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Extra.ie
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
What to expect from this weekend's Folly Festival
A packed programme of entertainment, food, culture and community celebration awaits at this year's Folly Festival. Ireland's first gender-balance festival returns to Cullohill Castle in Co Laois this weekend. On Friday, The Jerry Fish Electric Sideshow, Lisa McHugh, Clodagh Lawlor and Cliona McDonald will be among the acts taking the stage. Lisa McHugh will be performing at the Folly Festival on Friday. Saturday continues with Chasing Abbey, Ruaile Buaile, Barry Deegan, Aislinn Townsend and Cullohill Comhaltas. Festival-goers can look forward to the invigorating Cullohill Mountain Walk, introduced by RTÉ's Tracks and Trails presenter and festival MC, Doireann Ní Ghlacáin. Starting at the castle and taking in stunning panoramic views, walkers will return for a well-earned 'Taste of Laois' breakfast and cookery demonstration. Chasing Abbey will take to the stage on Saturday. Later in the day, nature lovers can join Wild Food Mary on a foraging walk along a scenic trail, learning about edible treasures found in the local countryside. Back at the castle grounds, the Artisan Food and Craft Stalls will showcase the best of Laois cuisine, with local favourites such as Merry Mill organic oats, Omimos sauces, Sips by Tom cocktail syrups, and Sunshine juices. A highlight of the weekend will be Ballymaloe chef Rory O'Connell's demo titled Coming Home, a nostalgic return to the village where he and his sister, Darina Allen, spent their formative years. His session will focus on seasonal, locally sourced ingredients from Laois Taste. A highlight of the weekend will be Ballymaloe chef Rory O'Connell's demo titled Coming Home. Continuing the culinary legacy, teenage chefs Scarlett and Tamsin Allen, granddaughters of Myrtle Allen, will demonstrate the art of jam and butter making. There is also plenty of family fun with a lineup of children's entertainment at Nancy's Yard on Saturday. Activities include face-painting, tractor rides, sandpit fun, magician shows, and live music by Cullohill Comhaltas. Additional community features include a dog show, vintage car exhibition, local art displays, and the beloved Great Folly Bake Off. Doireann Ní Ghlacáin will be MC for the weekend. Speaking about the Folly Festival, organiser John Scanlan said: 'This weekend promises to prove very special, not only are we celebrating the 600th anniversary of the iconic Cullohill Castle, we have an incredible line up to suit all musical tastes.' 'And we have announced today that Down The Line and Nív will join the great music lineup of The Jerry Fish Electric Sideshow, Lisa McHugh, Clodagh Lawlor and Cliona McDonald on Friday night and Chasing Abbey, Ruaile Buaile, Barry Deegan, Aislinn Townsend and Cullohill Comhaltas on Saturday.' 'In addition to the musical lineup there is numerous alternative activities for everyone of all ages from food stalls and demos, to children's activities and much more. There is an extensive car park at the Folly which we ask all festival goers to avail of, to avoid congestion in the village.'
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ray J Predicts Diddy Will Get Out for Prison for This Wild Reason ... But Does He Have a Point?
Adding to the list of celebrities defending Sean 'Diddy' Combs amid his federal trial, Ray J had some thoughts about how the justice system is handling Diddy's drama. And man, was it a lot.... Ray J—real name William Ray Norwood Jr.— appeared on 'Piers Morgan Uncensored' to talk about why he believes the case against Diddy is starting to get outrageous. The disgraced music mogul is fighting for his life against racketeering and human trafficking charges, but according to Ray J, we're starting to lose the plot. 'I think it's kind of becoming a circus, and with all the allegations, and now with everybody explaining what's happening in the bedroom... It just sounds crazier and crazier and freakier and weirder,' Ray Jbegan. The singer even set his sights on Combs' ex-girlfriend Cassandra 'Cassie' Ventura, who alleged Diddy blew up rapper Kid Cudi's car as a scare tactic. 'With Kid Cudi going on and saying everything that happened, but then ended up saying, 'Cassie played both of us'... Where are we trying to go?' According to Ray J, there's not enough evidence to find Diddy guilty of his current charges. 'It's entertaining, for sure... but at the end of it all, it's like, 'This is what Diddy is being charged for, and this is what he possibly might serve a lot of jail time for?' I don't understand it,' he continued. To him, Diddy's case has become about optics and not the real evidence to support to government's racketeering case against him. The public was horrified to hear how Combs allegedly raped and repeatedly beat Cassie and how he alleged conspired to kill Kid Cudi— including by kidnapping his own assistant— but Ray J and other Combs' supporters argue that still doesn't connect him to a criminal enterprise. And in order for Combs to be found guilty, that's exactly what prosecutors need to prove. Although Ray J has not been named in connection with Diddy's criminal case, he maintains that the two businessmen have a close relationship. In fact, Ray J told Morgan he sees the Bad Boy founder as a mentor. 'This is word to my mom and kids, he's always inspired me to be great,' Ray J told Morgan. In the end, Ray J said he has faith that Diddy will walk away with his freedom. 'I honestly think that Diddy will get out... I think they made their point. Whatever they were trying to make, your point is made,' he continued. 'Now let Diddy out. Free Diddy!' Ray J is the latest entertainer to speak out in favor of the 'Coming Home' rapper. He joins folks like Kanye West, Amber Rose and Boosie Badazz— all of whom have had their own share of controversies over the years. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Hindustan Times
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Who is Isaac Wright? Popular photographer arrested after years of scaling NYC buildings
Isaac Wright- a photographer known for trapezing New York City's skyline for the perfect camera clicks- found himself in a sticky situation on May 15 when a group of undercover police officers showed up to his first gallery opening to arrest him for the very art so many people were present to appreciate him for. Known for his daring clicks and fresh perspectives, this is not Wright's first rodeo with the law. From the expanse of the Queensboro Bridge to the heights of the Empire State Building, Wright has captured it all. Armed with a camera in hand and grit in heart, most of Wright's best-selling pictures have much to do with him climbing the most scathing buildings in the city and delivering pictures from heights that only few could ever dream of reaching. However, with the regard and respect bound to flow in from his daring work, this urban climber has a tendency to invite trouble as well. Having served as a paratrooper in the US Army, many believe that Wright's affinity for risk came as a result of the depression he faced after being stationed at an army base in Louisiana. Since 2018, he has taken it upon himself to do what most people can't- a silent but steady way of fighting the system on his own terms. Though thrilling to see in spirit, Wright's adventures have an affinity of playing with the lines of legality as well. The famed photographer spent four months in prison way back in 2020 following a massive inter-city manhunt to capture the person responsible for trespassing three structures in Cincinnati by illegally climbing them. The hunt involved the police foraging several states and even shutting down an entire highway to capture the 'mastermind'. Following his release, Wright chose to turn to legal means for a change and started selling his pictures online on NFT- a move that added $10 million to his bank account. Despite being shrouded in controversy, his work started demanding the attention of high-rollers and urban aspirants alike, leading to his first solo exhibition 'Coming Home' at the Robert Mann Gallery in Manhattan. Wright's efforts to legitimise and ground his artwork in more traditional settings suffered a major blow when plainclothes officers at his debut exhibition made a discreet arrest at the end of the night. The charges came as a result of his continued passion for scaling buildings illegally, the most recent of which involved the iconic Empire State Building. This involved a 2024 incident where Wright took the tourist elevator to the 102nd floor and managed to slip past security cameras to take a picture of the skyline right from the pier of one of New York's tallest structures. 'I was just completely stunned,' said Mr Robert Mann, the owner of the gallery. 'Ansel Adams probably trespassed in his day to get a great photo; plenty of photographers did. But in all my years, I have never seen an artist taken out of an opening in cuffs.' Vitaliy Raskalov, a fellow urban climber and photographer, remarked, 'Sixteen years of exploring, so many exhibitions, I've never seen anyone get arrested at an exhibition. It's nonsense.' The cops, however, claimed that since Mr Wright lived out of town, his ensured attendance on that fateful night mandated the arrest. Wright, however, following his release the next day, was willing to cut some more slack to those in uniform. 'They waited until the night was pretty much over. They gave me that. For the first time, someone tried to understand who I was and show some humanity. I was never offered that before, and I really appreciate it,' he said. The display remains on in the Robert Mann Gallery till June 28.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Colerain Township native and renowned photographer arrested at NYC gallery exhibition
Colerain Township native and daredevil photographer Isaac Wright was arrested May 15 at the end of his first solo gallery exhibition in New York City, his lawyer said. Wright, known as Drift online, was escorted out of the Robert Mann Gallery in Chelsea just after 8 p.m., when his show was scheduled to end. His lawyer, Priya Chaudhry, told The Enquirer that Wright is charged with misdemeanor criminal trespassing. The Enquirer has requested more information about the arrest, but photos from Wright's climb up the spire of the Empire State Building were displayed at the exhibition. Chaudhry said the opening for the exhibition, called "Coming Home," was packed shoulder to shoulder, but several people noticed a woman who arrived at the beginning and stayed the whole time. Just after 8 p.m., the woman tapped him on the shoulder and informed him that he was under arrest, Chaudhry said, then several uniformed officers came in. Wright can be seen on cellphone video being escorted out of the building wearing a tuxedo and black bow tie. Chaudhry said at the police precinct, Wright was released with no bond, which is called a desk appearance ticket in New York. She said he's scheduled to be back in court on June 4. Wright, who graduated from Colerain High School and went on to serve in the U.S. Army, was arrested on charges in Cincinnati as well. After he made photographs from the top of Great American Tower at Queen City Square without permission, he became the subject of a nationwide manhunt. It was a sheriff's department in Arizona that arrested him. Deputies swarmed on his car with rifles drawn, helicopter hovering above. But it's not even clear if they knew why he was wanted. Back in Cincinnati, prosecutors said "stealth and deception" were Wright's trademarks as they attempted to hold him in jail on a $400,000 bond. Nearly a year after his arrest, Wright was sentenced to treatment in lieu of conviction. But during that time, Wright went from an artist with a decent Instagram following to one of the top-selling photographers in the world. He took some of the profits from those sales and donated $500,000 to The Bail Project to be used in Hamilton County to post bonds for non-violent offenders who cannot afford it. During another trip home, he was invited by the CEO of Fifth Third Bank to live stream his artistic process from the top of their building on Fountain Square. Chaudhry said it seems like the officers who arrested Wright seem to have been touched by his art. She said the officers were kind and very respectful during the May 15 arrest. "This all began because the cops couldn't understand him," Chaudhry said. "They saw him as a weapon. These officers saw him as an artist and a person." This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Daredevil photographer Isaac Wright arrested at NYC gallery exhibition
Daily Mirror
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Justin Bieber breaks silence on Diddy allegations amid sex trafficking trial
Chatter linked Justin Bieber to the explosive Sean Combs - P Diddy - trial, held as the rapper is accused of a string of depraved crimes, including racketeering conspiracy Troubled singer Justin Bieber has insisted he was not targeted by rapper P Diddy. Bieber, whose had four UK number ones, said widespread fears shared by fans he was a victim of the music mogul "detracts [focus] from the justice these victims rightfully deserve" in a statement released on Thursday. It came in response to speculation the singer, 31, may have been abused by Diddy during his early years in the music industry - although this is not an allegation for which the rapper stands trial. A video of the pair resurfaced last year and was described by some Bieber fans as "disturbing". It showed Combs and Bieber, who was a minor at the time, hanging out for "48 hours". The pair also worked together on Diddy's album The Love Album: Off the Grid, released in September 2023. But the spokesperson for Bieber said in a statement, published by TMZ, reads: "Although Justin is not among Sean Combs' victims, there are individuals who were genuinely harmed by him. Shifting focus away from this reality detracts from the justice these victims rightfully deserve." Sources also informed TMZ on Thursday the Coming Home rapper never abused Bieber in any way. The insiders stated the interactions in the video were simply "performative" - and explained Bieber was closer to the rapper's sons rather than Combs, who is 24 years his senior. Combs, who has won three Grammy Awards, was last year arrested in the state of New York on sex trafficking and racketeering charges, which he has denied. Bieber was reportedly "so disturbed by the Diddy news". A source told Mail Online at the time: "Bieber is so disturbed by the Diddy news and is unwilling to process it or discuss it so he has shut off... So many people who helped to make him who he is were very close to Diddy and it has completely thrown him. Justin hasn't been responding on this since the home raids. He's not going to. He was featured on Diddy's most recent album, and had he known any of this, there is no way he would have done it." The arrest came just one year after The Love Album: Off the Grid was released. It quickly became Diddy's fifth top ten on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. But now the 55-year-old star stands trial in New York City, accused of a number of charges, including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion and transportation to engage in prostitution. The father of seven denies each of these. Proceedings on Thursday heard P Diddy, whose debut album No Way Out sold more than seven million copies in the US alone, allegedly threatened Cassie Ventura during their 11-year relationship.
