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The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Presidency bid, new Eurovision plans with twist and why I won't leave RTE… Dustin the Turkey spills all
FROM becoming Ireland's next President to taking over Joe Duffy's Liveline job, Dustin the Turkey is no chicken as he has revealed his ambitious plans for total domination. The beloved Irish puppet has been a TV legend for over three decades - and believes he deserves the top jobs "after all I've given Ireland". 5 Dustin the Turkey has revealed his plans to become President of Ireland Credit: Free for editorial use 5 The TV legend recently joined Chadwicks celebrations with Irish boxer Jack Marley Credit: PR handout 5 And he shared that he could take over Liveline and join Eurovision again while in Áras an Uachtaráin Despite being a puppet, Dustin has achieved a status only few in Irish entertainment can claim - becoming an iconic media personality known by generations. His career began in 1989 on the popular show The Den, and he went on to become, in his own words, the longest-serving turkey on RTE. The plucky personality told the Irish Sun: 'It's one of them where it's a pleasure to have entertained two generations, three generations growing up in Ireland - teaching them all of the building tricks that I have. 'It's all about giving a bit of humour and a bit of confidence, along with those two British lads who sold us out in Ireland - Zig and Zag but we won't mention them. 'They went off to Channel 4 and took the queen's shilling, leaving me on my own. 'But I stick to the people, I have more Wolfe Tone CDs than the Wolfe Tones - when they mention people like James Connolly and Padraig Pierce they'll mention Dustin Gertrude Hoffman Beethoven the third.' Being one of Ireland's most controversial satirical voices, Dustin has never been shy about taking the mick out of public figures like Bertie Ahern, And he said he makes sure to treat everyone fair in his remarks, as someone has to do it. Dustin, who is voiced by John Morrison, quipped: 'Now I won't mention Cat Deeley and I won't mention Patrick Kielty - but you have to be fair, I love all people. 'When you come on to The Den or if you come on to the radio with Dustin it's all just friendly fun. 'There's a couple of things we say like Ryan Tubridy who we call Mr Bean, or Alan Partridge or Pat Kenny who is like a plank of wood - but they're all true things.' 'POULTRY PARTY' And Dustin revealed there is still life in the old bird yet. The TV legend admitted that he might throw his wing into the ring again for the Irish During the 2010 Irish general election, he famously campaigned under the banner of the Poultry Party, advocating for policies like Bringing the Olympics to Termonfeckin. But this time, he said his presidential campaign promises would include learning the Irish language, bringing comedy to Áras an Uachtaráin and representing not just Ireland but also turkeys on a national level. Dustin said: 'I think it's a given; I know 'He does his Irish poems and I'm going to learn Irish for when I'm in Áras an Uachtaráin. "So when people come over from Azerbaijan and Columbia I'll be able to greet them as Gaelige. 'Áras an Uachtaráin is something I would certainly have my eyes on; I think I deserve it at this stage, after all I've given Ireland.' He also revealed ambitions to return to Eurovision, confident that he still has what it takes to entertain 'BEAUTIFUL VOICE' Dustin famously represented Ireland in the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest with the song Irelande Douze Pointe, an entry that remains both memorable and controversial. And he said it's only a matter of time before RTE ask him to compete for Ireland again. The top turkey said: 'Now Dana went for president and she did the Eurovision, but the difference is she can't sing and she's not the president. 'Now I've got a beautiful voice, I think I could be the president and a Eurovision star at the same time. 'But I wouldn't represent Ireland next time; I would represent Turkey. 'You don't have to win it, I don't think anyone in Ireland will be winning in for a long long time - unless we can dig up Johnny Logan and let him go again, I don't think we have a good chance at winning it.' 'VERY SIMPLE JOB' What's more, Dustin said he may even take over And although he said Joe did it well, Dustin thinks he could do it even better. He added: 'It would just be brilliant, it's only a matter of time again. It's a very simple job; I'd love it, 'Go ahead caller, go ahead caller'. 'I'd be president, represent Eurovision and Liveline - considering Joe ruled himself out for presidency it has left the door open for me. 'I've survived a lot of Christmases at this stage, there's a lot of turkeys at RTE that have survived them too - so I'll be sticking around and won't be going anywhere.' Dustin spoke his mind as he joined celebrations at the newly refurbished Chadwicks store in Sallynoggin, And he said with his past as a builder on RTE's The Den, there was no better man for this role too. Speaking to the Irish Sun, Dustin said: 'I'm a builder, I just want to get in and get out - but I'm telling you it's the dog's b***ocks. 'It's just absolutely amazing, I've had three cups of coffee so I'm buzzing - and for a turkey let me tell you that is very dangerous. 'I've also had two pasties that were absolutely delicious - I went in and bought a hammer, a saw and a gazebo and I don't even need to use any of them. 'Sallynoggin is a place that's in my heart; I love it more than even the Long Mile Road.' First opened in 1974, the Chadwick's branch now features a sleek doors & floors showroom, a revamped bathroom showroom, and a Paint Centre, along with a new smart home centre packed with the latest automation and security tech. Other new features include VELUX and Keylite rooflight displays, a full Brick and External Wall Insulation showcase and a Brick & Brew Co. coffee outlet. 5 Dustin revealed that he has his eyes on Áras an Uachtaráin next Credit: Alamy 5 And he wants Joe Duffy's job - there's no turkey bones about it Credit: Andres Poveda LTD
RTÉ News
4 days ago
- RTÉ News
Breaking Galway Diocese confirms removal of Bishop Eamonn Casey's remains from cathedral crypt
The remains of the late Bishop Eamonn Casey have been removed from the crypt of Galway Cathedral. The Galway Diocese announced the development in a statement issued this morning. It is not clear when the disinterment took place, however, the statement has confirmed that the remains are with Eamon Casey's family. "Now, with the assent and co-operation of members of the late Bishop Eamonn's family and following prayers for the dead, his mortal remains have been moved from the Cathedral Crypt and entrusted to their care," it says. A year ago, an RTÉ documentary, presented by reporter Anne Sheridan, examined the Catholic Church's handling of allegations of sexual abuse against the former bishop. It included an interview with Dr Casey's niece Patricia Donovan, who claimed that her uncle first raped her at the age of five and that the sexual abuse continued for years. The investigation also confirmed that Bishop Casey was formally removed from public ministry in 2007 by the Vatican, following child sexual abuse allegations. That restriction continued for the last ten years of his but life but was never publicly disclosed. Bishop Casey died in 2017 and was buried in the crypt beneath Galway Cathedral following a funeral which was attended by 1600 people. The Pope's representative in Ireland at the time the Papal Nuncio, and many senior Catholic clergy were not in attendance. In the documentary, Patricia Donovan described her "disbelief" over her alleged abuser being buried in the space preserved for senior clergy beneath the cathedral. Members of the public echoed those concerns on RTÉ's Liveline programme and through opinion polls carried out last year. The Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora issued a statement noting "that the continued resting of the mortal remains of Bishop Eamonn Casey in the crypt of the Cathedral was a deeply felt matter that affected many people in different ways". It appealed for "time and space" to allow for appropriate reflection and consultation. In the latest statement, the Diocese has thanked "everyone for their understanding of the situation, for their patience and for their respect as the process was undertaken and brought to a conclusion". "Significant consensus emerged around the unique role of a Cathedral as a place of unity rather than division, healing rather than hurt and peace rather than disquiet." It also states that the express wish that "the arrangements made by the family for Bishop Eamonn's final resting place remain private". The family has also asked for their privacy to be respected. The statement concludes that "God will continue to draw all those who have been affected by this matter into his healing love". Eamonn Casey is the first senior cleric to be disinterred in Ireland following posthumous concerns about his conduct. He consistently denied all the allegations against him and was never convicted of any sexual crimes.
Irish Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Liveline contenders: ‘Crazy levels of speculation' about who will step in to replace Joe Duffy
The departure of Joe Duffy from RTÉ late last month could serve as a catalyst for a reimagining of the Liveline brand and even lead to an overhaul of the national broadcaster's afternoon schedule, according to sources within the station. The leading contenders to take over from Joe Duffy as the full-time presenter of Liveline were all tight-lipped yesterday as to whether they are still in the running for one of the most high-profile and highly paid roles in Irish broadcasting. An RTÉ spokeswoman declined to be drawn on exactly when Duffy's successor will be announced, only confirming that the recruitment process is ongoing, with no announcement likely until the autumn. [ 'Love you all, it's been a privilege': Joe Duffy presents last Liveline as he retires from RTÉ Opens in new window ] The Irish Times understands that senior management are actively considering a major reboot of the Liveline brand, rather than simply slotting in a replacement presenter. READ MORE A shake-up of the afternoon schedule is possible, although there has been no confirmation that it is a done deal. Talk of any big changes to the line-up is purely speculative. Katie Hannon , who has served as Duffy's most regular stand-in over recent years and has had high-profile full-time roles across television and radio, remains the front-runner to take over. Her Monday night television show Upfront was recently cancelled by RTÉ – a move which led to speculation that it would free her to take on Liveline in a permanent capacity. However, when making the announcement about the show's cancellation, the broadcaster played down the timing, saying it was connected to a change in strategy and well-publicised financial pressures, and nothing to do with the departure of Duffy. Philip Boucher Hayes , the host of Countrywide who is very highly regarded by senior executives in Montrose, has had a range of high-profile roles on radio and television over the last two decades. He has also been a regular substitute Liveline presenter over recent years. Philip Boucher-Hayes has had a range of high-profile roles on both radio and television over the last two decades. Photograph: Ruth Mejber Colm Ó Mongáin is also said to be in serious contention for the hot seat. Boucher Hayes has already presented the programme for two weeks this summer, while Ó Mongáin has been the stand-in this week. Another candidate being talked about in at least some quarters is the current host of the 9am-10am slot, Oliver Callan , although he is a fairly recent arrival at radio centre. He is performing very strongly in his current slot. None of these four responded to queries from The Irish Times yesterday. 'RTÉ will run a process over the coming months to appoint Joe's successor, with an announcement expected in the autumn,' was all a spokeswoman for the broadcaster would say. Other contenders in the frame amid what one RTÉ insider described as 'crazy levels of speculation' include the two Drivetime presenters, Sarah McInerney and Cormac Ó hEadhra , while the bookies have also suggested former Today FM presenter Dermot Whelan as a long-shot for the role. Whoever does take on the job will be paid significantly less than Duffy, who, until his departure at the end of last month, was the highest earner at the national broadcaster. Figures released last year showed he earned €351,000 for his work there, significantly ahead of the next-best-paid broadcaster Claire Byrne , who was said to have earned about €280,000. RTÉ director general Kevin Bakhurst , who earns €250,000, has made it clear that he will establish a salary ceiling at the organisation at the €250,000 level. Joe Duffy has left Liveline - but who will replace him? Listen | 26:20
Extra.ie
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Carl Mullan announces latest venture... and no, it's not Liveline
Carl Mullan has announced a new joint venture with his wife Aisling. The 2FM host, who some speculated was going to replace Joe Duffy on Liveline after he participated in a sketch where he became the host of the show, married his childhood sweetheart Aisling in 2022, with the couple sharing three children together. While they're married with children, they've decided to take their relationship to the next level: with Carl announcing on Instagram that he and Aisling are starting a podcast together. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Carl Mullan (@carlmullan) The podcast, which is named How Are Ya Lovie? with Aisling and Carl, will debut on Monday, with Carl writing on his Instagram 'hello is that a new podcast? How are ya lovie how are ya getting on? Coming this Monday.' People were delighted at the couple's new podcast, with one person commenting 'hook it to my veins.' 'Amazing,' another wrote, while another commented 'this will be absolute gold!!!!' Carl Mullan and his wife Aisling have announced that they're starting a podcast together. Pic: Brian McEvoy Carl's new venture is not what some had in mind for him, however, as he had to set the record straight that he is not, in fact, the new host of Liveline — despite him 'auditioning' to replace Joe. Calling himself an award winning dancer and Irish media sex symbol, Carl said 'I would like to clear up some confusion that has been created today. So yesterday, there was a video released on the 2FM Instagram page where I was seen in the RTÉ Radio One studio, and people have been speculating as to whether it might mean I may take over from Joe Duffy. 'I would like to clear up the confusion and confirm that yes, I am absolutely definitely in the running to take over from Joe Duffy even though I've just started a brand new show on 2FM,' Carl joked. Carl recently had to dispel rumours that he would be going for Joe Duffy's job as host of Liveline. Pic: Instagram/RTE As for his podcast co-host, Carl and Aisling have an adorable love story which began when they were just teenagers.
RTÉ News
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Bryan Dobson on the joy of retirement and his advice to Joe Duffy
A year on from his departure from the RTÉ newsroom, Bryan Dobson has no regrets about taking early retirement. In fact, he describes it as "intoxicating". The veteran news journalist talks to Janice Butler about new projects, the joy of grandchildren and the advice he'd give the newly retired Joe Duffy. "I sent him a card. I'm sure it's amongst the thousands of cards that he's got, to wish him well and to say, speaking from my own experience, that retirement is great," beams a relaxed and healthy looking Bryan Dobson, sitting in his office at his Dublin home, surrounded by books and paintings of the sea. He is talking about the recent departure of Joe Duffy from RTÉ's Liveline and his own retirement, which the broadcaster began last summer. "I think he could be very busy if he wants to be. The phone will ring with all kinds of offers, I would say. Enda Kenny, who I met around the time that I was retiring, said to me that you should do nothing or make any decisions for about six months. Don't make any commitments and then see how you feel. "So I more or less did that and I think that's good advice for anyone," he adds, content with his decision to leave at 63, after 37 years with the national broadcaster, or as he puts it, "to go out on a high." "How's everyone getting on in there"? he asks, always the gentleman. "I've had a bit of contact with a few people since I've left, but not that many." Having worked in the busy and high-pressure world of news for almost four decades, finishing his career on the News at One on Radio 1, Bryan admits he was surprised by how easy he found it to detach himself from the working environment. "I didn't have any withdrawal symptoms at all, and I expected maybe I'd have a little. But when I retired, I immediately went away for a week and then when I came back, I had things planned, so there was never a moment of missing work," he remarks. "It's gone very fast, too fast really. But I've kept pretty busy, which is good, but you're able to create gaps where you don't do anything or just have some time to yourself. The freedom is quite intoxicating. I left a bit early, earlier than retirement age, because I wanted to go while I was still enjoying the job and still looking forward to getting up and going in. I hated the idea of getting to the point where I resented having to go to work because I think that would show; hard to disguise that on the air. It was the right time," he adds. While he's taken the foot off the pedal, he's still taking on bits of TV work: his latest project, The Last Irish Missionaries, is on our screens this week. Last autumn, he was contacted by a production company to work on a documentary about the history of the evolution of the Irish missionary movement, and he jumped at the opportunity, saying that it appealed to his love of history and innate curiosity about people. In the two-part documentary, Bryan and journalist Dearbhail McDonald chart the evolution of the Irish missionary movement, from its earliest colonial era, right up to the present day, when far fewer people are entering the religious life. It's a story of self-sacrifice and philanthropy, as well as questionable politics and abuse cover-ups. The last missionaries are largely elderly and either retired or never coming home. So, what will be their legacy? This is what Bryan and Dearbhail examine over the two-parter. "It was a chance to hear their testimony," says Bryan of the people they met for the show. "And it struck me that a lot of people will connect to this documentary because there mustn't be a family or a community in the country that doesn't have some connection with those missionary priests and nuns. My wife had an uncle who was a Holy Ghost father, and he'd come home every three or four years, and I remember talking to him about his experiences in Nigeria," he adds. Bryan and Dearbhail got to travel the country and the world, with a "brief trip to the Philippines" for Dobson, to explain the origins and impact of the Irish missionary project, for better and for worse, and to assess its legacy. "It's very interesting to watch the evolution of missionary thinking. In the early stages, it was conversion and spreading the word of the gospel and then as the enterprise grew, they began to see very quickly that there were huge social needs: education, healthcare and then it evolved into social justice and social structures and that's where you get this image of the radical priest or revolutionary figure. There was this sense of standing with the people and understanding their suffering," explains Dobson with his newsman's hat on. What was his takeaway from working on the project? "I was struck by a few things. We asked the interviewees why they ended up where they ended up, and they almost looked puzzled by the question and said, 'because we were sent', so there was extraordinary obedience. Then there was a life-long commitment; they were there to stay and in many cases, they never came home. Nothing deviates them from their mission, and I found all that fascinating." He remarks that after decades of grilling politicians and reporting from high-profile events (he covered two papal conclaves and would be "greedy to want to cover a third"), it was nice to have the time to delve into a project like this over a number of months. "It was lovely. My day-to-day job was news. When the day was over, you started on a fresh page and off you went again. The chance to spend time with people and give them the opportunity to tell their story was an honour. It's always a great privilege. When it was all over and the filming was finished, I felt a little bit sad, I missed working on it," he reflects. Another outlet that's keeping him busy is his role as the chairperson of the new State Commemorations Advisory Committee, which has been established with the aim of advising on the planning and delivery of commemorative events. "When you join these committees, they say it's only a couple of meetings a year, and then it turns out to be a bit more," he laughs. "We had our first meeting recently, and the purpose is to advise the Minister and his officials on events that might be commemorated and how they might be commemorated over the lifetime of the Government. There's some stuff going on this year around the 250th anniversary of the birth of Daniel O'Connell and the committee has some ideas on what should be commemorated," he explains. Any plans to reflect on his life and career in a memoir, as his former colleague Miriam O'Callaghan will be doing in a memoir this autumn? "I had a couple of publishers that contacted me after I retired to see if I was interested, but I'm not at the moment," he answers. "I doubt that I'd have much of interest to put into it, to make a book out of my mundane life," he laughs. "I might be tempted to write something for my children and grandchildren. We'll see, but not at the moment anyhow." Away from occasional work projects, family life keeps Bryan busy in retirement. He's a picture of health, having lost almost four stone over the last number of years, with healthy eating and cycling. He and his wife Crea became grandparents again at the start of this year, with the arrival of a granddaughter, Lucy, the second child for his daughter Sophie (he has another daughter, Hannah). "We've two now", he says proudly. "Myles will be four in October, and Lucy was born in January, and she's very sweet," he smiles. "Being a grandparent is so much fun. I never knew my grandparents, but they take a more relaxed approach to things now, and the kids can get away with a lot more with their grandparents." His "escape" is to go sailing, which he plans to do over the summer. He laughs that his wife "stays firmly on dry land." He has a sailing buddy who joins him for these trips. "I'll be floating around on a boat next week. That's the plan," he says. "We go around the Irish Sea. The boat is in Carlingford at the moment so we'll go up and take it out. It's all a bit aimless; we just go wherever the wind takes us. We took it up to Carlingford last weekend and we sailed through the night on the shortest day of the year. It was beautiful." With the world news so chaotically fast now, does he ever miss the cut and thrust of reporting the stories of the day? "I follow the news and like everyone else, my jaw is on the floor most days with what's going on, and I am horrified by it. But I don't miss it from the point of view of being a reporter. I really have managed to shut that door in professional terms. I think it's because I had a good, long run, I did everything that I'd reasonably expected to do," he answers. "In the past, I would have listened to the news as a journalist, working the angles, but now I tend to listen to it as a citizen and voter, and that's been an interesting change. I didn't expect that."
