Latest news with #VictoriaMaryClarke
Irish Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Imelda May backed to be next President of Ireland but has no plans to run
Singer Imelda May has revealed the widow of The Pogues singer Shane MacGowan has backed her to be the next President of Ireland. The Liberties singer is a self-confessed proud Irish woman, and regularly promotes the country through her poetry and songs. But when asked about whether or not she would consider running for the Presidency, she said her pal Victoria Mary Clarke endorsed her in her house last week. She told Anna Geary, who is filling in for Ray D'Arcy on RTE Radio 1, that Victoria Mary Clarke suggested she should throw her name in the hat for the Irish Presidency. Imelda said: "I had my friend Victoria Mary Clarke, she was up at my house saying 'you have to run for president'. "I'm not going to do it. I'm madly in love with this place and the people." Shane McGowan and Victoria Mary Clarke pictured on The Late Late Show (Image: Andres Poveda) Pressed again about running for the Presidency by Geary, Imelda said jokingly: "Oh will you stop?" It comes after Imelda revealed she was hospitalised earlier this month for an unknown illness. Briefly updating fans at the beginning of her radio interview, she told Anna she was "fine" and was given the "all clear". Earlier this week, she posted pictures on her Instagram from hospital bed, praising the staff at St Vincent's Hospital for taking such good care of her. She wrote at the time: "So I ended up in St Vincent's University Hospital last week for a few days. "I'm fine now and healing well but I must say a huge thanks you to all the amazing people that took the best care of me. Absolute legends. Pictures are a few of those legends. Forever grateful. Imelda X." It is the second time Imelda has found herself in hospital in recent years. In 2022, Imelda was forced to postpone a gig after her doctor ordered her to take a break after she suffered from exhaustion. In a snap, she said at the time: "I'm getting a flood of well wishes. Thank you so much. I'm not seriously ill. "It's what I call 'road rot' lots of bits going wrong. "Too often have tests and treatments while going full pace. "Physically exhausted. Just following Drs advice and taking time to heal. I won't be long. Imelda." Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
Sunday World
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sunday World
Victoria Mary Clarke says beleaguered rappers Kneecap are ‘very nice lads'
The writer and wife of the late Pogues singer, Shane MacGowan, added her voice to dozens of artists who have already backed the trio Victoria Mary Clarke has thrown her support behind beleaguered rappers Kneecap, saying they are 'very nice lads'. The writer and wife of the late Pogues singer, Shane MacGowan, added her voice to dozens of artists who have already backed the trio in the wake of the controversy over their 'kill your local MP' and 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah' videos. Asked her opinion about the group whose on-stage antics have landed them in hot water, Victoria told Sunday World: 'I think they are wonderful people and really, really talented. She added that she 'admired their courage and passion', before saying: 'They are really nice guys.' Earlier this week, more than 40 music acts, including Primal Scream and Paul Weller, signed an open letter in support of Kneecap. In the days before the videos surfaced, the group faced controversy after they displayed a message reading 'Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people. 'It is being enabled by the U.S. government who arm and fund Israel despite their war crimes. F**k Israel, Free Palestine,' on stage following their set at the Coachella music festival. This has led to the band being dropped from Cornwall's Eden Project festival this summer, while there have also been numerous calls for them to be dropped from Glastonbury. Kneecap's record label, Heavenly Recordings, then released an open letter highlighting a 'clear, concerted attempt to censor and ultimately deplatform' the group. 'As artists, we feel the need to register our opposition to any political repression of artistic freedom,' the letter reads. 'In a democracy, no political figures or political parties should have the right to dictate who does and does not play at music festivals or gigs that will be enjoyed by thousands of people. 'Kneecap are not the story. Gaza is the story. Genocide is the story. And the silence, acquiescence and support of those crimes against humanity by the elected British Government is the real story. Victoria Mary Clarke 'Solidarity with all artists with the moral courage to speak out against Israeli war crimes, and the ongoing persecution and slaughter of the Palestinian people." The list of Irish artists who have signed the letter includes Blindboy Boatclub, Christy Moore, Damien Dempsey, and Fontaines DC. They have joined the likes of Paul Weller, Peter Perrett, Poor Creature, Primal Scream and Pulp. Other groups have also taken to social media asking to be added to the list of signatories including Mercury Prize nominees Yard Act, while Massive Attack released their own statement in support. Meanwhile their band's manager has said they are happy to apologise in person to the daughter of murdered Conservative MP David Amess following the controversy over 'kill your local MP' chant. The hip-hop group have already published an online apology to the families of Mr Amess and Labour MP Jo Cox after footage from a gig allegedly showed one member saying: 'The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.' Katie Amess said she was 'absolutely heartbroken' after seeing the clip from a performance in November 2023. She said it had 'brought back so much pain and upset'. She said she would be willing to meet the group and tell them how her life has been 'obliterated' by her father's death. The group's manager, Daniel Lambert, told Newstalk: 'The lads are happy to talk to that lady. The lads are happy to meet with that lady. The lads are happy to apologise to that lady.' Ms Amess has urged a 'thorough investigation to determine the full extent of any criminal activity' and said it 'is imperative that individuals and groups are held accountable for their words and actions that incite violence and hatred'. Mr Lambert suggested that the footage emerged because the group criticised Israel over the war in Gaza during their recent performance at the Coachella festival in the US. He told The Pat Kenny Show: 'You've got to focus on this. Why has this emerged? Kneecap went to Coachella and Kneecap said at Coachella, facts. Facts about what happened (in Gaza). 'And you know what happened as a response? All of this.' Earlier this week, Brendan Cox, whose wife was murdered in 2016, called Kneecap's statement 'only half an apology'. Kneecap's Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí Today's News in 90 Seconds - May 3rd Counter-terrorism officers are investigating the footage from November 2023 as well as another piece of footage from last November that appears to show one of them shouting 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah'. The Northern Irish band posted a statement online saying they have 'never supported' Hamas or Hezbollah, which are both banned organisations in the UK. Yesterday, Kneecap teased new music and posted an image on X of one of them wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh scarf, saying: 'New track coming soon… stay tuned… lock down your aerial.' Several upcoming Kneecap shows in Europe have been cancelled by promoters and Jewish groups, while former X Factor judge Sharon Osbourne called for them to be dropped from the Glastonbury line-up next month.
