Latest news with #Tayto
Extra.ie
2 days ago
- Business
- Extra.ie
Mr Tayto's Maltese doppelgänger sparks crisp controversy
Mr Tayto appears to have a long-lost brother in Malta, with Irish Reddit users up in arms over the uncanny resemblance between the beloved Irish crisp and his 'imspudstor.' Malta crisp brand Mr Riley is the spitting image of our beloved Irish crisp man, with the only difference between the pair that Mr Riley is slightly slimmer and wears blue trousers and a black tie — while Mr Tayto dons red trousers and a blue tie. The pair even wear matching hats! Mr Tayto appears to have a long-lost brother in Malta, with Irish Reddit users up in arms over the uncanny resemblance between the beloved Irish crisp and his 'imspudstor.' Pic: Tayto While social media users are up in arms with the 'blatant' ripping off of Mr Tayto, it has to be said his estranged brother is actually older by eight years. The Riley's crisp factory was established in Scunthorpe, England in 1947, with the company founded by Alfred Riley while Mr Tayto, the mascot for Tayto crisps, was founded in 1954 by Joe 'Spud' Murphy. Mr Riley is now most popular in Malta, but having been first made in the UK it's a fair assumption the pair are long-lost relatives of some sort. Malta crisp brand Mr Riley is the spitting image of our beloved Irish crisp man, with the only difference between the pair that Mr Riley is slightly slimmer and wears blue trousers and a black tie — while Mr Tayto dons red trousers and a blue tie. Pic: r/Ireland/ Reddit Lovin Malta previously reported: 'In 1974, Peter Muscat Scerri initiated a joint venture with Riley Potato Crisps of Sunthorpe UK and Murphy Crisps of Dublin Ireland. 'The Maltese Government at the time prevented imports of such products. Hence in collaboration with Riley's and Murphy, Rimus started to produce snack foods locally. They did so under the brands and logos of the two foreign partners.' A picture of Mr Riley was shared to the r/Ireland subreddit, with the poster calling: 'Someone call Mr Tayto's lawyers.' It's not the first time we've seen a Mr Tayto doppelganger, with Mr Crispo in Georgia an even closer lookalike to the Irish legend. Pic: r/Ireland/ Reddit The post generated plenty of reaction, with one fuming: 'He'd want a kick in the spuds.' Another wrote: 'He's the spit of Mr Tayto — and he's got an Irish name… could it possible be any more blatant…?' A third asked: 'Who is this imspudstor?' while a fourth slagged: 'Temu Tayto.' It's not the first time we've seen a Mr Tayto doppelganger, with Mr Crispo in Georgia an even closer lookalike to the Irish legend.
RTÉ News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Oasis's Croke Park gigs are a homecoming for the 'Irish' band
What's the Irish for 'mad fer it'? Liam and Noel Gallagher may be asking that very question before taking the stage at Croke Park next month for the highly anticipated Irish leg of their Live '25 reunion tour. The gigs at Heaton Park last weekend were a return for the Mancunian-born brothers, but their return to Irish shores will be a different kind of homecoming. As everyone knows, the brothers' parents Peggy and Thomas are Irish emigrants. Peggy left Charlestown, Co. Mayo in 1961 at the age of 18, originally working as a housekeeper in Manchester. There, she met her fellow Irish emigree Thomas 'Tommy' Gallagher, who hailed from the Co. Meath village of Duleek. Their first child Paul was born in 1966, followed by Noel in 1967 and Liam in 1972. The brothers made regular trips to Ireland as kids, and one photo from the 1970s depicts them standing at the wall of their Irish granny Annie Gallagher's home in Downstown, Duleek with their uncle's dog. Many school holidays were spent in Charlestown with their maternal granny Maggie Sweeney, too. Noel recounted those summers in a Late Late Show interview in 1996, telling Gay Byrne: "My mam used to religiously drag us by the ear across the Irish Sea to spend summer holidays there. We had never seen the likes of nettles, fields and stacks of hay and all that - so she was determined to give us a bit of Irish culture, 'cos we were used to concrete and flats, and all that stuff. It was a bit of a culture shock for the first four or five years, but we grew to love it and we still do." As adults, both Liam and Noel have embraced their Irish roots wholeheartedly - and they've made regular returns to Charlestown, too. In 2015, footage emerged of Liam joining in a session and having a sing-song at JJ Finan's pub which has become his local while holidaying in the Mayo town (according to reports, he also bought nine bags of Tayto in the local shop on the same trip, lest his heritage ever be questioned.) Noel, meanwhile, made the headlines last year when he was interviewed after a Man City match. When asked about City player Phil Foden playing for England in the Euros, he said "I'm not an England fan. I'm Irish. Goodnight." Tongue-in-cheek, perhaps, but we'll claim him nevertheless. We'll even overlook the Union Jack guitar. Indeed, the issue of that particular guitar was once put to him in an interview with comedian and podcaster Matt Morgan. "Somebody said last week "If he's so Irish, why does he have a Union Jack guitar?" said Morgan. Gallagher responded: "Because somebody got it for me for my birthday, and I guess it's like a pop art thing, I suppose. It's not a nationalistic thing. I think I only played that guitar at like, two f**king gigs ever. I think that's in some museum somewhere now." Noel also reckoned that the Irish music and rebel songs that they were raised on had an impact on Oasis's music, and its "punch-the-air" quality. "I feel as Irish as the next person," he said. "The first music I was ever exposed to was the rebel songs the bands used to sing in the Irish club in Manchester. Do you know, I think that's where Oasis songs get their punch-the-air quality - from me being exposed to those rousing rebel songs. It was all rebel songs and that godawful Irish country and western music." So far, at least, the influence of Big Tom and the Mainliners has gone undetected. Will there be a divergence from the setlist for an a capella version of A Nation Once Again? Will the Wolfe Tones' Celtic Symphony replace F**kin' in the Bushes as their intro music? Noel has gone as far as to proclaim how the band owe practically everything to their Irish heritage. "Oasis could never have existed, been as big, been as important, been as flawed, been as loved and loathed, if we weren't all predominantly Irish," he said in Simon Spence's Oasis biography Feeling Supersonic, noting how all of the band's founding members - Paul 'Bonehead' Arthurs, Paul 'Guigsy' McGuigan and original drummer Tony McCarroll were also of Irish descent. "There is rage in Oasis music and let me explain that to you. If I say to people there's rage in the music, people might think about screaming and shouting - but you can rage joy. When the Irish are sad they are the saddest people in the world, when they are happy, they are the happiest people in the world. When they drink they are the most drunk people in the world. There is one rule for the Irish and different ones for everybody else. Oasis could never have existed, been as big, been as important, been as flawed, been as loved and loathed, if we weren't all predominantly Irish." Watch: Noel Gallagher on The Meaning Of Life with Gay Byrne It does concur with his previous comments about his cultural identity, however. "I clearly remember my mam saying to me and my two brothers when we were growing up: 'You're only English because you were born here'," he said in an interview in 2007. "And with a mother from Mayo and a father from Co Meath, there's not a drop of English blood in me. I recently had a child with my Scottish girlfriend, and there's no English blood in him at all." We'll have to wait and see how it plays out at Croke Park, the first Live '25 date tour date that's not on British soil. Will there be a divergence from the setlist for an a capella version of A Nation Once Again? Will the Wolfe Tones' Celtic Symphony replace F**kin' in the Bushes as their intro music? Will they wear matching Irish football jerseys donated by Bono, come out sipping pints of Guinness or have a tricolour hanging off an amp? No matter what happens, there's no doubt that the Brothers Gallagher will be welcomed as hometown heroes. And 'mad fer it' is 'ar buile', by the way.
The Irish Sun
12-07-2025
- The Irish Sun
I visited ‘food & drink capital' of NI to sample Tayto tour, tasty ciders, historic sites & fleece designing workshop
NORTHERN Ireland is known for its stunning scenery and historic sites - but one county in particular is a must-visit. Armagh is known by locals as the food and drink capital of the 7 Emma got to spend an amazing weekend away in Armagh Credit: JOURNALIST COLLECT 7 She stayed at the amazing Armagh City Hotel 7 Trying out the cocktails in the hotel bar had to be done Credit: JOURNALIST COLLECT 7 A Tayto tour got the taste buds going Credit: JOURNALIST COLLECT I had the joy of visiting some of the towns in The first day started super early on a Saturday, when my partner and I boarded the train to Dublin at 6.40am, before arriving in the Orchard County at around 1pm. First, we checked into our hotel, which was absolutely divine. We were staying at the Armagh City The room was fabulous. It was very spacious with a comfy bed, and there was even some complimentary locally-made apple juice waiting for us. READ MORE IN TRAVEL We then headed to the Armagh Planetarium and Observatory, where we watched a video about Not only is it Ireland's leading centre for astronomical research and education, it's also one of the top attractions in the city. We then had a bit of time before our dinner reservation, so we had a look around the town and did some Our evening meal that night was in Groucho's on the Square, and we had a phenomenal time. Most read in the Irish Sun The I chose to get a spiced chicken bao bun to start, paired with a local FAB FOOD For the main course, I opted for a prawn linguine - and it was one of the nicest The boozer is roughly 15 minutes away from our hotel by Groucho's is also About five minutes after we sat down, the owner of the pub, Peter, came over to speak to us. He was so interesting that we both agreed not to get the last bus, and instead stayed chatting to Peter before getting a taxi back into town. BOOZER BABBLE Peter explained to us how the current pub is an extension of the original building, which dates back around 400 years. His main intention with the pub is to give customers the best food possible, using only locally sourced ingredients. The chef even came over to chat to us, and again spoke about the importance of using local ingredients in his We were then invited over to join Peter and the staff for a drink, which was definitely the highlight of night one, and one of our favourite experiences of the weekend overall. HISTORIC LINKS We popped into one of the local late bars in the town, but after the amazing time we had in Groucho's we felt it couldn't be topped and decided to head back to the hotel. The bed was super comfortable and made for a great first night's sleep before venturing into the second day of plans. The next morning we enjoyed breakfast in the hotel, before heading to Navan Centre and Fort for a tour. This was very insightful, giving us loads of information about the SPIRITUAL AREA It was also cool to hear that it features heavily in Irish myths, including Cu Chulainn, and one of the mounds is even on a ley line - so is used as a site for meditation and spiritual connection by many visitors. It is definitely a must-visit for any history buffs. It even had a live-action entertainment zone, where actors dressed up and spoke to you as people from that time period, which was very quirky, and is definitely something I believe should be integrated more into museums and tours. We then had lunch in the cafe onsite, before finding out that our We were then treated to dinner in the hotel restaurant, where I got lamb stifado. We also enjoyed a few cocktails in the bar, before heading back to the room. FOODIE HOTSPOT On the final day, we had an early breakfast before heading to something every foodie should visit - the Here, we got to see the inner workings behind the Northern Irish rival that shares its name with the Republic's beloved crisp brand. And we even tried out some new flavours. Our tour guide, John, gave us loads of insider information, while we toured the factory floors, located in Tandragee Castle. We were covered up in scrubs-like clothing and took off any jewellery to avoid contamination. FILMING BAN Filming is not allowed inside the factory so your I would definitely encourage heading to the tour if you find yourself in Armagh. Not only will you come out of it with insider knowledge of the amount of work that goes into making the popular snack, but you'll also come out happy and full after tasting so many flavours of crisps, and with some to take home. Lunch that day was in Blend X Batch in Banbridge, where I had their 'halfway to Christmas' special festive bap. This was honestly unreal, and had us very full for the final activity of the The last thing we enjoyed in Armagh was another highlight, as we got to design our own GO: ARMAGH STAY THERE - We stayed in the Armagh City Hotel, where rooms start from €145. The restaurant and bar are definitely a highlight, while the rooms are very comfortable and spacious. The breakfast is delicious and they even hold events! DO THERE - Head to ELN for the fleece designing workshop - a highlight for sure. And make sure to get in the Tayto tour, but don't eat too much before as you'll have a never-ending amount of crisps! For history buffs, head to Navan Centre and Fort, before heading to the Armagh Planetarium for some astronomy. EAT/DRINK THERE - I would wholly recommend a visit to Groucho's on the Square, both for the local pints and the delicious food. If you're lucky enough to bump into Peter, lucky you! For lunch, head to Blend X Batch in Banbridge for some amazing food and a variety of coffee and alcohol options. Or, enjoy a couple of cocktails in the hotel bar for a more relaxed evening. Here, owner Ellen spoke to us about how it's just her who designs and makes these limited releases. Despite getting a little overwhelmed throughout the process - there were so many different colour and pattern options along with smaller detail decisions you would never even think of - she was extremely understanding and changed a lot of my choices a few times before I was happy with my final piece. On the completely flip side, he knew what he wanted and had very little changes to make! AMAZING LOCALS We then unfortunately had to head home, but this weekend was one to remember. After the trip, the main thing we both commented on was the people. The locals here are absolutely amazing, and will go out of their way to help you however they can. Everyone we met was very friendly, and it never felt like anything was too much work for them. 7 We got to design fleeces at ELN Credit: JOURNALIST COLLECT 7 There was a live-action portion in a reconstruction of an Iron age dwelling at the Navan Centre and Fort Credit: Alamy 7 Groucho's On The Square in Richhill was just fabulous Credit: TripAdvisor
Belfast Telegraph
11-07-2025
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
Titanic, Tayto, Stormont: Japanese ambassador to UK explores NI and meets Executive ministers
Hiroshi Suzuki also fostered political ties during his three-day visit here and met with senior Executive figures in Stormont, as he explored the best of what the country has to offer while indulging in a bit of sightseeing. The ambassador is well known for getting fully involved in the many trips he makes around the UK, having previously been seen enthusiastically singing the Welsh national anthem during a trip to Wales earlier this year and tasting Irn Bru in Scotland. During his latest excursion, Mr Suzuki took to social media — where he has an active presence — to document his travels in NI, first sharing a image of himself outside Belfast City Airport alongside a photo in which he is enthusiastically pointing at a Tayto vending machine. The envoy then made his way to the Giant's Causeway, where he remarked on being 'deeply moved by the magnificent scenery'. While in Co Antrim, he also took a tour of one of the world's oldest whiskey distilleries, Bushmills Distillery, learning about the drink-making process. To complete his tour of the North Coast, Mr Suzuki visited Dunluce Castle alongside his beloved Paddington Bear, with which he is often pictured. In a social media post, he said it was a 'place filled with romance and history. Its appearance perched on the cliff was magnificent and I could feel its former glory. Also enjoyed the refreshing breeze and beautiful scenery walking along the Portrush coastline.' The diplomat was later greeted by Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and Junior Minister Aisling Reilly at Stormont Castle. A spokesperson from the Northern Ireland Executive said: 'The ambassador is on a three-day visit to Northern Ireland and discussions focused on trade and investment, including the contribution of Japanese businesses currently operating here, and cultural connections.' Mr Suzuki added: 'Pleasure to meet Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and Junior Minister Aisling Reilly... Enjoyed fruitful discussions on a wide range of topics including economic and cultural ties between Japan and Northern Ireland.' 'Hate incident' Co Tyrone bonfire topped with migrant effigy lit Mr Suzuki also took the time to visit Assembly Speaker Edwin Poots to discuss ways of 'strengthening relations between Japan and Northern Ireland'. The ambassador also tasted some of the local food and drink on offer by ordering an Ulster Fry and an Irish coffee and documented his attempt of 'splitting the G' while enjoying a pint of Guinness. Other visited hotspots included Carrickfergus Castle as well as the Titanic building, which 'mesmerised' him. Northern Irish-based Japanese businesses, including Fujitsu, electronic components manufacturer Kyocera AVX, Nihon Cyber Defence and Ryobi Aluminium Casting, also welcomed the envoy to their sites.
Irish Independent
18-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Letters: Young people could well afford to repay a mortgage – if they could just get their hands on one
House prices are continuing to climb. Stock Image The real problem is that they cannot get a mortgage. This is because house prices are at a level that their savings, salary and funds offered by banks just don't get close to. Even with parents raiding savings and pension plans, the gap is insurmountable. Borrowers might well afford to repay instalments on a 30-year mortgage, but they just cannot get one. The solution is simple. We need a very clear agreement between banks and clients. And I'm not ruling out government-sponsored lending. It would state: We will give you the funds you need, provided you have shown history of savings. But – and it is a big proviso – should you renege on your mortgage payments after an agreed timescale, you must hand back the keys. There can be no ifs, ands or buts. This is an adults' agreement. I believe that thousands of people in Ireland today would happily take this offer were it available. So many people are trapped paying prohibitive rent that not only cripples their finances, but cripples their chances of getting a mortgage. Eamon Kearney, Baldoyle, Dublin I'm greatly reassured to learn that red wine, dark chocolate, tea and apples now count towards our five-a-day ('Your 'five-a-day' can now include chocolate and red wine,' Irish Independent , June 3). At this rate, all I need is a Tayto crisp sandwich and we'll have cracked public health in Northern Ireland. As someone from Armagh, I've long maintained that an apple a day – preferably from a tree your grandad planted – is as medicinal as anything in the pharmacy. Now, thanks to Queen's University Belfast, it seems flavonoids are the future. Tea and red wine included? That's breakfast and supper sorted. Kale, of course, remains under review. Enda Cullen, Tullysaran Road, Armagh There are a lot of issues with generative AI and large language models in education. They can be used by students and teachers to create essays and lesson plans. However, AI is entirely dependent on what you ask it to do. Even the slightest error in a request can lead to wildly varying results that may not reflect the author's intentions. Users must be very precise when asking AI to generate text. In the past, there was no such thing as a 'stupid question', but there is when using AI. Students and teachers need to be trained in prompt engineering. This is learning how to ask AI to generate something by giving it appropriate and well thought-out prompts. AI has become a new cornerstone in education; everyone can learn to be thoughtful and reflective when using it. In the future, students shouldn't be assessed on their AI-generated essays, but, rather on the quality of the 'prompts' they use to generate it. Dr John Jennings, Knocknacarra, Galway The Garda Representative Association (GRA) does a lot of moaning nowadays about how members are treated by the Government and the people. Does this go on across Europe? You'd think that those sworn to uphold the law would follow that promise through and not bark at every new regulation brought in by a democratically elected government. Liam Doran, Clondalkin, Dublin At the moment, Israel has been green-lighted and armed by Donald Trump to start the bombardment of Iran. The reason is to stop Iran developing nuclear weapons, because the country is seen to be unstable and a threat. But I would argue Israel might be viewed as equally unstable under the current leadership. Ray Dunne, Enfield, Meath The horrific war in Gaza, which started with Hamas' shocking attack on Israel's civilians in October 2023, has appalled most decent people, and yet the bombings and killing of Palestinians continues. Despite frequent words of condemnation, most world leaders have done nothing to stop it. Worse still, many European countries, as well as the US, continue to stand by Israel economically and militarily. The EU was quick to call out the Russian invasion of Ukraine, so why is the EU not stopping Israel's genocide in Gaza? Is the EU not hypocritical in its actions, and has it learnt nothing from past conflicts? The union was a European project to foster peace. So why is Israel, a perpetrator of destruction, mass migration and famine on the people of Gaza, still allowed to participate in EU-funded research projects? And why do EU countries continue to sell arms to Israel? Has the EU lost its moral compass? C Bailey, Dundrum, Dublin Enda Cullen is to be commended on his sharp observance of 'hitting the floor' over Saturday night's GAA commentary on Armagh v Galway ('GAA commentary needs to be more grounded – I was floored by what I heard,' Letters, June 16). There are so many sideshows on our current TV commentaries and analysis. 'Playing deep', 'middle three', 'middle eight', (is there a difference?). 'Push-up', 'giving' (no presents given in Gaelic football). 'On the back foot', 'running deep'. These are just some of the phrases that we, the viewers and readers, run with. Gone are the golden sports days of the great Michael O'Hehir's lone broadcasts. The whistle, the throw-in, the game is on, there's five minutes left in the game, there goes the final whistle. Game over. The last we had of that long-lost sporting activity was the legendary John D Hickey's famous reports in the Irish Independent on Monday mornings. No confetti or strings attached – like now. Tom Curley, Galway
