Latest news with #MichaelChester
Extra.ie
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Everything to know as Electric Picnic launch loyalty scheme
Electric Picnic have announced that they're launching a new loyalty scheme for repeat festivalgoers. With tens of thousands of people set to descend on Stradbally later this month, for some it's their first outing, but others may be returning for their second, third or fourth festival. With that, Electric Picnic have announced that returning customers who are going to EP next year can do so at a discount as part of their loyalty program. ✨Registration for the Electric Picnic 2026 Loyalty Scheme is NOW OPEN! ✨⏱️ Registration will close on Wednesday, August 20th at those reminders, update your group chats and make sure you're all registered by the 20th Aug! ⏰ 🚨 New registration is required for… — Electric Picnic (@EPfestival) August 7, 2025 The Electric Picnic loyalty scheme has seen the festival's organisers team up with Ticketmaster to give people who are returning to Stradbally Hall next year tickets at a discounted price — the festival's way of saying 'thanks for your loyalty.' Electric Picnic have announced that they're launching a new loyalty scheme program for repeat festivalgoers. Pic: You must follow an application process via this link, and must register by Wednesday, August 20, at 12pm for the opportunity to get a link to get discounted tickets for EP 2026. EP will return in 2026, with repeat attendees being able to get a discounted ticket. Pic: Michael Chester Well, it depends on how many times you've been to Electric Picnic. There are two available discounts, and they apply to: People who have purchased tickets to any three or more previous Electric Picnics People who have purchased tickets to one or two previous Electric Picnics It's fairly obvious who is going to get the higher discounts, so if you've been to EP more than three times over the years, you're in luck! To apply for the discounts, registration is required annually — even if you have received loyalty codes in previous years. You must also have purchased a ticket to Electric Picnic previously, as well as be over 18. Ticketmaster must also be able to verify you through your email address, so it's essential that you register using the same email address that you've used to purchase Electric Picnic over the years. If you're successful and get a loyalty code, you'll receive an email before September 1 2025 with your code. The email will contain your link to purchase and your unique loyalty code to access tickets, and the code will be valid until 11.59pm on Monday, September 29 or if EP 2026 sells out — whichever comes first. Should you get a loyalty code, you're still not guaranteed a ticket — with tickets being sold on a first come first served basis. There's also a two ticket limit per loyalty code. Electric Picnic. Pic: Electric Picnic 2026 will take place in the usual spot of Stradbally, Co Laois from August 28-30, 2026.
Extra.ie
06-07-2025
- Health
- Extra.ie
Trinity and UCD students 'shocked' to learn their degrees aren't accredited
Students at two of the country's most prestigious universities were 'shocked' to learn their high-points degree courses are not accredited by the national regulatory body. It has also emerged that Trinity College Dublin and UCD have not even applied to get their Biomedical Science Degree accredited by CORU, the State regulator for health and social care professionals. The university courses lack accreditation because they do not provide the practical, hands-on training required for medical science professions. University College Dublin. Pic: File This means Trinity and UCD biomedical science degrees are not considered fully qualified by the industry regulator. A CORU spokesperson told 'It is the responsibility of individual education providers to apply for programme approval, and CORU has not received an application for approval for these programmes.' Jagoda Ennis, who is heading into her fourth year of Biological, Biomedical and Biomolecular Science at UCD – a course that required 566 CAO points when she sat her Leaving Cert in 2022 – said she was never informed about the lack of accreditation. Jagoda Ennis. Pic: Michael Chester She told 'It's nonsense. I'm going into my final year, and I have heard nothing about CORU or that my course isn't registered with it.' Trinity College Dublin offers three biomedical-related undergraduate degrees across different disciplines. These are Human Health and Disease, Biological and Biomedical Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, none of which are CORU accredited. UCD offers two relevant degrees that are not accredited: Biomedical Health and Life Sciences and Biological, Biomedical and Biomolecular Science, both of which have entry requirements of between 555 and 600 Leaving Cert points. University College Dublin. Pic: File UCD and TCD also offer master's courses in Biomedical Science, which are also not accredited. Ms Ennis, 21, said the other pathways to becoming an accredited biomedical scientist in Ireland are 'difficult'. The Tallaght student said: 'I'd have to do a masters in TUD or Limerick to even get CORU recognised. Otherwise, it costs €410, and they might reject me because I don't meet their requirements. And I'd have to find an internship. There are barely any in Ireland for my course. It makes no sense.' Jennifer Cummins. Pic: Stephen Collins/Collins Photos Social Democrats education spokeswoman Jen Cummins said she was 'flabbergasted' to learn the courses are not accredited. She told 'If they're offering courses and there is no career progression, that needs to be clarified. If people are paying fees and then they're not able to do what they're supposed to be doing, they need to know that.' Other medical students have chosen to study abroad because of issues in the third-level sector. Dubliner Udaiveer Parihar said he opted to study medicine at University College London (UCL) because of a 'lack of opportunities' and the Health Professions Admissions Test (HPAT), an admissions test all medicine students are required to take in Irish universities. Mr Parihar told 'The HPAT is a really outdated measure of gauging a person's ability or affinity for medicine and London has a greater and wider scope of opportunities than can be found back at home.' The 19-year-old student said it was 'deeply concerning' to learn that Trinity and UCD biomedical degrees are not accredited. 'It seems almost implied that these institutions would, given their reputation, provide degrees that are aligned with these professional requirements of their field. 'It's a serious oversight that not only misleads students but also contributes to lowered graduate employability.' Mr Parihar also called for greater transparency from Irish universities. He told 'The provision of non-accredited training at a time of healthcare shortages creates a workforce of capable yet unqualified graduates and represents a serious policy failure. There should be more light shed on uncovering the issues present with the academic framework governing these degrees and bringing these programmes into line with guidelines.' In response to queries, Trinity College Dublin said: '[We] are under no obligation to advertise what our course is not. Our students receive a large amount of information on careers in relevant research and other related fields of application and study.' Asked why the university did not apply for accreditation, a spokesperson said the biomedical degree course is 'not a professional course' it is a broader academic course which includes biological sciences'. UCD did not respond to requests for comment. The Department of Further and Higher Education was also contacted for comment.
Extra.ie
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
In Pics: Tubs and fiancee among stars who rocked up at Joe's leaving do
Ryan Tubridy and his fiancée, Clare Kambamettu, were among the stars who rocked up to Joe Duffy's farewell do. His Liveline programme was famous for its good-humoured Funny Friday episodes. So it was no surprise some of the musicians and comedians who made the show a hit turned up to raise a toast and bid farewell to Joe Duffy after he presented his last-ever Liveline on Friday. Aonghus McAnally and Brush Shiels. Pic: Michael Chester Among them were Funny Friday stalwarts Brush Shiels, Aonghus McAnally and Sil Fox. They were joined at The Duke pub, just off Grafton Street in Dublin, by Joe's RTÉ colleagues, Miriam O'Callaghan, Marty Morrissey and former broadcaster Mike Murphy. Miriam O'Callaghan and Joe Duffy. Pic: Michael Chester Former Late Late Show host Ryan Tubridy made his first public appearance with his fiancée, Clare Kambamettu, since they announced their engagement. Joe, wearing one of his trademark colourful waist coats, stopped to chat with people on the street as he arrived at his party. Joe Duffy. Pic: Michael Chester Ryan Tubridy and fiancée Clare. Pic: Michael Chester Marty Morrissey. Pic: Michael Chester Aonghus McAnally and Brush Shiels. Pic: Michael Chester Mike Murphy with Gay Byrne's daughter, Suzy, and granddaughter, Sive. Pic: Michael Chester Miriam O'Callaghan and Joe Duffy. Pic: Michael Chester
Extra.ie
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Extra.ie
Taoiseach: I don't approve of ‘excessive' US visa vetting
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said that he doesn't agree with 'excessive' social media vetting announced by the US Embassy in Dublin as a requirement for Irish students seeking J1 visas to travel and work in the US. Applicants will be asked to list all their social media profiles going back five years and to make their accounts publicly accessible or their visa could be rejected, the embassy said in a statement yesterday. It also announced that the measures were aimed to identify applicants who pose a threat to American national security and that a US visa 'is a privilege, not a right'. The announcement was criticised by the Taoiseach as well as student groups. Micheál Martin. Pic: Michael Chester Mr Martin said: 'I believe those measures by the United States are excessive. I don't approve of them. I don't agree with them. 'One of the great things in the world, in the modern world, has been the capacity for young people to travel and mobility is important.' 'There is an issue around freedom of speech, but it's more the atmosphere that's created by these measures, the fear and the anxiety that young people will now experience travelling.' The changes also apply for other exchange visitor applicants in the F and M non-immigrant classifications. The F visa allows people to enter the US as a full-time student, while the M visa is a US student visa for vocational and non-academic programmes. The US Embassy said appointments for J1 applications will resume soon after they were paused at the end of May. Pic: Shutterstock The president of the University of Galway's student union, Faye Ní Dhomhnaill, called the announcement 'disappointing' and said she's certain J1 applications will fall as a result. She added: 'Most people who would have considered going to America will probably end up inter-railing instead. Already I've seen people that were on the fence about a J1 this year just decide that it wasn't worth the hassle, so they would instead go to Europe. It's incredibly disappointing that this is supposed to be 'the land of the free', and champions of free speech. 'Five years of your social media history is a long time, especially for young people going on J1s, you could be 20. Five years ago you were 15. I wasn't the smartest person in the world at 15.' Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn, the representative group for student unions in Ireland, voiced concern over what it called a 'significant and disproportionate intrusion into students' personal lives'. Tánaiste Simon Harris also said he was 'very concerned' by the updated advice.
Extra.ie
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Donal Skehan 'cursed again' days after Bloom kitchen chaos
It seems the days of oven nightmares aren't over for Donal Skehan just yet. The TV chef was in the middle of a cookery demonstration at Bord Bia Bloom last weekend when a glass oven door broke into pieces in his hand. Thankfully, nobody was hurt by the flying shards, and the accident provided the chef with plenty of material for the rest of the demonstration, which was thoroughly enjoyed by the amused audience. It seems the days of oven nightmares aren't over for Donal Skehan just yet. Pic: Michael Chester However, his unlucky streak continued this week, with the star experiencing yet another oven explosion, this time at home. Taking to Instagram on Friday, Donal detailed a mishap that occurred while he was firing pottery in his kiln. 'Now I know we are not even clear of a week of my exploding oven incident, however, I've been cursed again,' he laughed. The TV chef was in the middle of a cookery demonstration at Bord Bia Bloom last weekend when a glass oven door broke into pieces in his hand. Pic: Michael Chester 'I've just fired the kiln for the very first time and look what I woke up to,' he added, showing a number of shattered pottery pieces in the base of the kiln. 'Another explosion in the oven,' he laughed. 'However, despite my little one pot that exploded, I have been left with these beautiful vases.' Finding the humour in the incident, he continued: 'Oven explosions, I think it's just something I live with now.' Speaking to following his original over mishap, Donal explained: 'My biggest fear was that the glass was hot, it went all down my shirt, all down my top.' 'It had rained previously, so we've never had a more packed demo tent – of course – to witness it,' Skehan laughed. 'The thing I learned in all my years on television is that whatever goes wrong, you keep on cracking on. I've had many kitchen disasters, and I think this definitely tops it. There's nothing like something going wrong in front of 400 people.'
