Latest news with #Whitmore
Irish Independent
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Laura Whitmore to make her Cork stage debut in The Girl on the Train
The Bray native will make her Cork stage debut when she stars as Rachel Watson in the smash-hit Wiltshire Creative production of The Girl on the Train. The thriller, based on Paula Hawkins' internationally acclaimed best-selling novel, is produced by Melting Pot and Josh Andrews Productions. Whitmore's performance in the role has already captivated audiences across the UK, following its opening at Brighton's Theatre Royal in June. After the Cork run, the play will then move to Bord Gáis Energy Theatre in Dublin. The completing company cast members, are Daniel Burke as Kamal Abdic, Zena Carswell as Anna, Samuel Collings as Scott Hipwell, Freya Parks as Megan Hipwell, Paul McEwan as DI Gaskill, Edward Harrison as Tom Watson and understudies Ellie Gallimore and Oliver Brooke. The Girl on the Train features Rachel Watson who longs for a different life. Her only escape is the perfect couple she watches through the train window every day, happy and in love. Or so it appears. When Rachel learns that the woman she's been secretly watching has suddenly disappeared, she finds herself as a witness and even a suspect in a thrilling mystery in which she will face bigger revelations than she could ever have anticipated. Ms Whitmore who trained at the Leinster School of Music and Drama, studied Shakespeare at RADA and holds a degree in Journalism from Dublin City University admitted she was obsessed by the book when it first came out. 'I I love it when you find a book and all you can think about is that story. "You wake up a little bit earlier to read the book and stay up too late to finish it. I am excited to show people my portrayal of Rachel this summer,' she added. Whitmore, who has fronted shows on MTV and I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here spin-off, Celeb Juice has enjoyed a very successful career to date. Her film/TV acting credits include Queenie, Hulu's Four Weddings and a Funeral, 4.3.2.1 and Storage 24. Her first lead in a feature film 'A Mother For An Hour' is out later this year as well as interactive sci fi thriller 'Hello Stranger' starring Sir Derek Jacobi. In 2022 she made her West End debut as Jenny in 2.22: A Ghost Story and returned home to play Lauren in its limited Dublin run in 2024. The successful radio and television broadcaster also launched her documentary Laura Whitmore Investigates in 2023 and she is currently working on a new documentary series. This year she also embarked on Comic Relief's 'Snow Way Back' Arctic Trek to raise vital funds for Red Nose Day which can be seen in a primetime BBC1 documentary. She currently hosts BBC Podcast, Murder They Wrote alongside Iain Stirling. She started her TV career in 2008 winning MTV's Pick me MTV and becoming the face of MTV Europe for almost a decade. She has interviewed some of the biggest musical artists and actors in the world. In March 2021 she released her first book, 'No One Can Change Your Life Except For You' which has gone on to become a Sunday Times Bestseller. Tickets for The Girl on the Train are on sale now and are available from from the box office or by phoning 021 4501 673.
RTÉ News
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Laura Whitmore to make her Cork stage debut
Bray-born TV presenter and actress Laura Whitmore will make her Cork stage debut in August when she reprises her lead role in the theatre production of The Girl on the Train at the city's The Everyman theatre. The former Love Island presenter will star as Rachel Watson in the thriller, which is based on Paula Hawkins' best-selling novel from 19 to 23 August. Whitmore, who has also fronted shows on MTV and I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here spin-off, Celeb Juice, has been playing the role across the UK and after the Cork run, the play will then move to Bord Gáis Energy Theatre. In Dublin. In The Girl on the Train, Rachel Watson longs for a different life and her only escape is the perfect couple she watches through the train window every day, happy and in love. However, when Rachel learns that the woman she's been secretly watching has suddenly disappeared, she finds herself as a witness and even a suspect in a thrilling mystery in which she will face bigger revelations than she could ever have anticipated. "I read the book when it first came out and I was obsessed by it," Whitmore says. "I love it when you find a book and all you can think about is that story. "You wake up a little bit earlier to read the book and stay up too late to finish it. I am excited to show people my portrayal of Rachel this summer." Whitmore previously appeared on the Irish stage last year when she starred in 2:22 A Ghost Story at Dublin's Olympia Theatre. The cast for the Cork run also includes Daniel Burke, Zena Carswell, Samuel Collings, Freya Parksl, Paul McEwan,, Edward Harrison and understudies Ellie Gallimore and Oliver Brooke. Whitmore trained at the Leinster School of Music and Drama, studied Shakespeare at RADA and holds a degree in Journalism from Dublin City University. She wrote and starred in the short film Sadhbh for which she won The Ros Hubbard Award for acting in 2019. She toured in the role of Cleo in Peter James' Not Dead Enough in 2017. Her film/TV acting credits include Queenie, Hulu's Four Weddings and a Funeral, 4.3.2.1 and Storage 24. Hello Stranger starring Derek Jacobi.
The Journal
17-07-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Coalition accused of being 'epic wasters' in testy final Dáil sitting
THE GOVERNMENT COALITION was accused of being 'epic wasters' in the Dáil today by Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. During the final Leaders' Questions session before politicians finish up for the summer, Tánaiste Simon Harris, who was answering on behalf of government today, included testy back-and-forths between himself and his parliamentary colleagues. On infrastructure, Whitmore said the coalition has failed invest in the critical infrastructure needed to care for the country's population. The Wicklow TD said: 'You talk about the importance of infrastructure as if it has suddenly dawned on you, while Irish Water warns it will run out of capacity for new homes in Dublin in three years. 'We are on course to have zero – zero – offshore wind generated by 2030 and our electricity grid is on the verge of collapse.' She said that the government had not promised to provide supports to public services, households or wide-ranging cost-of-living expenses in the upcoming budget either. Whitmore added: The reality is, this government, you're epic wasters. 'You've wasted time, you have wasted opportunity, and you have wasted a generational opportunity to invest in a better future, and you've wasted our money.' Advertisement Responding, Harris said Whitmore's party have previously demanded that more precisely targeted measures are introduced in the budget, which the government intends to do this year. He rejected claims that government had wasted money and time. The Tánaiste agreed with Whitmore on the challenges facing the delivery of infrastructure, and said that a 'very significant increase' in investment would be allocated in the revised National Development Plan for that. During the debate Harris was interrupted by Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty after claiming he was concerned over Sinn Féin's chairperson position on the Oireachtas Defence and National Security Committee. Doherty demanded that Harris retract his statement, in which he claimed he did not think it was a 'good idea' for the party to chair the committee. Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty demanded that Harris retract his remarks about his party. 'That is a disgrace. Disgraceful politics,' Doherty said, while on his feet in the Dáil. 'I don't think it's a particularly shocking position for the leader of Fine Gael to hold,' Harris responded. Aontú TD Peadar Tóibín also critiqued the government's record during the session today. He accused the coalition of having poor attendance, failing to deal with issues in housing and healthcare and alleged that crime had risen as a result of their policies. The Tánaiste rejected the Meath TD's assertions, and later added: 'I haven't had as long to write your report card as you've had to write ours. But here's my go at it. Name-calling and personalised attacks, top of the class. Peadar has excelled this term.' 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
RTÉ News
17-07-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
Tánaiste criticises Opposition for wanting to spend more
Tánaiste Simon Harris has criticised the Opposition for wanting to spend more money, even though there are major concerns about US trade tariffs and the future of the pharmaceutical industry in Ireland. Speaking during Leaders' Questions before the Dáil ends for the summer, Mr Harris said there are measures being taken to help households, including extending the 9% VAT rate on energy bills, along with an expansion of the fuel allowance. But he said that anyone who fails to take into account the level of instability facing the economy simply does not get it. Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty said that there are now over 300,000 homes behind on their electricity bills and 175,000 behind on their gas bills. He said the Government was about to swan off for the summer while refusing to commit to delivering a cost-of-living package in the Budget. Meanwhile, Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore accused the Government of being "epic wasters". Ms Whitmore said people are worried about putting food on the table. She said there are economic clouds on the horizon and a growing sense of worry about what the future holds. She added that the Government splashed the cash in an attempt to buy votes last year, but now the Government is saying one-off payments are a bad idea as there is no election on the cards. Ms Whitmore said her party told the Government to target measures and supports. She added that Fine Gael styles itself as a party of fiscal probity, but in reality, it has been throwing public money around like "snuff at a wake". She said public spending is up 50% in a few short years, but Ireland has a housing crisis, record homelessness, threadbare disability services, a cost of living crisis and energy and water infrastructure that is crumbling. "This Government, you're epic wasters, you have wasted time, opportunity… and you have wasted our money." Responding, the Tánaiste accused the Opposition of hypocrisy, and he asked the deputy which of the one-off payments that were in place last year she was against? He said the united Opposition has not agreed on a presidential candidate, and cannot agree on budgetary matters either. He added that Sinn Féin want universal one-off measures, and the Social Democrats want targeted measures, but the Government will deliver a Budget in October. "It's not about giving anyone a lecture in fiscal prudence, it's about saying thank God we're approaching this moment of economic instability with full employment... with surpluses and a rainy day fund," said Mr Harris. 10,000 promised homes never materialised - Aontú Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín said many people around the country will look to mark the Government's "report card" on the last day of the Dáil. He said 10,000 homes promised by the Government "never materialised". He said the only thing that is more affordable at the moment is cocaine. "Criminals are doing a better job in creating a functional market for an illegal drug than you are in terms of housing," said Mr Tóibín. In response, Mr Harris said Ireland has record levels of employment, an economy that's running budget surpluses, and "an ability to create effectively two national wealth funds to protect our country from economic shocks". "We have been able to take real measures in the here and now to help carers, to help increase the fuel allowance, to help the student grants, to help reduce the cost of books." Mr Harris said there has been housing reform and major reform to the health system. He thanked Deputy Tóibín for his perspective and said the Government has "already undertaken a lot of work". "We will continue to do it while you will continue to critique us from over there," Mr Harris added.
RTÉ News
12-07-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
Dáil blackout brings cost of living crisis into spotlight for Government
"Have you paid the electricity bill, minister", came the pointed quip from Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore in a Dáil chamber unexpectedly thrown into darkness on Wednesday morning. A power outage had temporarily shut off the Leinster House lights and, as luck would have it, the black-out happened just as the Government was insisting it is not trying to hide the cost of living crisis in the political shadows. Moments earlier, the Dáil had been locked in debate over surging grocery prices and TD claims some families are spending more than €3,000 a year on buying the basics from supermarkets. As the lights flickered back on, Deputy Whitmore took the opportunity to intensify the political spotlight. "When the Government talks about the crisis in grocery prices it tends to do so in the past tense. "It talks about rapid price increases when Russia invaded Ukraine, as if the crisis ended there" Deputy Whitmore continued. "However, what is not acknowledged is that those prices never came down and now grocery costs are skyrocketing again, while the Government sits idly by and watches it happen. "Part of the privilege of being in Government is that the Minister of State can intervene. "The big question the Minister of State needs to answer today is why she has done none of these things. Why is the Cabinet acting like bystanders, narrating a problem instead of doing anything?" Deputy Whitmore asked. The claim was something the Government could no doubt have done without. However, given the Opposition's renewed focus on the cost of living crisis this week, and the Coalition's view that no specific package to address the situation will be included in this year's budget, it is one likely to be returned to in the weeks and months to come. Cost of living crisis The reason for that renewed opposition focus on the cost of living crisis is largely due to developments outside of Leinster House in recent days. On Tuesday, children's charity Barnardos published the findings of a new survey of 1,000 families, conducted on its behalf by Amarach research. The survey said 40% of families who took part have borrowed money to pay for their children's essentials, and that one in three households went into arrears on their electricity bills at least once between April 2024 and April this year. In addition, it also found that 40% of parents have skipped meals so their children had enough to eat, and 12% have used a food bank in recent months. Those figures were followed on Thursday by new Central Statistics Office findings showing that food inflation (4.6%) increased by more than twice the rate of general inflation (1.8%) in the 12 months to June, with some families now paying upwards of €3,000 per year for groceries. And they came in the same week as a lack of clarity continued over the student fees saga, with students protesting outside of the Dáil and Trinity College Dublin issuing invoices of just over €3,000 to some students for the new academic year. Add into the mix the latest Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks opinion poll which last weekend suggested cost of living (32%) remains the second most important issue for voters behind only housing (51%), and the raft of numbers and statistics point to one conclusion: The cost of living crisis debate has not gone away, and remains a weak spot for Government which the Opposition is now keen to target. Dáil debates That targeting was most keenly felt on Wednesday, when - after the Leinster House black-out was quickly resolved - the spotlight was soon shone firmly on the issue. Hitting out at the situation during a Social Democrats motion seeking to address "price gouging" by supermarkets, party TD Gary Gannon said families across Ireland are having to choose "between eating and heating" while party colleague Rory Hearne said food banks have confirmed the biggest growth in people attending are those in "working families". Similar concerns were raised by Labour's Ged Nash, who said "if it walks, talks and acts like price gouging, it very well may be", before dismissing previous promises to take action without ensuring reforms were introduced as the equivalent of the Father Ted reference "can anything be said for another mass?" And they were joined by Sinn Fein's Pearse Doherty who accused Government of "sitting on your hands" over the issue, a claim the Coalition was quick to reject. Responding to the criticism and further allegations that previous promises to address the high price of groceries failed to stop those prices rising higher, Fianna Fáil's Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise Niamh Smyth said the Government is not ignoring the issue. "You walk into a supermarket, come out with a handful of items and will have spent €50 or more. "I appreciate that is a huge challenge for parents. In today's world, to have parents going without feeding themselves to ensure their children are fed is very difficult," Minister Smyth said, adding that Government is taking steps to resolve the situation. These steps, she said, include plans to give the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission greater powers to take action against supermarkets, a view repeated on Friday by Fine Gael's Minister of State for Retail Alan Dillon. Some progress, perhaps, but on the wider point of whether a cost of living package is needed in the upcoming budget is causing some division too, with Sinn Fein TD Johnny Guirke claiming while special supports are needed none are being promised as there is "no election this year". That stand-off had been repeated a day earlier over the student fees controversy, with Fianna Fáil TD for Further and Higher Education James Lawless coming under similar pressure over whether help will be provided to households struggling with rising costs. During a debate on the potential €1,000 increase in student fees this September, taking place in the Dáil as students watched on from the public gallery, Minister Lawless was told by Independent TD Seamus Healy that Government is "throwing students under the bus" if they go through with the fee increases. That view was repeated by Labour's Spokesperson on Education and Youth Eoghan Kenny who said when you have to choose between education and costs "you realise how little you are valued by the State", and by Sinn Féin's Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire who said "there are Cabinet ministers who think the cost of living crisis is over". Those claims were roundly rejected by Minister Lawless, who insisted Fianna Fáil is the "party of education" and that while he agreed with the sentiment of some of the Opposition barbs many were in his view "cheap populism" and "points scoring". But with rising costs and growing financial pressures in households nationwide, it is an open question over who voters would rather believe. Extra budget supports or not Politically, it all leads to one brewing pre-budget row, even this far out from October - and one which may prove difficult for Government to overcome. In recent months, the Government has clearly and repeatedly outlined the economic constraints it may need to work within over the coming period due to the ongoing financial certainty in the wider world. But while that is a widely accepted view, the Coalition cannot ignore the financial pressures being faced by the general public either. That is a political dilemma and one that the Opposition calls for greater cost of living support is likely to increasingly target, and also one which a Government caught between national need and individual household circumstances may find increasingly difficult to avoid.
