Latest news with #Róisín
The Irish Sun
18-07-2025
- Health
- The Irish Sun
I thought I'd pain in my hand from pushing baby girl's buggy but my life changed forever just months later
JANE O'Keeffe was enjoying being a new mum when she started to get a pain in her hand and thought it was from pushing her baby girl's buggy. The Advertisement 4 Jane O'Keeffe with her husband Graham and daughter Róisín on wedding day 4 The couple have been making unforgettable memories with their daughter 4 The young family went travelling in October 2023 She was still suffering with the issue in August of that year and went to her GP to get it investigated further. The now 39-year-old later faced a life-changing diagnosis and amputation. Jane told us: "I went for physiotherapy first, and she said she could feel something. "I was getting relief from the physio, so I thought it was because I had a small baby and was doing a lot of pushing the buggy. Advertisement READ MORE IN IRISH SUN CLUB "By August time, it was still kind of intermittently sore, every few days kind of really, so I went to my GP, and he sent me for an MRI. "He was like, 'Look, I can't see anything visible, there's no lump or anything, but I'll send you for an MRI in case it's a cyst or something that I can't see.' "That's kind of when the ball started rolling across - there was a 3.9 centimetre tumour in my hand." 'UNIMAGINABLE' But the new mum was shocked to find out there was something more concerning happening as she had "no symptoms". Advertisement Most read in Health She said: "It was just unimaginable. Like, because I suppose if I had a lump, you'd say something. "But I had no symptoms or anything like that, really, besides the slight pain every few days. "I was referred then to a plastic surgeon who said it could be a sarcoma, so that was kind of the first time I heard the word 'sarcoma' mentioned, and that was just upon him seeing the MRI without any biopsy or anything. "I had a biopsy after that, and the results took a while to come back because it's one of the rarest sarcomas. Advertisement "I was officially diagnosed then in November of that year with clear cell sarcoma." ONE IN SIX MILLION The sarcoma cancer sub-type affects just one person a year in Ireland - so doctors got a second opinion on the best course of action from a hospital in the UK. Jane added: "It doesn't really respond to chemo and radiotherapy. "The hospital in Cork just asked a hospital in Advertisement "There's only about four or five of us in Ireland, as far as I know, that have it. It's kind of one a year in Ireland. The odds are around one in 6.5 million. "I guess our population is about in and around that, including Northern Ireland." 'WEIRD WEEK' Jane, who is mum to four-year-old Róisín, went into surgery just days after her baby girl turned one. She said: "They called us in on December 10 2021. It was a Friday evening. Advertisement "Our daughter had just turned one the day before, so it was kind of a weird week. "But I knew. I just looked at him, and he looked at me, and he was like, 'So there was a small bit more.' "I was like, 'I think I know what you're going to say,' and he's like, 'Yeah, you do.' "So that was fine. He said, 'Look, I'll see you Tuesday.' Advertisement "I've gotten the best possible care at Cork University Hospital, they've just been amazing. "My plastic surgeon, Jason Kelly, was absolutely brilliant. "He did my hand, and that was it then for kind of two years, really. I had no more cancer, just regular scans and was adapting to life with one hand. "I was off work, obviously, because even though you don't have more cancer, you still have a load of appointments. Advertisement "There are a lot of things going on." Jane was over-the-moon to head back to work for the new school year months later. She said: "I'm a teacher, and so I went back then in September, and it was great. "I loved being back to work; the kids were brilliant. I mean, when you're back, you're back, there's no sympathy from them. Advertisement "It was a bit of a novelty for them at the start, and then that wears off very fast." 'MORE GROWTHS' Jane and her husband Graham then took a career break to go travelling the following year. She said: "We decided then to take a career break for a year to do some travelling in October 2023/2024. "In the scan in October 2023, I found out that more growths had appeared. Advertisement "So then I went to start the medication, and that actually did do something for it for a while, which was great. "They were able to remove things surgically for me around May last year." The cancer, which is now stage 4, has spread to her liver, shoulder and armpit. She said: "A few weeks ago, we found out there's more, unfortunately. Advertisement "It's all kind of in the liver, shoulder, armpit. With these guys, there's just no predicting where they go. "You'd hear 'sarcoma' crop up watching things on TV, but I would never have been aware of it until 2021. We were ignorant, I suppose, in a happy way, you know? And now, we just hear a lot about it. "I am stage 4, so it's just about seeing if they can do anything." WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF SARCOMA? SARCOMAS are a cancer that develop in any part of the body. They are an uncommon disease and can strike inside or outside the body, including your muscles, bones, tendons, blood vessels and fatty tissues. In Ireland, there are around 235 people diagnosed each year and there are over 100 subtypes of the illness. Your treatment will depend on the type of sarcoma you have and these can be grouped into soft tissue and bone sarcomas. In a recent post on "About 235 people are diagnosed each year in Ireland with some type of sarcoma." Medics don't fully understand why sarcomas happen and more research still needs to be done. The main symptoms include: a lump which is growing, changing, or bigger than a golf ball swelling, tenderness or pain in or around the bone which may come and go and may be worse at night stomach pain, feeling sick, loss of appetite or feeling full after eating only a small amount of food blood in either your poo or vomit Sarcoma can be treated and many people will have tumours removed with surgery. Jane told how she is "buying time" with her loved ones and wants to see Róisín start school in September. Advertisement She added: "It's buying time, really. That's what we're trying to do, I suppose. That's the reality. "Róisín is due to start school in September. So for me, my aim was to get to September. "And now I'm like, touch wood, that should happen. "So, you know, then it's just all about getting as much out of it as I can for her, really. Advertisement "My poor husband too - but it's always about her, you know? At the end of the day, he'll remember me, but she's not going to; she's only small. "You just kind of have to, I suppose, plough on with life. I mean, normal life happens for everyone else, so you just have to keep going, really. "I'm trying to do as much with Róisín as possible too. We were busy people anyway, in a nice way. "We were always about doing things, and we just try to keep doing that with her, just to make as many memories as we can now." Advertisement She also told how she's adapted to life with one hand - and can still drive an automatic car. Jane continued: "It's funny, you really don't think about it until it's gone. "And then the obvious things like tying up your hair, brushing your teeth, tying your jeans - those kinds of things become infinitely more difficult with just one hand. "There's this thing called the Primary Medical Certificate, but we don't qualify for that, because we're only missing a part. Advertisement "You have to be missing two hands to qualify for it. "It's just a bit of an anomaly. I had to buy a new car, obviously, to get back on the road because I drove a manual before the amputation. "But then, obviously, I had to switch to an automatic. You know, there are just all these hidden bits and bobs." And she told how the Advertisement She added: "There are so few of us out there that it's nice to be able to connect with people who are in a similar situation. "It doesn't matter like what's going on in a day for you, there's always someone to chat to or who might have been in the same situation as you because it's not common." 4 Jane is 'ploughing on with normal life' while battling stage 4 cancer
Irish Times
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
I read the letter a couple of times. It didn't irritate me...it filled me with joy
I've written before about all the gorgeous letters and cards that have landed in my work pigeonhole since I first wrote about my cancer diagnosis last December. People are kind. There have been home-knitted hats in the post and cool earrings, supportive messages and heartfelt notes, books and other tokens. I am grateful for it all. The flurry of well wishes motivated me to write my own letters to people . Admittedly, not as many as I'd hoped when I began my letter-writing project a few months ago, but definitely more than usual. There is something about the idea of people sitting down with a decent pen, writing a note, finding a stamp and sending it off that moves me every time. So I was happy to see the small brown envelope in my pigeonhole. The stamp depicted James Earley's Irish Deer, a tasteful and artistic choice. The paper was plain white but of decent quality. In the corner, where there's usually an address, the sender wrote simply 'Drogheda'. My name was underlined. Róisín. No 'dear' here, only on the stamp, so I knew this person meant business. 'Róisín:' the letter began, in blue ink and beautiful handwriting. The writer was discussing an error in my column about an event I did last month with Paul Howard at the Borris Festival of Writing and Ideas. 'Róisín: your column today includes 'would you rather ... watch Paul and I ... READ MORE 'Very disappointed with this from a professional writer. Wouldn't mind watching Paul – but, come on, watching I? Really? 'Cheap magazines have amateurs who write 'this bike carried my wife and I all over Ireland' kind of stuff. Carried I? 'Accusative, dative, etc, still apply – not only to amateurs but, especially, to professionals. 'Yours, 'John' Underneath his sign off, John wrote ' ... watch Paul and me ….' in case I might not have realised what I ought to have written. I read the letter a couple of times. You might think I'd find it irritating, in fact the letter filled me with joy. It seemed like a sign that things were back to normal and the statute of limitations on all that cancer sympathy had expired. I mean if John from Drogheda felt able to write, giving out about my use of I, then normal service really had resumed and I, for one, could not have been happier about this. I imagined John, a retired schoolteacher perhaps, sitting down with a cup of tea thinking: 'Yes, the woman has cancer but that does not mean I should not take her to task for the improper use of I. She's a professional writer, for goodness sake.' [ I'm enjoying my new friendship. We're at the stage when everything is fascinating Opens in new window ] And John is right. Just because I have a challenging illness, doesn't mean I should be allowed to play fast and loose with the English language in The Irish Times. It reminded me of when I used to play Scrabble at Gerry's house every Tuesday while undergoing weekly chemotherapy sessions. A good friend, he nevertheless made zero allowances. There was one time when I tried to play the high-scoring word Taxol, the name of my chemotherapy, but he told me that it was a brand name and therefore not valid. To emphasise the point, he told me to 'get that sh*t off the board' – our preferred phrase when somebody chances their arm Scrabble-istically speaking – even as my hair fell out in clumps at his kitchen table. I loved his adherence to the rules in the face of all the cancer carry-on in the same way I adore John's letter, which is now stuck to my fridge with a magnet. On reflection, I realise my deplorable use of I has its roots in being corrected as a child in school or at home for saying 'me and Shirley went to the shops'. 'It's Shirley and I ,' not 'Shirley and me ' I can hear my mother saying. My instinct had actually been to write Paul and me , in fact I believe I wrote Paul and me originally, but then a voice in my head said 'It's Paul and I ', and so I changed it on account of trying to write proper. What a fail. I have since conducted a small bit of research. Grammar nerds (and also John) will know this already, but 'Paul and me' is correct because 'me' is the object of the verb 'watch'. A good way to know when to use me, is to remove the other person's name to test it. 'Would you rather watch me …?' Would you rather watch I sounds completely wrong in this context. On the other hand, if the subject comes before the verb, I is the correct usage. 'Paul and I went to the cinema to see the John Lennon documentary' is correct. To be even more precise, subject pronouns such as I are used when the pronoun is the subject of the sentence, the one doing the action. Object pronouns, such as me , are used when the pronoun is the object of the sentence, the one receiving the action or following a preposition. Now, if this column does not appear on some class of State exam next summer I'm going to be, as John from Drogheda would put it, very disappointed. I actually think me and John could be friends. Or is it John and I? Answers on a postcard with some class of an arty looking stamp, please.
Irish Independent
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Meet the Tipperary nursing student bidding to become Miss Ireland
Róisín Tuohy (20) from Roscrea, a first year general nursing student, studying in University College Cork, will represent Tipperary. 'I have previously taken part in the Tipperary Rose of Tralee where I gained amazing experience and made friends for life with the other girls,' said Róisín. 'I am no stranger to the stage as I've competed in dance competitions and been in musicals since the age of five. I am thoroughly looking forward to meeting the girls and hearing their stories and their advice as we go forward.' Roisin is supported on her Miss Ireland Journey by Dentapp. Miss Ireland is one of the world's longest running beauty pageants established in 1947 it has been the launch pad for many well-known successful, empowering women in Ireland. The winner of Miss Ireland represents her country at the prestigious Miss World and in 2003 Rosanna Davison won the title of Miss World. Since its inception Miss Ireland has raised hundreds of thousands of funds and awareness for various charities with a strong focus on Irish Children's charities. The competition is not just based on beauty, say organisers. There are many other tasks which the winner must compete in to win this crown such as her beauty with a purpose work, interview, fashion, sports, talent and social media skills. Miss World is one of the world's biggest TV shows which is broadcasted to over 140 countries and has been in existence since 1952.
Extra.ie
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
A look inside Róisín O's famous family life as she announces pregnancy
Irish singer Róisín O has revealed she's expecting her first child, 15 months after her fiancé Gearóid O Dea popped the question. Posting a video of her dancing the viral routine to CMAT's song Take A Sexy Picture Of Me, the star joked that the lyrics are about to be her new reality as she mouthed along to 'I did the home and the family maker.' Now, as Róisín prepares for the adventure that is motherhood, let's take a look at her famous family ties. Irish singer Róisín O has revealed she's expecting her first child, 15 months after her fiancé Gearóid O Dea popped the question. Pic: Instagram / Róisín O It's no secret that the star hails from a very famous musical family, with her mother being none other than legendary songstress Mary Black. As a member of one of the biggest Music dynasties in Ireland Róisín is also related to Frances Black, an Irish singer and politician. Previously chatting about her 'nepo baby' status to The Irish Independent, the mum-to-be joked; 'I think it's a fair enough term. I find it quite funny.' Danny O'Reilly with sister Róisín O and mother Mary Black. Pic: VIP Ireland However, she quickly added: 'I think there has to be a level of talent, that people are there for you and not just who your family are…of course there is an element of being able to get your foot in the door.' Róisín's famous family ties don't stop there, with her brother being Danny of The Coronas. The pair have always been notoriously close, with the siblings having even worked together from time to time. Posting a video of her dancing the viral routine to CMAT's song Take A Sexy Picture Of Me, the star joked that the lyrics are about to be her new reality as she mouthed along to 'I did the home and the family maker.' Pic: GMCD Previously chatting with Dáithí Ó Sé and Sinéad Kennedy on RTE's The Today Show, the singer opened up about spending lockdown in Kerry alongside her brother. 'I was actually down here writing with Danny and we were supposed to be writing songs for the Coronas,' the singer explained they had been working on a song but it wasn't going in the direction they had hoped. 'It was about 1 o'clock in the morning and Danny was like 'Here, have a listen to this other thing.' It's no secret that the star hails from a very famous musical family, with her mother being none other than legendary songstress Mary VIP Ireland 'It was just a loop of four chords, and I was like 'Wow there's something really special about that.'' 'I went up to my bedroom and I just started singing a melody and some lyrics over it. I had the song finished in about 20 minutes,' she added. 'I sang it for him the next day and it was obvious then it that moment that this was definitely not a Coronas song. This was a Róisín O song.' Well, it's safe to say this little one is bound to have a set of pipes on them. Congrats Róisín & Gearóid.
RTÉ News
13-05-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
Why Irish consumers are choosing organic wine
Analysis: The rising popularity of organic wines in Ireland is due to personal benefits and sustainability concerns Róisín invited her girlfriends over to her house to celebrate her 30th birthday. As glasses filled, she noticed something peculiar. Almost every wine bottle was organic. When she asked her friends about their choice, some mentioned the absence of synthetic chemicals, while others associated the higher price with better taste and quality. Several also noted the positive environmental impact on the planet. But what does organic wine really mean? Organic wines are made from grapes grown according to EU organic farming laws and aged without excessive sulphites. Organic farming avoids synthetic chemicals like fertilisers, fungicides, pesticides, and genetically modified organisms. This method of production is actually the original way wine was made, relying only on natural elements for harvesting. From Chowhound, is organic wine better than regular wine? The purpose of organic wine is to protect wine-growing areas by increasing biodiversity and conserving soil fertility. This beverage supports the three pillars of sustainability (social, economic, and environmental) to ensure profitability, environmental protection, and the long-term viability of the wine industry for future generations. The Irish wine market experienced a steady growth last year and is projected to continue expanding. Wine consumption in Ireland grew by 5.9% in the past year compared to 2022. In 2023, wine was the second most popular alcoholic drink, holding 28.3% of the total alcohol market share. The Irish wine market is valued at €2.6 billion, with a nearly 7% increase in sales volume since last year. Total wine consumption in Ireland is expected to reach 69.2 million litres, with an average of 11.26 litres per person, and to rise again by 1.5% by 2026. Young consumers, particularly those under 35 with a higher education, are driving the growth of organic wine consumption. Like Róisín and her friends, many are opting for quality wines, including sustainable options. However, sustainability is a growing priority for all age groups in Ireland, as consumers increasingly recognise the growing importance of buying eco-friendly products. As a result, organic wine sales in Ireland have increased significantly over the past decade. Irish consumers associate the term 'organic' with multiple benefits not only for the planet, but also for themselves. From RTÉ News, a warming climate means wine is now being produced in Ireland Personal benefits Grapes are among the most pesticide-treated crops, with over 280 chemicals used. Wine drinkers, like Róisín, choose organic wine as a healthier option because it avoids synthetic pesticides and is more natural and minimally processed, supporting their quality of life. Consumers also recognise additional health benefits like antioxidants, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties, lower blood pressure, reduced risk of coronary artery disease, and anti-carcinogenic effects. Additionally, organic wine is often associated with superior quality, taste, and sophistication, which contributes to its symbolic value and higher cost. For many Irish consumers, choosing organic wine signals their ability to afford premium products, reinforcing a sense of status, especially in social settings like bars and restaurants. The higher price reflects a willingness to invest in quality, taste, and sustainability, with consumers valuing its eco-friendly production. Simply put, this choice signals financial success, a commitment to the environment, and an added sense of exclusivity due to its limited availability. Environmental benefits Consumers are increasingly mindful of how their purchases impact the planet, with 78% of Irish people prioritising sustainability values in their decisions. Choosing organic products, including wine, is seen as a way to reduce one's environmental footprint. Its production is perceived as eco-friendly, protecting biodiversity and supporting sustainable farming practices. As a result, many Irish consumers choose organic wine to align with their values of environmental responsibility and sustainability. Climate change is affecting wine production, pushing wineries to find more sustainable ways to operate But it is not only consumers that are benefiting, but also producers. Climate change is affecting wine production, pushing wineries to find more sustainable ways to operate. In the last couple of years, producers in the Loire Valley noticed a decline in wine quality, with reduced flavour and increased acidity. They attributed this to extreme weather events, such as frost and wildfires, which negatively impacted the soil and ultimately affected the grape harvest. Many have decided to switch to organic production, recognising not only the need but their responsibility to the planet. The global area of organic vineyards has grown by 234% since 2007, reaching 400,000 hectares in 2017. Consumption of organic wines has doubled in the last decade and is expected to grow by 8.7% a year until 2027. Europe leads the market, accounting for 78% of global sales, while the rest of the world makes up 12% In summary, organic wine sales in Ireland are expected to continue growing. Younger Irish consumers are driving this trend, motivated by the beverage's appeal as a sophisticated, environmental, and health-conscious choice. However, Róisín and her friends are likely unaware of its broader positive effects on producers and the planet. This creates a win-win situation for consumers, as they benefit from a high-quality product that supports their well-being and social image while contributing to sustainability efforts through eco-friendly farming practices.
