Interior design guru Róisín Lafferty: ‘Grandad's depression meant he hid. That was hard to watch and pushed me to do things that made me uncomfortable'
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When the door opens to interior architect and designer Róisín Lafferty's Fitzwilliam Square townhouse studio, I don't mean to, but I gasp. It's the huge metal feature hanging from the ceiling. Almost whale-like in its dimensions, coils twisted about each other, it's so unexpected and dramatic in this traditional Georgian space.
Standing below it is Lafferty herself, smiling in a manner that suggests she is used to her work receiving this kind of reaction. It's busy today in her Dublin premises. Alongside their existing studio, they have just launched Róisín Lafferty Gallery, an appointment-only design gallery that will stock both Lafferty's first interiors collection, some vintage pieces, and the work of other artisans and designers she and her team have long collaborated with, whose work is currently unavailable in Ireland. 'I wanted to create a space that captured the essence of who we are,' she explains.
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Irish Daily Mirror
8 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Johnny Ward says brave mam will be in the audience for Little Shop of Horrors
Actor Johnny Ward has told how his brave mother plans to be in the audience for the Irish premiere of the Little Shop of Horrors. Johnny stars in the upcoming show at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre, which opens to the public from Friday, July 25. The Dubliner takes on the role of Orin in the theatre's first ever all-star Irish cast. Next Tuesday will see the stars – which include David O'Reilly and Kenneth O'Regan - perform for a special opening night – and Johnny said he will have more than just his lines on his mind. He revealed his mother, Kathy, will receive results after doctors found a lump two and a half months ago. "Yeah, I suppose it's all on Tuesdays. Of all the days, Tuesday is our opening night and Tuesday is kind of where we'll know how things stand with my mother, and what they kind of do for the next six months." Dubliner Johnny said the last year "has been a nightmare". David O Reilly, Jaqueline Brunton and Johnny Ward from the cast of The Little Shop of Horrors on stage in rehearsals at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre. Picture Brian McEvoy "This time last year she was obviously diagnosed with cancer. Where do you start? Like she just kept collapsing then on top of that, she had a heart attack, and she had a stroke, and then she had something called takotsubo cardiomyopathy (broken heart syndrome). "I suppose I didn't really take it as seriously as what I should've over the lockdown. It was a no brainer for me to move back in. And then, you know, we've got a really, really amazing arrangement between myself and my wife and my mam. "The last year has been an absolute nightmare, particularly like August to January was very difficult. August to November in particular was so tough, the worst. "We were told the worst at one stage, and she has cancer, and it was stage four and it was in part of her pancreas. "So part of her pancreas had to come out. It was just one step forward and two steps back. On top of that, once he was in the hospital, there's slow, very, very slow and extensive recovery, and then she got Covid, then she had a bad fall, then she had to be put on a feeding tube. "It was very difficult. She went into convalescent care in November and then she got out in January, and since then, you know, it's been great." But he said that on Tuesday, doctors will give them a new indication about what lies ahead for the next six months. "We know that the light is kind of dimming, and we need to go back into the tunnel for a while and kind of see where we stand for the next couple of months. "She's a suitable advocate for immunotherapy. The most recent thing is that they found a lump almost two and a half months ago. "But the professor actually recommended that given everything that she's been through, let's see if it gets any bigger. That's kind of where we stand." Lights, ! It was feeding time on Skid Row as the Bord Gais Energy Theatre and TheatreworX unveiled the set for their dazzling new production of Little Shop of Horrors in Dublin, Pictured were the cast including David O Reilly Johnny Ward and Jaqueline Brunton ahead of the shows opening this Friday 25th, it will run until until 9th August. But he said his mam will be in the audience with Johnny's wife Brenda cheering him on. "Tuesday is going to be very eventful. My mum will be there on Tuesday. My wife will bring her in. "From what you learn is you just take so many things for granted, and you have to be grateful for the last six months. "She's out walking now. She's doing it on her own. "She's got an amazing sense of independence, and I honestly thought that door was closed a long time ago. She's doing really, really well. And she just, yeah, she can't wait to come on Tuesday, regardless of the results." Speaking about the Little Shop Of Horrors, Johnny said: "It's great to be a part of. Everything feels brand new and it feels really special. It is the first in-house production ever to be in the Bord Gais Energy Theatre, which is really, really special to be a part of. "It's a lot of excitement, it's a lot of fun, it's a fantastic atmosphere and it doesn't feel like work. It's the most amazing bunch of people. "I suppose for a long time, to make it as a musical theatre performer it was a no brainer that you had to go over to the UK to make it in the West End so the fact that they have put on a production is hopefully a stepping stone for many more in house production from Bord Gais to come." Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
‘Almost started bawling' – Rhasidat Adeleke thrilled after huge turnout to women-only run club at DCU
RHASIDAT Adeleke was left thrilled after hosting a women-only run club at Dublin City University on Tuesday. It was a sponsored event in conjunction with the energy drink brand CELSIUS®. 4 Despite still only being 22, Adeleke has been the face of Irish athletics for a couple of years 4 A huge crowd gathered outside the campus' Helix venue Credit: @rhasidat_adeleke 4 Rhasidat said she 'almost started bawling' after meeting one of her biggest fans Credit: @rhasidat_adeleke 4 The sprinter held a meet and greet with attendees afterwards Credit: @rhasidat_adeleke The run club was, however, free for all attendees with the emphasis on it being welcoming to runners of all levels as it offered various pace ranges across its 5km route. The Dubliner led everyone through a warm-up before they really got moving. Participants were rewarded for completing the run with a complimentary goodie bag in addition to getting the chance to snag a selfie with Speaking beforehand to Read More On Irish Sport She laid out: 'I'm so excited to be back on home turf doing what I love most – running. 'It's even more special to be doing it with my CELSIUS family, and I can't wait to connect with everyone at the CELSIUS VIBE Run Club. 'Whether you're a seasoned runner or just starting out, this is all about good vibes, great energy, and pushing each other to be our best.' It stacks up she's consistently spoken about only wanting to be involved with brands that echo her approach to healthy living. Most read in Athletics The 200 metre ace's times have been steadily improving on the track over her last few outings. Sharlene Mawdsley takes part in hilarious road race as part of Tipperary's All-Ireland celebration On July 19 she clocked a season's best time of 22.52 seconds Her primary focus since the outset of 2025 has been the World Athletics Championships which will get under way on September 13 in Tokyo. On her approach to training until then, she added: 'I'm just trying to stay healthy, motivated and disciplined on the road to the World Championships. 'It's about a month and a half away, so we're keeping our eyes on that.'
Irish Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Actress Victoria Smurfit says her late mother appeared in mirror on wedding day
Actress Victoria Smurfit has opened up about seeing the face of her late mother in the mirror on her wedding day. Victoria married Steve Jacobs in the Royal Crescent Hotel in Bath, UK in 2023, almost two years before Victoria's mother, Caroline, passed away in January 2022. But while the Dubliner was busy getting her hair and make-up done on the morning of her wedding day, one of her bridesmaids noticed her mother's face in the mirror. Holding back tears, Victoria told how she still speaks to her mother every day, and recalled her mother appearing in the mirror on her wedding day. Speaking on the podcast, These Three Things, she recalled the story to host Deborah Thomas, saying: "My mum wore this necklace almost every day of her life and when she went on, she was wearing it. And I was lucky enough to be with her when she passed and she was in my arms when she went. Victoria Smurfit arriving on the red carpet at the Mansion House for the IFTA Film & Drama Awards (Image: Michael Chester) "And so I don't wear it very often. I wore it when I got married about 18 months ago, and it's a weird story…. So when I decided for my wedding day, I would wear this, and she had diamond studs, and I thought, well, 'I'll wear mum's earrings and her necklace, so she's with me'. "She was with me anyway. But I was having my hair done, so I was in a mirror, and I'm jibber-jabbering to my bridesmaids behind me, all my best mates, and one of them, Joanne Mitchell Brunt, she goes, 'Oh my God, look. Look in the mirror.' "And I'd literally just clipped my necklace on and put the earrings in, and I looked up and in the mirror was not my face, it was my mum's face. "She took a snap, and I've got the picture. I didn't want to share it, because it's just too… and it was so bonkers. And it was bonkers not just because she saw it first, because she knew my mum very well… but for a few seconds, my face in the mirror was my mum's." Victoria Smurfit She said her mother and father championed her in her career as an actress. "She did champion me. She was very keen that myself and my brother found out what we wanted to do. "She was very clear, as was my dad, that you go into the acting business, and it's the business of rejection that you have to be prepared for that. "She was very proud." Victoria also opened up about how she was almost cast as Lara Croft in Tomb Raider before Angelina Jolie took the part. But she said producers kept Victoria "waiting in the wings" and dyed her hair dark in case Jolie didn't take on the role. Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (Image: REX/Shutterstock) "I remember auditioning for Tomb Raider way back in the day, 1,001 years ago, and they wanted Angelina Jolie, obviously, who got the part. "But they had myself and another actress in the wings, where they dyed my hair dark and my eyebrows dark, and they had me all ready, and, you know, as backup, just in case, because I was quite kind of strong and fit and kick ass at the time, and but obviously Angelina took it." Victoria also praised renowned Irish director Ros Hubbard for "changing the direction" of her life. "She changed my life in an instant by asking me to audition for a film called The Run of the Country with Albert Finney. "And they were looking for an Irish girl. I was in drama school playing everything except Irish and everything except girls. It was my first ever casting. She was so kind, so fun. "She changed my life forever and she was just so supportive. She was just brilliant. So she changed my life 1,000 per cent and if I ever win a big prize, she's the first person I'm thanking," she added. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
