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Irish Examiner
5 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
TV view: RTÉ's prescient heads prevail as BBC bring celeb smarts from Rachael and Paul
It was shortly before throw-in when Liam Sheedy stood on the Croke Park pitch, RTÉ mic in hand, and offered one of the most prescient lines of the day. 'The hype train is going to turn into a pressure cooker here,' he said, and so it proved. Because an hour or so later, that hype train had fully derailed. But Sheedy had company in the prescience stakes. Because long before John McGrath had popped up for his two goals, RTÉ's co-commentator Michael Duignan had flagged up the danger in the first half. 'That's the ball,' said Duignan over a replay of McGrath unleashing havoc. 'Get it in front of him diagonally.' Things might have looked grim for Tipp at half-time, but anyone in blue would have been wise to remember the words of a bearded Tipp fan who told us on RTÉ before the game: 'We always believe. We're Tipperary, sure.' Hard to argue with that. The build-up to the match had its usual mix of ready-for-war montages, insightful interviews and talking heads telling us that Tipp had a chance if they could just do X, Y and Z. Cork, it seemed, just had to turn up and be Cork. The RTÉ panel opened the show standing outside the Croke Park museum, just in case you weren't aware this was no ordinary game but something seismic, something historic. Before the game, Sheedy warned us that when Cork are 'in flow state, it's very, very hard to defend against them', while Anthony Daly said they were 'lethal at the start.' Though as Dónal Óg noted, 'Tipp like goals as much as everybody else.' Brendan Cummins and Henry Shefflin flagged up two different periods of concern for Tipp. For Cummins the danger zone was the first 15 minutes. For Shefflin it was the last 15 minutes of the first half. Dónal Óg brought his performance-driven mentality to the pre-match pageantry, telling us players would have 'no interest in the President of Ireland' or any such distractions. Though as the parade made its way towards 'Muhammad Ali corner' in Croke Park and turned towards Hill 16, he did inform us that sight is something players would 'never forget.' Marty Morrissey then gave hurling's prize fight its showpiece billing. 'Think Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali, Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe, Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano, Kerry and Dublin footballers. Think Cork and Tipperary hurlers.' Marty then made us and the Cork hurlers feel old, reminding us that the last time they won the All Ireland, Mary McAleese was still president, Bertie Ahern was Taoiseach and, curiously, the M50 had just been completed. Over on the BBC, we got a cringey, diddly-I intro feature that overlayed hurling footage with drone shots of lush, green countryside, Séamus Flanagan narrating through (probably) gritted teeth that hurling was 'fast, raw, beautiful' with 'no contracts, no transfers, just pride.' Flanagan continued to elevate the sartorial splendour of the BBC panel, rejecting the jeans-and-polo approach in favour of a leather jacket that gave him a come-and-have-a-go-if-you-think-you're-hard-enough vibe. Sarah Mulkerrins, the enthusiastic and likeable host from Athenry, suggested a break in analysis as sliotars fizzed around above their heads, the BBC taking us up to the celeb box where retired jockey Rachael Blackmore, actor Paul Mescal and singer Tom Grennan were all in situ. Mescal described the final as the 'pinnacle of Irish sport', while confessing some guilt that he and his father had probably taken the tickets of two more deserving people – but where are their Oscar nominations? Grennan, a Bedford native of Irish heritage, said Croke Park was 'magical', recounting with fondness a visit to a Dublin pub earlier in the day where they were like 'sardines'. Rather you than me, mate. At half-time, he was even more enthusiastic. 'It's a battle, man, it's like watching The Hunger Games.' Staying on that theme, Blackmore said the Cork goal was 'bit of a killer' but added that 'it's never over 'til it's over in this sport.' Working for the BBC, Shane O'Donnell looked as comfortable on the Croke Park turf with a microphone as he is with a hurley and he still saw light for Tipp. 'They're getting more opportunities, they're getting the one-v-ones in front of the Cork goal and that could really pay for them in the second half.' Flanagan also struck an optimistic tone, noting the Cork full-forward line had been kept quiet. When John McGrath hit the net in the 46th minute, Marty said he was 'coolness personified, he was so cool,' which would make a great epitaph. Marty announced that the 'Cork cage is rattled', and it kept on rattling all the way to the finish, Duignan adding that 'maybe the scars of last year are telling.' As they headed down the stretch on the BBC, Jamesie O'Connor highlighted how impressive an achievement it was for Tipp given their 15 wides, a level of inefficiency that was usually 'curtains' in an All Ireland, while their lead commentator Thomas Niblock went full GAA mode in the closing minutes, claiming 'nobody' gave Tipp a chance of winning this match. Nobody at all? It wasn't long before Darragh McCarthy, one of those who probably did give them a chance, was in front of the camera, trying to make sense of going from almost-villain to permanent hero in the Premier County this summer. 'It's unbelievable,' he said. 'Some scenes. I've no other words for it than that.' Sometimes, no other words are needed.
Irish Times
06-07-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Times
I was unfazed by a near car crash, so why does a dental visit leave me quivering?
A couple of weeks ago, I nearly died. Okay, that's a slight exaggeration. It could have happened though – death, or serious injury. Or a slight injury. Or even a bit of a fright. But I experienced none of that. This is what did happen: I was driving on the M50 , then turned into the exit for the M7 . Ahead of me, a white van attempted to change lane, but there was a car right beside it. The two vehicles slammed into each other and wobbled. The van pulled into the hard shoulder, while the car skidded to a halt in the middle of traffic, straddling two lanes. I was directly behind, so I scarcely had time to think. I swerved around the stationary car. A moment's distraction and I would have crashed into the back of it. The motorist behind, without a view of what had just happened, would probably have crashed into me. READ MORE Later on, I checked online and couldn't find any reports of a crash. Thankfully, no one was hurt. Yet, obviously, it could have been far more serious. And I'm not telling you this to demonstrate my nerves of steel or my superior driving skill – I wouldn't claim to have either – but because of my reaction. I swerved around the car and drove on. I went about my day. That evening, I told Herself about it, but it wasn't the first thing I told her. It was almost an afterthought. Nor, in the days that followed, did I experience any delayed shock or a new appreciation of life. It was just a slightly surreal thing that happened. I don't seem to have been troubled by it. But I was slightly baffled as to why I wasn't. Two days later, I had to go to the dentist. There may well be people who enjoy such appointments, but I've yet to meet one. It is physically uncomfortable; I particularly dislike the pointy L-shaped instrument they use to hack at the teeth, as if they've suddenly decided to abandon all the years of training and just yank the tooth out like a medieval barber. Obviously, this comes from my own anxiety about the whole scenario in which the patient – this patient anyway – feels particularly vulnerable with their mouth cranked open while various tubes and fearsome-looking implements are used to scratch around inside. Part of that comes from not knowing exactly what the dentist is doing. In fairness, it's probably better that they don't share too much detail; and the patient isn't in a position to ask. But that information void can be filled with speculation: they are yanking at that tooth an awfully long time. Is there something wrong? Have they made a mistake? I tried to pass the time by counting how many objects were being placed inside my mouth, but abandoned that when it seemed like more was going in than coming out. [ Seán Moncrieff: The word 'old' has become an insult. If you're old, it's all over Opens in new window ] I tried staring serenely at the ceiling and listing all the things I would do when I got out of this chair, when I could move my shoulders again and give my now-aching jaw a rub. But that served only to draw my attention to my jaw and shoulders. And it wasn't just the discomfort or the vulnerability that I was trying to distract myself from: it was the jarring intimacy of the situation. For 90 minutes, two people leaned over my head and rummaged around inside. Yet they never made eye contact. Whenever the dentist spoke to me, she was looking away. All of this led me to ponder again why I was left unfazed by a near car crash, yet a dental visit leaves me quivering. We can be a mystery to ourselves. Perhaps it's time. The car incident lasted less than a second, and was over. Dental work never ends. I have to go back for a root canal.
Extra.ie
05-07-2025
- Automotive
- Extra.ie
Lamborghini supercar brand, driven by Diogo Jota, favoured among Ireland's affluent youth
Tragic Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota's death last week caused shockwaves throughout the sporting world. The Portuguese striker saw his life cut tragically short, just ten days after his star-studded wedding to his now devastated wife and three inconsolable children. The multi-millionaire soccer player was killed after his high-powered supercar, a Lamborghini Huracan, after he was said to be undertaking a tricky maneuver on a motorway in Portugal. The Portuguese striker saw his life cut tragically short, just ten days after his star-studded wedding to his now devastated wife and three inconsolable children.. Pic: Rute Cardoso/Instagram While Lamborghini's may be a rarity on Irish roads, the iconic Italian prestige motor is beloved by a select number of the new younger Irish celebrity, who have been seen tootling up the M50 in the iconic car. Lamborghini may produce a number of models, however the Huracán, which has a starting price of €275,000 is beloved by football stars and celebrities. It went into production from 2014 to 2024 and became one of Lamborghini's best-selling vehicles, with more than 25,000 units sold globally. So who are the fast-packed Irish celebrity set who have shelled out vast fortunes to join the exclusive Lamborghini owners club? The multi-millionaire soccer player was killed after his high-powered supercar, a Lamborghini Huracan, after he was said to be undertaking a tricky maneuver on a motorway in Portugal. Pic: Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images SUZANNE JACKSON Super-successful influencer-turned-businesswoman Suzanne Jackson is renowned for her extreme acts of generosity to her family. Pic: Instagram/Suzanne Jackson Super-successful influencer-turned-businesswoman Suzanne Jackson is renowned for her extreme acts of generosity to her family. And Suzanne's largesse was in overdrive, when in 2020, she surprised her car fanatic husband Dylan with a Batman inspired Lamborghini on Christmas morning. Dylan's Lamborghini Aventador is understood to have set Suzanne back a whopping €275,000 with the entrepreneur acquiring the car from Ashbourne based high-end motor company Harford Motors. And it's not just Dillon who likes to pedal to the metal, as Suzanne herself has been spotted behind the wheel of the car with its unmistakable matt black bodywork ,complete with a trendy green tinted trim and gulf-wing doors. CONOR & TONY MCGREGOR Pic: Instagram/Conor McGregor Mega-rich MMA fighter Conor McGregor is an avid Lamborghini fan with no less than four Lambo's in his eclectic car collection. In 2019 McGregor showcased the newest addition to his Lambo family, a slick black Aventador believed to be worth around €180,000. McGregor's spanking new shiny black sports-car was pictured idling outside his Kildare mansion and was adorned with a massive red ribbon with the traffic-stopping motor believed to be a gift for fiancé Dee. As well as the Avenatdor McGregor also owns a lime green Lamborghini as well as an army green version and he also keeps a bright white Lamborghini Huracan barged on his holiday villa on the continent. And like father—like-son it seems, as Conor's dad Tony is also the proud owner of a bright orange Lamborghini Huracan, the identical model as then one driven by Diojo Jota. RYAN TUBRIDY Pic: Brian McEvoy While Ryan Tubridy is more than a tootler-about-town than a speed-freak, the former Toy Show host did look like all his Christmases had come at once when he jumped behind the wheel of an orange Lamborghini Huracan for the 2013 launch of the annual Cannonball Road Trip. KERRY KATONA Pic: Instagram/Kerry Katona Well she may not be Irish, but she's Irish adjacent! The Lamborghini is not just the ultimate in big boys toy as girls can rival the guys in the supercar stakes. Former pop star Kerry Katona- the ex wife of Westlife singer Brian McFadden- treated herself to a 'look-at-me' racing car green Lamborghini, which she bought from the vast fortune she has made sharing pictures to her paid-up admirers on the OnlyFans image sharing platform.
BreakingNews.ie
01-07-2025
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Luas 2050 plans include two new circular lines on outskirts of Dublin city centre
An ambitious plan for the future of Luas in Dublin would see the development of two new circular lines that would run on the outskirts of the city centre. The Luas 2050 vision would also include new lines to Blanchardstown, Clondalkin, Balgriffin, and Clongriffin, as well as the two new circle lines, and an orbital route outside the M50 motorway. Advertisement An internal presentation from Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) said that light rail would be a key part of public transport in the capital for the future and plans for new lines should be accelerated. However, it highlighted issues with the existing network with one line already running 'at or over capacity.' The slideshow said there were not enough trams on the Red Line which connects Dublin's Docklands to Tallaght and Saggart. It said there were constraints to increasing services and managing future demand but that there may now be an 'appetite to address' some of the challenges given the success of the Luas network. Advertisement TII said longer 55-metre trams might not be a solution because they were slower and because so much of the Red Line was shared with cars including busy junctions. It said this created possible safety issues and that more trams were needed rather than longer vehicles. The presentation said the capacity of the Green Line, which runs from Broombridge to Sandyford and Bride's Glen was 'ok for [the] short term.' It said some changes and increases in service were possible and that this could be accommodated with the existing fleet of trams. Advertisement TII said there were also issues around depots with the main facility at Sandyford 'land constrained' and not suitable for expansion. The presentation said there was room at Broombridge for an increase in size but that this was not ideal 'for operational reasons.' It said an option around land acquisition and possible expansion at the Red Cow could also be looked at in the future. The slideshow also put forward the possibility of numerous added lines including an ambitious plan for circle routes over the next 25 years. Advertisement One of the suggested 'circular' lines would run from Finglas past DCU, through Drumcondra, along Griffith Avenue, and onwards to Marino and Fairview. It said that in the immediate short term, work should continue on a Luas extension to Poolbeg as well as studies on the efficiency and flexibility of the existing Red and Green Lines. The slideshow suggested a 'new Luas project' should be examined, with one possibility a connection to UCD. It also recommended moving forward with an extension to Bray with an indicative start date of between 2028 and 2030. Advertisement The document said workshops on accelerating project delivery would be useful to help speed up development of new projects. Ireland Two men arrested after €30 million worth of cocain... Read More 'Initial findings are that barriers [and] delays are outside the control [and] remit of the project team,' it said. The presentation said from 2029 onwards, they should be looking at starting work on a new Luas line every one to two years to have an advanced network by 2050. Asked about the records, a spokesman for TII said: ''The Luas is a critical piece of public transportation infrastructure. 'Transport Infrastructure Ireland taking a strategic look ahead to 2050 allows for the public and decision-making bodies such as the Department of Transport and National Transport Authority to see where potential investments can be made to support the country's future growth and development.'
Canberra Times
25-06-2025
- Automotive
- Canberra Times
CarExpert Choice winner: Best Luxury EV
The base eDrive35 also slides under the Luxury Car Tax (LCT) threshold for fuel-efficient vehicles, making it exempt from Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) if you buy one through a novated lease. It also has plenty of grunt, though you can step up to more powerful eDrive40 and hot M50 variants if you so desire.
