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Irish Examiner
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Irish Examiner view: Guinness and co are in need of a masterplan
Netflix may have its critics, but its sense of timing is usually good. Whether that is positive news for the Guinness brewing dynasty, and the brand's parent company Diageo, is something we will discover next month. That's when a new eight-part drama hits our screens recounting the creation of a global business empire which has become synonymous with Ireland. The House of Guinness is set in 19th-century Dublin and New York and unfolds the complexities of a Succession-style plot following the death of Benjamin Guinness and the Machiavellian impact of his will on the lives of his four adult children: Arthur, Edward, Ann, and Ben. The vice-president in charge of content at Netflix explained the attraction of the story: '...wealth, poverty, power, influence, and great tragedy are all intertwined to create a rich tapestry of material to draw from. I've always been fascinated by their stories, and am excited to bring the characters to life for the world to see.' That responsibility falls to someone with an impressive CV in shows with cult potential — the writer Steven Knight who has delivered memorable scripts for SAS Rogue Heroes and, of course, Peaky Blinders, the iconic six-instalment series which showcased the adventures of a mixed heritage Birmingham, Romany, and Irish gang in the UK in the years following the First World War. There's an impressive cast, with a major role undertaken by James Norton, who played the chilling sociopath Tommy Lee Royce from Happy Valley, exchanging his (natural) West Riding accent for training in the tones of 19th-century Dublin. Norton plays Seán Rafferty, a company hardman whose job it is to keep the Guinness workforce on their toes. Other cast members include Dervla Kirwan, Anthony Boyle, and Cork-born actor Jack Gleeson, memorable for his portrayal of the sinister and sadistic Joffrey Baratheon in Game of Thrones. Knight has a ready plotline should he be tempted to use it with the emergence of southern rivals, Beamish and Murphy's, who bridle against the dominance of the capital city's favourite tipple. But perhaps he has already been there and done that with his account of the power struggles between the Shelbys, the Sabinis, and Alfie Solomons's Camden Town gang. Whether Guinness benefits from this publicity, and whether it is brand-enhancing, we will be able to discern more clearly by late autumn. But it comes during a period when there have been some uncharacteristic lapses in the company's usual stately progress. On the plus side, it ousted Budweiser in 2024 to commence a four-year stint as 'the official beer of the Premier League'. It is also the 'official beer' of the Six Nations international rugby competition. This week it moved further into club competition by agreeing separate partnerships with Arsenal and Newcastle, the latter in a city which has its own legendary beverage, Newkie Broon ale. While Guinness may be everywhere, with countless memes about 'splitting the G', there are signs of shareholder discontent with its parent company. It is less than a month since its CEO Debra Crew stepped down without a succession plan. Ms Crew, who had been in place since June 2023, received a total pay package equivalent to €4.17m for the financial year ending June 30. The company's shares have lost a third of their value since the summer of 2023. Diageo reported a drop in both sales and profits in the six months ended December 2024, according to figures released this week. This was despite growth in demand for Guinness which resulted in supplies running out or being rationed in the UK last Christmas. We all noted the news that spending by Cork's hurling fans plummeted by 13% on July 20, the day of the All-Ireland defeat by Tipperary. No doubt the reason for raising a glass by some visitors to Dublin was undermined by that dispiriting defeat. It's down to Oasis fans to make up for that shortfall with the concerts in the city today and tomorrow, and there's every chance that they will. But for Guinness and Diageo, a renewal of confidence requires, in the words of Noel Gallagher, a masterplan. And just like that, soccer is back It may stick in the throat of GAA diehards but there won't be many Irish sports fans who haven't noticed that, with the appearance of champions Liverpool at Anfield last night, the Premier League is back.. And so, after one apparently interminable season, we are about to commence on another which will finish on July 19, 11 months from now, with the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New York and another photobomb opportunity for US president Donald Trump. Before then, there will be 380 games in the Premier League plus countless subsidiary divisions; the League of Ireland; the Champions League; the Europa League; the Conference League; assorted cup competitions; and internationals, friendly and otherwise. Plus the burgeoning and increasingly popular women's game. No wonder Sky is pioneering a new multi-view service which allows you to watch four games at once. A small hint to broadcasters. This isn't enough for computer game veterans who are adept at multitasking. And where's the soco-bot which can be sent out to watch all the matches the viewer doesn't want ... those 0-0s on a rainy night in Stoke? Arguments over identifying ethnic origins There is no indication, as yet, of any great support for the proposition that the ethnicity or nationality of suspects should be drawn to the attention of the general public at the point at which they are charged and enter the criminal justice system. Indeed, the whole issue of court procedure is one on which there are wildly varying opinions. One contributor to the Irish Examiner this week took the view that defendants should not be named until a trial has ended, and only when a conviction is secured. The media (and social media), he wrote, 'could lead the way by doing the right thing and have a shred of humanity and not name or identify any suspect unless or until they have been found guilty of the crime with which they were charged'. While it is possible to construct mighty arguments around this proposition, it is enough to note that ordinary people are thinking about the administration of justice and whether it can be made better. Or, given the law of unforseen consequences, worse. In Ireland, An Garda Síochána does not usually release the ethnicity of individuals charged with crimes. Sometimes restrictions are cited for reasons of privacy or data protection, although these arguments are increasingly governed by the law of diminishing returns for some citizens. There are exceptions where it is deemed necessary to assist investigations or head off potential public order problems stimulated by the circulation of misinformation. In Britain, the College of Policing and National Police Chiefs' Council says forces should consider releasing the ethnicity and nationality of suspects at the point of charge. This follows mounting public concerns and is part of a review to ensure processes are fit for purpose in an age of rapid information spread. The touchstone was last year's knife murders of three small children and serious injuries to 10 others at a Taylor Swift dance class in Southport. The murderer, 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana, was born in Cardiff to an evangelical family from Rwanda. In the information vacuum which followed his arrest, Britain experienced serious rioting. That data blackout is now perceived as a serious error of judgement. The complexities were underlined this week when the family of six-year-old Bebe King, one of the three girls killed, urged ministers to reconsider their support for disclosing the ethnicity of serious crime suspects. Michael Weston King, the victim's grandfather, said such information is 'completely irrelevant', and that 'mental health issues and the propensity to commit crime happens in any ethnicity, nationality, or race'. This is true, but we would be naïve to think that such demands for 'disclosure' and 'transparency' will not gather strength in our own country. Each one of us, rather like our letter writer on Monday, must decide where we stand.
Wales Online
17-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Wales Online
Incredible house with secret hobbit home hidden under the garden
Bored of normal, standard and 'boxy' extensions that give you more much needed space but are uninspiring? Maybe there's an alternative that will surprise as well as delight. This incredible home can help you with the tedium of both of these scenarios because it has thrown boring out and brought inspiration in and increased its floorplan by extending underground to create a series of 'hobbit homes' and secret spaces under an unassuming grassy mound in the garden. The entrance to this Welsh long house, thought to date back to around 1728, is surely unique - the circular shape, glass frontage and grass covered roof makes you think that when you knock the door you wouldn't be surprised to see Bilbo Baggins answering. The hobbit house style front door and entrance hall is a flavour of the imaginative house that waits to delight you within. For more property stories sent to your inbox twice a week sign up to the property newsletter here READ MORE: Beautiful Romany wagon tucked away in wildflower meadow by river with brown trout and otters From the stunning tubular hallway, with curved, white-washed ceiling, you can wander into the longhouse or carry on down the tunnel to find the underground rooms. This architecturally striking extension spans 28 metres and includes a utility room and WC. The first of three bedrooms features a porthole window, hinting at the nautical inspiration behind the engineering and materials used to craft this remarkable space. Further along, a central snug provides a cosy area that showcases the architectural elements of the property. This space serves as the access point to the bedrooms and bathrooms. The master bedroom exudes a warm and inviting atmosphere. Its curved walls and soft lighting foster a serene and relaxed ambiance, while practical amenities including a walk-in wardrobe, an en-suite, and French doors leading to an outdoor seating area nestled within landscaped gardens. The largest bedroom boasts a walk-in wardrobe and gaming area, with a shower conveniently located nearby. Doors open onto a stunning sunken garden, blanketed in heather. Thoughtfully designed by the current owners, the house with the Middle Earth subterranean extension totally fulfils their dream to create a home that sympathetically blends into the landscape surrounding it The house has just sold with Fine & Country North Wales while on the market for offers over £900,000 but it is totally free to rip off the owners' amazing subterranean design at your own abode - even if it is just a home office hidden in your garden. For more property stories and home content join our Amazing Welsh Homes Facebook group here.
Mint
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Stolen in 5 minutes: Thieves get jailed for stealing 18-carat gold toilet, called America: Check how much it's worth
Two men from Oxford have been jailed for stealing a £4.8 million ($6.5 million) gold toilet. The crime took place during an art show at Blenheim Palace in 2019. The solid 18-carat gold toilet is called America. It was stolen just after a launch party at the palace. The artwork was created by Italian visual artist Maurizio Cattelan, who became popular after creating the viral artwork of a fresh banana duct-taped to a wall. James Sheen, 40, admitted to burglary and selling the stolen gold. Michael Jones, 39, was found guilty of burglary, the BBC reported. Sheen was sentenced to four years, and Jones got two years and three months. The court called it a 'bold and brazen' theft that took just over five minutes. Sheen's DNA, gold pieces in his clothes and messages on his phone helped convict him. Senior crown prosecutor Shan Saunders said it was rare to find so much information on one phone. During the trial, jurors heard voice notes from Sheen to Fred Doe, who was earlier found guilty of planning to sell the stolen gold toilet. The messages were hard to understand because they used coded words, Romany slang and Cockney rhyming slang. Sheen used 'car' as a code for gold. " The car is what it is mate, innit? The car is as good as money," the BBC quoted him as saying. Just two weeks after the theft, Sheen sold 20kg of gold for £520,000 ($707,200). He had a long criminal past, having been jailed at least six times since 2005. Sheen is already serving 19 years for other crimes and will now serve an extra four years for this heist. Jones, who has a criminal past, visited Blenheim Palace twice before the theft. On Sheen's order, he booked a slot to use the toilet, took photos and checked the layout. He later called the golden toilet 'splendid'. Judge Ian Pringle KC said Jones had helped plan the theft by mapping the fastest way in and out. Detective Superintendent Bruce Riddell called Sheen the mastermind, who wanted to 'make money by any means necessary'. "Jones also played a key part in the burglary, as he carried out two recces at Blenheim Palace in the days leading up to the burglary, and it is our belief that he also was there on the night," Riddell said.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
Two men jailed for £4.8m gold toilet heist
Two men have been jailed for stealing a £4.8m gold toilet from from an art exhibition at Blenheim Palace. Thieves smashed their way in and ripped out the functional 18-carat, solid gold toilet hours after a glamorous launch party at the Oxfordshire stately home in September 2019. James 'Jimmy' Sheen, 40, pleaded guilty to burglary, transferring criminal property and conspiracy to do the same in 2024, while Michael Jones, 39, was found guilty of burglary in March. The men, from Oxford, were sentenced to four years and two years and three months in prison respectively. Sheen was a key player in the heist - a career criminal and the only man convicted of both burglary and selling the gold. He pleaded guilty last year after police found his DNA at the scene and gold fragments in his clothing. Police also recovered his phone which contained a wealth of incriminating messages. Shan Saunders, the senior crown prosecutor on the case, said it was "unusual to have a phone that when downloaded contains so much information". During the trial, jurors heard voice messages sent by Sheen to Fred Doe, a Berkshire businessman who was convicted for conspiring to sell the gold in March. Saunders said interpreting the messages was "a long and complicated process", due to the blend of coded language, Romany slang and cockney rhyming slang used. In one message, Sheen confirmed he was in possession of some of the gold toilet. It read: "I think you know what I've got... I've just been a bit quiet with it." He also used the word "car" as code for gold. " The car is what it is mate, innit? The car is as good as money," he said. Within two weeks of the heist Sheen had sold 20kg (44lb) of gold - about one fifth of the toilet's weight - to an unknown buyer in Birmingham for £520,000. A BBC investigation in March revealed Sheen's criminal history. It found he had been jailed at least six times since 2005 and led organised crime groups that had made more than £5m from fraud and theft - money which authorities had largely failed to recover. Sentencing Sheen, Judge Ian Pringle said he had a "truly shocking list of previous convictions". Sheen was already serving a 19-year sentence for previous crimes, and he will serve the four-year sentence for the heist consecutively. Sentencing Jones, Judge Pringle said he also had a "long and unenviable list of previous convictions". In the week leading up to the heist, Jones, who worked for Sheen as a roofer, paid two visits to Blenheim. Just a day prior to the raid, on Sheen's instructions, he booked a timeslot on Blenheim's website to use the gold toilet. Gold toilet businessman given suspended sentence Gang guilty over £4.8m gold toilet heist CCTV of theft of £4.8m gold toilet shown in court Blenheim Palace Thames Valley Police Crown Prosecution Service
Wales Online
13-06-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Inside the rundown Tenby townhouse that offers more than expected
A townhouse which once housed a photographer's studio in Pembrokeshire's leading historic coastal town is anticipated to create quite the buzz at an auction this June. Expected to attract substantial attention from investors this sizable eight-bedroom terraced townhouse spans across four levels and promises a vibrant future for the successful bidder. Situated just a stone's throw from the heart of Tenby, Napleton House on Warren Street is brimming with opportunities for its future owner, who might even be able to claim to have bagged themselves a bargain building, as the property has an auction guide price of £225,000 plus. For more property stories sent to your inbox twice a week sign up to the property newsletter here READ MORE: Beautiful Romany wagon tucked away in wildflower meadow by river with brown trout and otters According to online property portal Rightmove, substantial terrace properties of four or five bedrooms in this popular seaside town have sold within the last year with a price tag ranging from £450,000 to £530,000 so Napleton House seems like a steal if a buyer can get it near the guide price. However, there are compromises - inside the whole house needs renovating, from the tired décor to holes in ceilings, from the kitchen to the bathrooms and up to eight bedrooms, so the buyer needs a healthy renovation budget. In addition if a shop or commercial premises integrated into the house is something a new owner requires, the house is perfect but if not it's a quirky shaped room with a shop front that not everyone has the vision to transform into a usable space. But there are also surprises to find inside. There's a whole hidden basement floor of extra accommodation with multiple rooms and a cellar and also where one room explains another room upstairs which has a backdrop and curtains that makes sense when you find out that the house was once home to a photographer's studio and the room in the basement was perfect for developing the photos in a once well-equipped dark room. Sean Roper of Paul Fosh Auctions says: "For starters the townhouse is located in arguably one of the most sought-after towns in west Wales. It's a towering, imposing house, positioned centrally and surrounded by a wealth of shops, amenities and all that wonderful Tenby has to offer in terms of attractions for tourists and visitors. "It oozes history from all its parts having for many years housed a photographer's studio with plentiful living accommodation above. The property has previously had planning permission for conversion to an eight-bedroom guest house. "The townhouse offers versatile accommodation with its 1,558-set ft (145 sq. m) of space. It could also make a truly awesome single, large dwelling or become luxury flats or some other commercial uses, subject to obtaining the necessary planning permissions. "The property is in Warren Street which is the main thoroughfare from Tenby train station to the centre of the town. The property is ideally placed for those wishing to stay in this popular tourist town. It's a short walk to the town walls, golf course, train and bus stations, with the town's beautiful beaches within easy reach. "I have high hopes for this lovely Tenby property so let's just see what develops up to and during the online auction. "The accommodation currently offers a lower ground floor with floor entry basement, two receptions, a storage room and wk. On the ground floor is the shop floor and a rear reception. On the first floor is a bathroom, four bedrooms, one of which was previously the photographer's studio and kitchen. The second floor has a further three bedrooms and then there is the loft." The former Tenby townhouse with former photographer's studio, is going under the hammer with Paul Fosh Auctions online sale, which starts at 12 noon on Tuesday, June 24 and ends from 5pm on Thursday, June 26, call 01633 254044 for more information. For viewings contact local agent Birt & Co, Tenby on 01834 842204. For more property stories and home content join our Amazing Welsh Homes Facebook group here.
