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The Irish Sun
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
‘I'm getting the old Kevin back' reveals openly gay GAA star as he hails All-Ireland winner's gesture after coming out
KEVIN PENROSE was four days into his self-imposed isolation in a Thailand hotel room when he realised something had to give. For the better part of the previous decade, the 31-year-old had been locked in an internal struggle, striving to find his place in a confusing world. Advertisement 4 Kevin Penrose spoke about his experience coming out as gay Credit: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile 4 Kevin alongside Armagh footballer Mark Shields, referee David Gough, camogie player Hannah Looney, Belong To CEO Moninne Griffith and Musgrave's Maighread Cremin officially launch SuperValu's new limited-edition Pride themed Bag for Life Credit: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile In 2022, following the Covid-19 It culminated in a FaceTime call with his mum, during which the Aghyaran Saint Davogs clubman finally came out as gay. While now one of the Advertisement He explained to SunSport: "I think the first moment was probably like my later teens, maybe like 17/18 years old. "It's already a time where you're trying to figure out yourself and where you want to go - if you want to go to college or go work or what you want to do with your life. "Ever since I came out, I think everything else in my life just sort of fell into place. "If you asked me three years ago if I'd be on the phone talking to yourself about my experience and how open and so freely about it, I would have called you mad!" Already a vulnerable place to be, a teenage Penrose's situation was not made any easier by growing up in a sporting arena. Advertisement He comes from fine stock, with his brother Martin having won Sam Maguire with While he did his GCSE exams in a mixed school, he moved to an all-boys' school for his A-levels. Tomas O'Se calls out GAA's mid-season rule change but fellow Sunday Game pundit disagrees It meant being surrounded by fellow teenage boys, some of whom would off-handedly use sensitive terms and slurs - less out of malice and more out of ignorance as to their impact. Penrose admitted: "You're trying to make new friends. You're starting fresh, essentially, and you do want to start off on the right foot to fit in. "That sort of resonated over to my club football, as well, like trying to break into the senior football team at the same time. Advertisement "Once you're not making it in there as well you're sort of, 'okay I'm not a good footballer anymore.' "Everyone's trying to get ahead and stand out and be the best in the room and if there's terms thrown around, and even it might be seen as banter to them, to me I got to the point where I actually took offence to that. "You're just thinking, 'okay I can't act or talk or I have to partake in this behaviour to sort of fit in so I don't draw attention to myself'. "If I react to it then they're gonna call me gay." ON HIS TRAVELS It wasn't until he went travelling that Penrose began to process the many questions he faced concerning his sexuality. Advertisement He went to In the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, Kevin set off for Asia, admitting that he was trying to escape from his mental anguish. He added: "I used travel as a way to sort of run away and I thought the feelings will go away because I'm travelling. "I'm not in those environments any more and I'm away from Gaelic football. "I was still feeling all those feelings and bottling it up with myself just in a different environment, if it was in Liverpool or in America or in Asia. Advertisement "I still just assumed it's the football environment that's making me feel this way but, in reality, it's myself. "The feelings and everything just kept following me around until I got to Asia and just got to a point where I was like something's got to give." "A lot of people would still be hesitant to talk about my sexuality. Not that they don't want to, they just don't know how to go about it or they just don't feel comfortable yet talking about it." Penrose is a content creator and regularly documents his extensive travels. Even now, telling his story over the phone, he is back in Meath having spent a couple of days in Mayo, Connemara, and But four months into his Asian expedition, the motivation dwindled as he was staying in a hostel in Phuket, Advertisement Penrose called his mum under the guise of a general catch-up but with the ultimate intention of telling her what he had always known but was afraid to admit. He likened the reaction, which he had catastrophised in his own head, to being typically Irish in the best way. Penrose revealed: "I was still like shooting my content and trying to make posts online and the love for that wasn't really there anymore. "I remember the hotel room very specifically; it was just a dark hotel room with a tiny window and, to me, it was like, 'okay is this my rock bottom.' "I didn't leave that room for about four or five days, just me and my thoughts. Advertisement "It was one of them conversations where you kept asking silly questions just to keep the conversation going as long as possible. "I know my mum would be sensing something's wrong or something's not right if he's staying on the phone for this long "It just got to the point where I told her and it was just so normalized and everything I thought would go wrong didn't happen and it was just such a normal Irish response. "With dad, as well, it was like, 'all right very good, well done. How's the weather over there?'" 4 Ronan McNamee encouraged Kevin Penrose to return to gaelic football Credit: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile Advertisement With that weight off his shoulders, Penrose told his extended family, and then the world via When he came home to While he considered a return to gaelic football, Penrose was nervous to take the plunge, unsure as to how he would be received. That was until Ronan McNamee - a fellow Aghyaran clubman who is an All-Ireland champion, three-time Ulster winner, and former All-Star - reached out to his fellow Tyrone native. Thanks to his words of encouragement, Penrose returned to club football and still plays for Aghyaran to this day. Advertisement Kevin said: "We've grown up together in the same school, he's a couple of years older than me but we're always around the same social circles. "We played football together growing up and I'm really good friends with his wife Clara. "Ronan was just the one that was sort of, 'oh, you'll come back to football' sort of thing. "It made me realise that my club doesn't have a problem with that sort of thing. "A lot of people would still be hesitant to talk about my sexuality. Not that they don't want to, they just don't know how to go about it or they just don't feel comfortable yet talking about it. Advertisement "I think having the likes of Ronan, a top senior footballer within our club and county at the time, it speaks volumes that he's willing to have the conversations." 'AUTHENTIC SELF' Penrose has relived all of the above repeatedly over the three years since he came out. Earlier this year, he explained the process on an episode of the BBC's GAA Social podcast. He has been doing so again over the last week in conjunction Pride Month and with the launch of SuperValu's new limited-edition Pride themed Bag for Life. Earlier this month, he took part in the Gaelic Players' Association Pride brunch alongside Conor Meyler and Mark Shields, the latter of whom is also gay. Advertisement It is a story that he finds easier and more enjoyable to tell now, while he has been an active LGBTQ+ rights advocate. And he is hopeful that the GAA is in a better position for members of the LGBTQ+ community. He said: "I'm sort of getting the old Kevin back and a better version of myself and I really am just everyday being my authentic self. "I feel like my story is no longer my story in a sense. I feel like it's someone else's story now that they can take something from it. "Thinking back to whenever I was going through all those feelings at that time, I didn't really see any footballer who has gone through the same thing as me. Advertisement "You had the likes of Donal Og Cusack who come out and it was highlighted but sort of forgotten about in a sense and you think back that was such a long time ago. "Even the likes of Mark Shields, for example, who had recently just spoken about his experiences playing for Armagh and how well they have welcomed him in. "If my club can do it and if Armagh can do it, then why can't this be replicated throughout all of Ireland and throughout all the county teams. "With the GAA and their motto 'where we all belong', I think it's there's no better time to really push it." SuperValu's limited edition rainbow tote is designed to be carried with pride and is available to purchase for €3. Profits from the sale of the bags will go to Belong To, the national LGBTQ+ youth organisation. 4 Martin Penrose, brother of Kevin Penrose, won an All-Ireland with Tyrone Credit: Michael Cullen / SPORTSFILE Advertisement
New York Post
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
'Futurama' actor John DiMaggio asks $1.99M for LA home
After more than a decade tucked into a secluded corner of the Studio City hills, Emmy-nominated voice actor John DiMaggio and actress Kate Miller are saying goodbye to their Los Angeles home, The Post has learned. A striking 1979 modernist residence designed by architect John Bleser, the dwelling is now listed for $1.99 million. Best known for voicing Bender in the culty cartoon 'Futurama,' DiMaggio called the move 'bittersweet,' adding, 'It's where we've been for a while.' Advertisement 13 Emmy-nominated voice actor John DiMaggio — best known as the voice of Bender in 'Futurama' — and his wife, stage and screen actress Kate Miller, have listed their architectural hillside retreat in Los Angeles for $1.99 million. David Fitzgerald 13 A still from Season 12 of 'Futurama,' which aired on Sept. 2, 2024. ©Hulu/Courtesy Everett Collection The couple, both native New Yorkers, moved into the house as a starter home, but it became much more than that. Advertisement 'We liked it so much. We ended up there for 14 years,' Miller said. 'A comfort zone is a wonderful place, but nothing ever grows there.' Set against the Verdugo Mountains, the three-story hillside dwelling offers sweeping valley views, open-concept interiors, a regenerating brook and decks. Bleser's Bauhaus-inspired vision remains intact, with carefully preserved original detailing and recent modern updates. 13 John DiMaggio with a figure of his Bender character. WireImage 13 The entryway. David Fitzgerald Advertisement Inside, the couple outfitted the space with work and play in mind. 'During COVID, I recorded a lot of things from home, and it was more of a studio slash office, in the house,' DiMaggio said. 'There's great work space in the house.' A life-sized replica of Bender — gifted to DiMaggio by the creators of 'Futurama' — currently stands watch inside the studio, a physical reminder of the show's long legacy. 'That's something that I got from 'Futurama' a long time ago that only a couple of people have gotten,' DiMaggio said. Advertisement 13 Designed by modernist architect John Bleser in 1979, the three-story home is a private sanctuary perched above the city with sweeping views of the Verdugo Mountains. David Fitzgerald 13 The office, which has been used as DiMaggio's studio to record. David Fitzgerald Outside, the property is a haven for wildlife — frequent visits from deer, owls and hawks have added to its peaceful, woodsy charm. 'It's a beautiful special place up there in the hills. And it's a really unique architectural piece of property,' Miller added. Originally designed with entertainers and creatives in mind, the roughly 3,000-square-foot residence includes a dramatic glass conservatory with double-height windows, two levels of entertaining space, and a private third-story retreat with bedrooms and outdoor lounge areas. 13 The home occupies roughly 3,000 square feet. David Fitzgerald 13 John DiMaggio and Kate Miller. Getty Images for STARZ The home's custom brook feature, lush landscaping and privacy fencing enhance its appeal, while its walkability to Ventura Boulevard and sushi favorites like Avi Cue and KazuNori add urban convenience. Advertisement Adara Salim of the Beverly Hills Estates holds the listing. DiMaggio's on-camera appearances span everything from 'Better Call Saul,' 'Modern Family' and 'Interview with the Vampire,' to voice work in 'Zootopia,' 'Transformers: Dark of the Moon,' 'Samurai Jack' and 'The Super Mario Bros. Movie.' 13 A lovely glass conservatory. David Fitzgerald 13 The living space. David Fitzgerald Advertisement 13 The home offers lush landscaping. David Fitzgerald Miller, a veteran of both stage and screen, has appeared in everything from 'Blue Bloods' and 'Hightown' to Broadway productions with Carol Burnett and Michael Sheen. Her voice roles include 'Sealab 2021,' 'Frisky Dingo' and major video games like 'God of War: Ragnarök.' The couple began dating in 2011. They also recently went into contract on their Palm Springs home, which they've owned for 11 years. These days, they're spending summers in the Hamptons and continue to maintain a home in Manhattan's West Village. Advertisement 13 One of three bedrooms. David Fitzgerald 13 An ensuite bathroom. David Fitzgerald 'John was born in New York and raised in Jersey, so we're East Coast people,' Miller said. Still, their hillside LA home holds a special place as they are still figuring out where they will permanently settle. Advertisement 'It's the house we bought when we first got married,' DiMaggio said. 'So there's a lot of nostalgia attached to it.' As for the life-sized Bender statue that currently resides in DiMaggio's studio? Miller offered one final note — with a laugh — to her husband: 'It will not come in the [new] house.'
The Irish Sun
01-06-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘I'm under pressure' admits John Russell but Sligo Rovers manager insists they can turn it around after latest defeat
JOHN RUSSELL will not be taking days off during the summer break as he bids to keep Sligo Rovers in the Premier Division. 2 John Russell admitted he is under pressure Credit: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile 2 Sligo Rovers lost their 12th game of the season against St Patrick's Athletic Credit: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile Basement boys Sligo look in real danger of ending their 20-year stay in the Premier Division, even at the season's halfway point. Restricted by the top flight's smallest budget, boss Russell has had to rely on a mix of academy players and unproven signings from both here and the UK to make up his squad. Investment is required but the gaffer also believes that some of his players are not performing to the levels he requires. He groaned: 'It's been tough. Read More on League of Ireland 'We haven't won enough games and we've lost too many and the players know why. 'Maybe it's time now for some lads to get away and have a look at themselves. 'They need to reflect on how they think they've done in the first half of the season. 'We have a few lads who haven't done enough. I've told them that. Most read in Sport 'Are we lacking quality? Have we got young players who are making mistakes? 'Yes, they have but it's my job to help them learn and I'll continue. PSG crowned Champions League winners after smashing Inter Milan 5-0 'If we have 11 players at it, we'll get points. If we don't, then we won't.' And although his players will be making the most of their few days off, a tireless Russell revealed that he will work all the way through the break in an effort to rescue Rovers' season. Sligo are a point off Cork City in ninth with the Rebels a whopping ten points back from Munster rivals Waterford. Yet Russell is adamant his men can haul it back. He added: 'How can I take time off now when we're bottom of the league? 'I'm a hard-working manager so I'll continue to work hard to get results. 'If you're managing a team in the position we're in, of course I'm under pressure. 'But I look at everything I'm doing all the time and you have to do the right thing. 'Can we turn it around? Absolutely.'
Extra.ie
01-06-2025
- Sport
- Extra.ie
Everything you need to know ahead of the Vhi Women's Mini Marathon
Let's go, girls! The day is here — the Vhi Women's Mini Marathon takes place this afternoon, Sunday, June 1. The beloved event will see thousands of women take to the streets of Dublin for a range of worth causes. 28,000 tickets for the main event are sold out, and the virtual mini-marathon took place on Saturday, May 31. Let's go, girls! The day is here — the Vhi Women's Mini Marathon takes place this afternoon, Sunday, June 1. Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile EVOKE are the 2025 media partner for the Vhi Women's Mini Marathon — here's everything you need to know… The Vhi Women's Mini Marathon starts on Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin 2 at 12.30pm. Participants are urged to get into their 'wave' by 11.30am. Final arrival is at 12pm latest. The 10km race finishes on Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2. EVOKE confirm there will be water stations along the way, with the first station after the 3km mark on the Stillorgan Road near the Teresian School. The second will be at 6km on the Stillorgan Road near Belfield Bridge. A third and final station is situated outside AIB Place in Ballsbridge following the 8km mark. The Vhi Women's Mini Marathon starts on Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin 2 at 12.30pm. Participants are urged to get into their 'wave' by 11.30am. Final arrival is at 12pm latest. Pic: Getty Images Yes! There are more pacers than ever before, with participants encouraged to follow a pacer throughout the run, particularly if you are looking to finish the 10km in a certain time. Options include 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 90 and 120 minutes. Only clear bags and small bags no larger than A4 size are permitted into the event, and will be subject to searches. Bag drop locations are colour-coded to match your assigned wave. All bag drops open from 10.30am. White and Pink wave participants use the bag drop at Fitzwilliam Square with entry via Pembroke Street Upper and Leeson Street Lower while Blue and Orange can use the Baggot Street drop (entry via Hume Street and St Stephen's Green). Those in the green wave must drop their bags on Mount Street Upper, with access via Herbert Place and Mount Street Crescent and yellow wave participants will drop their bags to the Merrion Square South drop, with access via Merrion Square West and North. Yes! There are more pacers than ever before at the Vhi Women's Mini Marathon, with participants encouraged to follow a pacer throughout the run, particularly if you are looking to finish the 10km in a certain time. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile From 8am on Saturday, Herbert Street is closed while Merrion Street Upper, Ely Place, Pembroke Street, Merrion Square West, Dawson Street and Kildare Street all close from 8.30am. Further road closures take place from 10am and 11.30am including Leeson Street Lower, Leeson Street Upper, Donnybrook Road and Pembroke Road. For the full list of road closures and opening times go here. Elsewhere, the Cork City Marathon takes place on Sunday, June 1 with the marathon kicking off at 8.15am from the Patrick Street and the Half Marathon beginning at 10.15am on Monahan Road. The races will naturally impact traffic in and around the city with the city centre streets closed for most of the day. North Main Street, Liberty Street, Kyles Street, Adelaide Street and Castle Street closed at 7am on Sunday and will remain closed until 4pm, while St Patrick's Street is closed until 6om. The Jack Lynch tunnel will remain open for the day but will operate at contra-flow system from 12pm until 1pm. The full list of closures is available here.
The Citizen
19-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Sports update: Bulls, Sharks & Stormers set for quarter-finals
The Bulls will go head-to-head against Edinburgh The Bulls players celebrate after the United Rugby Championship win against Munster in Limerick. Picture: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile via Getty Images Three South African rugby teams have made it to the quarter-finals, with the Lions not making it through at 11th place. This makes it the fourth season in a row that the Lions don't make it through to the quarter-finals of the competition. This month, the Bulls will be going head-to-head against Edinburgh, the Sharks will host Munster, and the Stormers will have an away game against Glasgow Warriors over the weekend. ALSO READ: VIDEO: 'Nothing effective is happening' – DA leaders visit Usindiso building in Joburg
