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USA Today
4 days ago
- USA Today
Police investigate fire at Conor McGregor's pub, suspect intentional criminal act
Conor McGregor's pub was torched in a suspected arson attack at 3am in Dublin.A man fled after using flammable liquid at the entrance. No injuries 'The pub is open… You wouldn't get through it with a rocket launcher. She's spotless.'#ConorMcGregor Conor McGregor's Black Forge Inn caught fire once again Friday – and police think it was likely an intentional criminal act. According to multiple reports including The Irish Independent, the fire began the early morning hours in Dublin. Police and fire responded to the scene where the blaze was extinguished. No injuries were reported. However, authorities say they think the fire was set with malicious intent. Video of smoke bellowing out of the establishment was posted on social media. Black Forge Inn has arson history Friday's incident isn't the first time McGregor's pub has caught fire since he purchased it for $2 million in 2020. In 2022, another incident of arson occurred with subjects throwing a petrol bomb at the building. While a fire had been started, the bomb did not ignite. Conor McGregor's chill response McGregor referenced the incident multiple times on social media in the hours that followed Friday's fire. In a since-deleted Instagram post, McGregor seemed unconcerned by Friday's events. "The pub is open for business today, folks," McGregor said (h/t Daily Mail). "You wouldn't get through it with a rocket launcher. She's spotless. Up the Forge! Built different baby." On X, he posted an aerial shot of the Black Forge Inn, which appeared to still be in good shape. "Unbeatable," McGregor wrote. UNBEATABLE! @blackforgeinn 🇮🇪
Irish Independent
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Talented Cork author releases debut novel – a dark and gritty detective series set in the Rebel county
The 35-year-old former primary school teacher turned writer, who hails from West Cork, is celebrating ticking off a major life goal this week. After years of work, his debut novel LAWLESS has officially made its way out into the world, with the first copies arriving into readers' hands last Friday. The release marks an exciting moment for Irish crime fiction fans. For those who haven't come across it on their online travels yet, LAWLESS is described as 'the first in a gripping crime series set on the rain-soaked streets of Cork City,' as well as 'tense, atmospheric and deeply human.' With that setup, readers can expect a haunting and compelling read. The story follows Detective Adrian Lawless, who is assigned to investigate the savage murder of a young man in a quiet Cork suburb. The victim's ex-girlfriend has also gone missing, adding another layer of mystery. From the outset, something about the case feels off. To Lawless – no stranger to messy, emotionally complex investigations – this crime scene is unsettlingly clean. The girl has vanished without a trace, and buried deep in the silence is the unmistakable presence of someone else. Someone watching. Waiting. Hunting. As the case unfolds, Lawless finds himself pulled deeper into a search that quickly becomes more than just a job. He's drawn into a situation that threatens to consume him entirely – one that forces him to confront the darkest corners of his own past. This isn't just a killer. It's something far more far more personal. While the plot promises intensity and high stakes, it's the setting that truly distinguishes LAWLESS. Speaking to The Irish Independent on Monday, Moloney explained why Cork was the perfect place for this story. 'It [LAWLESS] was one of those ideas that grew and morphed over time without a single word ever being put to paper,' he said. 'Initially, the idea stemmed purely from my own bemusement that there hadn't been a detective series based in Ireland where the tone was purposefully dark, and that explored what a serial killer might look like after being shaped by the Irish landscape.' For Moloney, setting the novel outside the usual crime fiction hotspots was a conscious decision. 'I wanted it to give people something that I felt was missing,' he continued. 'I wanted to write a crime thriller that wasn't based in Dublin. I wanted to write a crime thriller that wasn't centred around narcotics or the idea of 'gangland crime.' And I wanted to write a story that really gave a true reflection of what it's like to live and exist in rural Ireland.' This vision didn't come to life overnight. In fact, it spent years simmering in the background while Moloney pursued other writing projects. 'The fact that it remained an idea in the back of my head for so long, however, wound up being a blessing in disguise, I feel,' he explained. 'Because in doing the other work that came before LAWLESS – namely, a golf fiction series called Mustang – I feel it prepared me to write LAWLESS from a technical standpoint that helped deliver the story in the manner it so demanded.' Switching genres turned out to be exactly what Moloney needed creatively. 'Even the timing of writing LAWLESS was perfect,' he said. 'After spending a year or two straight writing Mustang week-to-week, to make such a drastic change of direction in terms of tone and writing style came as a much-needed palate cleanser that served as a welcome boost of inspiration.' That shift in energy proved helpful more than once. 'And the same thing happened after I paused writing LAWLESS halfway through it in order to bring Leo & The Broken Throne—a fantasy book—to fruition,' he added. 'Meaning, every time that I sat down to write LAWLESS, I was always doing so from a refreshed and reinvigorated state of mind that, I hope, comes across in the book.' After all the years of conceptualizing, writing, and revising, seeing the book finally on shelves is an emotional moment for Moloney. 'Bearing that in mind, though, to now see it actually out there in the world and available for people to read is, understandably, quite surreal,' he said. 'To see something that started as a rough idea over five years ago, and then came to exist over two six-month periods of intense writing, and then months of editing after that? It really is tough to wrap your head around in the most wonderful way imaginable.' The response from readers has made the journey all the more rewarding. 'But to see the incredible support that the book has been getting and that people are enjoying it? Well, that's what it's all about, right?'
Irish Independent
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Limerick band who supported British rockers The Darkness to play Clare gig
The indie-rock collective will be bringing their energetic live performance to Pot Duggans in Ennistymon on July 19, with fellow Limerick musician Laura Duff providing support on the night. 'We have been trying to play a show in Clare for quite some time now, so to say we are excited is an understatement,' the band's lead singer, Dylan Flynn, said. 'I grew up in Limerick, but my family moved to Clare when I was a teenager, so it holds a special place in my heart. 'I spent most of my summer by the coast there too - there's just a special feeling in West Clare that you don't get anywhere else.' The band have been working on new music they are planning to debut at the Clare gig, with Flynn revealing to The Irish Independent that there will be a new single coming out just three days before their Banner County show. 'We have been working on loads of new music, including a single that's coming out on July 16, so we have loads of new material that we will be playing,' Dylan said. The gig announcement comes mere weeks after the Limerick five-piece opened up gigs in Limerick's King John's Castle and Kerry's Gleneagle Arena for British rock band The Darkness. The Justin Hawkins fronted outfit are most well known for their iconic 2003 hit 'I Believe in a Thing Called Love'. 'A couple of weeks ago we joined The Darkness for their Irish tour, where we played a couple of our biggest shows to date,' Dylan said. 'It was such a surreal experience, as they are a band who have existed in my life since I was a child, so it was great to share the stage with them. ADVERTISEMENT 'We really feel a momentum building right now, and this summer still has some exciting things ahead." Tickets for Dylan Flynn and the Dead Poets at Pot Duggans are on sale now.
Irish Independent
02-07-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
Kilkenny granny running out of time to get lifesaving treatment for grandson (4) – ‘I will keep fighting until my or his last breath'
Diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), William Moore's muscles have begun to waste away, not strong enough to hold up his small body. William will likely be fully wheelchair-bound by the age of eight, only four years from now. He has already started using a wheelchair part-time, proving just how rapidly the DMD is progressing and taking over his body. It is also unlikely that William will live long enough to celebrate a birthday beyond his 25th year – and that's best case scenario. DMD is a genetic disorder that causes progressive muscle weakness and deterioration that rapidly gets worse over time. As DMD progresses, the heart and respiratory muscles are affected as well. As a result, DMD is ultimately fatal. Most people diagnosed with the condition die at a young age from lung and heart issues caused by it. As there is no cure available for DMD, treatments focus instead on managing symptoms and improving the patient's quality of life. For William's grandmother, Sarka Palouckova, this feels like a jail sentence. She must sit back and watch helplessly as William continues to deteriorate right in front of her very eyes. Something as small as a slight gust of wind and sometimes even just thin air is enough to knock William over. Speaking to The Irish Independent in February of this year, Sarka explained that there is no treatment available in Ireland for William. "Back when William was first diagnosed with DMD and I realised there was no treatment for him in Ireland that could help him, I just kept crying and crying and crying,' said Sarka. 'I couldn't even work. I'm his grandmother, I want to protect him. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more "To this day, I still cry because I see how quickly the DMD is progressing. It's progressing at a faster pace than was expected and in comparison to other children the same age as him with DMD. "He is already starting to walk on his toes more and walking is getting harder for him and his balance is a lot worse. He falls over now because of just thin air.' After many sleepless nights scouring the internet, William's family came across a procedure called Elevidys, a gene therapy for people diagnosed with DMD. Elevidys prevents muscle cells from degenerating and may strengthen muscles by helping the body create protein. The only problem is the procedure is not available in Ireland or any EU country for that matter. Instead, William will have to travel all the way to America to the Boston Children's hospital if he wants to get Elevidys. However, the treatment will cost William's family an astronomical $3.7m, plus additional fees after he gets the treatment. A Go Fund Me page set up by William's grandmother has so far raised just over €39,000 out of the €4m target. While William's family are so grateful for everyone who has donated so far, William's condition is getting progressively worse, at a pace faster than anyone anticipated. Following a bad fall in May that left William unable to walk for over three weeks, Sarka is terrified her grandson is running out of time. "Recently, he had a fall in May and for three and a half weeks, he stopped walking altogether,' Sarka told The Irish Independent this week. 'It was a terrifying time, and I feared he might never walk again. "Thankfully, he's back on his feet now. In the meantime, he received his first wheelchair and a stand at home, which is helping him stretch his muscles.' As a result of the fall and his muscles wasting away, William can now only walk 300 metres before he falls over or has to be carried. When his legs are too exhausted to carry him further, William uses a wheelchair to get around. "The wheelchair is bittersweet,' said Sarka as she started to cry. 'In the wheelchair he has freedom to go wherever he likes without me carrying him which makes me so happy to see him happy and free. "But the wheelchair also makes me sad because it's a reminder of how bad William's condition is getting. We didn't expect him to be using a wheelchair already at just four-and-a-half years old.' Sarka does not know where to turn to next for help. With donations slowing down on the Go Fund Me page, she is at a loss of what to do next. "I cry most days. I feel so helpless and alone. I'm trying to save my grandson, but I don't know what else I can do. But I know I can't give up. I will keep fighting until mine or his last breath. "Some people might think there are many treatments available for Duchenne right now. But unfortunately, almost all of them are targeted at mutations from exon one to exon 58. William has a rare duplication of exon 62, which makes him ineligible for nearly every one of those options. "I've even contacted several clinical trials directly, but they all replied saying he's not eligible because of that specific mutation. Right now, the only available option for him is Elevidys in the US. That's why we're doing everything we can to try and get him there.' Despite the many setbacks, Sarak will keep fighting for William's future. With the help of all those who have donated so far to the Go Fund Me page and also other supporters of William who have organised their own fundraisers for the young Kilkenny boy, Sarka hopes she will eventually be able to raise the money for William's lifesaving treatment. At the moment, two young men from Kilkenny, Seán Lawlor and Cillian Larkin, are undertaking a mammoth cycle of approximately 4,000km from Dublin all the way to Istanbul to raise money for William's treatment. Seán and Cillian are currently cycling through Bosnia and Herzegovina. 'Seán and Cillian are two incredible guys from Kilkenny cycling from Dublin to Istanbul for William,' explained Sarka. 'They started their journey on May 16, but unfortunately about two weeks ago, while they were in Milan, Italy, they faced some difficulties. Cillian had his phone pickpocketed, and Sean's bicycle was stolen. "Thankfully, they managed to sort everything out after two days and are now back on track. "I also want to mention the support from local TD Natasha Newsome-Drennan who brought William's case to the Dáil twice,' added Sarka. 'I've sent many emails to all the TDs to stand with Natasha. Initially, it seemed positive and hopeful, but unfortunately, they have now gone completely silent. It's disheartening after such an encouraging start.' Also on Saturday July 5, Ryan's Bar in Kilkenny is hosting Cuckoo Fest 25 with live music from 3pm until late to raise money for William's treatment. "We are still fighting every single day to raise the money William needs,' said Sarka defiantly. 'At the same time, we're constantly reading, reaching out, and looking into any newly opened clinical trials that might offer hope. We will never give up.' You can donate to William Moore's Go Fund Me page to help raise money for his treatment here
Metro
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
TV fans issued warning before watching 'twisted' new true crime thriller
There's a new true crime drama in town this week, as Apple TV Plus is set to drop the first two episodes of Smoke this Friday (June 27). Starring Taron Egerton, the drama reunites the Kingsman actor with Black Bird creator Dennis Lehane for a nine episode police procedural. The show is based on the hit podcast Firebug, which retraced the case of a serial arsonist who terrorised Southern California and burned down several businesses, killing four people. The official Apple TV Plus synopsis for the show tells audiences: 'When an arson investigator begrudgingly teams up with a police detective, their race to stop two arsonists ignites a twisted game of secrets and suspicions.' Reviews of Smoke have started to trickle in and a theme has emerged, urging viewers not to give up on the show early on because things take a major turn after the first episode or so. No spoilers of course, but a Rolling Stone review said the thriller might initially look like a 'hacky cop show' until a major twist, urging viewers to 'stick with it'. It was a similar story in The Irish Independent's write-up, which promised: 'If you feel the urge to bail out early, resist it, otherwise you might be missing out on something very special.' Smoke was heralded as having 'hints of brilliance' in the Sydney Morning Herald, which added: 'Every episode from the second onwards ends with an unforeseen turn. That should be valued.' More Trending The reviews were resounding in their praise of Egerton's mercurial performance as firefighter-turned-arson investigator Dave Gudsen, starring alongside the likes of John Leguizamo and Greg Kinnear. Gudsen is looking into two serial arsonists alongside hard-nosed police detective Michelle Calderone (Jurnee Smollett). Like Mindhunter before it, the show becomes both an investigation into who exactly is setting these fires as well as an exploration of why someone would do such a thing. View More » Smoke is available to stream on Apple TV Plus from June 27. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you.
