent many summer holidays in Duleek, their father's hometown. According to Geneastar, their paternal grandfather, William Gallagher, was born in Duleek in 1914. William married Frances Anne 'Annie' McKeown in 1942 in the church of St Michael Kill in Summerhill, Co. Meath. The couple lived in the townland of Downestown, just outside Duleek, where William worked as a labourer and later as a woodworker. But his life was cut short when he died in 1960 at the young age of 45 – before his rockstar grandsons were even born. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week
Irish Post
26-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Post
Irish Heritage hosts its annual summer concert
THE IRISH Heritage Summer Concert took place in the beautiful surroundings of Leighton House in Holland Park, London. The evening attracted a large attendance and featured performances from flautist Sinead Walsh, pianists Georgina Cassidy and Alfred Fardell, tenor Owen Lucas and violist Eve Quigley. Tenor Owen Lucas (Pics: Malcolm McNally Photography) Irish Heritage is a registered charity whose objective is to advance public education and appreciation of the arts, particularly those of Irish and Anglo-Irish music, arts, literature and drama to the benefit of the community. The next Irish Heritage event in the calendar is a collaboration with the London Yeats Society celebrating the era of William Butler Yeats with an evening of poems and music on October 22. Click here for more information. Scroll down for more pictures from the event... Flautist Sinead Walsh is pictured centre with her mother Catherine and Hannah Seymour (Pics: Malcolm McNally Photography) Pianist Georgina Cassidy and flautist Sinead Walsh (Pics: Malcolm McNally Photography) Irish Heritage committee members Isobel and Margaret Parkinson are pictured with Frances Connolly (Pics: Malcolm McNally Photography) Irish Heritage Chairperson Jim Kirby is pictured with his wife Adelaide and Mary Wilson Mary's parents Ethna and Charles Kennedy founded Irish Heritage in 1974 Irish Heritage Artistic Administrator Tara Viscardi is pictured with Paul Malin and Ruben Padilla (Pics: Malcolm McNally Photography) Helen Holmes, Rosemary Phillips and Irish Heritage Trustee Mary (Pics: Malcolm McNally Photography) See More: Irish Heritage, Summer Concert
BreakingNews.ie
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BreakingNews.ie
Lord Henry Mount Charles of Slane Castle dies aged 74
The death has been announced of Lord Henry Mount Charles, the 74-year-old custodian of Slane Castle in Co Meath, following a 'long and valiant battle with cancer.' A statement issued on behalf of his family announced the peaceful passing of the Marquess Conyngham on Wednesday evening. Advertisement '(He was) a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and custodian of Slane Castle, Lord Henry's courage, and unwavering spirit inspired all who knew him. "Lord Henry leaves behind an extraordinary legacy as a passionate steward of Ireland's heritage, dedicating his life to preserving Slane Castle and transforming it into a beacon of culture, music, and community. "His visionary leadership and generosity touched countless lives, while his warmth, humour, and resilience endeared him to friends, colleagues, and admirers across generations.' The family also expressed their 'heartfelt gratitude' to the exceptional staff at St James's Hospital as well as the many caregivers who supported Lord Henry with compassion over the last decade. They are also 'deeply moved' by the outpouring of public kindness and solidarity during this difficult journey. Advertisement 'As they navigate this time of loss, the family kindly requests privacy to grieve and reflect on Lord Henry's remarkable life. Funeral arrangements will remain private. "Lord Henry's light will continue to shine through the lives he enriched and the enduring contributions he made to Ireland's cultural landscape. He will be profoundly missed, but never forgotten." Meanwhile, an RTÉ documentary on the life of Lord Henry titled 'A Lord in Slane : Henry Mountcharles' aired last December. It depicted his work at Slane Castle and in particular his achievement in making Slane the premier outdoor concert venue in the country. The first ever Slane rock concert saw Thin Lizzy and U2 headline the legendary rock and roll venue in 1981. Other acts who have performed at Slane include David Bowie, Queen, The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, and REM.
Irish Times
29-05-2025
- General
- Irish Times
Respecting the National Anthem
I wish to express my concern regarding a growing trend I've noticed at GAA matches – the apparent disregard for our national anthem, Amhrán na bhFiann. The national anthem is a powerful symbol of our identity, history, and unity. It deserves the utmost respect, especially in the context of GAA games, which are rooted in Irish culture and pride. However, in recent times, I've observed players leaving their positions or beginning warm-ups well before the final lines of the anthem are sung. While their eagerness to begin the match may be understandable, this behaviour comes across as dismissive and disrespectful. As the GAA is not just a sporting body but also a custodian of Irish heritage, it should take the lead in promoting proper respect for the anthem. One practical suggestion could be to introduce a mandatory two-minute pause between the end of Amhrán na bhFiann and the start of play. This would give players and supporters a moment to compose themselves and by doing so honour the anthem appropriately. READ MORE Respecting our anthem should not be seen as a formality, but as a small yet significant gesture of national pride. I'd like to see the GAA lead by example. – Yours, etc, KEVIN O'REGAN Clonakilty Co Cork
Irish Times
23-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Five Irish locations selected to become ‘global home of Halloween'
Five locations around the country have been selected to receive funding under Fáilte Ireland's new Home of Halloween Pilot Destination Development Scheme. A total of €1.5 million will be invested over the next three years as part of the project, which aims to establish Ireland as the 'authentic global home of Halloween'. It invited local authorities to apply for funding to create a new season for Halloween festivals 'rooted in local culture, folklore, and community engagement'. Each successful destination will receive up to €100,000 annually to develop Halloween-themed festivals that celebrate Ireland's heritage and attract visitors during the offpeak season. READ MORE The successful local authorities are Galway City Council; Longford County Council and Westmeath County Council (joint project); Meath County Council and Louth County Council (joint project); Kerry County Council; and Fingal County Council. The projects are expected to attract 270,000 additional visitors over three years, generating €17 million for local economies, and supporting over 500 direct and indirect jobs. Orla Carroll, director of product development at Fáilte Ireland, said: 'The successful applicants showed real potential to deliver a season of vibrant, authentic festivals. 'This scheme fosters partnerships between councils, tourism businesses, and cultural groups, helping to build a sustainable Halloween tourism offering across the regions of Ireland that will resonate with domestic and international visitors and support long-term tourism development in these five destinations.' The new scheme is aiming to build on the Púca Festival co-developed by Fáilte Ireland and Meath County Council in 2019, which attracts tens of thousands of people. The festival welcomed 49,050 attendees last year, delivering €7.11 million in economic impact, and supporting 174 jobs.
