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Major RTE schedule shake-up as usual daytime TV ditched for FOUR days across two different channels

Major RTE schedule shake-up as usual daytime TV ditched for FOUR days across two different channels

The Irish Sun30-04-2025
RTE's channels
are set to have their usual daytime schedule SCRAPPED for four days this week.
The national broadcaster's listings have been hit with a major shake-up to make way for a huge sporting event.
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2
RTE have announced a major daytime schedule shake-up this week
2
Over the next four days daytime programmes will be missing due to Punchestown coverage
Two will be airing Racing From
during the afternoons over the
next
two day
s.
The national broadcaster confirmed that the special sporting event will be airing from today, April 30 at 3.30pm until 6.30pm to Thursday May 1.
While the remaining coverage of the event will be aired on RTE One from
4pm to 7pm
on Friday, May 2 and 3pm to 5.45pm on Saturday, May 3.
Popular kids daytime shows Nova Jones, Holly's Hobbies and News2day will all be cut from the usual schedule over the coming days.
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READ MORE IN RTE
Comedy
sitcoms such as The Simpsons, The Goldbergs and
But fear not, as normal daytime schedules will resume on both channels from Sunday, May 4.
Separately, RTE viewers have all been left on a cliff hanger after Sunday night's Fair City episode.
There was huge disappointment for
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MOST READ IN THE IRISH SUN
The hit
soap
normally airs at 8pm on a Tuesday, however a repeat episode of The End of the World with Beanz was shown instead.
The environmental docuseries sees host Martin Beanz Warde travelling to The Zad in
benefits
of communal life.
A look at tonight's episode of Fair City
Thankfully, Fair City fans won't have to wait too long until their
next
fix as the show returns on air this Thursday, May 1, at 8.30pm.
Viewers will be able to find out whether or not Mairead is okay after
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The drama-filled episode saw Damien and his younger brother Mark go head-to-head after Mark confessed to accidentally murdering their sister Laura.
In a panic, Mark pulled out a gun which ended in a hostage situation at McCoy's.
VIOLENT CITY
Damien tried to talk down an erratic Mark, who was spooked when there was a knock at the door of the pub.
Still chasing her hunch about Mark's innocence, Fidelma questioned the veracity of Tyler's claims.
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Answering the phone, a quick-thinking Damien surreptitiously alerted Fidelma that they were in McCoys.
When Mark discovered Damien's phone, he went ballistic at his brother, who desperately tried to calm him down.
In an attempt to quell the escalating situation, Dean tackled Mark to get the gun, but a shot rang out.
Amidst the madness, everyone was shocked to discover that Mairead had been shot by the stray bullet.
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Inside Eamon Dunphy's family life and career with wife Jane, kids, grandkids and most explosive comments on RTE TV
Inside Eamon Dunphy's family life and career with wife Jane, kids, grandkids and most explosive comments on RTE TV

The Irish Sun

timean hour ago

  • The Irish Sun

Inside Eamon Dunphy's family life and career with wife Jane, kids, grandkids and most explosive comments on RTE TV

Cristiano Ronaldo was on the receiving end of one of his most notorious barbs FAR FROM DUN Inside Eamon Dunphy's family life and career with wife Jane, kids, grandkids and most explosive comments on RTE TV EAMON DUNPHY has reached his latest life landmark after turning 80. The former RTE pundit has lived a life of notoriety and is one of Ireland's most cherished sporting personalities. 7 Eamon Dunphy has turned 80 Credit: Cody Glenn / SPORTSFILE 7 He was part of RTE's iconic punditry team alongside Johnny Giles, Bill O'Herlihy and Liam Brady, not pictured Credit: Matt Browne/Sportsfile 7 From left, Ronnie Whelan, Liam Brady, John Giles, presenter Bill O'Herlihy, Eamon Dunphy, Graeme Souness, Ray Houghton, and Kenny Cunningham Credit: David Maher / SPORTSFILE He had a credible playing career including stints with Manchester United, Millwall, and Ireland. But it was his presence on our TV screens that was the most iconic as he formed one part of the 'Three Amigos' alongside Johnny Giles and Liam Brady. The trio were ably orchestrated by the late, great Bill O'Herlihy, with the group serving as mainstays on RTE TV during coverage of World Cups, Champions Leagues, and more. Here, SunSport takes a look at the life behind Eamon Dunphy. Where is Eamon Dunphy from? Eamon Dunphy is a proud Dubliner, having been born there on August 3, 1945. His early football education was within Dublin, as he played youth football with Stella Maris before moving to Manchester United in 1960 when he was just 15. Dunphy opened up on his experience at Old Trafford during an episode of 'The Bookshop with Ryan Tubridy'. And he revealed that despite the tenure being short-lived, he was able to strike a bond with Man Utd all-time great George Best. He said: "I was at Manchester United for five years but I never ever got to play in the first team because George Best was playing, and Denis Law. "George was a very close friend of mine and a bright guy. Irish comedian Gary Cooke blows fans away with musical impression of Eamon Dunphy "He was very quiet. George could sit on the coach for hours and say nothing but if you went to a disco with him, the girls were crazy. "He loved girls and he loved - it killed him in the end - the fame and the adoration. 7 The Republic of Ireland U23 team, back row, from left, Tommy Carroll, Paddy Mulligan, Al Finucane, Pat Dunne, David Pugh and Ray Treacy, front row, from left, Joe McGrath, Eamon Dunphy, Frank McEwan, Pat Morrissey, Frank McEwan and Eamonn Rogers Credit: Connolly Collection / Sportsfile "He was kind of the fifth Beatle, they dubbed him in the papers. He was very good looking. "He had a kind of quiet way about him, a bit of mystery. We were good pals. We used to go dancing together." After a brief stint with York City, it was with Millwall that he made his name on the pitch with over 270 appearances. Dunphy went on to play for Charlton Athletic and Reading before ending his career with Shamrock Rovers, retiring with the League of Ireland club in 1978. In addition to this, he won 23 caps with the Republic of Ireland, the last of which coming in 1971. Is he married? He is currently married to former RTE commissioning editor Jane Grugan, who he met in 1992 and married in 2009. She is his second wife, having first tied the knot with Sandra when he was 21. Having been brought up a Catholic, he was actively discouraged from marrying Protestant Sandra by a priest who described her as "not a proper person". Dunphy followed through with the wedding and had two children from that first marriage - named Colette and Tim - while he is also a grandfather. When his first marriage ended, he returned to Ireland and spent two years in Castletownshend in Cork. When did he start with RTE? Dunphy began his career with RTE working on the 1978 World Cup. He was part of RTE's football coverage for the past four decades covering almost every Irish national team game across a number of European Championships and World Cups. He left the broadcaster in 2018, typically causing shock and awe when the broadcaster did not expect him to issue his retirement statement. 7 RTE's team for the 2018 World Cup Credit: Matt Browne/Sportsfile The then-72-year-old left RTE to focus on his podcast The Stand which he had been running since November 2016. After nine years of the pod, Dunphy announced in January 2025 that it was taking a break "for the foreseeable future". By the time he left RTE after the 2018 World Cup, Eamon had already collected a catalogue of iconic, explosive moments... GOING 90 The earliest example we are providing of an explosive Eamon Dunphy moment was one that caused such a stir that it went viral before the age of social media. At the 1990 World Cup, the Republic of Ireland drew 0-0 with Egypt, prompting a deflated Dunphy to say he was "embarrassed". Speaking in the RTE studio afterwards, he said: "I felt embarrassed for soccer, embarrassed for the country, embarrassed for all the good players. "I feel embarrassed and ashamed of that performance and we should be. Everyone in the country has been let down and most people won't understand. "The Egyptians were terrible, they are terrible. We should be ashamed of how we went about the game." He rounded out his condemnation by referring to great players of previous eras, including Johnny Giles who was sat beside him, before tossing his pen onto the desk with a grimace. 'HE'S A COD' While many modern football fans refer to Cristiano Ronaldo as the GOAT, some on the Emerald Isle may opt for 'cod'. That blistering putdown was made famous by Eamon Dunphy, who went scorched earth on Ronaldo in 2008. After Manchester United had drawn 0-0 with Barcelona in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final, the Irishman was having none of CR7. So when tasked with analysing the then-23-year-old, he held absolutely nothing back. 7 Alex Ferguson and Cristiano Ronaldo Credit: Getty He fumed: "Ronaldo's performance tonight was a disgrace to football. "Liam [Brady] doesn't want me to say this, because I'll get myself into trouble - it was a disgrace. "It was a disgrace of petulance, temperament, throwing himself on the ground at least half a dozen times looking for fouls that he didn't get, claiming two penalties that he didn't get, waving his arms at other players on his own team. "It was a disgrace to professional football. "You asked before if this was about two great young players, [Lionel] Messi and Ronaldo. "If it was, Messi proved himself after only 45 minutes football in the last six weeks, to be a real pro and a real player." Dunphy then uttered the iconic line: "This fella Ronaldo is a cod." SCARY TERRY This was not the only scathing remark uttered by Dunphy in 2008, however. That same year, Steve Staunton's exit as Ireland manager sparked a debate as to who should be his successor. While Giovanni Trapattoni eventually got the nod, ex-England gaffer Terry Venables was also in contention. Eamon accused the ex-England manager of being a shady character and said on RTE: 'Would you buy a used car from Terry Venables?' Venable did not let remark go, telling The Irish Sun in 2008: 'My argument is not with the FAI - it's with Dunphy. 'He sits there on the ridiculous programme (on RTE) between two of the greatest players we've seen - Johnny Giles and Graeme Souness - and then you have a player like him. 'From what did he earn this grand position? I can't believe the people of Ireland take to him and listen to what he says. 'I don't normally respond to things like this but this guy is ridiculous. 'If it wasn't so serious it would be laughable. It's easy to have a go at me but it's crap.' MAKING A ROD FOR HIS OWN BACK Perhaps his single most iconic moment occurred in 2005. With Roy Keane having acrimoniously left Manchester United, Dunphy and Bill O'Herlihy engaged in a heated debate. Dunphy got more and more vociferous before O'Herlihy mentioned an article written by journalist Rod Liddle. At this point, Dunphy issued the immortal line: 'He's the guy who ran off and left his wife for a young one!' It is a remark that has lived with the Dubliner ever since, with Dunphy admitting it should have been a "sacking offence". Speaking to The Irish Mirror on his 80th birthday, he said: 'It was a horrendous thing to say (live on air). That was insane. 'I apologised to Rod on Liveline. He accepted my apology. 'I was mortified at myself."

‘Mortified' Eamon Dunphy admits viral RTE punditry moment was ‘sackable offence' that was ‘horrendous thing to say'
‘Mortified' Eamon Dunphy admits viral RTE punditry moment was ‘sackable offence' that was ‘horrendous thing to say'

The Irish Sun

time6 hours ago

  • The Irish Sun

‘Mortified' Eamon Dunphy admits viral RTE punditry moment was ‘sackable offence' that was ‘horrendous thing to say'

'DESPERATE' 'Mortified' Eamon Dunphy admits viral RTE punditry moment was 'sackable offence' that was 'horrendous thing to say' EAMON DUNPHY admitted his infamous rant about Rod Liddle should have been a "sacking offence". The outspoken Dubliner unforgettably referred to the journalist as "the guy who ran away and left his wife for a young one" on live RTE TV. Advertisement 2 Eamon Dunphy infamously referred to Rod Liddle as 'the guy who ran away and left his wife for a young one' 2 He admitted it should have been a sacking offence Credit: Cody Glenn / SPORTSFILE It came amid a debate with host Bill O'Herlihy following Roy Keane's acrimonious Manchester United exit in 2005, with Dunphy leaping to the Corkman's defence. The late great O'Herlihy referred to an article written by Liddle about Keane, which prompted the Dunphy outburst. Seventeen years later, the former pundit considers it among his biggest career regrets, calling it "horrendous". Speaking to The Irish Mirror on his 80th birthday, he said: 'It was a horrendous thing to say (live on air). That was insane. Advertisement 'I apologised to Rod on Liveline. He accepted my apology. 'I was mortified at myself." Dunphy revealed he met Liddle years later, with the journalist responding to the jibe with aplomb. He added: 'I spoke to him in the not too distant past. He said 'by the way that young one I ran off with, I married her and we are still together'. Advertisement 'That was a sacking offence but I wasn't sacked.' Since leaving RTE in 2018, Dunphy has maintained his role as an opinionated analyst of the beautiful game through his Mirror columns. Irish comedian Gary Cooke blows fans away with musical impression of Eamon Dunphy In recent times, Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson has been on the receiving end of his tirades. However, he seemed to have changed his tune after Ireland drew 1-1 with Senegal at the start of June. Advertisement They had taken the lead through Kasey McAteer before Ismaila Sarr's late equaliser. It could have been more, with Hallgrimsson suggesting VAR would have disallowed the equaliser had it been in place due to a Senegalese player being in Caoimhin Kelleher's eye-line from an offside position. Eamon Dunphy has been a vocal critic of Hallgrimsson, claiming he was "out of his depth" back in March after the Nations League relegation play-off win over Bulgaria. But after the draw, he praised the Icelander for making Ireland hard to beat against a side ranked 19th in the world. Advertisement Writing for the Irish Mirror, he said: "Let's give praise where it is due: Ireland were hard to play against last night. "They were easy on the eye, too, and easy to like, producing a display that reminded you of everything we like to pride ourselves on as a football nation."

Patrick Kielty in line for new Late Late contract following Cat Deeley split
Patrick Kielty in line for new Late Late contract following Cat Deeley split

Irish Daily Mirror

time12 hours ago

  • Irish Daily Mirror

Patrick Kielty in line for new Late Late contract following Cat Deeley split

Late Late Show star Patrick Kielty wants to host the smash hit chat show long-term despite the break-up of his marriage to Cat Deeley. RTE executives are fully supportive of him and prepared to offer the chatterbox comedian a lucrative new deal when his current €250,000 a year contract expires next May, we can reveal. Friends of the couple are adamant that Kielty, 54, working in Ireland had nothing to do with the marriage split and Paddy and Cat, 48, had effectively been living apart in the same house for over a year. One source said: 'He was spending on average two nights a week in Ireland. He would usually fly in on Thursday and do the show live on Friday nights, 30 times a year. 'He would then drive up north and do his BBC Five Live radio show on Saturday mornings from the Belfast studios and fly back to London afterwards. 'He still saw plenty of his wife and the two sons. Patrick Kielty and Cat Deeley (Image: Getty Images) 'The problem was the personal relationship between them just seemed to break down for whatever reasons. They are both strong personalities who speak their mind. Neither was seeing anyone else, there was definitely no third party involved.' Paddy has now done two seasons of the Late Late Show since the departure of Ryan Tubridy. RTE said he has been a roaring success and has completely stabilized and grown the ratings, which fluctuate between 400,000 to 500,000 a week now between the live audience and the RTE Player. But crucially for the national broadcaster, advertisers and sponsors have come running back to its flagship No 1 show. One RTE insider said: 'Paddy Kielty has been like a breath of fresh air here. 'He has come in with his own ideas and transformed and improved the Late Late Show, making it relevant again. 'He has also improved the calibre of guests and he has no problem getting on the phone and persuading some top stars to come to Dublin. 'Absolutely no-one on the show knew he was having marital difficulties because he kept it to himself. Kielty took over hosting the Late Late Show from Ryan Tubridy in September 2023 (Image: PA) 'When he comes to Dublin he is strictly business, extremely professional and doesn't talk about his personal life. 'He hardly ever mentioned his wife during his two years here and she never came to Ireland to watch his show which is in itself very strange. 'All the Late Late team have great time for him because he is a very humble down to earth fella. 'Everyone is devastated that his marriage is over but in the high-stakes, highly-pressurised showbiz world, these things happen.' Kielty has made it clear he really enjoys being back in Ireland and presenting The Late Late Show. He has told friends he would like to renew his contract at the end of his three-year term and keep presenting the show – and top executives in RTE let him know privately they want to keep him. RTE sources said any talks on a new deal haven't started yet but they expect it to get sorted over the coming year. Kielty and Cat would have been married 13 years this September. Cat Deeley and Patrick Kielty in happier times (Image: hoto by) They lived in a mansion in Beverly Hills for several years after they tied the knot in Rome in 2012 while she presented the popular American show So You Think You Can Dance. They and their two sons Milo, 9, and James, 7, returned to London in 2020. Cat resurrected her TV career in the UK when she took over as co- presenter on the This Morning daytime show on ITV and Virgin Media along with Ben Shephard in March last year following the controversial departure of Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield. The €600,000 a year job meant she was up at 5am and into the studio from Monday to Thursday every week. No one suspected their marriage was on the rocks. However, when Paddy's mother Mary died in March, eyebrows were raised when Cat and the children didn't show up for the funeral in his home village of Dundrum, Co Down. His sons adored their Irish granny and spent their summers with her, with the elder lad playing Gaelic football. Patrick Kielty and Cat Deeley attend the London Premiere of "Ballywalter" at The May Fair Hotel on September 18, 2023 in London, England. (Image: 2023 David M. Benett) The Late Late broadcaster is a very committed father and family man and will continue to live in London to be near his kids. The RTE source added: 'He will be back here in September when we go back on air and he will fly in and out from London doing his thing. 'Knowing Paddy he will give the show 110% and he won't let this personal setback hamper his career. 'You can expect the new season of the Late Late to be bigger and better than ever.' Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.

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