On This Week: Ryanair launches its first ever route
Ryanair launched its first scheduled service with a flight from Waterford to London Gatwick Airport.
It was the first route launched by the company and was a daily service. It also marked the first international scheduled air service from Waterford, making it Ireland's fourth international airport.
2010: The case of the kidnapped penguin from Dublin Zoo
A penguin was stolen from Dublin Zoo and was later found at Rutland Street.
Kelli, a 10-year-old female penguin, was captured at 8:30am before the zoo opened. She was later found and returned by Gardai from Store Street.
Kelli was returned to the penguin habitat after a vet inspection found she had no injuries.
This Week In Irish Sports
The first two stages of the iconic cycling race, the Tour de France, took place in Ireland.
The 85th edition saw the first stage held in counties Wicklow and Dublin, where it finished in Phoenix Park. The stage winner was Tom Steels from Belgium.
The second stage began in Enniscorthy, County Wexford, and ended in Cork, with Svorada Ján from the Czech Republic crossing the finish line first.
2022: Westmeath win the inaugural Tailteann Cup
A late goal from Kieran Martin capped a dramatic comeback that helped Westmeath secure the inaugural Tailteann Cup title.
Three points down when approaching the hour mark, Westmeath scored 1-04 to beat the tournament favourites Cavan and secure the title.
The final score was Cavan 1-13 Westmeath 2-14.
This Week In Irish Entertainment
2005: 'The Wind That Shakes The Barley' begins shooting in Cork
Bandon in Co Cork was transformed for Ken Loach's film 'The Wind that Shakes the Barley'.
The movie, which starred Cillian Murphy, Pádraic Delaney, Liam Cunningham, and Orla Fitzgerald, was set during the Irish War of Independence and the Irish Civil War.
Loach, known for his realistic portrayal of working-class heroes, said the movie tackled the thorny subject of Irish nationalism.
2015: Coláiste Lurgan release as Gaeilge cover of Cheerleader
Coláiste Lurgan released another as Gaeilge cover over the summer, OMI's chart-topping hit, Cheerleader, which received over 2.7 million views.
The summer school, based in the Connemara Gaeltacht village of Inverin, had released cover versions of hit songs as Gaeilge; its first one was a cover of Avicii's Wake Me Up in 2013.
The school has given other famous hits an Irish spin, such as Adele's 'Hello' and Hozier's 'Take Me to Church.'
This Week In Irish Culture
1998: Carnival marks Dublin's 1,000th birthday
Dublin city marked its 1,000th birthday with a weekend-long street carnival.
Lord Mayor of Dublin Ben Briscoe launched the massive Dublin Street Carnival, which began with a parade of over 200 performers in full costume, led by the New Jersey Emerald Pipe Band.
Over the weekend, hundreds of events took place, featuring entertainers, musicians, clowns, and jugglers performing around Dublin city centre.
What was Number 1 in Ireland This Week?
1970: 'In The Summertime' by Mungo Jerry
The British rock band sold 30 million copies of the song, which celebrates the carefree days of summer.
1991: '(Everything I Do) I Do It for You' by Bryan Adams
Written for the film 'Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves', the power ballet reached number one in over 19 countries.
2001: 'Lady Marmalade' by Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mýa & Pink
Originally a hit in 1974 from US funk rock group LaBelle, Lady Marmalade hit number one again as a cover for the musical film 'Moulin Rouge'.
Irish Celebrities Celebrating Birthdays This Week
Eve Hewson (34)
Actor best known for Bad Sisters, and The Perfect Couple
Robbie Keane (45)
Former footballer who is the record scorer for The Republic of Ireland
Imelda May (51)
Signer, songwriter and TV presenter who has released six albums over her career
Other Irish Trivia From This Week
1989: When the Harlem Globetrotters visited Dublin
The Harlem Globetrotters, a US exhibition basketball team, came to Ireland to showcase their skills.
The team was playing against arch-rivals The Washington Generals at Neptune Stadium in Cork. Before they arrived, members of the team - Quentin Jones, Memphis Douglas and Tyrone 'Hollywood' Brown - took the time to meet and greet children who were part of the Aer Lingus Sports Club at Dublin Airport.
They demonstrated their skills for the young Irish players and taught them a few tricks in the process.
Looking Ahead
Each Monday, On This Week will bring you a mix of stories from the last 75 years, to celebrate Volkswagen's 75 year anniversary, featuring the big news stories, sporting highlights and major pop culture moments. Volkswagen has been part of those unforgettable moments - driving families to milestones, memories, and moments that matter. Join us every week as we look back at the moments of yesteryear.
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Irish Examiner
16 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
Tailteann Cup final the latest rung of Limerick's ladder to consistency and stability
Stable. Sustainable. Successful. The above is no corporate speak. It is no aspirational jargon thrown out so as to give the impression that a plan is in place. The above is Jimmy Lee's vision for Limerick football. Seventy minutes from the end of his second term, how is that vision progressing? 'It is going in the right direction. We have boxes ticked, others still need to be,' says Lee. Making Limerick football a stable entity carries obvious reasoning. It is currently a peak-and-trough entity. Altitude peaks and sinking troughs, at that. Three League promotions and two relegations in the past six seasons. Four managers in the past four seasons. A 17-game winless League run spanning three seasons, followed by a 12-game League and championship run where they've only lost once. This constant yo-yoing has an easily identifiable root cause. When Jimmy was appointed in August 2023 and began assembling a dressing-room, he found that 19 of that year's panel would be unavailable for his debut 2024 campaign. From '24 to this year, 16 of the 36 did not carry on. Foundations laid from December to summer are being hammered in the off-season. The rebuilding cycle is in constant spin. 'You might have two, three, or four that step away at the end of this year, but we'll be pushing to see if we can avoid it in total. I know lads have given a length of service, but you'd always be hoping they will take one more leap of faith. 'The vision would be to make Limerick football sustainable year-on-year. But there are stepping stones along the way, such as to keep lads coming back in the door, to win a Tailteann. "The ultimate vision is to have a product you can deliver year-on-year within your capabilities.' A consistent product. That was Jimmy's 2025 vision. 'Last year, we were all over the place. We were training in Knocklong some nights, you were in Rathkeale others. With Micheál's [Cahill, coach] knowledge of surfaces and player physique, we based ourselves out of UL's all-weather surface this year. "We knew there would be a six-to-seven-week familiarisation period where lads would be getting stiff and sore, but it was smooth sailing after that. 'We would have been without places if we didn't have UL. We'd train once a week in Rathkeale on grass, but every other session was in UL, video analysis, the works. We didn't come out of there until April.' Winning the Tailteann Cup has been a means to an end for all previous winners. Just look at where Meath are two years after second-tier success. Even Down gave this year's top-tier a right rattle. You might think Limerick are different. They are, of course, without All-Ireland football championship silverware at any level since the 1896 Sam Maguire win. 'It's not the be-all-and-end-all,' Lee says of Saturday. 'You'd go into Sam Maguire, but our focus next year would really be on Division 3. 'Back when Stephen Lucey and Pa Ranahan were playing, under Liam Kearns, you were riding the crest of a wave, we almost won a Munster final here against Kerry [in 2004]. But yet and all then you went down. 'It is taking them peaks and troughs out of the way because where you want to go and maintain is a flat line, and you look no further than our neighbours Clare, seven seasons in Division 2. 'On the pathway of our journey, it is massively important to Limerick football to be in a national final. But it is beyond that and beyond that again.'
The 42
an hour ago
- The 42
'Big Joe' and the Lions look to lock in Test spots against Brumbies
AS MARO ITOJE was listing out the big Lions ball-carriers he hopes to see punching at the Brumbies defence today [KO 11am Irish time, Sky Sports], he named 'Big Joe McCarthy' among them. It seems the prefix applied to McCarthy within the Ireland squad has caught on in Andy Farrell's Lions group too. The Irish lock is a big fella, to be fair. He's the bulkiest second row in the Lions squad, weighing in at around 124kg and standing 6ft 6ins tall. McCarthy is explosive too, as everyone was reminded by his big performance against the Western Force. McCarthy has only had one other appearance off the bench against the Reds before returning to the starting XV for today's clash with the Brumbies, but he has been pencilled into most people's predicted Test match 23s. We know Farrell is a big fan of McCarthy's all-action physicality, so this must feel like a huge opportunity for the Leinster man to lock down a Test spot as he plays alongside captain Maro Itoje. 'He's obviously a great player,' said Itoje of McCarthy. 'He's been on fine form and I'm looking forward to playing with him.' Farrell has plenty of other options alongside Itoje for the Tests, of course, including McCarthy's Irish team-mates Tadhg Beirne and James Ryan. But being in this strong Lions team to take on the Brumbies feels like the ideal place to be. Deliver a big performance alongside Itoje 10 days out from the opening Wallabies clash and it will surely mean being in pole position. Advertisement Andy Farrell is expecting to see a big performance. Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO 'I think they will complement each other really well, both showing good form in their last game,' said Farrell of what he wants to see from McCarthy and Itoje. 'Continuity is pretty important to be able to add to that, I suppose there's no doubt that they would have listened to what everyone's been saying around as far as the performances, etc. It's up to them to make sure that they take a step forward.' The same applies to this entire 23, even if the rest of the Lions will have one final audition on Saturday against the AUNZ Invitational team in Adelaide. Following last weekend's scrappy performance against the Waratahs, Farrell and his assistants are keen to see this Lions 23 move closer to a Test match mentality. 'You want to see them stay in every single moment of the game and I know that sounds harsh and almost impossible to do but they understand 100% now, and have done for a week or so, what is expected of them to be the best teammate that they can possibly be,' said Farrell. 'So, that's what we're judging them on, the expectation of that and what it takes to be the best version of themselves but also what it takes to be part of this team and they understand that because ultimately that's what is going to make us successful or not.' The Brumbies are missing their key Wallabies, but Stephen Larkham's side are determined to make the Lions uncomfortable. They famously beat the Lions back in 2013 in a final midweek games before the first Test but that was a very strong Brumbies side including Scott Fardy, Tevita Kuridrani, Henry Speight, Jesse Mogg, Matt Toomua, Scott Sio, Sam Carter, and Colby Faingaa. Brumbies boss Stephen Larkham. Photosport / Andrew Cornaga/INPHO Photosport / Andrew Cornaga/INPHO / Andrew Cornaga/INPHO There is talent in this Brumbies selection and there will be a big crowd of well over 20,000 people roaring them on, but they know it's an onerous task to try and take down a Lions team that means business. Fullback Andy Muirhead is always a threat, lightning-quick wing Corey Toole should have some big moments, blindside Tom Hooper played for the Wallabies off the bench last weekend, and brothers Ryan and Lachlan Lonergan are popular local figures. After the lovely mild winter weather in Sydney and Newcastle, it has been chillier here in Canberra this week, but the Lions are expecting to turn up the heat as that first Wallabies Test looms. BRUMBIES: Andy Muirhead; Ben O'Donnell, Ollie Sapsford, David Feliuai, Corey Toole; Declan Meredith, Ryan Lonergan (captain); Lington Ieli, Lachlan Lonergan, Rhys van Nek; Lachie Shaw, Cadeyrn Neville; Tom Hooper, Rory Scott, Tuaina Taii Tualima. Replacements: Liam Bowron, Cameron Orr, Feao Fotuaika, Lachie Hooper, Luke Reimer, Harrison Goddard, Jack Debreczeni, Hudson Creighton. LIONS: Blair Kinghorn; Tommy Freeman, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, James Lowe; Finn Russell, Jamison Gibson-Park; Ellis Genge, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong; Maro Itoje (captain), Joe McCarthy; Ollie Chessum, Tom Curry, Jack Conan. Replacements: Rónan Kelleher, Andrew Porter, Will Stuart, Josh van der Flier, Henry Pollock, Alex Mitchell, Marcus Smith, Mack Hansen. Referee: Pierre Brousset [France].
Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
Stephen Larkham: 'Knowing how he operates, I think Clayton will be a great fit for Munster'
Stephen Larkham is backing rival Super Rugby head coach Clayton McMillan to be a great fit when he takes the reins at Munster this summer. Australia's 1999 World Cup-winning fly-half knows all about dealing with high expectations at Munster having served as Johann van Graan's senior coach at the province between 2019 and 2022. He has fond memories of life in Limerick and there is the sense that the foundations he and van Graan laid at Munster's High Performance Centre during their tenures led to the URC title success under his fellow assistant Graham Rowntree in the season following their departures. Larkham returned home to Canberra to return to the Brumbies as head coach and will on Wednesday plot the downfall of an Irish-heavy British & Irish Lions side in their latest tour match on this 2025 tour Down Under. That the Brumbies' home, GIO Stadium has a Gregan-Larkham grandstand named in honour of the franchise's legendary half-back partnership, a pairing with scrum-half George Gregan which helped secure the Wallabies' World Cup success 26 years ago, tells you all you need to know about the current head coach's standing in his hometown. His tenure at the top of the organisation he also served as both a player and an assistant to Jake White when the Brumbies beat the Lions here in 2013 has also been enhanced by guiding the Canberra side to the Super Rugby Pacifica semi-finals this season, Australia's only representatives in the last four. That they lost to McMillan's Chiefs in that semi last month was not lost on Larkham as he applauded Munster's decision to appoint the New Zealander as Rowntree's permanent successor having negotiated the final seven months of last season under an interim head coach, Ian Costello. 'I had a chat to him (McMillan) after our first-round game, actually,' Larkham said. 'I didn't talk to him after they beat us in the semi. I did, but not about that. Clayton McMillan is Munster's 11th head coach since 2014. File picture: Michael Bradley/Getty 'He's done an amazing job. When you look at that Chiefs team, not necessarily the best players, but it fits well. We've kind of had it here with the Brumbies and the Waratahs and the big brother up the road. 'They've got the Chiefs and the Blues, who are the big brother up the road. He's done an amazing job with the Chiefs over the last couple of years. He's a great coach and got huge respect within the Super Rugby community. 'And I think he's a great appointment. 'No disrespect to the coaches that are over there (at Munster) at the moment. I just think, obviously, they've made a decision that they want to find someone external. 'Just talking to Clayton, knowing how he operates, and speaking to some of the players and the staff that have worked with him, I think he's going to be a great fit." Larkham is two years removed from his stint with Munster but he looks back on that period of his coaching career with fondness. 'We loved it. We had the opportunity to stay over there. We came back because Brumbies is my home. It's my hometown. 'I always had the plan to go overseas somewhere to bring the experience back to the Brumbies. And I certainly got a lot of experience out of Munster. 'It was hard to leave. Great environment, good group of players, good staff, great set-up. 'Loved the town of Limerick, where we lived. Everyone's passionate about rugby over here. 'You get really good crowds at the British and Irish Lions games, but you see through Super we don't get the crowds that we get over there. From a development point of view as a coach, I couldn't talk higher of the environment that was created over there for the coaches. An amazing experience.' Working within the Irish system has also given Larkham a better appreciation of the Lions, which was already at a high level given he faced them as a player in the 2001 Test Series. 'Knowing some of the players, like Tadhg Beirne is here with the team, but then we had Mack Hansen and Finlay Bealham, and we've been following those guys, obviously, because they're from Canberra. 'And just to see the Irish system, and be in the Irish system, and see how it sort of flows through. 'All the talent from Munster, how that flows through into the Irish team. And then kind of seeing how the Irish team do it, and where they've come from. What Joe (Schmidt) did, sort of bring them through, and Andy (Farrell) sort of continued that on. 'And now the bulk of the Irish, the British and Irish Lions team is Irish. Yeah, it gives me more appreciation of the talent that was over there. 'I think being over there has certainly given me more appreciation of the talent that is in those competitions up there." Read More Ireland make four changes for World U20 Rugby Championship clash against New Zealand
