Latest news with #TheHelix
Sunday World
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Sunday World
Zach Bryan reveals his favourite Irish pub – and left jaw-dropping tip for staff
Zach the lad | Staff gobsmacked as the American country superstar gives €6K tip to three staff members The singer, who is performing to 180,000 fans at the Phoenix Park this weekend, with the final of three shows taking place this evening, spent Wednesday night drinking in The Celt on Dublin's Talbot Street after landing in Ireland that day. 'Shout out to the Celt last night, best damn bar in Ireland,' Bryan posted on his Instagram after the visit. And yesterday publican Noel Tynan, the owner of The Celt, told how the Something In The Orange singer gave his three bar staff a total of €6,000 as a tip after hearing how one of them was working late night to pay his college fees. 'Zach was at the counter talking to staff and one of them said he was a student,' Noel reveals. Country star Zach Bryan arm-wrestling pub owner Noel Tynan 'He was asking why he was working so late and he said he was doing it to get a few bob for college. 'Maybe I'll help you,' Zach said. 'So he left a tip of €6,000 for the three of them and said, 'That's his fees paid for now.' He also gave me tickets for a couple of terminally ill children from Crumlin Hospital to attend the show tonight. 'Zach is the most down-to-earth young fella you'll ever meet. He first came here two years ago when he played a couple of nights at The Helix. 'Hugo Keenan the rugby player is pretty friendly with him and my son, Donnacha, is good friends with Hugo. It was Hugo who had brought him back here the first time. 'They had been down in Temple Bar, but it wasn't Zach's scene. He's from a small place called Oologah in Oklahoma, which has a population of 4,000 people. 'Hugo said, 'I know a great pub,' and he brought him here that night and sure he loved it. We have a great mix of tourists and locals and there's a couple of characters in the pub as well and they like that. There's a great céad míle fáilte. The bar staff chat to everyone. 'My son, Donnacha, is a good guitar player and singer. He did a number of Irish ballads for Zach that night and the next thing Zach started singing. He's on YouTube singing songs in The Celt two years ago.' Country star Zach Bryan News in 90 Seconds - June 22nd On Wednesday night Bryan took The Celt's owner Noel Tynan in an arm wrestle – later posting a photo on social media. 'It was a serious arm wrestle and I've seldom been beaten, even by rugby players, but I was shocked how quick he put me down,' Noel said yesterday. 'He's as strong as an ox.' Noel also revealed that while Zach hasn't been back to the bar, which was mobbed on Wednesday after he revealed he was drinking there, his dad Dewayne Bryan has been in The Celt every day since – and was yesterday mingling with country fans and Limerick hurling supporters in the pub.' 'In the last couple of days Dewayne has been giving tickets for Zach's concert to people in the pub who get up and sing,' Noel added. Although most people in Ireland weren't familiar with Zach Bryan before this weekend – his followers found him on YouTube and various music platforms. He first began uploading his songs to YouTube in 2017, with his buddies filming him live on his iPhone. One of his songs, Heading South, finally went viral, which set him on the road to the success he's enjoying today. Following his debut on the Grand Ole Opry in 2021, he then got a record contract with Warner Records. On Spotify, Zach, whose hits include I Remember Everything, was the third most streamed artist of 2024 in the US, with Taylor Swift being tops and Drake in second place.
Irish Daily Mirror
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Zach Bryan Phoenix Park bag rules confirmed as urgent warning issued
There's just two more sleeps to go until Zach Bryan kicks off a rare three-night residency at Dublin's Phoenix Park. With around 180,000 fans expected across Friday 20, Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 June, this weekend promises to be one of the summer's biggest music events. The American country singer-songwriter, known for his raw lyrics and electrifying live performances, rose from posting homemade tracks on YouTube to topping the charts with hits like I Remember Everything, Pink Skies and Something in the Orange. These Phoenix Park shows mark the 29-year-old's largest Irish gigs yet - a huge leap from playing smaller venues like The Helix just three years ago. But before fans grab their cowboy boots and head for the gates, they need to think carefully about what they bring - especially when it comes to bags. Attendees must double-check their bags meet the strict size requirements, while still holding all the essentials for the night. Strict bag rules have been confirmed and fans are strongly advised to travel light and pack only what's necessary to avoid delays at entry. In a recent update, Aiken Promotions urged ticketholders: "Please do not bring a bag unless it is absolutely necessary." If you do need to bring a bag, it must be no larger than A4 size. Larger bags won't be allowed inside, and you won't be allowed to leave bags unattended anywhere in or around the venue, so it's important to follow these rules closely. Those arriving without bags will be fast-tracked through security, while anyone carrying an A4-sized bag will face a search, which could lead to longer queues. To keep things moving smoothly, concertgoers are advised to travel light and only bring the essentials: a phone or device with your ticket pre-downloaded, valid ID, sunscreen and clothing suitable for the weather. Meanwhile, fans should also be aware that there is an extensive list of banned items that won't be permitted inside Phoenix Park. This ranges from the likes of skateboards and flagpoles, to laptops and even ham sandwiches. You can read the full list here, so double check to avoid disappointment. Separately, for those eager to brush up on their favourite tunes before the show, click here for an expected setlist featuring some of Zach Bryan's biggest hits and fan favourites to get you ready for an unforgettable night at Phoenix Park. For everything else you need to know, including stage times, support acts, the venue map and the weather forecast, head here.
Irish Independent
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
US tourists flock to Dublin for US country music star Zach Bryan's gigs amid surge in North American visitors
The Oklahoma singer-songwriter will play three concerts at Dublin's Phoenix Park from June 20-22 with a predicted attendance of over 180,000. The gigs have delivered bumper bookings for Dublin hotels while pubs and restaurants are set to enjoy a surge in business over the next 10 days. It is predicted that up to 10,000 US fans will visit Ireland, with the concerts a key reason for their holiday here. Dublin tourism will savour its biggest boost since the Garth Brooks concerts of 2022 as, unlike rock acts such as Bruce Springsteen, Taylor Swift and Coldplay, the majority of ticket sales for country artists are outside the capital region. Only 12pc of ticket sales for the Bryan concerts were in the Dublin area – with huge ticket demand in Connacht, Ulster, the UK and North America. Bryan has enjoyed a stratospheric rise to stardom and will play here just two years after performing to 1,900 fans at The Helix in Dublin. The concerts take place as Ireland is savouring a big recovery in US tourist numbers. Latest figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) revealed that one in five foreign holidaymakers who visited Ireland in April were from the US. That represented a significant increase in North American visitor numbers compared with March. While the figure (18pc) was down 1pc compared with the same period last year, it represented an 8pc hike compared with the number of US holidaymakers recorded in April 2023. The UK remains Ireland's biggest tourism market with four in every 10 visitors coming from England, Scotland or Wales. The Irish Tourism Industry Confederation (ITIC) said the sector faces multiple challenges ranging from constrained airline seat capacity, global instability, the potential impact of Donald Trump's 'America First' strategy and economic issues on core visitor markets including the UK and Germany. Irish tourism is expected to deliver revenue growth of between 5pc and 7pc, but growth in the overall number of visitors is expected to slip to its lowest rate for years. The European Travel Commission (ETA) has predicted average tourism growth across the 27 member states will exceed 8pc. ADVERTISEMENT However, the ITIC predicted that Ireland will fall behind the EU average – potentially peaking at 5pc growth. Tourism Ireland estimated that the economy received a €7bn boost from tourism last year. Over 300,000 jobs are supported by overseas tourism, with Tourism Ireland aiming to boost the value of the sector to €9bn by 2030. Tourism revenue growth has been boosted by the fact that inflation has eased and Ireland will be able to offer better value for money in accommodation terms thanks to over 7,000 new hotel rooms being delivered by the construction sector. A significant number of hotel and guest house rooms will also be returned to tourism use as refugees are allocated alternative accommodation. Leading hoteliers said 2024 was a good year and this season was expected to deliver further growth. InterContinental Dublin general manager Nicky Logue said US business was strong while UK trade was down on previous years. 'Last year was a very strong year and, bar any great shocks, I predict the same in 2025, albeit with a lot of pressure on the bottom line with increasing costs of doing business,' Mr Logue said. 'Thankfully we performed well year-on-year due to strong group business from the US in particular and rugby. Ireland and Slovenia are the only two European countries where airline seat capacity will decline in 2025 'Leisure business remains strong from the US, but the UK market is definitely not as strong as it has been in years gone by. Corporate business remains challenging with people travelling less and many still working from home a couple of days a week.' Tourism groups said the main 'handbrake on growth' is the passenger cap at Dublin Airport. Ireland and Slovenia are the only two European countries where airline seat capacity will decline in 2025. In Ireland, seat capacity will fall by 3.3pc. That contrasts with countries like the UK (+3.9pc), France (7.1pc), Spain (+8.1pc), Italy (+6.1pc) and Denmark (+8.3pc). An ITIC spokesperson said: 'With 70pc of the Irish tourism economy dependent on international visitation, it is vital that the main gateway into the country has headroom to grow. 'Although there is a court ruling to put a 'stay' on the cap for next summer, the issue of restrictions at Dublin growth is as pertinent as ever. 'This manifested itself last winter in air access into the country being down 3pc – the only top-20 European destination showing a decline. 'Growth at Shannon and Cork Airports must be facilitated, but this will not compensate for lost business at Dublin.' From January 1 to October 31 last year, Ireland welcomed 5.79 million visitors which was an 8pc increase compared with the same period in 2023. Those visitors spent €5.38bn, an increase of 15pc compared with the same period in 2023. However, Ireland experienced a 5pc decline last October in overseas visitor numbers compared to the previous year – a decline largely triggered by a fall in UK visitors.
Sunday World
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sunday World
Steve Earle reveals the old Irish pal who can claim to be the true 'Galway Girl'
'The Galway Girl will be remembered in at least one place in the world long after I'm gone.' American singer and songwriter Steve Earle says that one of his most famous songs, The Galway Girl, is likely to be remembered long after he's forgotten. It's one of my all-time favourite songs and Steve, who will play The Helix in Dublin next October 25 on his Fifty Years Of Songs And Stories tour, says he wrote it while living in Galway back in the late 1990s. It wasn't written about a particular Galway girl, but Steve says he's happy for his Dublin-born friend Joyce Redmond to claim it. 'It's a composite character, but one of my dearest friends, a woman called Joyce Redmond, absolutely has my permission to go around saying she's The Galway Girl,' Steve says. 'We've never been romantically involved. Joyce grew up in Howth, but her grandmother is from Aran and she went to Galway years ago and she sings in sessions. 'The part of the song about meeting someone on 'The Long Walk' in Galway was her. She used to go for a walk there every morning and feed the swans, and I was just wandering around and we met. She was the one showing me around the pubs and where the good sessions were and all that stuff, so if anyone gets to be The Galway Girl it's Joyce.' Steve Earle Today's News in 90 seconds - Thursday, May 1 Steve, whose hits include Copperhead Road, first recorded The Galway Girl with Sharon Shannon, but he credits Irish singer songwriter Mundy with making it a major hit. 'The Galway Girl will be remembered in at least one place in the world long after I'm gone. It's become part of culture there (in Ireland). And I have the Mundy version to thank for that – that's when it really happened (became a hit).'
