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Irish Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
All-Ireland number four is Noel McGrath's sweetest yet, but he may already be plotting the drive for five
Noel McGrath is in the lobby of Malahide's Grand Hotel, patiently posing for photographs and cheerfully signing autographs. The Irish Sea just beyond the double doors is hidden beneath a low grey haze while incessant summer rain continues to soak the shoreline. It has been a dark, heavy morning across much of the country but there is a lightness to the air inside the hotel foyer. McGrath was a kid of just 19 when he won his first All-Ireland senior hurling title in 2010. On Sunday, at 34 years young, he collected his fourth Celtic Cross for Tipperary . Walking up the steps of the Hogan Stand to raise the Liam MacCarthy Cup , he brought his two-year-old son Sam with him to the plinth. READ MORE 'To be able to have my son there yesterday was probably one of the greatest things I could have done. I lifted the Liam MacCarthy with him in my arms,' says McGrath with a smile. 'I never thought in my wildest dreams that I'd be able to bring him to Croke Park [while I'm still playing], so to win an All-Ireland with him is unreal. 'That will be something I will remember forever. In time, I suppose he'll see all the pictures from it. He won't remember it but he'll have those pictures. It's special for me to be able to do that with him.' There is a second child on the way in October. Life is about to get even busier, even better. As he speaks, several of McGrath's team-mates are meandering through the lobby, floating around with expressions of total satisfaction painted across their faces. Tipperary manager Liam Cahill has taken Liam MacCarthy and a group of players to Children's Health Ireland (formerly Crumlin Children's Hospital) while others are standing around in small clusters trying to organise taxis to deliver them to one of the city's early houses. Ronan Maher with Tipperary supporter Oisín Crowe during the All-Ireland champions' visit to Children's Health Ireland at Crumlin. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho Conor Stakelum is one of those ambling around the place. This is his first experience of winning an All-Ireland SHC. 'It's the stuff of dreams really,' he says. 'I was on my phone looking at the messages, soaking it in, then I came down to the lobby here and you see everybody smiling. 'You'd always be watching the news after All-Ireland finals, dreaming about being there some day and seeing the buzz around the day after. Now you're in it.' Dillon Quirke is never far from the thoughts of this Tipperary group. Nearly three years have passed since he collapsed during a club match and was pronounced dead in hospital. For Stakelum, Sunday brought back memories of the 2018 All-Ireland under-21 final between Tipp and Cork. [ Ashamed to be seen in public just one year ago, Tipperary's redemption story defies belief Opens in new window ] 'A couple of us were out with Dan and Hazel Quirke (Dillon's parents) on Friday before training, we had a cup of tea and a scone,' says Stakelum. 'Dillon was playing that day [in 2018] and we were just chatting about that match. When we were on the bus yesterday it started to rain, and it was raining that day too. 'If things were different Dillon would be here today and no better man to enjoy it with us if he was here.' McGrath will turn 35 in December. His story of resilience and defiance has already guaranteed him a place in the pantheon of Tipp greats. In 2015 he was diagnosed with testicular cancer and just days later he underwent surgery. But he hasn't let it define him, having now added three further All-Ireland titles. He also claimed this latest one alongside his brothers, John and Brian. 'As I said after the semi-final, it never gets old,' he says of playing for Tipperary. 'As long as you're able to do it and to have days like this, it would keep anyone in good form and looking to do it again. It's great, it's unreal, it's unbelievable.' Tipperary's Conor Stakelum celebrates beating Cork in Sunday's All-Ireland final. Photograph: Morgan Treacy/Inpho The retirement question has dangled overhead for a few seasons but the blue and gold has, for now, always enticed him back. 'There's no point in saying over the last number of years that you don't think about it,' says the Loughmore-Castleiney man. 'When you're feeling good about it and when you're enjoying it, it's hard to step away, because when you're gone, you're gone. You're not going to come back at my age. 'Who knows about the future? There's no point in me saying here now what I know I'm going to do. I'd love to stay playing forever but I know that can't happen.' The temptation might be to sign off on his Tipperary career with that final act of striking over the last point of an All-Ireland final victory. It would be quite the way to go. But the lure of a possible fifth medal is real. 'I'd love to be able to give it a go and have a rattle off it next year again, but we'll go back to the club over the next few months and we'll battle it out against each other there and see what happens.' Outside, the rain continues to fall but nothing can dampen the mood of contentment swirling through the hotel. Just over McGrath's shoulder, outside the double doors, is the team bus. It'll be off to Tipperary soon. Taking Liam MacCarthy home. For the fourth time and counting, Noel McGrath will be along for the ride.
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
‘The best night out': The Gen-Z ‘Ticketmaster warriors' spending €1,500 a year on gigs
For Kate Henshaw, from Malahide, Dublin, concerts are a guilty pleasure. The 24-year-old estimates that she spends well over €1,000 a year on tickets but believes that they are 'the best night out you can have as a young person in Ireland'. Henshaw is one of Gen Z's Ticketmaster warriors, who count ticket purchases as their 'biggest expense' but worth every cent. The significant spend is not unusual. Irish adults spent an average of €757 on music events in 2024, according to research published last week by the Irish Music Rights Organisation (Imro). READ MORE This figure includes both festivals and individual concerts, accounting not only for the price of tickets but also additional costs incurred such as transport and accommodation. Those in the 25-34 year old age bracket spent the most on live events in total last year, averaging at €849 per person, while those aged 45-54 and 18-24 weren't far behind, at €823 and €811 respectively. There was a notable dip in spending here for 35-44 year olds – €615 on average – which Imro chief executive Victor Finn suggests may be due to social factors such as an increase in 'care responsibilities'.'That tends to be a high expenditure period in people's lives in general,' Mr Finn said. Kate Henshaw (24) at Taylor Swift's Eras tour in 2024 According to her calculations, Henshaw attended 16 gigs last year and a whopping 19 live music events in 2023. She recalls a 30-day concert marathon during summer 2023, which saw her going to nine events. 'I was exhausted.' 'I think they're my biggest expense. I justify it because I buy them so far in advance. Then it feels like they're free,' she said. She estimates she spent a total of almost €1,500 on tickets alone in 2024, 'if I was being truthful with myself'. But she believes 'Irish crowds are unmatched. I think concerts are the best night out you can have as a young person in Ireland.' Being from Dublin certainly comes with its advantages as a music fan, with several large-scale gigs on Henshaw's doorstep. She avoided the crowds attempting to flee Malahide and return to the city centre after Charli XCX's recent performance. 'Public transport could link in better with some of the major events,' Imro chief executive Victor Finn commented. 'They're well flagged in advance so there could be better collaboration here. If there was better transportation I think it could cut down on other costs.' Henshaw has observed a surge in ticket prices since a return to regular scheduling post-pandemic. 'I used to go to quite a lot before Covid and it was so much cheaper.' [ Oasis sell out Croke Park after fans wait hours to buy tickets costing over €400 Opens in new window ] Demand is certainly high, a factor which, coupled with inflation, has driven ticket prices to new levels. 'There's a sort of social shift in experiencing live events and I think that's feeding into live music events as well,' said Finn, noting this demand. He has seen a 'very positive bounceback with live ticket sales' since Covid. 'Was it something to do with people wanting to get out and socialise more after the pandemic? There certainly seemed to be a need for people to get out and enjoy themselves and music has benefited from that.' While admittedly a big spender on music events, Henshaw said VIP tickets are where she draws the line, calling them 'a scam'. 'I have never paid VIP for a gig and I never will. Back in the day VIP used to mean soundchecks and meeting the artists, now it's a gift bag.' [ My three nights at Taylor Swift cost me €47 an hour. Cheaper than therapy Opens in new window ] She points to Taylor Swift's Eras tour VIP package as a recent example. Merchandise bundles included items like postcards, stickers, souvenir tickets and a commemorative tote bag, which doubled if not tripled ticket prices for fans. Henshaw said she paid approximately €200 for her front-standing Eras tour ticket, while a friend who opted for VIP paid almost €700 for an equally good view of the pop star. There are 'only a few' artists, she would pay to see 'over and over again', with Irish singers Hozier and CMAT among the favourites. Johnny Wang (23) a student from Ballsbridge, Dublin is 'not surprised in the slightest' that Irish adults are spending big when it comes to live music. Johnny Wang (23) at Lido Festival in London, June 2025. 'It's such a rip-off in Ireland at the moment. All the big acts people go to, they are going to get rinsed,' said Wang, who spent 'at least' €700 on concert tickets in the last year. 'Big venues are still charging people exorbitant amounts so I'm not surprised in the slightest.' Having attended about 10 gigs in the last 12 months, he says his most expensive purchase was for Lido Festival in London which saw alternative acts such Arca, Jamie xx and Panda Bear take to the stage in Victoria Park in June. General admission started at £75 (€87). Wang enjoys going to smaller gigs, sometimes to support friends such as Child of Prague, who recently performed in the Workman's Club. Tickets for the indie rock band's gig in May cost €12.50. 'I'd love to work in music so I enjoy seeing the technical aspect of performances,' he added. Wang played bass in another young band called Reco, who won a performance slot by popular vote at Trinity College's annual ball in 2023. Aoibhinn Clancy (22), from Dublin, said that gigs most likely 'take up the bulk' of her expenditure as a student who works part-time. Aoibhinn Clancy (22) before seeing Lana del Rey in concert this summer. She estimates that the 14 concert and festival tickets purchased in the last year cost her approximately €1,100, 'which is a lot, but I have never regretted spending money on a concert'. 'I'm someone who really enjoys spending money on an experience and it's for that reason I like the investment and having something to look forward to,' Clancy said. 'I've seen some really cool people in the last year, like, I went to see Elvis Costello with my mam.' Other highlights included Lana Del Rey at both the Aviva in Dublin and Wembley Stadium in London, Charli XCX in Birmingham and at Malahide Castle, and Primavera music festival in Barcelona. 'I think that concerts in Ireland can be quite expensive,' she says. The most Clancy paid for a single concert ticket last year was €150, for Lana Del Rey. 'I would say it was worth it.' With above-average annual spend on live music events, Clancy recognises herself as an outlier. 'I am definitely in the upper echelons of concertgoers among my age group ... Going to concerts is kind of my thing, my hobby.'
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
‘Going to concerts is kind of my thing, my hobby': Why Gen Z are paying big for live music
For Kate Henshaw, from Malahide, Dublin, concerts are a guilty pleasure. The 24-year-old estimates that she spends well over €1,000 a year on tickets but believes that they are 'the best night out you can have as a young person in Ireland'. Henshaw is one of Gen Z's Ticketmaster warriors, who count ticket purchases as their 'biggest expense' but worth every cent. The significant spend is not unusual. Irish adults spent an average of €757 on music events in 2024, according to research published last week by the Irish Music Rights Organisation (Imro). READ MORE This figure includes both festivals and individual concerts, accounting not only for the price of tickets but also additional costs incurred such as transport and accommodation. Those in the 25-34 year old age bracket spent the most on live events in total last year, averaging at €849 per person, while those aged 45-54 and 18-24 weren't far behind, at €823 and €811 respectively. There was a notable dip in spending here for 35-44 year olds – €615 on average – which Imro chief executive Victor Finn suggests may be due to social factors such as an increase in 'care responsibilities'.'That tends to be a high expenditure period in people's lives in general,' Mr Finn said. Kate Henshaw (24) at Taylor Swift's Eras tour in 2024 According to her calculations, Henshaw attended 16 gigs last year and a whopping 19 live music events in 2023. She recalls a 30-day concert marathon during summer 2023, which saw her going to nine events. 'I was exhausted.' 'I think they're my biggest expense. I justify it because I buy them so far in advance. Then it feels like they're free,' she said. She estimates she spent a total of almost €1,500 on tickets alone in 2024, 'if I was being truthful with myself'. But she believes 'Irish crowds are unmatched. I think concerts are the best night out you can have as a young person in Ireland.' Being from Dublin certainly comes with its advantages as a music fan, with several large-scale gigs on Henshaw's doorstep. She avoided the crowds attempting to flee Malahide and return to the city centre after Charli XCX's recent performance. 'Public transport could link in better with some of the major events,' Imro chief executive Victor Finn commented. 'They're well flagged in advance so there could be better collaboration here. If there was better transportation I think it could cut down on other costs.' Henshaw has observed a surge in ticket prices since a return to regular scheduling post-pandemic. 'I used to go to quite a lot before Covid and it was so much cheaper.' [ Oasis sell out Croke Park after fans wait hours to buy tickets costing over €400 Opens in new window ] Demand is certainly high, a factor which, coupled with inflation, has driven ticket prices to new levels. 'There's a sort of social shift in experiencing live events and I think that's feeding into live music events as well,' said Finn, noting this demand. He has seen a 'very positive bounceback with live ticket sales' since Covid. 'Was it something to do with people wanting to get out and socialise more after the pandemic? There certainly seemed to be a need for people to get out and enjoy themselves and music has benefited from that.' While admittedly a big spender on music events, Henshaw said VIP tickets are where she draws the line, calling them 'a scam'. 'I have never paid VIP for a gig and I never will. Back in the day VIP used to mean soundchecks and meeting the artists, now it's a gift bag.' [ My three nights at Taylor Swift cost me €47 an hour. Cheaper than therapy Opens in new window ] She points to Taylor Swift's Eras tour VIP package as a recent example. Merchandise bundles included items like postcards, stickers, souvenir tickets and a commemorative tote bag, which doubled if not tripled ticket prices for fans. Henshaw said she paid approximately €200 for her front-standing Eras tour ticket, while a friend who opted for VIP paid almost €700 for an equally good view of the pop star. There are 'only a few' artists, she would pay to see 'over and over again', with Irish singers Hozier and CMAT among the favourites. Johnny Wang (23) a student from Ballsbridge, Dublin is 'not surprised in the slightest' that Irish adults are spending big when it comes to live music. Johnny Wang (23) at Lido Festival in London, June 2025. 'It's such a rip-off in Ireland at the moment. All the big acts people go to, they are going to get rinsed,' said Wang, who spent 'at least' €700 on concert tickets in the last year. 'Big venues are still charging people exorbitant amounts so I'm not surprised in the slightest.' Having attended about 10 gigs in the last 12 months, he says his most expensive purchase was for Lido Festival in London which saw alternative acts such Arca, Jamie xx and Panda Bear take to the stage in Victoria Park in June. General admission started at £75 (€87). Wang enjoys going to smaller gigs, sometimes to support friends such as Child of Prague, who recently performed in the Workman's Club. Tickets for the indie rock band's gig in May cost €12.50. 'I'd love to work in music so I enjoy seeing the technical aspect of performances,' he added. Wang played bass in another young band called Reco, who won a performance slot by popular vote at Trinity College's annual ball in 2023. Aoibhinn Clancy (22), from Dublin, said that gigs most likely 'take up the bulk' of her expenditure as a student who works part-time. Aoibhinn Clancy (22) before seeing Lana del Rey in concert this summer. She estimates that the 14 concert and festival tickets purchased in the last year cost her approximately €1,100, 'which is a lot, but I have never regretted spending money on a concert'. 'I'm someone who really enjoys spending money on an experience and it's for that reason I like the investment and having something to look forward to,' Clancy said. 'I've seen some really cool people in the last year, like, I went to see Elvis Costello with my mam.' Other highlights included Lana Del Rey at both the Aviva in Dublin and Wembley Stadium in London, Charli XCX in Birmingham and at Malahide Castle, and Primavera music festival in Barcelona. 'I think that concerts in Ireland can be quite expensive,' she says. The most Clancy paid for a single concert ticket last year was €150, for Lana Del Rey. 'I would say it was worth it.' With above-average annual spend on live music events, Clancy recognises herself as an outlier. 'I am definitely in the upper echelons of concertgoers among my age group ... Going to concerts is kind of my thing, my hobby.'
Irish Times
10-07-2025
- General
- Irish Times
Look inside: Opulent Malahide mansion built for Jameson whiskey dynasty for €6m
Address : Seamount House, Seamount Road, Malahide, Co Dublin Price : €6,000,000 Agent : Sherry FitzGerald Coming to the end of Seamount Road and seeing a chateauesque building up ahead nearly takes your breath away. This road near Malahide village is a cul-de-sac with a variety of house types from 1970s bungalows to new developments. A French-style mansion is the last thing you expect to see as you reach the top of the road but, then again, this was the home of the Jameson family, so a bit of flair is inevitable. Seamount House was originally built some time before 1816 on the Talbot estate. It became a summer home for the Jamesons, renowned globally for their whiskey, around 1890. However, much of the original building was destroyed in a fire in 1905, so the house was largely rebuilt by the family following that. The second incarnation was more ornate. The two-storey neo-Elizabethan property was built using sandstone blocks, pebble-dashed walls and red clay tiles, with a turret of sorts at the rear adding to the castle vibes. A stained-glass window depicting the Jameson coat of arms with the motto 'sine metu' (without fear) is thought to have been installed at this time. Exterior A gravelled driveway takes you up to the front door with a granite step leading into the hallway with smoothly worn black and white tiles. There is a cloakroom and a washroom to the left and an archway to a comms or storage room to the right. The reception room is the beginning of the formal rooms in the 660sq m (7,104sq ft) house, and it definitely sets the tone for what lies ahead. The room, where guests would have been originally welcomed into, has a striking hand-painted coffered ceiling, restored maple floors and a bay window with the original stone surrounds and padded seating looking out to the sea. There is a recess to the staircase at the back allowing one to catch a glimpse of the stained-glass window. READ MORE Reception room The triple-aspect drawingroom beyond this runs from the front to the back of the house. Again, it is filled with features, such as the large bay windows with seating, a marble fireplace set into an arch and polished maple floors. Drawingroom The diningroom is on the other side of the reception room. Set out with a long table with chandeliers overhead and double bay window, the room somehow manages to be both ceremonious and welcoming. Diningroom The hearth and brickwork from the original kitchen are still in place in the breakfastroom, as well as the diamond-red quarry floor tiles. An archway leads into the newly renovated kitchen that hasn't lost any of its charm in the process. The ceiling has timber beams and bespoke joinery and plasterwork carefully blending new and old to create a fully functional heritage-style space. Breakfastroom Kitchen There is also a TV room on the ground floor that has double doors to a sunroom that looks out to the garden and the sea beyond, fondly called 'the getaway room' by the owners. Sunroom There are two staircases to the next floor. One is the original main staircase that takes you on a dramatic journey up by the Jameson crest windows. The other is the back staircase that would have been used by staff, which leads to another staircase on the first floor that goes up to what would have been the staff bedrooms at the top of the house. Stained-glass window with Jameson crest The showstopper on the first floor is the principal bedroom. The suite has two oval windows on each side of the bed as well as a bay window looking out to the sea, and a high-end en suite bathroom. There are four more bedrooms and two bathrooms on this floor. Principal bedroom Up at attic level the spacious landing has been set out as a gym. There would have been plenty of room for the staff at Seamount House back in the day as there are four decent bedrooms on the top floor and a bathroom. Bathroom For all its beauty and refinement, the house manages to exude a relaxed and homely feel. The location also takes away any sense of pretension, with residents having the ability to make a choice of how involved they want to be in the community. The gates can be closed, and the outside world left behind. Or a private pedestrian gate at the back of the property links to a public path that takes you to the beach via Robswall, so it would also be very easy to catch up with neighbours if new owners wished. Seamount House is on an elevated site that has fields and sports grounds to one side, the Jameson Orchard development behind, and in front a large garden that is part of the 4.4-acre plot, which then leads out to a 19-acre green belt from land that was donated by the owners to guarantee this part of Malahide would remain untouched. The views ahead go from Howth Head to the Sugar Loaf, and although Dublin Airport can be seen in the distance, the house is not on a flight path. Back of the house At the other side of the house there is an archway that leads to an old stable building with original brickwork that is sizeable enough for many uses. For those who like the idea of following in the Jamesons' footsteps, Seamount House is on the market with a guide price of €6 million through Sherry FitzGerald.
The Irish Sun
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
‘Think this is the wrong take', says Lana Del Rey as she hits back at Irish critic who slammed ‘strange' Aviva gig
POPULAR singer Lana Del Rey has hit back at a scathing review of her "strange" Aviva gig. The multi-million record selling artist only recently kicked off her sold-out stadium tour - where punters paid as much as €200 for a ticket. Advertisement 2 Fans were left divided by the concert Credit: photo byfor ABA 2 Del Rey took to social media to respond Lana took to the stage at the Aviva in Dublin on Monday, June 30, for her first gig in the country since 2023. However, fans were left divided by the gig as the concert lasted just a little over an hour and twenty minutes. Along with the 80 minute runtime, the singer only made it through 14 songs - five of which were from her unreleased new country album and another two were covers. Additionally, she was absent from the stage during two songs and had a hologram perform in her absence. Advertisement read more on lana del rey After the show, many of her fans took to social media to both praise and air grievances with the performance. One fan stated: "The crowd was incredible. She was super interactive with fans, along with her dancers and vocalists." Ruby took to X to say: "Lana Del Rey played just over an hour set, hid behind a wall for 20 mins, sang the same setlist as the last 3 years, overpriced tickets and is playing covers." Audi remarked: "Her voice was amazing - but wtf was with her disappearing for two songs?" Advertisement Most read in Celebrity Raquel commented: "The concert was amazing, as always! Have been to Malahide in 2019, 3Arena in 2023, each concert had a different atmosphere and I loved all of them." And fans weren't the only ones with a complaint as Ed Power from the Irish Times wrote a review titled: "Lana Del Rey in Dublin: By far the strangest performance the Aviva has hosted." Lana Del Rey fans suspect singer is pregnant with her first child after spotting 'clue' in new post In the article, the music critic made note of the "trim" running time of the show and pondered if the concert was "value for money". The Irish Times shared the article on their Instagram, where soon after, Del Rey herself commented on the post under her Honeymoon username. Advertisement She wrote: "Ooh I think this is the wrong take on the angle for the story." Many of her ardent fans raced to their comments section to bombard the publication with their take on the singer's gig. 'WRONG ANGLE' Irish influencer James Kavanagh quipped: "Is this the same Ed Power who said the Charli XCX concert wasn't great? That girl needs to be fired lol." Fredrica said: "I wish people who didn't understand Lana didn't go to her concerts, and more importantly, didn't review them." Advertisement Igor commented: "As a fan I can say she was brilliant and the concert was beautiful… if you don't understand Lana's concept so you won't understand or enjoy the show … and is fine but for the real fans it was beautiful." Another fan added: "100% wrong take. This was an incredible show and insightful to who Lana is as a person."
