Latest news with #TheBookshelf
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Ryan Tubridy shares glimpse of scenic trip home as he vanishes from airwaves for ‘well-deserved' break
RYAN Tubridy has shared a sunny snap from his trip home to Ireland as he takes a "well-deserved" break. The decided to take a short break from his UK show . Advertisement 2 Ryan has taken a short break from his Virgin Radio UK show Credit: Handout image 2 The host jetted home to Ireland Credit: Instagram Ryan jetted back to Ireland for a holiday and shared an update with fans on The The 52-year-old looked happy as ever as he posed for a snaps in front of the sea in Connemara, Co He captioned his post: "Off on holidays for a couple of weeks. Normal service will resume then!" Advertisement READ MORE ON RYAN TUBRIDY Ryan's fans and friends flocked to the comment section to share their love for his post. Marie said: "Enjoy your much-deserved holiday Ryan." Mary wrote: "Have a brilliant holiday. There's nowhere like the west of Ireland." Tina commented: "Enjoy your well-deserved break." Advertisement Most read in Celebrity Lisa gushed: "Will miss you off the airwaves but enjoy your holiday." Another added: "You sounded so excited yesterday. It's a place you've wanted to go to for years I think. I hope it's all you expected and more. Have a great holiday." Donncha O'Callaghan has Ryan Tubridy in stitches Ex-RTE star Donncha O'Callaghan recently left Ryan Tubridy in stitches after he shared his The star sat down with on his new podcast, The Bookshelf, to discuss his kids' book, Disaster Dad. Advertisement The former Irish DAD DUTIES The Irish host told Tubridy that even though he is well used to being a hands-on dad, it wasn't always so easy. The 46-year-old confessed: "I remember when we brought Sophie home for the first time and I'll never forget the door closing. Advertisement "I just looked over at Jenny and was like, 'Oh my God, here we go'." Ryan humorously jumped in and remarked: "Where's the manual?" Donncha hysterically replied: "Exactly, I'm like we got something with the air fryer but we have nothing with Sophie." Tubridy burst into a fit of laughter at the star's honest remark. Advertisement
The Journal
6 days ago
- Business
- The Journal
Taoiseach defends going on Tubridy's podcast as RTÉ boss says he'd like former presenter to pay back €150k
TAOISEACH MICHEÁL MARTIN has defended appearing on Ryan Tubridy's podcast, stating that he will not join in on any 'witch-hunt' of any individual. His comments come as RTÉ Director General Kevin Bakhurst told an Oireachtas committee today that Tubridy has not repaid RTÉ the €150,000 he received for two promotional events that did not take place. When asked if the former presenter should return the money and whether it was appropriate to appear on Tubridy's podcast in light of the issue, the Taoiseach said he would have to refresh his memory on the matter around the €150,000. Tubridy received €150,000 from RTÉ in the form of two payments of €75,000 each for 2021 and 2022. These payments were made via what's known as a barter account , which are used by companies to exchange goods or services for other goods or services. The use of barter accounts is an industry standard but is done through an intermediary, so doesn't come for free – in this case, RTÉ spent an additional €80,000 in fees to the intermediary, on top of the €150,000 that was paid to Tubridy. RTE underwrote the payments for the unfulfilled commercial commitments. Advertisement During his appearance before the Oireachtas Media Committee in 2023, Tubridy indicated he would be willing to repay the balance of €150,000 if he returned to RTÉ. Bakhurst has previously said Tubridy had planned to return the money, stating that there was a 'moral case' to pay RTÉ back. However, he has also said previously that on a legal basis, the money might not be available to recuperate. Appearing before the Oireachtas committee today, Bakhurst confirmed that Tubridy has not repaid the money, stating: I would like him to pay it back. In that context, when questioned about whether it was appropriate for the Taoiseach to appear on Tubridy's podcast 'The Bookshelf', Martin said Irish society has always tolerated free debate. 'I will participate on podcasts where I think they're reasonable, where I think the people are reasonable on them,' he said. Martin added: 'I'm not going to join any witch hunt on any individual… I think there has been an element of a witch-hunt in all of this over the last three years. So I'm not going to go like the herd and just join any sort of attack on any individual. That's what I'm simply saying… Look, you can fight your battles. I'm not joining in.' Tánaiste Simon Harris has also appeared on the podcast. When asked specifically about the return of the €150,000, Martin said today he would have to look at the matter again, stating he hasn't examined the matter in 'any great detail since the last time this was an episode'. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Business
- Irish Daily Mirror
Taoiseach defends going on Ryan Tubridy's podcast as he hits out at 'witch hunt'
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has defended taking part in former RTÉ broadcaster Ryan Tubridy's podcast, as he said he will not join in a 'witch hunt' of the star. At an Oireachtas Media Committee meeting on Wednesday, RTÉ Director General Kevin Bakhurst confirmed that Mr Tubridy never returned €150,000 that he said he would give back to RTÉ during the financial scandal. In 2023, it emerged that his salary was undeclared by €345,000 over a three-year period due to a 'tripartite agreement' between Tubridy and his agent Noel Kelly, RTÉ and Renault. The 'side deal' saw RTÉ underwrite a €75,000-a-year commercial deal with Renault. While Renault paid Mr Tubridy for year one, RTÉ ended up giving Mr Tubridy €150,000. Mr Tubridy had committed to giving the money back but has never done so. The Taoiseach took part in the podcast, The Bookshelf with Ryan Tubridy, last month. When asked if it was appropriate to take part in this and if Mr Tubridy should give the €150,000 back, Mr Martin said he would have to refresh his memory on the €150,000 element of the scandal. The Taoiseach said: 'I find it extraordinary if you're saying I shouldn't participate in podcasts or if somebody is suggesting that. 'We live in a democracy. Ryan Tubridy has to deal with RTÉ and RTÉ has to deal with Ryan Tubridy. 'There's been lots of journalists and broadcasters who have all sorts of sponsorship deals that didn't begin today or yesterday. 'I think we're moving a bit… Irish society has always tolerated free debate and people have podcasts and so on like that. 'I would participate on podcasts who I think are reasonable, the people are reasonable on them. 'I think it is going a bit too far to suggest people are somehow wrong to participate in podcasts.' When asked about Mr Bakhurst's comments at the Media Committee saying he would like if Mr Tubridy gave the money back, the Taoiseach said he would not get involved in a 'witch hunt'. He continued: 'Many broadcasters have had sponsorship deals. 'RTÉ tolerated that for a long time. I'm not going to get into the ins and outs of any particular arrangements between RTÉ broadcasters, former broadcasters. I'm not going to go along with that. 'I didn't hear the hearing. I'm not going to join any witch hunt on any individual. ''I'm not aware of the specifics here. When I say witch hunt, I think there has been an element of a witch hunt in all of this over the last few years. 'I'n not going to go like that and just join any sort of attack on any individual. That's what I'm simply saying.'
Irish Daily Mirror
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
David Gray issues stark warning against cancel culture
Singer David Gray has lashed out at cancel culture – saying people should focus on the artist's work instead. The UK star sat down with host Ryan Tubridy on his podcast, The Bookshelf with Ryan Tubridy, and issued a stark warning to fans to stop focusing on artists' private lives. Gray said to Ryan that he has never had much interest in artists' private lives because "I'm happy to just take the art without, like, 'when did he first have sex? who did he marry?'" He said he finds "cancel culture" frustrating, adding: "it has all gone far too far." He made the point that if we hold artists to such standards, "would we get rid of Picasso then? What are you going to do? You'd find an awful lot of musicians would be cancelled". He told Ryan that he has similar concerns about Roald Dahl's works. Gray said that Dahl's children's books are being edited because of "the private thoughts he had", with no regard as to how great these books are for kids learning to read. He also dismissed the trend of tearing down statues of 'cancelled' figures, saying that in his view the better way to deal with it would be "to put a sculpture that contradicts it all, updates it, a statue of someone else to reframe the conversation so you can't pretend [the original statue] wasn't there". But the songwriter made it clear that "there's obviously a line that if you cross [you should be cancelled]". Gray also described how it feels to be turning the same age as his father was when he died. He told Ryan that "[my dad] lived three lifetimes' worth of experience" before his death from cancer in 1999. "Thinking about him at the end and thinking I'm the same age as him then seems insane, it's impossible to get your head around." Gray added that he always misses his dad in moments when "amazing times have been had." "It just doesn't seem fair that he didn't meet all these lovely children and participate in our lives."
Irish Daily Mirror
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Donncha O'Callaghan admits he didn't enjoy the wins in his 90-cap Ireland career
Irish rugby legend Donncha O'Callaghan has admitted he didn't enjoy the wins during his 90-cap international career. The 46-year-old, who turned to a broadcasting career after retiring, has revealed that he constantly doubted his sporting abilities. In a candid chat on The Bookshelf with Ryan Tubridy, the former Munster player spoke about the anxiety he would feel before every game. While sitting in the dressing rooms before some of Ireland's biggest matches, Donncha thought he would 'get exposed' for not being a good enough player. He told the former Late Late Show host: 'I used to look over at guys like Paul [O'Connell] and Brian [O'Driscoll] before matches and see them nervous and nearly be cross. How are they nervous? Look how talented the two of them are… it didn't add up for me.' O'Callaghan feared he would 'get found out' for not being good enough before every game. However, he revealed that this anxiety drove him to being a better player. He added: 'My point of difference was the non-talent stuff, I had to work my tail off.' During his time with Munster and Ireland, the lock said his mindset was all about not losing rather than enjoying winning. He said: 'My drive was to avoid the downs, avoid the losses. The wins I didn't enjoy… but it's not the best fuel and I wish it didn't fuel me as long as it did.' Donncha told Ryan that he'd have had the same mindset no matter where he grew up as 'it was embedded at home, that kind of mindset where no one's going to give us anything'. The retired player, who recently stepped back from hosting 2FM Breakfast, said he has looked up to many people throughout his varied career. However, one man that had an immense influence on him was Paul Darbyshire. He was Munster's head of strength and conditioning and sadly passed from Motor Neuron Disease in June 2011. Donncha said: 'He had an incredible way with our group, it was the first time I saw someone who didn't treat us all the same. He had carrots for some guys, sticks for others.' He added that Paul's legacy helped shape him and the team 'as men'. The rugby legend joined Ryan as his new children's book, Disaster Dad: Chicken Chaos, is available in hardback now, with paperback release on May 29. This autumn, a sequel to the story, called Disaster Dad: Fun Day Fiasco, is due to be released. Donncha was the eighth guest on Ryan's new podcast, which was launched after his shock exit from RTÉ in 2023. Other guests that have already featured include Taoiseach Micheál Martin, author Harlan Coben, Eamon Dunphy and entrepreneur Aimee Connolly.
