Latest news with #Laois
Irish Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Former Mayo star Oisín Mullin hails Kerry duo after signing new AFL contract
Oisín Mullin says that the Irish connection is key to his progress at Geelong Cats after signing a new contract with the AFL giants. The former Mayo star has been at the club since 2022 and has committed his future to them until 2027 having become a mainstay this season in particular. After making six AFL appearances in 2023 followed by 12 last year, Mullin has featured in 18 of their 19 games so far this season as the Cats sit in fourth place in the Premiership table with four games to go, leaving them in a strong position to contest the finals series. Laois native Zach Tuohy, who retired last year, was at the club when Mullin first joined, along with Kerry's Mark O'Connor, whose fellow countyman Cillian Burke is now on the books. 'Obviously the Cats have been known for having a great culture and when I was coming over there was Zach and Mark here as well so having that Irish connection was a big pull and a big factor in coming over here,' Mullin told the club's website. 'The two of them were very important in the journey from the get-go so yeah, it definitely had a big influence.' He continued: 'Zach, from the beginning, I worked with him a lot. Done a lot of kicking and stuff, his kick was obviously unbelievable. Mark as well, just nailing the skills and stuff like that, just chatting me through what it takes to keep developing. 'It takes a lot of patience as well, things aren't going to click from the get-go but obviously the off-field transition as well, Mark especially has been at the club… this is his ninth season and he's just been through that whole transition period just for tips, not just on the field but off the field as well and obviously getting Cillian to join this year has been great. 'He's a great personality to have around the club so I've been loving it with them.' Mullin has been handed greater responsibility in the side this year having been handed a key 'tagging' role. He added: 'It's an enjoyable role, it's a very cool experience getting to match up with some of the best in the game. Not something I thought I'd be doing this early in my career but it's definitely been very helpful, helping me to develop and it's nice to know the coaches have the confidence to back me in that role and attack the game.'
Irish Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Forest Fest 2025: stars align to send feelgood festival fans home happy
Jack L v Kerry v Donegal was always going to be a tough gig. As he took to the stage and his image also filled three giant screens, the All-Ireland football final on the two flanking the stage shrank to one corner so the fans watching the last 20 minutes huddled closer, rivalling those keen to see the Athy troubadour strut his stuff. It wasn't Donegal's day but Jack Lukeman more than held his own, aided by the Suso Gospel choir. Otherwise, it was all about the music at Forest Fest in the picturesque village of Emo in Co Laois , now in its fourth year and as established a part of the festival calendar as Electric Picnic up the road in Stradbally. Saturday was the biggest day in terms of crowds and star acts, but a magical performance from The Magic Numbers, building from melodic pop to ever more muscular rock, sent those watching home on a high, giving a satisfying sense of the best wine having been saved till last. Elsewhere, Qween on the main stage and in particular The Complete Stone Roses on the Fleadh stage also delivered blistering, crowd-pleasing sets. READ MORE Nick Lowe had set the bar high early with a solo set that proved once again what a fantastic songwriter he is. 'I was advised to keep things up tempo as it's a festival,' he said, 'but with just an acoustic guitar there has to be light and shade.' Caravaggio would have been jealous of the result. Franz Ferdinand at Forest Fest. Photograph: Brian Bastick Franz Ferdinand at Forest Fest. Photograph: Brian Bastick Tony Hadley is still looking good but the former Spandau Ballet sounds now like a cocktail singer, whereas Billy Bragg's music has matured and his politics are as relevant as ever. 'Sunday night is the perfect festival slot,' he told the crowd. Friday night, they were saving themselves; Saturday night they're too drunk; whereas last night they had lost all inhibitions. He told a funny story about meeting a woman in Boulder, Colorado before a gig, who asked the name of his band. When he told her, she said, there used to be a singer in the 1980s called Billy Bragg. It's a good yarn, and it captures a truth that festival founder Philip Meagher has capitalised on. Many great acts from the 1980s and 1990s are still around and appeal to a key demographic. There are some great up-and-coming acts as part of the mix, such as Pillow Queens and The Oars – but the core ingredients are proven, tried and tested. Travis at Forest Fest. Photograph: Brian Bastick A thrilling set from Manic Street Preachers on Saturday night was a huge highlight. Singer James Dean Bradfield led the Welsh band through a string of great songs, kicking off with Motorcycle Emptiness, in front of a capacity crowd. The Manics have had their share of misfortunes, most notably the loss of Richey Edwards, but the set is dedicated to another late colleague and their producer is standing in for their keyboard player who is ill. Perhaps this gives songs such as A Design for Life and You Stole the Sun from My Heart an edge others lack. They close with If You Tolerate This Your Children Will be Next, as three Palestinian flags are waved near the front of the crowd. 'This is the sound of Laois I've been looking forward to hearing,' says Franz Ferdinand frontman Alex Kapranos, fresh from Glastonbury, as their hit song Do you Want To is met with a roar of approval on a sunny Friday evening. Kapranos, as limber as a flamenco dancer, delivers a hit-filled set as shining as his black satin bomber jacket: Take Me Out, Hooked, Michael, Walk Away and This Fire were standouts. Tom Meighan at Forest Fest. Photograph: Brian Bastick If Franz Ferdinand are top-of the range glossy, The Dandy Warhols, who followed, are prestige matt, with fewer pyrotechnics but a set including hits Bohemian Like You and We Used to Be Friends that slowly builds to deliver a captivating soundscape, complemented by a powerful visual display on the screens behind. Something Happens had got the ball rolling earlier, Tom Dunne offering some sound advice: 'did you all take your medication before coming out today?' Other Friday highlights included Alabama 3's rendition of Woke up this Morning, the singers dressed like Pearly King and Queen, as a fan shinned her way up and swung from a pole in the Village Stage tent. A feature of the festival is its plethora of brilliant covers bands. Friday night closed with Live Forever Oasis, Daft Punk Tribute and Thin as Lizzy on three stages, while Walk the Line (Johnny Cash) and Qween closed on other nights. No complaints as they delivered some of the most crowd-pleasing sets. Standouts included Pogueology, The Classic Beatles, Neil Young tribute Harvest and superb Smiths act These Charming Men, who have graduated from the third to second stage and deserve a main stage slot next year. Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want. Peter Hook made a welcome return to the festival, and delivered a solid set, this time focused more on his time with New Order than Joy Division. He too was pleased with the crowd. 'You've made an old man very happy,' he said, responding to the adulation that greeted a strong finish featuring True Faith, Temptation, Blue Monday and Love Will Tear Us Apart. Sharon Shannon at Forest Fest. Photograph: Brian Bastick Earlier, Larne rockers had dedicated Die Laughing to the late Ozzy Osbourne. The Stranglers were rather downbeat, apart from Always the Sun, Peaches and the brilliant Golden Brown. It was curious to go from that song of heroin addiction to another delivered by an irrepressible Mary Coughlan, The Ice Cream Man (inspired by an Irish Times story she reads in a Galway pub, she said). Rather miscast on the Fleadh stage, she packed it out with songs as dark and sparkling as her runners. The Susu choir joined her on stage for a beautiful rendition of I Would Rather Go Blind, which she first heard aged 15 when stepping out with 'future president' Catherine Connolly 's brother. Her rousing rendition of Ride On is the best I've heard. The sound quality throughout was exceptional and overall the organisation was impeccable, but the stage timings irritatingly went half an hour awry on Saturday afternoon. Kula Shaker. Photograph: Brian Bastick This is a feelgood festival, attracting young and old and sending them home happy. The bands too. Teenage Fanclub singer Raymond McGinley can't help smiling as he delivers a joyous set, with Sparky's Dream and What You Do to Me standouts. The Riptide Movement, headlining the second stage on Saturday night, caught the mood with the glorious closer All Works Out. 'Tomorrow's a new day.' Here's to next year.
Belfast Telegraph
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Belfast Telegraph
My money: ‘I got my car on a PCP – so basically I'm renting a rapidly depreciating couch that moves'
Bernard O'Shea is a comedian, writer, and broadcaster. The Laois native made his name on the satirical sketch RTÉ show Republic of Telly and its spin-off series Bridget & Eamon, in which he and Jennifer Zamparelli played an unhappily married couple living in the Midlands in the 1980s, with their six-to-eight children. The pair then reunited as co-hosts on 2FM's Breakfast Republic, with Keith Walsh.
Extra.ie
3 days ago
- Business
- Extra.ie
Punter wakes up €107K richer after Saturday night win
One Wicklow playing is waking up €100,000 richer this Sunday morning following a big win in Saturday night's National Lottery draw. The lucky punter has secured €107,032 after they matched five numbers and the bonus in the draw. The winning ticket was bought on the day from Applegreen Arklow, Wexford Road, Arklow, Co Wicklow. One Wicklow playing is waking up €100,000 richer this Sunday morning following a big win in Saturday night's main Lotto draw. Pic: ChrisDorney/Shutterstock Saturday (July 26)'s winning Lotto numbers were 12, 19. 24, 32, 35, 36 and the bonus number was 22. There was no winner of the Lotto jackpot of €12,781,699 on the night, however, there were more than 101,000 winners across both the Lotto and Lotto Plus draws. National Lottery spokesperson Darragh O'Leary said it was a 'fantastic' night with one Wicklow player claiming a 'life-changing' sum. Saturday (July 26)'s winning Lotto numbers were 12, 19. 24, 32, 35, 36 and the bonus number was 22. Pic: Getty Images He said: 'If you bought your ticket in Wicklow, now's the time to double-check, you could be Ireland's newest big winner.' The National Lottery is urging all players in the Wicklow area to check their tickets carefully and if you're holding the winning ticket, be sure to contact the National Lottery prize claims team on 1800 666 222 or email claims@ to arrange collection. It comes not long after one of Ireland's latest millionaire detailed his plans for his Daily Millions win. The National Lottery is urging all players in the Wicklow area to check their tickets carefully and if you're holding the winning ticket, be sure to contact the National Lottery prize claims team on 1800 666 222 or email claims@ to arrange collection. Pic: hxyume/Getty Images Last week, a Laois man became Ireland's fifth Daily Millions millionaire of the year after picking up a life-changing €1m prize in the 9pm draw on Friday, July 18. The winning numbers at the 9pm Daily Millions draw on Friday, July 18 were 9, 20, 25, 33, 37, 39 and the bonus was 29. Speaking to the National Lottery, the lucky Laois man said: 'I am delighted with this win. I'm looking forward to being able to share the win with my family. 'I have a strong work ethic so my goal is to be sensible with the win, pursue some business interests, but also enjoy more time for myself and with my family.'
Irish Times
4 days ago
- Irish Times
MMA fighter Charlie Ward (44) and co-accused face trial over Garda corruption offences
Former MMA fighter Charlie Ward has been returned for trial accused of corruption offences involving 'confidential' Garda information and helping to pervert the course of justice. The mixed martial artist (44) of Acragar, Mountmellick, and co-accused Noel Carroll (57) of Ballyfinn Road, Portlaoise, both Co Laois, appeared at Dublin District Court on Friday when the gardaí served them with books of evidence. It follows a probe by the anti-corruption unit , and the Director of Public Prosecutions had also directed trial on indictment. Judge Gerard Jones granted an order sending them forward for trial to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, which has wider sentencing powers and where the case will be listed for mention on October 16th. READ MORE The defendants, who have yet to enter a plea, did not address the court and were warned by the judge to notify the prosecution within 14 days if they intend to use an alibi. Gardaí must also furnish the defence with copies of interview videos. Legal aid was granted. Earlier, Det Sgts Paul Dowling and Kieran Kilcoyne said the two men 'made no reply' when charged. The pair face charges contrary to section 5 of the 2018 Criminal Justice (Corruption Offences) Act regarding requests for information concerning three men. According to the court documents, on March 2nd, 2022, at an unknown location in the State, both men corruptly requested a gift, consideration or advantage on account of a named garda requesting that confidential information relating to another person be obtained and disclosed. [ Man charged with assault at IPAS centre ordered not to incite hate on social media Opens in new window ] Mr Ward is accused of the same type of offence on February 28th 2022, about Garda information on a second male. Another charge states that on the previous day, Mr Ward corruptly offered the same officer an inducement for doing an act in relation to his employment as a member of An Garda Síochána. [ Kinahan crime boss ordered to pay back £1 million or face more jail time Opens in new window ] Mr Ward is also accused of an offence under section 7 of the Criminal Law Act 1997. This alleges that between October 15th-17th, 2019, when another person committed an arrestable offence, namely, perverting the course of justice, that he 'did aid, abet, counsel or procure the commission of this offence'. It is alleged that on January 26th, 2022, at an unknown location, Mr Carroll corruptly requested a gift consideration or advantage on account of the garda seeking confidential information about a search operation at the home of a third named man.
