Latest news with #KeysToMyLife
Extra.ie
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Brendan Courtney looking forward to new country escape after brutal attack
TV presenter Brendan Courtney is looking forward to getting the keys to his new life down the country as he moves on from a horrific assault. In February, the popular broadcaster bravely shared details of the attack on RTÉ's Liveline, saying he was left 'completely shaken' after the incident near his home in Dublin city centre. But speaking to this weekend as he looks forward to 'a more simple life' in his new rural idyll, Courtney said he is 'doing a lot better', adding: 'It is what it is. I'm getting on with life. You can't let these things beat you.' Brendan Courtney. Pic: File The Dubliner revealed that builders are now putting the finishing touches on his new Wicklow home. 'I'm just at the snag list stage now, so nearly ready to move bag and baggage,' he said. Courtney's move from the capital to the Garden County will be life-changing, and the fashion designer and former Off The Rails host insists he won't be bringing his whole caboodle of clothing collections with him. Brendan Courtney. Pic: Instagram 'No, not so many bags. I'm streamlining. I'm moving to the countryside for a more simple life,' he stressed. The presenter said he is just about to put his city-centre penthouse pad up for sale. 'I'm just packing everything up, and there will be a few bits and bobs to be done. Then I'll be putting it on the market,' he told Brendan Courtney. Pic: Brian McEvoy But while he is looking forward to starting afresh in Wicklow, Courtney said leaving his native Dublin will be a bittersweet farewell. 'Don't get me wrong, I had a great time in town. It's just time to move on,' he said. 'But sure I'm only down the road, and I'm back up for work in RTÉ.' Speaking of moving on, Courtney is looking forward to returning to our television screens for the latest series of Keys To My Life. 'I have [TV presenter and broadcaster] Gloria Hunniford this season. I just filmed with her. She is 85 and she still works on Loose Women and other types of shows. She is such an impressive woman.' Courtney is among those rumoured to be in the frame to take over as Liveline host after Joe Duffy's announcement last week that he is stepping away from the live mic next month. He said that, while he is 'still filling in on various [RTÉ] shows' and that 'I really, really do love radio', he has not put 'my name forward' as a potential candidate to replace Duffy. But recalling an incident over the past week, he added: 'I was in traffic the other day and there was a group of women in the car beside me, and they rolled down the window and said: 'You're our favourite to take over from Joe – we think you'd be deadly at the job.' See, that's what I love about my city, and that's the type of thing I'll miss,' he laughed.
The Irish Sun
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
RTE star shares exclusive glimpse inside ‘incredible' bungalow revamp as fans say it's a ‘little bit of heaven'
RTE star Brendan Courtney has shared an exclusive look inside his "incredible" bungalow revamp. The Keys To My Life host recently purchased a Advertisement 4 Brendan Courtney has shown off his beautiful Wicklow home 4 Brendan has completely refurbished the old 80s pad 4 Brendan showcased the jaw-dropping kitchen and garden area The 53-year-old has since been posting exclusive updates on the home transformation on his social media . Today, the popular presenter took to showcase his amazing new kitchen area. In a short clip, Brendan stood outside in his back garden to reveal the beautiful olive toned glass double doors that opened up to show off inside the home. Advertisement READ MORE IN BRENDAN COURTNEY The star has the double doors fully opened to reveal a stunning modern kitchen with quirky wooden furniture and marble flooring. Brendan told followers that it was the "first time" he had opened the sliding door since they were finished. The area outside the doors was filled with limestone chippings and a gorgeous garden table set. The Dublin native then brought the camera inside to show off the kitchen in more detail. Advertisement MOST READ IN THE IRISH SUN The small kitchen had cream counter tops, a light grey backsplash and a pine wood pantry. Brendan was delighted to show off his very own Lennon & Courtney homeware designs on his kitchen table. Brendan Courtney shares health update The designer revealed two vibrant salad bowls made from a dark wood and joked: "My very own Lennon & Courtney design, 20 per cent off right now guys." He then stepped outside to give fans a closer look at his fantastic sea side view. Advertisement Behind his garden was the glistening sea and people out enjoying a walk along the beach. 'ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS' Fans couldn't help but gush over Brendan's amazing new pad as they took to the comments. Blathnaid wrote: "What a job! Looks incredible." Annette gushed: "This is just beautiful." Advertisement Fiona said: "Absolutely gorgeous Brendan fair play to you." Lorene added: "Wow that is stunning. Lovely space with that lovely view in the background." And Amy remarked: "A little bit of heaven, enjoy your beautiful surroundings." 4 Brendan showed off his fabulous kitchen area Advertisement
The Irish Sun
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
‘It's terrifying and full of shame', says RTE's Brendan Courtney as he opens up on ‘harrowing' diagnosis for first time
RTE star Brendan Courtney has opened up on his OCD diagnosis of the first time on air. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, commonly referred to as 2 Brendan Courtney was diagnosed with OCD in his 20s Credit: RTE 2 Brendan has said the mental health condition is 'harrowing' Credit: Instagram It can be so debilitating that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has ranked OCD among the top ten when it comes to the most disabling illnesses of any kind - in terms of lost earnings and lessened quality of life. David Monaghan, who developed OCD at 11 but didn't get diagnosed until 23, wrote a play about the mental illness called I Wouldn't Mind Control. He spoke to Brendan about the anxiety disorder on "But then as I got a bit older it morphed into something more distressing, that's when I started to develop intrusive thoughts." read more on brendan courtney Brendan revealed that he also struggles with the condition. The Keys To My Life star said: "I feel very confident having this conversation with you because I was diagnosed with OCD when I was 25 and I started washing my hands when I was six and became obsessed. "I've been through a big process. I'm delighted to have this conversation with you because I've never spoken about it really." Speaking about his horrific symptoms, Brendan added: "I didn't get intrusive thoughts until later in life and I could go and read about it because it's terrifying. Most read in News TV "Whatever the bizarre thought is, the next thought is, 'Oh my god why did I just have that thought', and then you spiral." David replied: "And I think that's what causes the stress is that there's this disconnect between who you know you are and what your head is telling you. RTE's Brendan Courtney in A&E after 'punched to ground' & 'kicked in head' in Dublin street attack "People with OCD are as logical as rational as anyone else. But they're constantly being bombarded with these thoughts and there's almost like this nebulous illogic kind of guiding them." Brendan added: "I found OCD appears after very stressful times or during very stressful times. So you're logical, but your emotional ability to just discount the thought, you can't do that because you're stressed. "So you attach to this thought and then you feel really stupid. You feel really out of control." 'HARROWING' The Dublin native bravely spoke about his fear that he had as a young adult. He said: "It can be quite harrowing. It's not just your hands are dirty. My fear in my 20s was sharp objects, knives. "I couldn't look at knives or have knives in the house because my internal thoughts would then attach themselves to some harm. "And then I'm like, 'Why am I thinking that?', because I didn't feel like that." Brendan has learned how to "cope" with his distressing thoughts through counselling, therapy and books. What are the symptoms of OCD? OCD affects different people in different ways, but usually appears as a particular pattern of behaviours. These include four main steps: Obsession – where an unwanted, intrusive thought or urge repeatedly enters a person's mind. Anxiety – the unwanted obsession then provokes a feeling of intense anxiety or distress. Compulsion – as a result of feeling anxious, a person will carry out repetitive behaviours or mental acts that they feel driven to perform to better the situation. Temporary relief – the compulsion will offer temporarily relief to the OCD sufferer's anxiety - but the obsession soon returns, causing the cycle to begin again. While it is possible to just have obsessive thoughts or just have compulsions, most sufferers will contend with both. He explained: "It presents itself when I'm really stressed or when I've had a bereavement or something out of control. So I now have a good understanding. "But then you're afraid to say that even because it'll present somewhere else!" Brendan spoke about the floods of texts he received from listeners saying: "And I think you talking about this, we're getting lots of text from people who suffer from intrusive thoughts, it really opens up the conversation because it's so full of shame, isn't it?" David gave some advice for others as he added: "It is well, it's because the thoughts are stressful and if they're like me, then they would have spent a lot of time in the fog, not fully understanding what was happening. "But it's important to remember, you are not your thoughts. Thoughts are just thoughts and you are not alone."
