Latest news with #TheBookshelf
Extra.ie
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Extra.ie
Ryan Tubridy: 'My chat with Mary was compelling but at times disturbing'
What a pleasure it was to sit down and talk to former president Mary McAleese for the final episode of Season 3 of The Bookshelf podcast. We recorded the conversation last weekend in Dublin, and from the moment she walked into the room, I knew it would be a special encounter. She began by asking if I remembered what she wrote to me when I was in the doldrums two years ago, which was: 'There's life after RTÉ and I should know.' She went on to explain how difficult her time there as a journalist at the height of the Troubles was and why she felt she had to leave, and indeed, the opportunities that opened up as a direct result of her departure, which ultimately led to the Áras. Ryan Tubridy and Mary McAleese. Pic:for Ballymore The conversation was often deeply disturbing as Mary recalled how her profoundly deaf brother was attacked by thugs outside the family home and left for dead. Thankfully, he survived, but the scars run deep. On another occasion, gunmen arrived at their house and sprayed bullets from top to bottom and left to right in a bid to ethnically cleanse the McAleese family from their home, the street and the area. Luckily, as Mary suggests, they weren't the brightest terrorists as they chose to attack on December 8, a day when most Catholic families took the day off to go to town for early Christmas shopping. The interview was so compelling that I hardly touched on her time as a two-term President of Ireland. She remembers the campaign as being particularly vicious (at one point she feared for her family's safety) and suggested that candidates should not go after each other but rather focus on what she described as the interview board – the Irish people themselves. Ryan Tubridy and Mary McAleese. Pic: Supplied As our time drew to a close, I asked Mary for a high point and a low point of her 14 years in the Park. For the low point, she didn't miss a beat and quickly said 'Omagh'. If you listen back (or watch) the podcast, you'll hear a pause as Mary gathers her thoughts and immediately brings us on a dark and desperate walk through the awful events that became known as the Omagh Bombing. Her vivid and visceral recollections are spine-tingling, and her description of hugging community leaders and unlikely allies, such as David Trimble, stopped me in my tracks. Pic: Greg Wood/AFP via Getty Images On the other question of a high point, the former president said that while she was tempted to say the visit to Ireland by Queen Elizabeth II, she decided to opt for the opening of the Special Olympics when Ireland played host. Her face came alive with joy as Mary spoke of the undiluted pride she was filled with as she watched the Olympians mix with the likes of Nelson Mandela and Arnold Schwarzenegger but above all, how communities pulled together with countless volunteers to make the event a roaring success built on kindness, decency and the best of Irish. I'm only scratching the surface with the above description of this interview, and I'm glad to say the response has been extraordinary, with most people saying that so much of what Mary McAleese had to say passed them by when she was holding the highest office in the State. Imelda Staunton as Mrs. Kitty Warren Pic: Johan Persson Lots more suggested they'd love to see her return for a third term, but I think we'll leave that kind of chatter to our friends in the USA. If you're planning a trip to London soon, there are some wonderful theatre productions available to see. I've mentioned Giant, the Roald Dahl play starring John Lithgoe, which is still going and is truly the best thing I've seen on stage in many years. This week, I also got to see the George Bernard Shaw play Mrs Warren's Profession, which stars Imelda Staunton and her real-life daughter, Bessie Carter. It's a wonderful play and beautiful production that also proves how some ideas, topics and themes never grow old and remain majestic in the hands of GBS. Ryan Tubridy and Colm Toibin. Pic: Supplied The last time I met Colm Tóibín was at the White House 10 years ago on St. Patrick's Day, when Barack Obama was president. When we met again last week, we were in London and he was a guest on my radio show, ostensibly to discuss the paperback release of his Brooklyn sequel, Long Island. I asked Colm how he remembered his trip to the most famous residence in the world and he recalled how cold our departure was courtesy of the White House staff who clearly didn't know that a gathering of Irish people (abroad!) on St Patrick's Day would descend into a never-ending conversation and storytelling session that would and should end with some music. However, Colm reminded me that the staff formed a line across the room and slowly closed in on the assembled guests who had to shuffle backwards, inch by inch, until we were eventually in the portico, through the main door and out through the gate. It was one of many tales told by Colm, who was in such good form that I wished we could have taken the conversation on to another venue! We spoke about the enduring power of Ailish, the chief protagonist in both Brooklyn and Long Island. She was portrayed brilliantly by Saoirse Ronan who received an Oscar nomination for the part. Colm told the funniest story of how he was invited to the Oscars, but because he was 'only' the book's author, he had to walk the grey carpet (or lino as he called it) which was situated directly behind the red carpet where all the action was happening. The only saving grace of the evening was that one of the barmen at the venue was from Ireland and recognised Colm (who no longer drinks), which meant a steady flow of vino for the night. Small mercies!
Extra.ie
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Mary McAleese lauds Ryan Tubridy as she recalls her own 'dark days' within RTÉ
Mary McAleese has admitted that she had 'dark days' within RTÉ in her early career as she revealed the words of wisdom she shared to Ryan Tubridy during his departure from the state broadcaster. The former Late Late Show presenter and radio broadcaster departed the public service channel in 2023 amid a huge payments scandal. Since then, the Dubliner has relocated to the UK where he broadcasts his own mid-morning show with Virgin Radio UK; launched his own book-inspired podcast, and most recently got engaged to his partner, Clare. The Dubliner has relocated to the UK where he broadcasts his own mid-morning show with Virgin Radio UK; launched his own book-inspired podcast, and most recently got engaged to his partner, Clare. Pic: Ryan Tubridy Speaking on the season finale of the third season of The Bookshelf with Ryan Tubridy, the presenter was praised for picking himself up following the RTÉ scandal, with former President Mary McAleese relating that she 'had tough days there too.' Kicking off the show, Mary said: 'It's good to see you — but it's particularly good to see you at this wonderful stage of your life. We hear great news about an engagement and I wish you so much happiness because God knows you deserve it! 'I remember back to the dark days, and I remember writing to you in those dark days giving you one piece of advice. It was, 'There is life after RTÉ. I should know.'' Mary McAleese has admitted that she had 'dark days' within RTÉ in her early career as she revealed the words of wisdom she shared to Ryan Tubridy during his departure from the state broadcaster. Pic: The Bookshelf with Ryan Tubridy/ Instagram Ryan responded that the 73-year-old 'should know' having spent some time as an RTÉ employee back in the day. 'I had tough days there too,' Mary confirmed, 'Well, different but dark enough days. Days that made me decide, 'I just can't stay there anymore.' So, I know how the dark days are as you move into a new chapter, the shape of which you haven't shaped yourself, and you just don't know. 'Well, with your talent, we always knew that the shape ahead would be good and it is.' The former President added that she was 'so pleased' for Ryan in the next chapter of his life. Mary joined RTÉ as a journalist and presenter in 1979, departing the broadcaster in 1985.
Irish Daily Mirror
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Amy Huberman shares wild way Brian O'Driscoll tracked her down before they met
Actress and author Amy Huberman has revealed the unique way she met her husband, rugby legend Brian O'Driscoll. The mum-of-three said that Brian's interest began when he spotted her on Tubridy's old chat show Tubridy Tonight while he was recovering from an injury. She revealed how the former Ireland captain initially thought she was a 'hermit' because he had never seen her around town before. She said: 'Brian was injured and at home watching [Tubridy Tonight] when I was on. He was like 'Is she a hermit? I don't know who she is,' so he rang Joanne Byrne [a celebrity agent], and she got us together.' After a few days away with her actress pal Norma Sheehan and Joanne, Joanne sprung a surprise meeting of the two in the Merrion Hotel by saying she needed to drop off a book so that Brian could meet Amy. Dressed in her trackies at the time, Amy recalled: 'Brian is shy, and he had a full-blown crisis. He was saying, 'This feels wild, she's the only one who doesn't know what's going on!'' The Dubliner said that 'he was afraid [it would be creepy] but I think it was quite sweet.' Amy was speaking on the latest episode of The Bookshelf with Ryan Tubridy where she also shared a story with the host about reading an early draft of Brian's autobiography and giving him some editorial feedback. 'There was a bit where they had just won the Heineken Cup,' she said, 'and it was very just like, 'and then we won the Heineken Cup.' And I was like, hang on a sec! I wanna know how everyone felt. That's the event! I need to know all the feelings… because they had been trying [so hard] to do it.'
Extra.ie
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Amy Huberman details 'chance' encounter that led to marriage with BOD
Amy Huberman has recalled that her guest appearance on an Irish television chat show led to her relationship and eventual marriage with Irish rugby star, Brian O'Driscoll. Next month, the couple celebrate their 15th wedding anniversary, after saying 'I do' in a stunning Lough Rynn Castle ceremony in 2010. The wedding took place four years after they started dating, which was spurred on by Amy appearing on TV while Brian was out of sport with an injury. Amy Huberman has recalled her a guest appearance on an Irish television chat show led to a relationship and eventual marriage with Irish rugby star, Brian O'Driscoll. Pic: Brian McEvoy Speaking on Ryan Tubridy's podcast, The Bookshelf with Ryan Tubridy, Amy recalled appearing on his show Tubridy Tonight during the height of her stint on The Clinic. 'Brian was injured and he was at home and he was watching it,' Amy told presenter Ryan Tubridy. 'We were on anyway and I think he enjoyed the chat and he was like, 'I don't know who she is! Who is she?'' The rugby star rang PR Joanne Byrne wondering who Amy was and was she a 'hermit' as he had never heard of her despite being the same age. Amy explained that the women had been in tracksuits at the time. Despite the set-up being organised for Brian, the Leinster player was 'shy' on the night as he had a 'crisis' about duping Amy. Pic: Brian McEvoy 'Joanne said, no, she's living in London,' Amy explained. 'The next time I came home, they'd kind of orchestrated that we'd kind of bump into each other. 'Norma Sheehan, she's a great friend of mine as well, we went to visit another friend of ours. Coming back, she was like I've to drop a book to somebody in the Merrion.' Amy explained that the women had been in tracksuits at the time. Despite the set-up being organised for Brian, the Leinster player was 'shy' on the night as he had a 'crisis' about duping Amy. 'I think it's quite sweet,' Amy noted, with Ryan confirming it was indeed a 'good sign.' The pair were around 26 years old at the time, with Amy previously telling Doireann Garrihy on the Laughs of Your Life podcast that she 'first shifted him downstairs [in Cafe en Seine].' More than 20 years on since their 'chance' encounter, the pair now share three children — Sadie, 12, Billy, 11, and four-year-old Ted.
The Irish Sun
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Ryan Tubridy shares glimpse of scenic trip home as he vanishes from airwaves for ‘well-deserved' break
RYAN Tubridy has shared a sunny snap from his trip home to Ireland as he takes a "well-deserved" break. The decided to take a short break from his UK show . Advertisement 2 Ryan has taken a short break from his Virgin Radio UK show Credit: Handout image 2 The host jetted home to Ireland Credit: Instagram Ryan jetted back to Ireland for a holiday and shared an update with fans on The The 52-year-old looked happy as ever as he posed for a snaps in front of the sea in Connemara, Co He captioned his post: "Off on holidays for a couple of weeks. Normal service will resume then!" Advertisement READ MORE ON RYAN TUBRIDY Ryan's fans and friends flocked to the comment section to share their love for his post. Marie said: "Enjoy your much-deserved holiday Ryan." Mary wrote: "Have a brilliant holiday. There's nowhere like the west of Ireland." Tina commented: "Enjoy your well-deserved break." Advertisement Most read in Celebrity Lisa gushed: "Will miss you off the airwaves but enjoy your holiday." Another added: "You sounded so excited yesterday. It's a place you've wanted to go to for years I think. I hope it's all you expected and more. Have a great holiday." Donncha O'Callaghan has Ryan Tubridy in stitches Ex-RTE star Donncha O'Callaghan recently left Ryan Tubridy in stitches after he shared his The star sat down with on his new podcast, The Bookshelf, to discuss his kids' book, Disaster Dad. Advertisement The former Irish DAD DUTIES The Irish host told Tubridy that even though he is well used to being a hands-on dad, it wasn't always so easy. The 46-year-old confessed: "I remember when we brought Sophie home for the first time and I'll never forget the door closing. Advertisement "I just looked over at Jenny and was like, 'Oh my God, here we go'." Ryan humorously jumped in and remarked: "Where's the manual?" Donncha hysterically replied: "Exactly, I'm like we got something with the air fryer but we have nothing with Sophie." Tubridy burst into a fit of laughter at the star's honest remark. Advertisement
