Latest news with #Prior
Irish Independent
4 days ago
- General
- Irish Independent
Modern thatched cottage in Sligo's Glencar Valley packed with eye-catching interiors to rival mountain views
Asking price: €695,000 Agent: DNG Flanagan Ford Never be afraid to try things. This is the advice Padraig Ward likes to give to his 10-year-old daughter Luci. It's especially true when it comes to the thatched Sligo home the primary schoolteacher shares with Luci and his wife, Dearbhaile Prior. There was the time during Covid, when Ward and Prior took the notion of painting the outside bright orange, as if the postcard-friendly dwelling set in the Glencar Valley in front of the spectacular Kings Mountain, needed to be any more eye-catching. 'Let's just say it became a talking point of the locality and a landmark for giving directions – turn off after the orange house. Opinions were divided. Some people disliked it. We painted it twice again the following summer.' Their thatched home is also a new enough notion, having been constructed circa 2010, although it looks like it was there forever. These days, the exterior is a more traditional limewash-style white, with red window shutters and a red door, but still manages to both stand out and blend in with the dramatic mountain scene behind. That the house is visible from the road is thanks to groundworks Prior and Ward carried out when they bought the place back in 2015. 'We were living in Sligo town when we bought it,' Ward says. 'There was no groundwork or anything done around it, and the house couldn't even really be seen. We got a local lad, Willie McTiernan from McTiernan Brothers Plant Hire, and he did all the landscaping. 'We couldn't believe how it opened up the whole front of the house. We put in stone driveway all around the house, then finished off with a retaining wall and stuff like that. And he put in a lawn, all in a short space of time. So when we're up in the garden, we've got views both sides because we're in a valley. It's on the road over to Glencar Waterfall as well.' If the outside is unusual, Prior and Ward have created a riotous feast for the eyes in an ever-changing interior, in which Ward – who is currently on a career break from teaching – says there is no guarantee any room in the house might be the same colour it was when you left it that morning, such is the enthusiasm of the pair for home improvements and decorating, as well rummaging in antique and curio shops. ADVERTISEMENT 'When we moved in first, we had a table, chairs, a cot and a bed. That was about all we brought with us. From there, we just did it room by room.' Their enthusiasm for the eclectic and colourful begins in the hallway, where a peacock fresco overlooks a colourful Persian rug, with a chandelier hanging overhead and a collection of antique furnishings to either side. To the left of the 'hallway', the walls are broken up to offer an open-plan space that extends to a large living area. Immediately ahead is an opening into the dining area and kitchen, and to the left, a sunroom. 'We both love going to auctions and maybe coming away with the very thing somebody else wouldn't buy.' To the right of the foyer is an inner hallway which leads to a separated part of the house that has two bedrooms and two bathrooms. Upstairs are a further three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The kitchen/ dining area perfectly illustrates the couple's taste for the eclectic, where they have chosen to match an antique table bought from Sirr's Antiques with a set of chairs from EZ Living. Dearbhaile says: 'Locally, we regularly visit the North West Hospice Shop on Quay Street in Sligo town, where we have bought a few pieces including the mirrored bedside lockers and chest of drawers in our bedrooms. "Five minutes away, there is Mervyn Blanc's Yeats Country Antiques and our most recent purchase from there is the beautiful chest of drawers in our upstairs guest bedroom. In Donegal, we purchased a Victorian sideboard and some wonderful mirrors from Lucy in The Parlour Shop, Killybegs.' Among Ward's favourite pieces they have collected is an 18th-century grandfather clock. 'We bought it in Stewart's auctions (in Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh). It's an Irish, Georgian mahogany clock. It was made by George Pilkington, from Co Armagh, but that clock would have been made in the mid-1700s. It still chimes every hour and things like that. It's over 250 years old, and is still working perfectly.' Ward's pride and joy is the indulgent downstairs bathroom, with its free-standing cast iron bath. 'I just think that room turned out well,' he says. 'It was cream in colour, and then we decided to paint it black, and we put up a sort of safari wallpaper. I just think the whole room works so well, and the colours work well.' About a year ago, Ward and Prior's eye for the colourful paid off, when they began to take in guests through portals such as Ward says: 'We started last summer, and this year we are booked out. We're meeting people from all over the world and have got invites back to plenty of other countries because many of our guests [are] also doing accommodation in other parts of the world.' Now, these serial 'triers' want to try something else, perhaps a local renovation project. 'We'd love to take on a new challenge,' Prior says. 'So perhaps we'd look at buying a derelict cottage. We both love The Great House Revival on RTÉ with Hugh Wallace, so who knows what the future holds. 'As the sign beside our front door says, here is our Happy Place – but the three of us now want a new Happy Place.' DNG Flanagan Ford seeks €695,000.
Boston Globe
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Gamm Theatre offers a transcendent telling of Tony Kushner's ‘Angels in America: Part One'
The story revolves around his diagnosis and illness, but Prior's life serves as a launching pad for weighty discussions about liberalism, conservatism, and race relations during the Reagan years. And there is no shortage of philosophizing about how the past shapes the present. The play also finds parallels between Judaism and homosexuality, reminding us about how swiftly a fearful and divided nation marginalizes, stigmatizes, and ostracizes 'others.' Get Globe Rhode Island Food Club A weekly newsletter about food and dining in Rhode Island, by Globe Rhode Island reporter Alexa Gagosz. Enter Email Sign Up It is no wonder that the play is long — seven-and-a-half-hours in total — and told over two separate performances: 'Part One: Millennium Approaches,' which runs through June 15, and 'Part Two: Perestroika,' which runs from Sept. 25 to Oct. 12. Both are directed by Brian McEleney, who knows his way around this work having played the pivotal role of Prior Walter in Trinity Repertory Company's acclaimed 1996 production. Advertisement What is brilliant about this audaciously ambitious work is that it is at once imaginative and unpretentious, uncompromising and affable, and hard to watch but impossible to look away. What is particularly maddening is Kushner's constant intertwining of diatribes with dialogue, reality with drug- and disease-induced fantasy, and horror with humor. Advertisement Also, most actors play multiple roles to demonstrate the elasticity of gender, social and cultural identities, as well as the implicitly theatrical nature of this work. And as our nation once again gravitates toward ignorance and intolerance regarding LGBTQ+ communities, this play is — as Hilton Als duly noted — necessary. Director McEleney and his designers fully embrace the necessary nature of this work by having it drive the show's production values. The permanent set that dominates the Gamm Theatre stage, courtesy of Patrick Lynch, resembles the kind of filthy public restrooms in New York City's Central Park that hosted clandestine homosexual encounters in the mid-1980s, complete with sterile gray tiling tagged with profane graffiti and hate speech. The introduction of simple furnishings — in line with the playwright's call for a 'pared-down style of presentation' to make the show an 'actor-driven event' — serve to establish the various locations in which this three-act play takes place, but with the reminder of the illicitly and risk of homosexuality always in the background. These scene-changing chairs and tables are brought onto and off of the stage while the previous scene is still taking place, which accentuates the intersecting lives of characters who have been touched by AIDS or by those infected by it. These include Prior's politically committed but not personally disconnected lover, Louis Ironson (Ben Steinfeld, whose powerful depiction of this guilt-ridden man is masterful); Roy Cohn, a toxic, high-profile prosecuting attorney and powerbroker who refuses to admit he is gay (a mesmerizing Tony Estrella); a closeted Mormon legal clerk (a superb Jeff Church, whose stiff posture and tailored suit (courtesy of designer David T. Howard) attempts but cannot contain this character's abundance of internal conflict); his emotionally unstable and Valium-addicted wife (Gabrielle McCauley, whose ability to phase in and out of her character's drug-induced revelations and humorous delusions (courtesy of lighting designer Jeff Adelberg) is dazzling); and an ex-drag queen named Belize (an always intriguing Rodney Witherspoon II). Advertisement Some of the best and most truthful acting moments occur on the periphery of these scenes, as characters linger before leaving the stage. There we find McCauley's Harper paralyzed and in tears, Church's Joe lost in his personal pain, and Regen's Prior and Steinfeld's Louis reflecting on their respective futures. Even after the play's opening scene, in which a eulogy of an old woman is presented, the incredible Phyllis Kay as Rabbi Isidor Chemelwitz stands frozen for a moment, overwhelmed by her own words. Just when you think that the acting on the Gamm Theatre stage could not get any better than that recently on display in ' A sign by the theater box office offers a warning about the play's profanity, brief nudity, and disturbing subject matter. Missing is mention of how 'Angels in America' is a cautionary tale that has come to fruition, which may very well be why this play's production is a late add to the already completed 2024/2025 season. Advertisement ANGELS IN AMERICA: PART ONE Play by Tony Kushner. Directed by Brian McEleney. At the Gamm Theatre, 1245 Jefferson Blvd., Warwick, R.I. Runs through June 15. Tickets $70-$80, plus fees. 401-723-4266, Bob Abelman is an award-winning theater critic who formerly wrote for the Austin Chronicle. Connect with him .
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Over 46% of state tribals face economic hardship: Survey
1 2 Ranchi: The indigenous communities of Jharkhand continue to face economic distress, with widespread migration, shrinking traditional livelihoods, and patchy access to govt welfare despite promises and policy formlations by successive govts. These issues were reported in the 'Indigenous Navigator Community Survey Report-2023', conducted by a think tank, Indigenous Navigator, and hosted by the Women and Gender Research Centre (WGRC) on Wednesday. The survey was conducted on Santhal, Ho, Munda, Oraon, and Kharia communities of 27 villages across Gumla, Simdega, Saraikela-Kharsawan, West Singhbhum, and Khunti districts. Economic and social security remain severely compromised, with over 46% of surveyed individuals living below the poverty line, and only half of the communities having access to social protection schemes such as pensions, maternity benefits, or food security entitlements, the study revealed. Migration is widespread, with 42.3% of young men and nearly 50% of young women, aged 15 to 24 years, leave their homes in search of work. A santhali representative from Gamharia, Seema Besra, said, "We are forced to migrate due to lack of job opportunities in our villages. There are no jobs and no training imparted to upgrade our skills, but only empty election promise." Only 8% of communities having full legal recognition over their ancestral lands and 81% reporting ongoing land conflicts, the study revealed. Mere formation of a separate state does not guarantee justice. "Even after 25 years of Jharkhand's creation, protective laws exist more in principle than in practice. The exploitation of indigenous communities continues," said Virginius Xaxa, an expert. Other issues included education gaps, with 88% reporting that tribal languages and histories are absent from school curricula, lack of access to govt and media, with 77% saying there is no tribal language content on state-run platforms, and limited awareness of legal rights, with over 65% lacking access to legal aid. WGRC representative Bineet Mundu stressed upon the need to implement development policies that are locally rooted and community-driven. "State interventions must go beyond tokenism. What indigenous communities need is dignified access to land, education, and economic opportunity, designed with their direct participation," he said. Another WGRC representative Elina spoke about the need for ground-level implementation of the PESA Act, secure land tenure, vocational training, and community-based development models. The consultation ended with a call for tangible, time-bound policy actions guided by Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) to uphold indigenous rights and economic dignity in Jharkhand.
Japan Today
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Japan Today
Ohtani faces hitters for 1st time since elbow surgery
Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani pitches during live batting practice before a baseball game against the New York Mets in New York on Sunday. baseball By MIKE FITZPATRICK Shohei Ohtani took a significant step Sunday toward making his pitching debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The two-way superstar faced hitters for the first time since elbow surgery, throwing 22 pitches at Citi Field a few hours before launching a leadoff homer for the NL West-leading Dodgers against the New York Mets. With dozens of reporters watching from the stands, Ohtani threw to five batters in a simulated setting — including teammates Hyeseong Kim and Dalton Rushing. 'I thought it was a good first step," manager Dave Roberts said. "Certainly exciting for all of us.' Roberts and pitching coach Mark Prior watched closely from the field. Prior said Ohtani's fastball ranged from 94-97 mph, and the right-hander also fired sinkers, cutters, two sweepers and a splitter. 'He threw his arsenal,' Prior said. 'The stuff is there.' Working from the windup and smiling between batters, Ohtani deftly snagged a comebacker, struck out two hitters and walked his final one in a session that lasted about 10 minutes. Kim lined a ball into the right-field corner that likely would have gone for a double or triple. 'He was moving the ball both sides of the plate,' Prior said. 'I think he got the awkward swings that you would want to see. You don't expect perfection the first time out. But I thought overall, again, it was a really good live BP.' J.T. Watkins, the Dodgers' game-planning and communication coach, also batted so Ohtani could face a right-handed hitter. Watkins struck out once — and later flipped his bat after drawing a walk. 'Obviously, we were having some fun out there,' Prior said. "I think today was great because (Ohtani) was able to keep the mood light but able to maintain some real stuff. ... He was loose, and it was all free and easy, so that's always a positive.' Teammates hooted and hollered from behind the batting cage, keeping the session lighthearted. And even Mets manager Carlos Mendoza came out to watch. 'He's special," Mendoza said. "He's getting ready to be the leadoff hitter for the Dodgers and four hours before the first pitch, he's throwing 95, 96 (mph) with a split. He's having fun. Yeah, that's what the game needs, players like that. It's just fun to be out there and watch him do his thing.' About 4 1/2 hours after Ohtani finished up on the mound, he drove Kodai Senga's second pitch 411 feet into the second deck in right field for his 18th home run of the season. It was his 16th career leadoff homer and fourth this year. Ohtani is recovering from surgery on Sept. 19, 2023, the second major operation on his right elbow since he arrived in the majors from Japan. He hasn't pitched in a big league game since Aug. 23, 2023, for the Los Angeles Angels. 'It looked good. He looks healthy,' Prior said. 'That's always the main thing with facing hitters, that he just feels confident, feels like his stamina's good and his endurance is good and he maintained his stuff. So I thought overall from that standpoint, it's a success. Pitch movement-wise looked great, too. So overall, it was a good outing.' Roberts speculated that Ohtani, contingent on how he feels, will likely throw a 'touch-and-feel' bullpen Wednesday and another round of live batting practice next weekend. The three-time MVP isn't expected to pitch in a major league game until after the All-Star break in mid-July. 'Still got a long way to go,' Prior said. Ohtani returned as a hitter last year after signing a then-record $700 million, 10-year contract with the Dodgers as a free agent and won his third MVP award by batting .310 with 54 homers, 130 RBIs and 59 stolen bases. Following left shoulder surgery on Nov. 4 to repair a labrum tear sustained during the World Series, Ohtani threw four bullpens at spring training from Feb. 15-25, then paused to prepare for opening day as a hitter. He resumed bullpen sessions on March 29. The designated hitter went into Sunday night's series finale against the Mets batting .296 with 31 RBIs and a 1.020 OPS. He had 11 stolen bases and was leading the majors with 53 runs for the defending World Series champions. Ohtani is 38-19 with a 3.01 ERA and 608 strikeouts in 481 2/3 innings during five seasons as a big league pitcher. He had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow Oct. 1, 2018, and returned to a major league mound on July 26, 2020, though he was limited to just two starts during the pandemic-shortened season. Ohtani is one of several high-profile Dodgers pitchers coming back from injuries. Clayton Kershaw made his season debut May 17 after recovering from foot and knee operations, but Blake Snell hasn't pitched since April 2 and Tyler Glasnow since April 27, both due to shoulder inflammation. AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum contributed to this report. © 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
7NEWS
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- 7NEWS
Professional baby namer Sonya Prior reveals her surprising list of names you should never give your child
Choosing a name for your child seems more art than science but that doesn't mean it doesn't have rules. Now, professional baby-namer Sonya Prior, known on TikTok as BB Namer, has shared her list of 10 banned baby names — telling expectant parents they should reconsider if they've settled on one of these monikers. Speaking to 7NEWS on Thursday, New Zealand-based Prior, who also works in financial services, said she started as a baby name consultant back in 2023, with the side hustle quickly taking off. Prior said top of her 'banned list' is any name which is 'too artillery heavy' such as Cannon or Gunner. 'The Egyptian name Isis, which means throne, and Swastika, which is a Sanskrit name meaning good fortune, are beautiful but have been co-opted by exceptionally terrible periods from world history so are rather understandably off the table,' she said. Prior also warned parents to steer clear of names with heavy religious connotations. 'I personally don't recommend the name Cohen due to its Judaism significance and Bodhi for its importance within Buddhism,' she said. Prior added names that are too sweet often do not work later in life. 'Honey is a name that is growing in popularity,' she said. 'I'm not mad at it as a middle name, however, those sweet, term-of-endearment names such as Sugar and Honey aren't ones I readily suggest.' Prior said 'any distinctive #booktok TikTok boyfriend names such as Xaden, Cassian and Lorcan' are also on the banned list for her. BookTok is a TikTok group discussion about books. 'Although established #booktok boyfriend names, think Dorian and Rowan, are thankfully in the clear,' she said. And rounding out her list, she said: 'Gratefully, I think the name Adolf is extinct.' What to consider when naming your baby? Prior said parents should take 'absolutely everything' on board when choosing a baby name. 'The people you want to involve in this decision, usually just mum and dad, mum and mum or dad and dad. 'But it has become a bit of a public sphere, so there's 101 things to contend with depending on how broad you want to keep it.' How much does it cost? The costs of a professional baby-namer vary. For a public TikTok consultation, it costs $180. For a private consultation, it's $150 A middle name is slightly cheaper at $100 while a name list review is $120. All prices are in New Zealand dollars. Professional baby-namer's banned list 1. Cannon 2. Gunner 3. Isis 4. Cohen 5. Bodhi 6. Honey 7. Xaden 8. Cassian 9. Lorcan 10. Adolf
