Latest news with #TheBrendanO'ConnorShow
RTÉ News
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Tom Vaughan-Lawlor on starting out: 'I did everything'
Tom Vaughan-Lawlor has told The Brendan O'Connor Show about the early days of his acting career, recounting that he "did everything" to make ends meet. The Love/Hate favourite is back home in Dublin to star opposite Brendan Gleeson, Owen McDonnell, Seán McGinley, and Kate Phillips in writer-director Conor McPherson's The Weir at the 3Olympia Theatre from 8 August. While choosing his five favourite songs on The Brendan O'Connor Show on RTÉ Radio 1 on Sunday, Vaughan-Lawlor discussed his early years in London after graduating from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). "I did everything," he told the host. "Building sites, hotels, coffee shops, secretarial work, furniture removal, everything, gardening." "But you meet the most amazing people who teach you amazing, amazing lessons," he continued. "This time 20 years ago, I was working in a hotel in Euston, on the Euston Road. And I was grumbling about not having an acting job. And there was a woman there who was from Ethiopia who'd two kids, [aged] six and four. She hadn't seen her kids for two years. "We were getting paid after tax, like, £200 a week. She was in shared accommodation. She was sending home 50% of her wages every week to her family. And she was amazing. "She was fun and light and really hardworking. And I was kind of moping around, 'Oh, I don't have a job! Why won't anyone give me an acting job?!' And she was like, 'Oh, you know, I'm just doing my thing!' "So you meet amazing people with amazing stories. In a way, I'm so grateful for all that non-acting work. You're living and you're seeing the world and you're meeting incredible people." Looking ahead to The Weir at the 3Olympia Theatre, Vaughan-Lawlor said: "It's scary. As opening gets closer, you're like, 'Oh, we've actually got to get up and do this!'" He said it is "a real honour" to be working with "great people" on "a great play." "It's a joy to be in rehearsal," he added.
Sunday World
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Sunday World
Michael Flatley mulling over move to launch presidential campaign
"If I thought that I could be of benefit to the Irish people, and maybe more importantly, if I thought I could be a voice, a voice of the Irish people.' Michael Flatley has not ruled out a presidential bid and is consulting with 'a team of advisors' as he mulls over launching a campaign for the Áras. While the Riverdance star told The Brendan O'Connor Show on RTÉ Radio 1 that he has not yet made a decision and has not been approached by a political party, he said he has been 'approached by some very weighted individuals, people in the know'. "I've not made the decision, but I have a team of advisors that are advising me on this. And you know, for me, it wouldn't be – I mean, I have a huge business to run,' he said. "I have an army of dancers counting on me to make a living. I have a whiskey company, a beautiful young wife and son that I want to spend time with. Michael Flatley Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 19th "If I thought that I could be of benefit to the Irish people, and maybe more importantly, if I thought I could be a voice, a voice of the Irish people. Right now, I don't think they have a voice, not a true, proper, deep voice that, you know, that speaks their language.' He said he is 'blessed to meet the average person on the street' and often hears their concerns, adding: 'I'd be lying if I said they're happy right now, and somebody has to speak for the Irish people. "You know, I'm not sure we need another politician if I'm honest. I know it's a statesman's role, but I spent the last 30 years of my life touring the world, promoting Ireland and Irish culture. I've met them all. "I've met the Bushes, the Obamas, Trump, Putin. I've met the Clintons. I've met the King and Queen of England. I've met the King and Queen of Sweden and of Spain. I've met those people more to promote the country and I think maybe that's what the job of president is all about.' Asked whether he has been approached by a political party, Mr Flatley said: 'No, I have not, but I have been approached by some very weighted individuals, people in the know. "It's certainly not something that I've made any decision on. But it does get frustrating when you see the hard working Irish taxpayer working as hard out and having no say in things.' When it was put to him that he was 'absolutely' not ruling himself out of the race, he said: 'Let me finish with this, Brendan. Let it be said that I stand for Ireland and the Irish people. Sin é.' Former European Commissioner Mairead McGuinness will be formally ratified as the Fine Gael candidate at a party event in September, while Independent Galway West TD Catherine Connolly formally launched her presidential campaign this week. Fianna Fáil has yet to decide on a candidate, with former education minister Mary Hanafin saying it would be 'an insult' if the party did not have a name on the ballot. She said she would 'happily' contest the election, with Peter Power, the executive director at UNICEF another possible contender for Fianna Fáil to consider. Sinn Féin are also yet to make a decision, with party leader Mary Lou McDonald opening the door to a potential bid when she told reporters earlier this month that Sinn Féin 'are not ruling anything in or anything out'.
Irish Independent
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
‘Somebody has to speak for the Irish people' – Michael Flatley yet to decide whether he will launch presidential campaign
Michael Flatley has not ruled out a presidential bid and is consulting with 'a team of advisors' as he mulls over launching a campaign for the Áras. While the Riverdance star told The Brendan O'Connor Show on RTÉ Radio 1 that he has not yet made a decision and has not been approached by a political party, he said he has been 'approached by some very weighted individuals, people in the know'. Register for free to read this story Register and create a profile to get access to our free stories. You'll also unlock more free stories each week. Already registered? Log In
Irish Independent
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
‘Security is an amazing thing' – Why a nice job in the civil service has become the new cool
Donal Ryan, a celebrated author who's been twice nominated for the Booker Prize, was effusive in his praise of working in the civil service in an interview with The Brendan O'Connor Show on RTÉ Radio 1 last weekend.
Irish Times
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
‘I could have done a little bit more': Leo Varadkar says new adventure show made him reconsider leadership style
Former taoiseach Leo Varadkar has indicated that taking part in a new adventure series on RTÉ has made him reconsider his leadership style and in particular whether he could have spent more time encouraging others. Mr Varadkar, Cork singer Lyra , west Belfast rappers Kneecap and track and field star Thomas Barr are among the well-known Irish faces joining former special forces soldier Ray Goggins in the new RTÉ One series 'Uncharted with Ray Goggins.' The series will get under way later this month. The episode with Varadkar and Lyra involved them travelling to the mountains of Drakensberg, South Africa where they slept in caves, scaled gigantic peaks, and climbed sheer rock faces as they made their way to the top of one of the tallest waterfalls in the world, Tugela Falls. [ Leo Varadkar confirms he will feature in RTÉ travel show and rules out presidential bid Opens in new window ] Discussing his experience on The Brendan O'Connor Show on RTÉ Radio 1, Mr Varadkar said that he was very taken by the encouraging, calm and reassuring leadership style of former Irish Special Forces operator Ray Goggins. READ MORE 'I had to manage a cabinet, a whole team of staff, a department, an entire party, an entire government at various periods and I was always so busy. But Ray always found the time to kind of say 'well done' and encourage us. 'I did that too, but I kind of wonder now. Maybe if I'd just set aside 10 minutes more a day to send somebody a voicemail or bang off a few texts, that would have made a difference. I wouldn't have thought that before. 'I know what I am doing most of the time and I don't need much encouragement and praise but when you do something new and it is difficult that (encouragement) really counts. Former taoiseach Leo Varadkar and singer Lyra took part in the new RTÉ series 'It's almost like when you are a kid and your parents tell you 'well done' or 'you can do it' and I probably could have done a little bit more of that in my previous roles.' Mr Varadkar said that the physical challenges on the show were 'genuinely really hard'. 'I've never climbed a mountain with ropes or harnesses or things like that before. 'Just the experience of actually being out there in the wild for several days. You are sleeping in caves, sleeping in tents and making your own fires. It was a very different challenge to running a small country of 5.3 million people,' he said. He indicated that he is on a 'bit of a gap year this year.' 'I wanted to do things that were different and maybe beyond my comfort zone and this came across the desk and sounded really interesting. I am not sure I would have done it if I knew what I was signing up for but I am glad I did it in the end. 'It was challenging. I am well travelled and I'm not a shrinking violet but I've never done anything of that nature.' Mr Varadkar said that taking part the show had helped him to overcome his fear of heights. 'That was a definite positive. The one positive to learn was that I was able to do these things. It was February in South Africa so we expected summer weather and it was quite far from that. But there is some parts of it I really loved. The coming back to nature experience of going to bed after the sun goes down because there is nothing much to do after you have sat around and had your dinner. Waking up at the dawn. 'Some of those things were very special experiences and you know just phones not working. It was a great experience in that sense.' He stressed that Lyra was 'extraordinarily brave' so she made him more brave when he was 'chickening out.' Mr Varadkar admitted that he wasn't used to going in to situations without being briefed. He acknowledged that relinquishing control was an issue for him as he and Lyra were uncertain of what each challenge involved. 'You become a bit nervous as to what is ahead of you next. I was a doctor for seven years before I saw the patients I had their chart in front of me,' he said. 'I would have known a lot about them already. In politics you are well prepared and well briefed. There was no morning briefing here telling us our schedules. None of the things I take for granted. It wasn't easy.'
