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The Irish Sun
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
RTE star who's ‘closest thing to Gay Byrne' tipped as next Late Late Show host if Patrick Kielty doesn't renew contract
RTE star Oliver Callan is an early front-runner to take over as host of The Late Late Show from Patrick Kielty. The top chat show job will become available if 4 Patrick Kielty is approaching the last year of his three-year deal as Late Late Show host 4 Oliver Callan is the early front-runner to become the next Late Late Show host 4 Patrick took over the role from former host Ryan Tubridy The Co Down man will be in the last year of his three-year deal when the programme resumes in September. Patrick, married to And whatever he decides, Montrose insiders believe comedian Callan, 44, could be a possible contender to host the One told READ MORE ON LATE LATE SHOW 'Oliver can talk about the 'If Patrick hasn't made up his mind about renewing his contract, RTE have the perfect Late Late host in the wings.' His stint is nearly two months shorter than the previous host, Asked what he planned to do when his €250,000-a-year Late Late deal runs out next year, Kielty told us last July: "Renewing my contract is something I hadn't thought about. Most read in The Irish Sun "I love doing the show and if there was a chance to keep doing it, it would be nice but you are not in charge of these things and you never know what happens in the world of entertainment." The TV presenter also has to consider wife Cat's career — with the 48-year-old now a co-host of RTE viewers in stitches at John Giles' cheeky one-word answer to Patrick Kielty on The Late Late Show And A station insider told us: 'Patrick got RTE through the Ryan Tubridy scandal. They are very grateful to him for that. But Oliver is on the rise.' 'EXTREMELY FORTUNATE' RTE told The Irish Sun they are 'extremely fortunate' to have Patrick as the Late Late's host, adding: 'We look forward to another great season with him at the helm.' The station said that the 30 episodes of The Late Late Show from September 13, 2024, to May 9, 2025 had an average audience of 390,000, with an audience share of 37 per cent. That's down on the previous year when 28 episodes of The Late Late Show from September 15, 2023, to April 19, 2024, which had an average audience of 442,000 and an audience share of 39 per cent. RADIO RISE Separately, New JNLR figures released this month showed The Nob Nation star now has 355,000 listeners on his 4 Callan has been described as the closest thing to Gay Byrne RTE has ever had Credit: Instagram / @olivercallanshow
Sunday World
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sunday World
Jay-Z once tipped Christy Moore $50 after he mistook him for a doorman
The pair crossed paths at a music festival in Kildare American rapper Jay-Z once tipped Irish music legend Christy Moore $50 after he once mistook him for a doorman. A New York Times article about the singer-songwriter, details the encounter which took place at Oxegen festival in Kildare, in 2011. The article explains how 'an older gentleman - bald, barrel-chested, in a black T-shirt' held the door to the V.I.P entrance open for the couple. 'Sweeping past, Jay-Z pressed a $50 bill into the man's hands, assuming he was a staff member or security, unaware he'd just tipped Ireland's most beloved living musician, Christy Moore.' Jay Z / Christy Moore (Getty Images) News in 90 Seconds - May 22nd Moore was at the festival as a surprise guest of headliners Coldplay, who closed out the final night. Before their performance, Jay Z's wife Beyoncé had just played the main stage as the second-to-last act of the weekend. The article went on to describe how Moore appeared on stage to the cheers of 60,000 fans, after Coldplay singer Chris Martin dubbed him a childhood hero. 'Moore had returned home after a long celebrated career… he'd become an icon, a national treasure, but a man still easily mistaken for the help.' The famous New York newspaper celebrated Moore, who recently turned 80, by featuring a host of Irish celebrities. 'Irish people see themselves in Christy,' Late Late host Patrick Kielty said. 'Part of it is because he does look like he could be the doorman at the venue. 'If you saw Christy behind a wheelbarrow, you'd think that looks right,' he continued. 'But when you see him with a guitar, you go, no, that looks better. And when you hear him sing, you know that's what he was meant to do.' U2 star The Edge added: 'Christy occupies a very rarefied part of Irish culture preserved for those who are trusted to speak of, from and for the Irish people. 'It's an almost priestly role, but one he handles without ever becoming pompous or taking himself too seriously.'
The Irish Sun
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Shock moment Jay-Z & Beyonce mistook Irish music icon for ‘doorman' at Oxygen festival & tipped singer $50 revealed
AMERICAN rapper Jay-Z once mistook Irish singer Christy Moore for a doorman at the Oxegen festival and tipped him $50, it has emerged. Ireland's most famous musician turned 80th this month but according to high profile piece published by the New York Times this week, Jay- Z and wife Beyonce presumed Christy was a security man when he opened a door for them backstage. 2 The celebs mistook Christy for a doorman Credit: Getty - Contributor 2 US superstar couple Jay-Z and Beyonce Credit: Getty Images - Getty The New York Times wrote how hours later the But earlier the piece details how 'pop's starriest power couples — Writes the New York Times: 'Sweeping past, Jay-Z pressed a $50 bill into the man's hands, assuming he was a staff member or security — unaware he'd just tipped Ireland's most beloved living musician, Christy Moore'. Late Late host READ MORE ON SHOWBIZ Patrick added: 'Part of it is because he does look like he could be the doorman at the you saw Christy behind a wheelbarrow, you'd think that looks right. 'But when you see him with a guitar, you go, no, that looks better. And when you hear him sing, you know that's what he was meant to do.' Chisty's 25th studio LP, 'A Terrible Beauty', debuted at No. 1 in the Irish charts last year, beating off competition from The Edge of Most read in Music 'It's an almost priestly role, but one he handles without ever becoming pompous or taking himself too seriously.' 'MOORE IS A RARITY' The US paper remarked 'in a music business perennially in thrall to the latest tech and trends, Moore is a rarity'. Christy said: 'I've not been on a plane for 25 years, not been on a ferry for five...I don't engage closely with social media. I use an old Nokia. I've been on the road since 1966, and yet my audience seems to get younger as I grow older.' Christy credits his incredible popularity with fans of all ages is down to the pandemic in 2020, when he filmed a series of online 'Lockdown Sessions' performances, ushering in a new wave of fans.
Extra.ie
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
‘Take Eurovision away from Late Late' says former winner
After another disappointing showing at the Eurovision for Ireland, former winner Paul Harrington believes it is time to decouple the selection process from The Late Late Show. Despite a wretched recent history at the competition, with Bambie Thug's top 10 finish last year the outlier, the Irish delegation has stuck with the formula of parading the hopefuls on a one-off edition of the Late Late. Many other countries use a more drawn-out process, centred on songwriting festivals and/or culminating in arena performances. Former Eurovision winner Paul Harrington. Pic: File The man who won for Ireland alongside Charlie McGettigan with Rock 'n' Roll Kids in 1994 told 'I think they should take it away from the Late Late.' Harrington said he would prefer to see a national song contest with more fanfare around the buildup leading to a 'big night' in a larger venue than RTÉ Studio 4. 'Get people behind it, create a buzz around it and bring people into it,' he said. 'Bigger awareness campaigns – let's see faces on buses and let's go mad.' Paul Harrington and Charlie McGettigan won the Eurovision for Ireland in 1994. Pic: BSR Agency/Gentle Look via Getty Images) Harrington, who played his show The Lyric's The Thing in a sold-out National Concert Hall this week, said the 'only thing going for' the current selection process is that the Late Late 'bring the artist on a couple of times [after they've been selected] and they give you a good build-up.' The current selection format came in for special criticism this year from some of those who weren't chosen, namely Samantha Mumba. The Dublin singer complained that the panel of pundits was too scathing in their critiques and unqualified for the task, prompting Donal Skehan – best known as a TV chef – to publicly defend his pop credentials. Harrington said he had no qualms with the selection of Emmy and her song Laika Party, enjoying 'that whole story about the Russian dog and all that jazz' and considered it the best of a mediocre bunch.
Extra.ie
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Man thought his abuser was dead until he saw 'Daffodil man' on the Late Late Show
On an ordinary Friday night, Rory Patchell was sitting at home watching the Late Late Show with his wife when he was stunned to see his childhood abuser 'on a pedestal' on his television screen. Until then, he had suppressed memories of the sexual abuse he had endured as a child in the 1980s, at the hands of his scout master who he thought was now dead. In an exclusive interview with Mr Patchell reveals that it was at that moment he first told his wife of his childhood torment. A file image of James Gilleran during a launch for the Irish Cancer Society's Daffodil Day campaign in 2018. Pic: Collins 'My wife never knew about it, but when he appeared on telly… it's not something I could hide. In my mind he was buried away. All of a sudden, he's on the telly.' James Gilleran, 70, better known as 'Daff Man' – a mascot for the Irish Cancer Society (ICS) for decades – was jailed for two years this week for the historical sexual abuse of three boys. Gilleran, of Parkview Court, Blackhorse Avenue, Cabra, Dublin 7, pleaded guilty to five counts of indecent assault on dates between 1983 and 1987. As 'Daff Man', he had gained a level of fame – he was wheeled out before the media, pictured alongside taoisigh and widely praised for his fundraising work for the charity. James Gilleran on the Late Late Show. Pic: RTE That saw him invited onto the Late Late Show in 2021 for a special programme celebrating the Irish Cancer Society. That appearance prompted Mr Patchell, now 52, to contact the charity, which reported Gilleran to gardaí and Tusla, ultimately leading to his imprisonment this week. After years of hiding in plain sight, Gilleran finally faced justice for his disgusting crimes. Mr Patchell describes seeing the abuser he believed to be long-dead glorified on one of Ireland's most popular TV programmes. He said: 'When I saw him on the Late Late, the first thing I said was: 'I thought he was dead.' It was total shock from there on in and anger and every emotion. A file image of James Gilleran during a launch for the Irish Cancer Society's Daffodil Day campaign in 2018. Pic: Collins 'I don't remember what he said or did on the show. Seeing him was enough to realise he wasn't dead. I left Dublin a long time ago so when you see him up there, put on a pedestal, it's a shock,' Mr Patchell said. 'Not too many people get onto the Late Late unless you're being celebrated as a good person. That's what he was known as for years. He fooled everybody. Some people have a complex where they start to think 'I've overcome this', thinking they got away with it.' He added: 'I got onto the Cancer Society on the following Monday to speak to them and they had to tell the gardaí and then the gardaí contacted me further down the line about the investigation.' The court heard Gilleran had one previous conviction for the sexual assault of a boy in a cerebral palsy clinic, and was sentenced to four years in 1997, which was reduced to two years on appeal. The Irish Cancer Society told it became aware of his past only last week, when it emerged in court. After the Late Late Show appearance, Mr Patchell, along with Stephen Devlin and Greg Stafford, went on to make formal complaints to gardaí that Gilleran had sexually abused them while he was a scout leader of 117th Francis Street Scout Group during the 1980s. The three men waived their anonymity so as to allow Gilleran to be named. Mr Patchell said: 'If you looked him up online before this week you would've just seen Daffodil Man and you wouldn't have found out about the 1997 crime. Now there are names there, and people know what he did. Not only with my name and Stephen and Greg, but now other people know that it's safe to come forward. 'I don't think a two-year sentence for him is enough for what he did. It should be more like 22 years, but the important thing is that he can't hide from this now,' he added. 'He's guilty and he can't be anonymous and then all of a sudden turn up at another charitable organisation. He could have gone to prison for two years and come out and no one would have known. His name is James Gilleran and you can find him. 'If it helps other people contact the gardaí, then it's worth doing. We're all grown men now with families, and we've done nothing wrong.' Sentencing him on Tuesday, Judge Orla Crowe described Gilleran's offending as a 'gross violation of children'. She noted Gilleran had subjected them to 'predatory behaviour', including exposing them to alcohol and pornography. 'The impact is still felt to this day by these injured parties.' The Irish Cancer Society said it was 'shocked to learn that someone who fundraised for the society perpetrated such crimes'. A spokeswoman said they were contacted after the Late Late Show appearance, and had been 'made aware of allegations against Mr Gilleran'. She said: 'We promptly reported these allegations to An Garda Síochána, Tusla and Scouting Ireland.' Gilleran's work with the ICS 'related solely to fundraising in public places and media work', the ICS said. 'At no point would he have had unsupervised access to children or vulnerable people in such a role.' 'Fundraising and media volunteers are not Garda-vetted as their work does not meet the criteria for vetting with the National Garda Vetting Bureau. We were not aware of his previous convictions until the court reporting this week.' In one 2016 interview, Gilleran estimated that he had collected around €45,000 for the Irish Cancer Society since he began volunteering 'over 20 years ago'. Mr Patchell believes that if there had been more publicity about Gilleran's first conviction, it would have prevented him from becoming famous as a charitable character around Dublin. 'Everyone has the right to do what they see fit, but we were shocked that he had been convicted for this same crime previously and nobody knew anything about it until sentencing at the end of April,' he said. When asked his views on Mr Gilleran representing the Irish Cancer Society in the media, having already been convicted of a child sex abuse crime, Mr Patchell was sympathetic to the charity's situation. 'The time when it happened was different with Garda vetting. Was there even such a thing back then?' he asked. 'You can blame so many people for so many parts of it, but he was the face of the Irish Cancer Society for so long and no one ever came out. 'He was on the back of buses all around Dublin so, knowing what is known now, there really should have been more safeguards in place back then. Not just in the Cancer Society but all charities. 'People would've known who he was from the fundraising he did. I was out of Dublin maybe 20 years, I didn't see him, so in my mind he was dead and I wasn't going to go looking for him. Then he appeared on TV.' Mr Patchell added that during the trial he didn't interact much with the other victims, explaining: 'Everyone's story is their own, but it's not something you sit down with a group of people and you have a chat about it over a pint. I'm very proud to stand beside Stephen and Greg. I wish I didn't have to. 'There are a lot of questions you can ask – 'if this had gone differently, would this still have happened?' – but that's life,' he said. The court heard that Gilleran had written letters of apology to the men, who said that they had no wish to read them.
