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Irish Daily Mirror
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Samantha Mumba calls for Late Late Show Eurosong to be axed
Singer Samantha Mumba has stood by her comments surrounding the Eurosong – saying she believes the Late Late Show special should be axed. The Gotta Tell You hitmaker was one of several artists hoping to represent Ireland in this year's Eurovision Song Contest, but ultimately lost out to Norwegian singer Emmy, with her song, Laika Party. Emmy since went on to fly the flag for Ireland in Basel but failed to qualify for the final. But the Eurosong became shrouded in controversy when days after the competition ended, Mumba hit out of the panel of judges – who included Donal Skehan and Arthur Gourounlian – claiming they didn't have enough credentials to be on the judging panel, with the exception of previous Eurovision entry Bambie Thug. Reflecting on the row, Mumba said she stands by her comments. Speaking to RTÉ Radio One's Brendan O'Connor Show, the singer said it was 'a very, very personal thing' for her to enter the competition and she wanted to step out of her comfort zone. 'So even doing that, and doing a song competition, isn't something that I had on my bingo list at 42 at all." She said it would have been 'ego' to believe she should not have been competing in a contest, adding: 'And it's a song competition, and I wouldn't want to represent Ireland with a song that Ireland didn't want either or do something.' She said: 'I think fair is fair, and I think if that's the process, then that's what it was. "And honestly, I was just proud of myself for doing it because it definitely wouldn't have been something that I would've been necessarily even thinking I would have the balls to do it, if I'm being totally honest, like, a few years ago. No, I loved the process of all of it." On whether she was surprised about the reaction her post on the process received, she said that 'everybody's entitled to an opinion'. "And I was a bit surprised - that wasn't even the focus. Like, I think I just... What I wrote was just at the end of the post. The focus of the post was actually just thanking everybody on the team who'd worked so hard on it. "I didn't see what the big deal was." She added that she is not on social media very often so was not aware that the post would generate the reaction it did. "But I mean, I certainly stand by what I said. I don't take it back. "I think, you know, fair is fair, if people can give their opinion on national television, surely I'm allowed to give my opinion on my own Instagram page. I think that's fair." The singer also said she believes the Eurosong should be separated from the Late Late Show into a separate programme. "I love the variety of it. I love kind of the process that it's open to everybody," she said. "I think if I had one immediate one, I would think that it should be its own show, and it definitely should be televised in a music venue that is set up for singers."
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
‘If people can give their opinion on TV, surely I can give my opinion on Instagram' – Samantha Mumba stands by Eurosong comments
She admitted she was a 'bit surprised' that her Instagram post had generated the reaction it did when she hit out at the panel of commentators after the show. Her song My Way was not selected to represent Ireland at the Eurovision in Basel last month. The competition was won by Norwegian singer Emmy (24) and her song Laika Party, which ultimately failed to qualify for the Eurovision grand final last month. The Irish entry ranked in the bottom four contestants in the the semi-final, receiving just 28 points. Mumba generated a social media storm when she criticised the panel – with the exception of previous Eurovision entry Bambie Thug – for not having the 'credentials, experience or professionalism required' to take on the role. She also made some other remarks, including her 'parting gift' to the panel, which was 'a bag of [emoji] to slowly choke on'. The emoji Mumba used was the aubergine icon. Donal Skehan, who was on the panel alongside radio presenter Laura Fox and dancer Arthur Gourounlian, called the comments 'completely unprofessional'. Mumba said in a follow-up post that her comments were 'never about me not winning' and that she felt strongly that the panel were 'dismissive of all the contestants, which was disappointing given the amount of work and passion we all put into our performances'. Speaking to RTÉ Radio One's Brendan O'Connor Show this morning, the singer said it was 'a very, very personal thing' for her to enter the competition and she wanted to step out of her comfort zone. 'So even doing that, and doing a song competition, isn't something that I had on my bingo list at 42 at all." She said it would have been 'ego' to believe she should not have been competing in a contest, adding: 'And it's a song competition, and I wouldn't want to represent Ireland with a song that Ireland didn't want either or do something.' ADVERTISEMENT She said: 'I think fair is fair, and I think if that's the process, then that's what it was. "And honestly, I was just proud of myself for doing it because it definitely wouldn't have been something that I would've been necessarily even thinking I would have the balls to do it, if I'm being totally honest, like, a few years ago. No, I loved the process of all of it." On whether she was surprised about the reaction her post on the process received, she said that 'everybody's entitled to an opinion'. "And I was a bit surprised - that wasn't even the focus. Like, I think I just... What I wrote was just at the end of the post. The focus of the post was actually just thanking everybody on the team who'd worked so hard on it. "I didn't see what the big deal was." She added that she is not on social media very often so was not aware that the post would generate the reaction it did. "But I mean, I certainly stand by what I said. I don't take it back. "I think, you know, fair is fair, if people can give their opinion on national television, surely I'm allowed to give my opinion on my own Instagram page. I think that's fair." The singer also said she believes the Eurosong should be separated from the Late Late Show into a separate programme. "I love the variety of it. I love kind of the process that it's open to everybody," she said. "I think if I had one immediate one, I would think that it should be its own show, and it definitely should be televised in a music venue that is set up for singers."
Extra.ie
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Inside Miriam O'Callaghan's family life as RTE presenter to release memoir
Miriam O'Callaghan is one of the country's most recognisable broadcasters. The RTÉ presenter, who's been with the national broadcaster for over three decades after working in the BBC, has worn many hats over the years — including hosting Saturday Night with Miriam, Sunday with Miriam on RTÉ Radio One, and Prime Time — making her one of the most well-known presenters on RTÉ. Now, Miriam has announced that she will be releasing a memoir in October, admitting that she is 'really nervous' about telling her story. Sharing the news on social media, she wrote: 'At first I planned it to be just about my work as a journalist, but I soon realised it was impossible to separate the personal and professional parts of my life, that's why it's about life, work and everything. 'In truth I am really nervous about telling my story, that's probably why it took me so long to write it. All I hope is that people will read it and find it interesting, authentic, entertaining and hopeful.' But what of her personal life? Miriam O'Callaghan at the IFTA Awards 2025 at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre. Pic: Brian McEvoy Miriam was born in Foxrock, Dublin in 1960, and is the elder sister of the Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan. Her younger sister Anne passed away from cancer, aged just 33. Her father Jerry was a civil servant in the Department of Energy, but tragically and suddenly passed away from a stroke in 1995. Miriam went on to study law in UCD, and completed a post-grad in European Law — qualifying as a solicitor in 1983. From there, she went on to work as a researcher for a production company after moving to London with her then-husband, poet Tom McGurk — with the pair sharing four daughters together before splitting in 1995. Miriam and her second husband Steve Carson met while working for the BBC, marrying in 2000 and sharing four sons. Pic: Eamonn Farrell/ After Miriam and Tom called time on their marriage, Miriam met her now husband Steve Carson when they both worked on BBC Newsnight — falling 'head over heels' for each other while working on a film about the Irish Potato Famine. However, Miriam ended up going back to Ireland to care for her sister Anne, while Steve remained in the UK — although he was more than understanding of why Miriam had to head home, as he had also lost his mother to cancer when he was a young child. The pair went on to marry in 2000, and after having four girls in her first marriage, Miriam and Steve had four sons — totalling eight children altogether for the broadcaster. Steve currently works for the BBC, with Miriam saying that despite the long distance relationship she wants her husband to be happy. Pic: VIP Ireland With Miriam's career thriving in the national broadcaster, Steve began working behind the scenes — becoming RTÉ's Television Director of Programs in 2009. He was then made the editor of current affairs, and Director of Video, before returning to the BBC where he became BBC NI's Head of Production. He was also heavily involved in launching BBC Scotland back in 2019, with Miriam admitting that a long-distance relationship was tough with her in Dublin and Steve in Scotland. 'I think what matters is that you both end up doing something that you love so that you feel fulfilled,' Miriam told RSVP at the time. 'You've only got one life and I don't want to be on my deathbed wondering what I did with my life. I want to fill every moment of it doing what I enjoy. 'I want my husband Steve to be happy to be able to do what he wants and we are back together before you know it, the week apart flies.' In 2021, Miriam became a grandmother for the first time — after her daughter Alannah McGurk welcomed her first child, a daughter named Éabha, into the world. Speaking on being a grandmother, Miriam said that Éabha was a 'magnificent little girl,' and revealed that Éabha's middle name was a touching tribute to her late sister. 'As you know I have always been careful not to talk about my children and I am conscious that she is not my child, but what I will tell you is that she is a magnificent little girl,' Miriam told VIP at the time. 'She is ten months old, her name is Éabha Anne; they named her Anne after my late sister, and she is divine. I absolutely love her.'
Irish Examiner
31-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Anthony Daly: Another Nowlan Park loss to Tipp would be apocalyptic for Kilkenny
When I got a text last Sunday off Shane McGrath, the former Tipp player and current RTÉ Radio One pundit, to inform me that today's All-Ireland U20 final was fixed for Nowlan Park, I immediately thought, 'Whoa!'. In my mind, Tipperary were favourites but the setting suddenly added another layer of complexity to predicting the outcome, while also adding another layer of intrigue to this final. This is exclusive subscriber content. Already a subscriber? Sign in Subscribe to access all of the Irish Examiner. Annual €120€60 Best value Monthly €10€4 / month Unlimited access. Subscriber content. Daily ePaper. Additional benefits.
Extra.ie
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Bono responds to backlash over accepting Medal of Freedom from Joe Biden
Bono has defended his decision to accept the US Presidential Medal of Freedom from former President Joe Biden earlier this year. The U2 frontman received the award in January alongside 18 others, including former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and footballer Lionel Messi. The announcement was met with backlash from some activists and commentators, who questioned Bono's acceptance of the honour given the Biden administration's military support for Israel. In an interview this weekend with Brendan O'Connor on RTÉ Radio One, Bono addressed the controversy, saying, 'Being a conscientious objector with somebody else's conscience is quite a stretch.' He explained that his relationship with President Biden spans more than two decades, during which they worked closely on several global humanitarian issues. These include the Drop the Debt campaign of the 1990s, efforts to increase aid to developing nations, and expanding universal access to antiretroviral HIV medications. Bono has defended his decision to accept the US Presidential Medal of Freedom from former President Joe Biden earlier this year. Pic:'This is a man who I have deep respect for and a real relationship with,' Bono said. He also responded to specific criticisms about US military aid to Israel, noting that many critics may not realise the aid package Biden signed in April 2024 was a bundled bill – one that included funding for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. The largest portion of the $95 billion package was allocated to Ukraine, but Biden reiterated his strong support for Israel when announcing it. 'In fact, there was an attempt to decouple them, but Biden knew he wouldn't get it through Congress,' Bono explained. 'These are complex affairs.' While acknowledging the suffering in Gaza, Bono pushed back against the idea that accepting the award implied support for US policy in the region. While acknowledging the suffering in Gaza, Bono pushed back against the idea that accepting the award implied support for US policy in the region. Pic:'Anyone who thinks I'm not shocked and appalled by what's going on in Gaza, and the children of Gaza…' he began, before criticising what he called 'competitive empathy' – the idea that one person's moral outrage must outweigh another's. 'It's such a strange thing, this competitive empathy that's going around: 'I feel this wound more than you, and my emergency is more important than your emergency.' Bono ended by saying he accepted the award not for himself, but as a gesture to activists and aid workers, including those suffering or risking their lives in conflict zones like Gaza. 'I kind of get the realpolitik of the situation that Joe Biden found himself in.' 'I took that medal on behalf of all those people who don't get medals – the activists, the people getting killed now in Gaza.'
