Latest news with #StPaddy'sDay
Belfast Telegraph
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Belfast Telegraph
‘The people of Armagh have been paying my rent this last year': Viral singer opens up on beating cancer and becoming music legend in GAA scene
They say a lot can happen in a year, and south Armagh man Paul Loughran is the perfect testament to that. From being diagnosed with testicular cancer, to writing his county's most prolific GAA anthem, and then travelling the world based on his band's viral sensations — Paul is the ideal example of optimism, hard work and resilience. He makes up one-third of local folk group Plenty in the Tank, whose song 'G Stands For Geezer' became the theme tune for Armagh GAA's run to only their second All-Ireland win in 2024. Named aptly after the manager of the senior men's Gaelic football team, Kieran McGeeney — aka 'Geezer' — the song hit number 20 in the official Irish Singles Chart last August following the final. The song now has well over two million streams on the music platform Spotify, and it's picking up even more traction, now that Armagh are in the quarter-finals of the championship this weekend. Paul wrote the song, which he says has completely changed his life, but just a few months previous, he had received another life-changing announcement. 'I was diagnosed with stage two bilateral testicular cancer in early November 2023, which means I had cancer on both sides, and I had surgeries at the end of November and then that January (2024),' the 29-year-old explained. 'I then had a full month of chemo and got the all-clear in March. I think I left the cancer centre on March 14th or 15th, and then I went back to gigging again on St Paddy's Day, just a few days later. 'I had a sort of serious turnaround. Like, especially coming out of that [cancer treatment], I had no money whatsoever. 'I spent all my savings on just being alive for that couple of months, basically, and paying my bills and stuff.' What the Belleeks clubman didn't then realise, was that just a short while later, his fellow Armagh GAA fans would be helping sort out his bills. 'G Stands For Geezer' was created just a few weeks before Armagh went up against Galway in the All-Ireland final last July, with Paul dedicating one day in his bedroom to writing it and to say it took off instantly would be an understatement. 'I posted it on TikTok on a Wednesday afternoon and a couple of hours later it had a quarter of a million views,' he added. 'It was one of the first TikTok videos I ever posted and the reaction was absolutely mental.' Paul is even more grateful to the Armagh team for actually winning the Sam Maguire after it all, as the entire whirlwind has opened up more opportunities than ever before for Plenty In The Tank. 'We got to go to New York there with the team for a Q&A thing, we got to play in Manhattan, which was unbelievable, and then we got to go out to Abu Dhabi and Dubai there for Paddy's week,' said Paul. 'So we've got to get out into the world and do gigs, in places we'd obviously never have been gigging in before, and better still, we're still getting gigs from it; the amount of weddings we've been booked for just for people around Armagh — we're flat out.' The song has been getting around 10,000 streams a day since its release last summer, and that's on average, levelled out. It has been picking up again since the championship started this year, and as Armagh continue to get closer to an elusive second consecutive Sam Maguire trophy, Paul said the views and listens are increasingly climbing. He continued: 'I remember we were celebrating with the boys [Armagh team] over in New York, and they were all like: 'this is mental, and thank you for writing that song' or whatever. 'And I was saying, 'no, thank you for winning!' 'Because it wouldn't have been anywhere near as big as it was if we just got beaten in the final].' Reflecting on the last 12 months — beating cancer, extensive success and having their band be forever etched in GAA history - Paul noted that 'it was honestly the best year of my life'. He has also been able to give back to those who helped him, with Plenty In The Tank raising £2,000 for two charities — Friends of the Cancer Centre and Musicians NI. 'And now, I've been running for six weeks. I've signed up for the Belfast Half Marathon to try and raise a bit more money for Friends of the Cancer Centre. So, I'm trying my best to give back to them,' he said. 'The people of Armagh are absolute legends. I'm sorry to offend, but they're the absolute best fan base in the world, out of any sport, in any country. 'Thanks an absolute million to anybody that ever streamed or clicked on any videos that had 'G Stands For Geezer' on it — because you are still paying my rent.'
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Martin Compston links up with Line of Duty stars for pint on St Paddy's Day
Martin Compston reunited with two Line of Duty stars for a cheeky pint on St Patrick's Day. The Greenock-born actor, 40, linked up with cast members Adrian Dunbar and Vicky McClure. Sharing their St Paddy's Day meet-up on Instagram, Martin shared a picture of the trio - who all looked chuffed. In the popular BBC drama, Martin played Detective Inspector Steve Arnott, while Vicky starred as Detective Inspector Kate Fleming, and Adrian played Superintendent Ted Hastings. READ MORE: In the post, Martin said: "St Paddy's Day with one of Erin's finest the gaffer. "Vicky's here as well."
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
McDonald's bringing US feature to UK restaurants for first time this week
McDonald's is set to launch a popular US menu item for the first time in the UK. The fast-food chain's Shamrock Shake will be dropping in UK restaurants up and down the country this week - and it's all in honour of St Patrick's Day. McDonald's confirmed that the Shamrock Shake would be making its UK debut on March 12 and it will be available in the UK for a limited time only. McDonald's said: "McDonald's UK can officially confirm the rumours are true as Shamrock Shake makes its first ever UK debut. "For all mint-obsessed fans out there, this is your time to shine!" McDonald's says: "The delicious Shamrock Shake features a peppermint-flavoured syrup blended with a creamy milkshake base. This is a flavour customers can all be in a-green-mint of!" READ MORE: Next £36 trousers 'perfect for spring and summer' are 'ultimate casual wear' READ MORE: Next £40 under seat cabin bag that's 'perfect for Ryanair and Easy Jet flights' READ MORE All the parts of England facing snow before midnight on Thursday The shake is made with vanilla soft serve ice cream, mixed with the minty syrup, and topped with whipped cream, and it will be available until March 25. Responding to the news, customers on social media were full of praise. One wrote on Facebook: "You coming to get one with me tomorrow?" with their friend quickly replying, "Omg! So down for that!" A second typed: "Cant wait to try this especially as one of my favourite chocolates is Aero." "I'm from America and the shamrock shake is the best I missed it!" a third said. The Shamrock Shake itself was created back in 1967 by Hal Rosen, a businessman in Connecticut who ran a local McDonald's. Serving the minty shake to mark St Paddy's Day, it officially debuted in American McDonald's way back in 1970. "In 1974, sales from the shake helped to build the very first Ronald McDonald House in Philadelphia," McDonald's has said of the connection. "The mission began when the daughter of a Philadelphia Eagles player was being treated for leukemia. Together with local McDonald's owner/operator Hal Rosen, McDonald's founder Ray Kroc, the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Eagles, the family raised enough funds through Shamrock Shake sales to help open the first Ronald McDonald House as a way to keep families close during difficult times."
