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Sunday World
4 days ago
- Health
- Sunday World
Donncha O'Callaghan on why he's embracing the ‘dad bod' after 20 years as an athlete
'Like, who gives a s**t that you're PB-ing at 46?'' The former rugby star is now better known as a radio and TV presenter after retiring from the game in 2018. And the father-of-four says he's loving his more laidback diet and exercise regime after 20 years as an elite athlete. Donncha O'Callaghan with Maverick Hernandez Sanchez, Alicia Ottun and Katie and Ellie Talbot 'It's not sustainable,' Donncha reflects on his sporting prime. 'I'm gone the other way totally with that — I'm fully embracing it. 'Within professional circles, it's very easy to be on top of things — your nutrition is looked after, all your physio and deep tissue massage. 'It isn't until you come away that you get an appreciation for how difficult it is. 'From rugby, it's mad, you don't see, like, a chicken breast — that's 40 grams of protein. You see two scoops of rice or pasta as 50 grams of carbohydrates. Rugby legend turned TV personality Donncha O'Callaghan News in 90 Seconds - May 30th '[You're] looking at the nutrients as opposed to, 'Oh my God, that tastes amazing!' 'To be fair, it's quite enjoyable, because there's no accountability, there's no DEXA scans, there's no millimetres and skin folds of fat, so you can be a bit looser,' he continues. 'I look at some of my teammates and they're in better condition now than when they were playing. 'What a waste that was … like, when we needed you to be in incredible shape, you weren't!' Munster legend Donncha shares four children with engineer wife, Jenny Harte: Sophie (14), Anna (12), Robin (11) and Jake (9). Donncha with his family So he's thrown his towering 6ft 6ins support behind Tesco Ireland's new Stronger Starts Cooks initiative, a free six-week programme aimed at supporting children's health and wellbeing, which is set to be delivered to almost 3,000 pupils across 42 primary schools this year. 'Looking at this research, 92 per cent of parents felt they'd love more cooking within the curriculum,' he quotes a survey conducted by the store, 'and we feel the same. 'It isn't until you go into secondary [school] that you start to pick up Home Economics, if you're into it. 'Other than that, there isn't a whole lot of knowledge about it. So I think it's a good thing if you can do it, and family-wise, get around. Donncha runs out of Ireland 'The big one we do is, if we're doing a roast on a Sunday, everyone gets involved with different things. So Robin, my little girl, makes the best stuffing in the world, and Anna is a dinger at mashed potato. But then, honestly, it's like something you'd see with Gordon Ramsay — if the mash isn't good, everyone's telling her!' The popular host is now also home for breakfast after leaving RTÉ 2FM after five years on the air last year. And the 46-year-old, who quit just weeks after co-host Doireann Garrihy, maintains it was the right call. 'I don't miss the early hours, it was really cruel,' says Donncha, who was also flanked by Carl Mullan on the Breakfast Show. 'If I was in Dublin, I was up at three. 'But I do miss that team, and obviously Doireann and Carl I love to bits, so I do miss hanging around with them. 'I actually do miss presenting a little bit as well, I didn't think I would… but I think it's something you have to enjoy doing. Donncha on Ireland's Fittest Family 'With breakfast radio, you can't bullsh*t it — you have to be a morning person.' On TV, Donncha also joined the Ireland's Fittest Family line-up as a coach back in 2017. But the Cork native reveals how he'd secretly love to take part in another reality TV hit as a competitor. 'We love The [Great British] Bake Off, genuinely,' tells the star, who watched Tommy Tiernan's turn on the recent Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer on Channel 4. 'Like, we're addicted to it. 'I'd certainly love to give something like that [a go]. But, then again, I can't cope when it goes wrong. 'The kids all love baking, and they're good. 'I wish I was better at sticking with the process, but I'll always come up with some way of [taking shortcuts] — if the cake's ready in 20 minutes at 180C, if I crank it up to 200C, it'll be done in ten.' Read more Although he still weight trains, as much for mind as body, the Ireland rugby great laughs that he hasn't succumbed to the Hyrox craze: 'I slag a few of my friends that do it. 'If I could still do stuff like that, I'd be playing. But I do an awful lot of what I like doing. 'I train with a few buddies of mine — I'm actually training with [former Ireland rugby international] Tomás O'Leary at the moment. 'One thing I learned is I don't need to go to the well all the time. 'Whereas rugby, you finish empty — no matter what you do, you max out. 'It happened me on holidays, I was lifting weights, and I tried to go after a few weights that I hit on before and threw out my back, and I was no good for a week on the water slides. 'Like, who gives a s**t that you're PB-ing at 46?'
Irish Daily Mirror
25-05-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Former RTE 2FM star 'taken advantage of' as she avoids jail over laundering scam
Former 2FM DJ Nikki Hayes has said she was 'taken advantage of' as she opened up about avoiding jail over a money laundering scam. The Dubliner, who had her own show on RTÉ 2FM from 2003 to 2010, avoided a criminal conviction and jail time last October for her part in a money-laundering scam after the court accepted that she was a vulnerable person who was taken advantage of. The court was told the money - about €15,000 lodged into her bank account as part of a laundering scam — had been repaid and Nikki had not gained financially. The judge also said she had shown a complete turnaround and would not serve any sentence or have a criminal record. Opening up about the court case, Nikki – whose real name is Eimear O'Keeffe - said: "You're locked away in rehab for months and then suddenly you're out and there's cameras in your face. 'My key worker was with me and she held my hand and said, 'Just keep praying until we get to the car', and as we walked there was a guy with a TV camera who ran up behind us and I just kept praying and praying until I got in." Some people trolled her about the case on social media. "It's been proven, the Garda from the fraud squad said at the court case that I was genuinely taken advantage of and had nothing to do with what happened, which is why I was discharged from the indictment," she said. Nikki also told the Sunday Independent that she ended up homeless in 2023 after she lost her job and got in with the wrong crowd. She admitted she had been drinking during her days as an RTÉ radio DJ but that she was 'scarily high-functioning' and drank six bottles of wine per day as she broadcast her radio show from home during the Covid-19 pandemic. When she became homeless in 2023, she used to sleep in the doorway of the Penneys store on O'Connell Street or on a bench near the Jervis shopping centre. 'I had a blue sleeping bag with cardboard underneath. That cold feeling when you're so wet and you feel dirty... it was just horrendous.' She said she hit rock bottom one night as she watched a crowd of people pass her coming out of a nightclub, and she felt 'invisible'. Nikki said: 'I felt so ashamed and dirty and like a piece of trash, and then two Gardaí walked by and they didn't even look at me.' The 46-year-old has since gone through an 18-month rehabilitation programme in Tiglin to detox herself from drugs and alcohol. Now that she is back on track, Nikki added that her 12-year-old daughter is keeping her motivated. 'I have my daughter, she has her mother present now, and that's what's important,' she added.
RTÉ News
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
All the celebrity looks & winners from the VIP Style Awards 2025
The annual Platinum VIP Style Awards took place tonight at the InterContinental Hotel in Dublin's Ballsbridge, once again inviting Ireland's biggest style stars to dress to the nines. Presenters, broadcasters, influencers, and famous faces brought glitz and glam to the red carpet for the 22nd year of the hotly anticipated event. Ireland's most fashionable celebrities were in attendance, including the presenter of the awards, RTÉ 2FM presenter Laura Fox. Other guests included Jennifer Zamparelli, Celia Holman Lee, Kathryn Thomas, Lottie & Bonnie Ryan, Blathnaid Treacy, Muireann O'Connell, Katja Mia, Anna Daly, Rosanna Davison, Arthur Gourounlian, Zara King, Roz Purcell and many more. And the winners are… Ireland's Most Stylish Woman - Muireann O'Connell Style Icon of the Year - Noel Cunningham Ireland's Most Stylish Man - James Patrice Ireland's Most Stylish Influencer – Maeve Madden Ireland's Most Stylish Newcomer – Kayleigh Trappe The Look of the Year Award – Rosanna Davison Favourite Irish Designer Award – Sinead Keary Ireland's Favourite Stylist – Mandy Maher Most Sustainable Style – Courtney Smith Best Dressed on the Night – Lynn Kelly Click through the photo gallery above to see all the red carpet looks from the night.
Irish Independent
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
‘She'll be with me, like a handprint on my heart' – Virgin Media presenter pays tribute to sister following her death
The gaeilgeoir, who presents popular podcast 'How To Gael' is also one of the weekend presenters on Ireland AM. Taking to Instagram, she shared the tragic news of her sister Úna's unexpected death. 'My sister Úna passed away two weeks ago. My beautiful, wildly intelligent and annoyingly driven sister died, and I'm heartbroken,' she captioned a carousel of pictures shared to Instagram. 'Ní chreidim é fós. Growing up, we were never without each other. In our teenage years, we absolutely killed each other – as sisters do. 'As adults, we accepted each other for exactly who we are and I'm so proud of everything she achieved in her too-short life. 'My family and I can't thank everyone enough for the support we've received since. The sandwiches, lasagnas, cakes. The chats, hugs, stories, touches of hands. 'We have the most amazing network of friends, neighbours, colleagues and of course family. 'Go raibh míle maith agaibh. We've been blown away and so sincerely touched by the kindness of people. 'It reminds me of white blood cells, rushing to fight off infection. Community, rushing to help ease the pain. 'Now, we face a new normal without her. But she'll be with me – like a handprint on my heart. It'll never not be; Úna agus Síomha.' ADVERTISEMENT Úna passed away unexpectedly at her home in London on April 20. 'A beloved daughter of Damhnait and Dermot and dear sister to Síomha, Aedín and her brother-in-law Cathal,' her death notice reads. 'Úna's passing is a huge loss to the family. Deeply regretted by her wider family; aunts, uncles, cousins and her good friends in both the UK and Ireland.' Her funeral was held at St Patrick's Church, in Esker, Lucan on Tuesday morning, followed by burial in Esker Lawn Cemetery, Lucan. Tributes poured in, remembering her as bright, clever and funny. RTÉ 2FM presenter Roz Purcell said: 'Thinking of you and your family.' Doireann Garrihy added: 'So incredibly sorry for your loss Síomha. Sending you all the love.' 'What a beautiful tribute to Úna, one of the most intelligent and talented people I have ever been fortunate enough to know,' one school friend shared. 'When I remember her, I remember us singing songs from Wicked and Hairspray in the hallways of Coláiste Cois Life. She was never without a song. My utmost sympathies to her family and love from Germany.' Another mourner added: 'Deepest condolences to you Damhnait, Dermot, Síomha, Aedín & Cathal on the sudden and heart-breaking loss of Úna. The funeral mass was beautiful and you did her proud. 'Thinking of you all at this saddest of times and sending strength your way. Always remember to never forget all the countless happy times & memories and let them carry you through.' Another shared: 'Deepest sympathies on the passing of beautiful Una. I was so saddened to hear the news, and I am thinking of you all during this incredibly sad time. 'I have very happy memories of Una during our time studying physics and maths at Maynooth University. One of the smartest and brightest people I have ever met. She will be really missed.'
Irish Independent
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
‘It became therapeutic for him and me' - RTÉ's Claire Byrne says of unusual method for cleaning her dog Cooper
Rather than waiting for her Labrador Cooper to shed his hair off onto the floor, Byrne decided to go directly to the source and hoover up the hair straight off his back. Sharing her experience on Instagram, Byrne posted a video of herself hoovering Cooper with the caption 'Just the thing for the Bank Holiday Monday night fear. Cooper having a hoover groom.' After sharing the video on her Instagram on Monday, Byrne joined Doireann Garrihy on RTÉ 2FM's drivetime programme to discuss the unusual cleaning technique. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content "I always wanted to be on 2FM but I had to hoover my dog to get on,' she joked as she joined the show. "About a year ago, I was hoovering the stairs and he tends to sit halfway up. He wasn't moving, he was kind of like, lazily watching me do it. And I just said 'Oh, he seems to enjoy the hoover, so I'll just try it on his back'. 'I don't know how I thought of this but I'll try it on his back, right. So that day, I did it and he sat there and he loved it. And then I forgot about it for a while, and then yesterday I was hoovering. "You know bank holidays, it's the day to get in under the rads and the corners and the bits. And there he was in my face again, breathing in my face.' Byrne said she hasn't checked the hoover bag yet but she thinks there's 'enough hair in that bag to knit another dog'. She said she was unsure if hoovering Cooper was the right thing to do and invited guidance from experts, while admitting 'it became therapeutic' both for herself and the Labrador. "Well, it's either that or hoover up after him so I am going to the source. I'm hoovering it off his ass rather than any fall off his ass into the corners,' Byrne's RTÉ colleague, Miriam O'Callaghan, commented: 'Just love this so much! Claire's dog Cooper looks like the happiest dog in the world'.
