Latest news with #LouisCopeland
Irish Examiner
12-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
My Wedding Day: Ryan Andrews 'My wife-to-be let me plan everything for our dream Majorca wedding.'
WE got married on July 22, 2023. We had the wedding in Majorca. When we started planning the wedding, we asked ourselves, 'if we were to get married anywhere, where would it be?' And we always said Majorca — it's such a beautiful island. We based ourselves in Port de Sollér, a little village on the west coast, and then we got married in a place called Deià in a cliff-top mansion called Son Marroig. We actually were legally married in Dublin on November 23, 2022. It was a simple registry office wedding with our immediate family with us. Michaela's dad passed away a few years ago, so we had that civil ceremony on his birthday. It was a nice way to feel like he was with us. I was the planner for the Majorca wedding. Michaela said to me, 'off you go', and I planned everything. We had to organise everything, really, from the cutlery to the entertainment. We had about 70 guests — family and friends — and in the week leading up to the big day, they were arriving on the island, and there was a nice buzz when each new group arrived. The good thing was that people were meeting each other during the week, and so by the day of the wedding, everyone knew each other. There was even a sing-song on the bus on the way to the venue! We had a lovely evening the night before the wedding. Myself and Michaela stayed together that night and had breakfast together on the morning of the wedding. Then I went off and met my friends and some of us went for a sea swim, followed by a cocktail. I was totally relaxed and feeling so energised. I got ready then at the venue. Michaela was with her bridal party — her friends and sisters. She had a very relaxed morning. Michaela got her dress in Verona Bridal. She said it was the second or third dress she tried on. Then she kept looking at it and looking at it, and eventually picked it up there and then, there were no alterations needed. I got my suit in Louis Copeland and I felt like a million euro in it. I walked out of the shop thinking: 'I can't wait to wear this!' The entertainment and music was such an important part of the day for us. During our ceremony, we had a string quartet, and they played music as the different groups walked down the aisle. I walked down the aisle with my mam to Viva la Vida. Michaela has nine nieces and nephews, and they walked down the aisle to A Million Miles. And it was so cute, one of the flower girls — Phoebe — was one and a half at the time, and she took her first steps while she was on the island. It took her so long to get down the aisle that the quartet had to play the song at least twice! Then Michaela walked down to I Can't Help Falling in Love with You. When the ceremony was over, we both walked down the aisle to Can't Take My Eyes Off You from The Jersey Boys — it's our favourite musical. You know, I think people say, 'do the wedding that you want', but then I actually think you need to do the wedding that your guests would want as well. Because when your guests are having fun, you're having fun. We had a brilliant band and a DJ for the party that evening. We had practised a dance routine, it was nice and simple, and good fun. We had a lot of guests from the world of entertainment and musicals, so as you can imagine, the dance floor was hopping all night. Our first dance was to I Only Want to Be with You, which is a Bay City Rollers song, but we had the Lyra version of it. We'd heard it one time randomly and just fell in love with it. The party wound down at 3am. We were having a day two also, so people were happy enough to call it a night. Do you know what, it's months and months of planning, and I think your body and your brain shuts down, like 'I don't want to make any more decisions. I'm done!'. That's how I felt. When I remember the day now, there are so many lovely moments during the day, like seeing Michaela walking down the aisle. And seeing my parents getting ready for the day. And you know, seeing little things like the canapes that we chose two years ago being handed out and everyone enjoying them. There are all these little moments like that, that might seem pretty insignificant to others, but they're actually really significant to us. It's funny, I often say that I'd love to do it all again, but experience it as a guest, if you know what I mean? I'd love to see it from the other side. Ryan and Michaela will perform in 'Olly Goes To Oz', the 3Olympia Pantomime, between December 19, 2025 and January 4, 2026. You can purchase tickets now at Olly Goes to Oz
Irish Times
30-07-2025
- Irish Times
‘Fights start at lunchtime and they just keep going': Capel Street workers share concerns after garda stabbing
As the shutters of Capel Street's shops start to rise on Wednesday morning, there is a noticeable Garda presence. Gardaí patrol the street where a fellow officer suffered multiple stab wounds the evening before. A police van is parked halfway up the street. Some passersby stop and point at the spot where the struggle ensued between a man armed with a knife and two gardaí – a moment now widely circulated on social media. Capel Street business owners have expressed safety concerns and a perception of a 'deterioration' in the area, after the attack. Paul Fitzpatrick, the manager on duty at Lenehans hardware store on Wednesday morning, says customers have told him 'they're afraid to come in because of the undesirable element on the street'. READ MORE 'When Capel Street is at its best it's absolutely buzzing; it's a great area,' says Fitzpatrick. 'It's like Temple Bar on the north side and if they can just control that it'd be a much better experience for everyone. 'The council has provided a lovely street and it's being ruined by the drug addicts and the drunks who are here from early in the morning,' he adds. 'That's the only problem with the street ... fights start at lunchtime and they just keep going.' [ Garda stabbed multiple times in 'unprovoked' Dublin city-centre attack Opens in new window ] Louis Copeland, the tailor and retailer, who is in his shop on Capel Street, says, however, 'security has improved' in recent months. 'I think since Jim O'Callaghan, the new Minister for Justice, has come in, I don't know whether he instigated, but certainly there's a better presence of Garda on the street,' says Copeland. Tailor and retailer Louis Copeland outside his shop on Capel Street. Photograph: Ella Sloane He believes the incident on Tuesday is 'an isolated case and Capel Street is safe'. 'It's a coincidence that the new Garda Commissioner was announced yesterday. Hopefully it might put more of a presence in the street,' he adds. Dublin City Council pedestrianised Capel Street in May 2022, creating a traffic-free stretch with new outdoor seating put in place. In the same year, the street was named by Time Out magazine as one of the coolest in the world , outranking the likes of Temple Bar and Grafton Street. Then came the Dublin riots. Cliff Nolan was one of the business owners affected by the night of public disorder in November 2023, when his bike shop on Capel Street was targeted by looters . Gardaí on Capel Street following the incident on Tuesday night in which a garda was stabbed. Photograph: Sam Boal/Collins In a matter of minutes, Bike Stop was turned inside out with more than 10 expensive bikes stolen and other stock left badly damaged. Nolan believes the riots marked a shift in Dublin city centre. 'I think over the last few years the city does feel a little bit more ... not as safe as I felt before. 'Around when the riots happened, I think there was a shift. Or maybe it was post pandemic.' He said the stabbing on Tuesday evening was 'a shock to everyone' and 'could have been anywhere in the city'. He has observed an uptick in antisocial behaviour on Capel Street, 'particularly since they [Dublin City Council] made it traffic free and put benches down'. Nolan says 'gardaí doing regular patrols throughout the day' has helped. The garda stabbed on Tuesday evening had been conducting a routine patrol in the city when he and his colleague responded to reports of a man armed with a large blade. Another Capel Street business owner, who did not want to be named, said she was in her shop when the incident occurred just a few metres away. 'Capel Street has got such a bad name lately,' said the retailer, who fears her business 'definitely won't last' under the circumstances. 'I'm here 15 years and I've seen the deterioration in the area. 'There's a lot of this nonsense happening lately. A lot of people standing around the street drinking, and since they pedestrianised the street it has just got worse.' The business owner is one of a number on the street who have opted to lock their doors during trading hours and put a bell system in place. She worries this heightened security further deters customers who may already be hesitant to approach. 'I feel in danger, to be honest,' she says. 'I can't have my front door open to welcome people in. It's a deterrent when a customer walks up to the door and it's locked and they have to ring a bell.'
Irish Times
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
A man's guide to looking sharp at summer weddings, from elegant tuxedos to casual linen
Summer from July to September is the time for weddings – there were more than 7,000 in Ireland in the summer of 2023, the most popular month being August. It's obvious why; the days are long, the weather (mostly) good, gardens and countryside are looking their best, and being holiday time, the mood is festive. Today's trends mean matrimonial events are often spread out over several days, so it's not just the wedding day celebrations that demand some sartorial thought if you're one of the male guests. Dress codes vary but need to be considered. Louis Copeland says he has never seen so many black-tie Irish weddings as this year. 'I think it's because people can't go wrong with a tuxedo and bow tie. It's easier and more elegant.' In his opinion, 'check suits with brown shoes are terrible. The groom has to stand out, so any tie, for instance, should be different to that of the groom. If the wedding is abroad, linen suits are more casual.' He cautions against shorts and football jerseys at prior and post events. 'Most people enjoy the day after, everybody is more relaxed and can let their hair down, but you have to think of those photos in a few years' time.' Male personal shopper Eider Lette says modern weddings balance tradition with a more relaxed atmosphere, 'so blending formal and casual elements feel perfectly appropriate', though he cautions against bold colours if the setting is formal. READ MORE Black-tie attire: black dress suit (€1,145) and a tuxedo slim-fit white shirt (€230), from Louis Copeland Three-piece beige herringbone suit (€1,699), slim-fit pinpoint white shirt (€159), Brown penny loafers (€520), from Louis Copeland He recommends a suit in a classic block colour paired with an open-neck shirt and smart, classic shoes. 'If the wedding is more formal or black tie, I would recommend a crisp, closed-up shirt with a bow tie or traditional medium-width tie, avoiding loud colours.' The importance of good fit when it comes to suits cannot be overstated (a made-to-measure suit always looks the best as it is tailored to your shape), but a blazer with smart-casual trousers is a good alternative. Edward Hussey of Irish men's wear company Beggars Run agrees that no guest should steal the groom's limelight. 'The blue suit is the classic choice, but it can be tweaked with accessories like a pocket square or a tie which make it a little more fun.' [ Meet the Irish tailors making strides in contemporary suiting Opens in new window ] He also argues the case for green. 'It is always a good substitute without being too wild. Tuxedos in dark green with black trousers are that little bit different and so is dark brown, a colour now associated with luxury even in interiors. Men tend to be conservative and want suits that are versatile and can be worn to other events during the year.' Known for colourful tailoring and made-to-measure classics, Beggars Run do a lot of corduroy. 'It has casual associations, but when tailored it can be very sharp, particularly if you add a waistcoat. Lads like it because of its lustre and that it is firmer in shape and more approachable than velvet.' Velvet jackets have become popular with some men 'because it adds a dash of raciness and elegance'. Green chalk stripe suit (€1,149) with peaked lapel. Bengal stripe shirt (€219), brown leather penny loafers (€520), from Louis Copeland Bronze wool/silk/linen jackets (€699), fitted barstripe beige shirt (€169), white cotton chinos (€279), from Louis Copeland Duke blue flannel suit (€1,320) from Beggars Run [ Brianna Parkins: How to plan a wedding, without breaking the bank Opens in new window ] While some might think wool should be avoided in warm weather, Hussey disagrees. 'We do what we call a light alfresco wool called tropical wool – it's all about the weave and doesn't crease up, so it is ideal for summer weddings.' His final word of advice concerns shoes. 'They should not distract, ideally should be black or dark oxblood. And with summer weddings, brown suede shoes with a dark suit look good – it's important to allocate a bit of money for a good pair.' Celebratory dressing for summer nuptials and looking your best should be fun – and there is always the option to rent rather than buy. But don't forget the shades, and to have a decent umbrella on standby. Four weddings and a baby shower: the financial pressure of too many invites Listen | 19:56 Is the cost of attending weddings getting out of control?
