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Yearly Archives: 2023

The weekend is finally here, and so is a new month!

We love the first day of each month – it always feels like the perfect excuse to start afresh and give ourselves some much-needed self-care.

One of our favourite ways to do this is to stick on a classic movie that we never get tired of.

Thankfully, as the weekend approaches, we have discovered an amazing movie option for you – and it’s on the telly tomorrow!

This weekend, Channel 4 will be airing one of our all-time favourite action thrillers – Taken

Even though Taken has since been turned into a trilogy franchise, we will always argue that the first film is by far the best one.

If you have never watched Taken before, the thrilling flick stars Liam Neeson as retired CIA agent Bryan Mills, who is called back into action – but for a very personal reason. 

When his daughter Kim and her best friend are abducted by human traffickers during a trip to Paris, Bryan must use every skill he has to track down the two girls.

With essentially no information on where Kim has been taken to, Bryan travels to Paris in the hopes of tracking down his missing daughter – before it’s too late. 

Not only does this film feature one of the most quotable movie scenes of all time, but it is also an incredibly gripping watch. We just know you’ll love it!

Taken airs on Channel 4 tomorrow night, September 2, at 9:20pm.

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Kourtney Kardashian fans are expressing well-wishes for her health as her husband Travis Barker rushes home for an ‘urgent family matter’.

The Blink-182 drummer has recently been touring around Europe with his band. Travis was due to perform in Glasgow tonight and tomorrow, followed by one concert in Belfast and another in Dublin next week.

However, the band has now released a statement to announce that those four scheduled shows will no longer be taking place.

Taking to social media earlier today, the band penned: “Due to an urgent family matter, Travis has had to return home to the States.”

"The Glasgow, Belfast, and Dublin shows are being postponed. More information in regards to his return to Europe and rescheduled dates will be provided as soon as available,” they added.

While Travis’ ‘urgent family matter’ has yet to be disclosed to the public, many fans have been speculating that it could be in relation to his wife Kourtney's pregnancy.

The 44-year-old is currently expecting a baby boy with Travis, after announcing their pregnancy in June of this year.

Kourtney is already a mum to three children – Mason (13), Penelope (11) and Reign (8). However, this is the first time that The Kardashians star will be welcoming a baby with Travis.

Following Blink-182’s announcement, many Kardashian fans began to express their excitement that the new addition might have arrived.

“Kourtney babby incoming!!!” one fan exclaimed on Twitter.

“Baby Barker born?” another wondered.

Meanwhile, other fans have simply expressed concern for Kourtney’s health, and hoped everything was okay with the expectant mum.

“Hope Kourt is okay,” a fan replied.

“Hope everything and everyone is okay,” another wished.

Kourtney first revealed her pregnancy on June 16, by holding up a sign at a Blink-182 concert which read: “Travis I’m Pregnant!”

While it is not known how far along Kourtney is in her pregnancy, the couple have since confirmed that they are expecting a baby boy.

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It’s the end of an era for Snow Patrol!

Fans of the band have been reacting to the news that two of its members, Jonny Quinn and Paul Wilson, have chosen to leave Snow Patrol.

Remaining bandmates Gary Lightbody, Johnny McDaid and Nathan Connolly will continue as a trio.

As Snow Patrol’s lead singer, Gary took to Instagram earlier today to share the heartbreaking news.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Snow Patrol (@snowpatrol)

“Hi everyone, sorry to be the bearer of such sad news but both Jonny Quinn and Paul Wilson have decided to leave Snow Patrol,” he penned, alongside an image of the two musicians.

“We are heartbroken they have decided to leave us but we wish them nothing but happiness, success, joy, compassion and everything they want in all their future endeavours,” the 47-year-old continued.

The Chasing Cars hitmaker then went on to explain what the future holds for the rest of Snow Patrol.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Snow Patrol (@snowpatrol)

“Nate, JMD and myself will continue with SP and there will be a new album next year but more news of that will come at an appropriate time, for now we want to pay homage and give gratitude for all Jonny and Pablo have given us and shared with us these past decades,” Gary detailed.

At the end of his tribute, the star signed off sweetly: “Love to Jonny and Pabs, and love to you all.”

Gary later went on to post respective tributes to his departing bandmates, describing Jonny as “legendary” and Paul as “one of the funniest guys I’ve ever known”.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Snow Patrol (@snowpatrol)

Many Snow Patrol fans have since taken to social media to express their heartbreak at the news.

“Damn man.. Totally gutted by this news. They've been such a big part of this band we love for a long time,” one fan wrote.

“Awww no. They will both be missed big time but all the best to them for the future,” another replied.

“Best of luck to them! Thanks for the memories,” a third fan added.

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Charlotte Crosby has been reflecting on her Geordie Shore days. 

Charlotte had been part of the reality show from 2011 to 2016 and returned for the reunion series in Cyprus with her family earlier this year. 

After leaving the show just two days into filming, Charlotte has opened up about a row that broke out between her and other co-stars which led to her leaving. 

Sharing the details in the latest episode of her Always On podcast, titled Why I Will Never Be Part of Geordie Shore Again, the 33-year-old admitted the argument led to her raising her voice for the first time in front of her daughter Alba, which left her with ‘immense guilt’.

She explained, “I agreed to go onto Geordie Shore and I was really looking forward to it. Oh my God, I couldn’t wait. We were taking all of our families. We were taking Alba. She was still only a tiny baby, I think she was six months when we went out so still only tiny”.

“But I was so excited to spend time with the other families- Marnie and her family, Kyle and his family, Chantelle, everyone was bringing their families. Holly was obviously going to be pregnant so she was going to get a glimpse into family life and it just ended up going so terribly wrong”.

“I don't know why but that whole series, not even just the filming abroad, the whole series, I later discovered, was a bit weird. I just didn’t expect it to go the way that it did and for that reason I am sad, I’m sad for loads of reasons”.

Charlotte then began to cry as she continued, “I’m sad for the fact I took Alba and Jake, my family, into a show that I loved so much and it just went so badly wrong and I felt an immense amount of guilt for not knowing better”.

“I literally thought we were going to have such a good time and we didn’t not, we did have some good times, I was only there two days”.

“Basically, there was a silly argument, over a high chair of all things, that escalated and I just left because I just needed to get out of that environment”.

The reality star went on to reveal, "I'd never raised my voice in front of Alba ever, and I did in this argument, and I was like, ‘Oh God, I feel absolutely terrible’. I've never gotten that angry or wound up, and I have and it’s because of the environment that I’m in”.

Crosby then got upset again as she explained, “As a mam, you feel so guilty. I was riddled with guilt. I just felt anxious, I felt guilty. I think in the weeks I came out of the show I just felt awful. I was so worried. Had I made a bad decision going in there with my family?”.

Charlotte then revealed that she doesn’t think she’ll be able to watch the show because she is ‘so anxious’ about it.

“For that reason, I definitely don't think I could be involved going forward again, which is so sad. It's not because of any particular person, and it's not because I wouldn't go back because I don't want to be with them. It’s just because of how I felt after… it was so awful”.

When sharing a clip of the podcast to her 8.8M Instagram followers, Charlotte captioned the post, “Motherhood has changed me in so many ways and I am thankful for all of them, I have grown in ways I never thought possible. I realise that certain environments are not for me anymore. This is a brand new stage of my life”.

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Rylan Clark has revealed some worrying news about his mum. 

The radio presenter’s mum, Linda, had to be taken to hospital while on holiday with her son to have emergency surgery following a ‘bad fall’. 

Rylan has said he’s ‘praying for a successful surgery’ in a statement issued to social media.  

Thanking fans and friends for their support, Rylan opened up about the incident to his 1.7M Instagram followers. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by  (@rylan)

The 34-year-old explained, “So unfortunately I took my mum away on her first holiday in a good few years and sadly she's had quite a bad fall, resulting in her having to have surgery out here”.

“She's not in the best health with her other conditions and this has made it more complicated”.

Due to his 71-year-old mum’s ill health, Rylan has had to pull out of hosting his BBC Radio 2 show and shared his appreciation for Scott Mills standing in for him in his statement.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by  (@rylan)

“My priority at the moment is my mum. Cheers scott for covering me at radio 2 and Thanks to the people out here that have sent their well wishes”.

Clark closed off by adding, “Praying for a successful surgery and a quick recovery. Will update you on mummy Linda as and when I can x”.

Many fans and famous friends of the Celebrity Gogglebox star shared their support for him and Linda in the comments of the post.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Gogglebox (@c4gogglebox)

TV host Ruth Langsford wrote, “Oh no….darling Linda. Sending you both all our love”.

“Aw hope Linda’s ok! If you need anything you know where I am!”, penned Sort Your Life Out presenter Stacey Solomon. 

McFly band member Tom Fletcher added, “Hope she’s ok mate. Loads of love”.

Rylan had previously spoken about his mum having Crohn’s Disease and mentioned that she’s had to have multiple operations in the past due to her condition.

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The Government has announced an extension to the number of people who can access to its free contraception scheme.

In September of last year, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly launched the scheme for women aged between 17 and 25.

Although the free contraception scheme was a welcomed introduction to the healthcare system, it still received criticism for its narrow age range, with many arguing that the need for contraception does not cease at 25.

In January of this year, 26-year-olds were subsequently allowed access to the scheme. Now, one year on from its launch, the Minister for Health has confirmed that the age eligibility has been vastly extended.

From today, the scheme is now available for women, girls and other people who identify as transgender or non-binary between the ages of 17 and 30.

The free contraception scheme includes access to long-acting reversible contraception, such as injections and implants.

Emergency contraception will also be available alongside the oral contraceptive pill, patch and ring. 

In order to receive free contraception in the scheme, those within the age range need to be resident in Ireland. They also need to have the choice of contraception approved by their doctor beforehand.

Speaking about the scheme’s extensions, Minister Donnelly stated: “I am delighted to announce the expansion of the free contraception scheme to those aged 27-30 years.”

“Ireland has come a long way in terms of the supports it offers for sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender equity and family planning,” he continued.

“Increasing access to free contraception through the free contraception scheme and the National Condom Distribution Service (NCDS) is therefore a key priority for this Government, supporting positive sexual health and choice in family planning,” Minister Donnelly added.

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Tanya Manhenga and Shaq Muhammad are taking a big step in their relationship. 

The couple, who met during this year’s Winter series of Love Island and ended up coming in fourth place, have shared some very exciting news, leaving their fellow Love Islanders ecstatic. 

Tanya and Shaq have revealed they have moved in together, just months after leaving the villa. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Shaq (@shaq24s_)

The pair have said they are ‘looking forward to this next chapter’ as they share details of their big relationship milestone. 

Posting a joint Instagram post to their thousands of followers, they shared snaps of them holding up their keys in their home and shared a sneak peek in the elevator up to their new place.

Shaq opened up about the big move in the caption of the post by writing, “WE HAVE A NEW HOME. Guess there’s no escaping now”.

“Have to thank God always for this next step in our lives. Looking forward to this next chapter”, he added.

Many former Love Island stars rushed to the comments to share their excitement over the news and congratulate the lovebirds.

Dami Hope penned, “Awhhhh congrats guys, let’s goooooo”.

“So buzzing for you guys”, said Tom Clare, while Jessie Wynter added, “Congrats you two cuties”.

The couple have just returned home from a trip to Zimbabwe where Shaq met Tanya’s family, and when describing the trip, Tanya revealed she ‘couldn’t have asked for a better soulmate’. 

Sharing snaps of them together, she explained, “Safe to say he’s not going anywhere now! I can’t believe I’ve found someone to bring to my whole family in Zimbabwe and be welcomed so well by my family”.

“I can only thank God for the love that we have found in each other. @shaq24s_ has been so open to my culture and fits in so well I couldn’t have asked for a better soul mate!”.

The 23-year-old closed off by sweetly saying, “From Cape Town on loveisland straight to Zimbabwe for us to enjoy my mums wedding has brought us so much closer”.

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Due to popular demand and a SOLD OUT date in November, Aiken has an extra date for Al Porter!

Al’s new show is hilarious and a very fun night out! Catch it in Vicar St as part of his national tour next March 23rd. Tickets are on sale next Monday at 10am through Ticketmaster.

Hot off the heels of a hit Ed-Fringe run, his new show has critics raving…

★★★★ in The Scotsman said, “Dazzling flair for comic detail…Unflinchingly hard on himself……brilliant and very funny

★★★★ in Chortle says, “No self pity…Gloriously upbeat… irrepressible stand up storytelling

Al Porter Live at Vicar Street March 23rd. Tickets €29.10 on sale Monday Sept 4th at 10am through Ticketmaster.

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If you're all about minimalism and prefer to follow the "less is more" lifestyle in your home, there are often few things that can get in the way.

For one, not all appliances look pretty and sleek sitting on your countertop. Luckily, Currys has a wide range of stylish options, from radios and speakers to toasters, kettles, juicers and coffee machines, meaning you can seriously elevate your countertop this autumn!

Hot and Cold Drinks

If it’s a colourful kettle, coffee machine or juicer you’re looking for this autumn/winter, Currys has a range of gorgeous appliances that you know will look fabulous in your kitchen!!

SMEG Coffee Machine – White €319.99

SMEG 50's Retro Style Jug Kettle – Gold €209.99

SMEG Jug Kettle – Pastel Green €159.99

SMEG 50's Retro Filter Coffee Machine – Pastel Green €209.99

SMEG 50's Retro Style Citrus Juicer – Green €159.99

SMEG Jug Kettle – Matt Champagne €229.99

MORPHY RICHARDS Rose Gold Collection Traditional Kettle – Grey & Rose Gold €49.99

EMBER Smart Mug² – 295 ml, Rose Gold €199.99

BREVILLE Obliq VKT204 Jug Kettle – Lilac & Pale Gold €49.99

MORPHY RICHARDS Rose Gold Collection Filter Coffee Machine – Black & Rose Gold €69.99

RUSSELL HOBBS Retro Jug Kettle – Black €119.99

PHILIPS Eco Conscious Collection HD9365/11 Jug Kettle – White €49.99

Cooking

Over your ugly toaster? Feel like your countertop needs an upgrade? Well look no further. Currys’ range of stylish toasters and slow cookers mean you will find everything you want in store and online!

SMEG 50's Retro 2-Slice Toaster – White €159.99

SMEG 50's Retro Style 2-Slice Toaster – Gold €209.99

PHILIPS Eco Conscious HD2640/11 2-Slice Toaster – White €49.99

RUSSELL HOBBS Emma Bridgewater Polka Dot 4-Slice Toaster – Cream €99.99

BEKO Cosmopolis 2-Slice Toaster – Duck Egg Blue €59.99

MORPHY RICHARDS Evoke Sear & Stew Slow Cooker – Black & Rose Gold €89.99

Radios

Smart speakers might be the choice these days, but there’s still a place for one of the best DAB radios for cooking in the kitchen, working in a home office or relaxing in the garden on a sunny day. Especially considering many of the top DAB radio devices are compact and look great, meaning you get all of the best quality, and all of the style!

SANDSTROM DAB+/FM Retro Bluetooth Radio – Golden & Brown €89.99

ROBERTS Stream 94L DAB+/FM Smart Bluetooth Radio – Black & Cherry Wood €209.00

ROBERTS Revival Petite DAB+/FM Retro Bluetooth Radio – Duck Egg €119.99

ROBERTS Rambler Stereo Portable DAB+/FM Retro Bluetooth Radio – Duck Egg €149.00

ROBERTS Revival iStream 3L Portable DAB+/FM Retro Smart Bluetooth Radio – Blue €249.99

MARSHALL Middleton Portable Bluetooth Speaker – Black €319.99

For more, see www.currys.ie.

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George Foreman, The World’s No.1 electric grill brand, has launched its new Immersa Grill, set to transform cooking experiences with game-changing washable like never before technology that allows you to pop the entire grill into the dishwasher.

Many may be hesitant about electrical grills due to perceived difficultly cleaning, so George Foreman have created their new Immersa Grill to make life that extra bit easier. Thanks to its removable control panel you can simply slide off the hinge containing the electrical component so the whole grill can be placed into the dishwasher, or fully submerged in the sink for a sparkling clean result.

If you’re worried about kitchen appliances draining your household energy then fear not, as both Immersa Grills use significantly less energy (77% for Individual Grill and 71% for Family Grill, vs a conventional oven), meaning you can cook up a storm without worrying about spending a fortune on electric bills – something everyone can get on board with.

The Immersa Grill is the ultimate appliance for those who are struggling for time and want to make quick and tasty meals without the hassle, as you benefit from faster preheat (52% for Individual Grill, 62% for Family Grill), with no need to wait longer than necessary for your grill to reach optimum cooking temperature.

George Foreman’s Assistant Marketing Manager, Caitlin Wood, comments: “Many find electric grills a pain to keep sparkling clean, so here at George Foreman we’ve developed the Immersa Grill to take away the stress of cleaning.

It’s a great addition to any kitchen, with the same expert cooking capability that you’d expect from George Foreman products, but now with unrivalled cleanability. The Immersa Grills were designed with consumers in mind, ensuring grillers across the nation can focus on what means the most to them – quality time paired with quality food. We’re confident the innovative dishwasher safe technology is going to revolutionise the grill market and reaffirm why we are the World’s No.1 electric grill brand.”

Available in two sizes – Small and Medium – the George Foreman Immersa Grill is designed to fit into your everyday life with its sleek design and compact vertical storage.

The RRP for the George Foreman Immersa Small Grill is €94.99 and the Medium is €119.99.

The George Foreman range is available from independent electrical retailers nationwide.

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Brian Dowling has now got a one-year-old!

The former Big Brother winner and his husband, Arthur Gourounlian, are today celebrating their daughter’s first birthday.

Baby Blake was born one year ago today through surrogacy, with the aid of Brian’s sister Aoife.

To mark the special milestone, Brian has taken to social media to reminisce on the first year of his child’s life.

On his Instagram account, the 45-year-old shared an abundance of adorable snaps of little Blake – from her days as a newborn, right up until now.

“Happy 1st birthday to our @gourounlian baby girl Blake. How are you 1 already. This has been the quickest year of my life & probably the most emotional,” Brian gushed.

The proud dad then went on to recall the couple’s surrogacy journey, which eventually resulted in baby Blake. 

“What a journey we had to get you here safely. It has been the greatest privilege of my life so far watching you grow daily from that little baby I held in my arms one year ago today to the little girl who is now constantly on the move & is 100% keeping Daddy on his toes. Especially when it comes to you wanting to grab everything on his drinks trolley,” he teased.

“My love for you is so great & powerful that it actually scares me. It’s my duty to ensure you are loved & feel safe every day of your life,” the reality star continued.

Brian concluded his birthday tribute by expressing the feelings of both proud parents.

“Also, Daddy & Papa feel super proud today. I feel we have accomplished so much in a year & are still relatively sane. You are the light of our lives & we simply ADORE YOU. Happy Birthday baby Blake,” he penned.

Many fellow Irish celebrities have since taken to Brian’s comments section to post their own well-wishes.

“You guys are the best Dads. Happy Birthday Blake x,” replied I’m A Celebrity alum Nadia Forde.

“Ahh 1st bdays are so emotional. Well done Papa & Dada, Blake is so lucky xx,” added designer Pippa O’Connor.

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Lir Chocolates has launched a delicious Guinness Chocolate Rugby Ball which is set to be a grand slam with chocolate and sports fans everywhere as Rugby World Cup fever sweeps the nation in September 2023. Hand-finished by Lir’s talented chocolatiers in Navan, Co. Meath, this delicious dark chocolate creation is sure to score a try with your tastebuds!

Each Guinness Chocolate Rugby Ball (€6) contains 64% cocoa solids and is embossed with the classic Guinness branding. For Guinness and rugby lovers, it’s a match made in heaven!

The popular Guinness Chocolate range also includes Guinness Chocolate Truffles, Guinness Caramel Truffles, Guinness Chocolate Bars and the Mini Guinness Chocolate Pints, which prove particularly popular with both Irish and international audiences.

Helen Lynch, Brand Manager, Guinness Chocolates commented:

“At Lir Chocolates, we pride ourselves on using only the finest ingredients in our chocolates. Every component is carefully selected to ensure the highest quality and best taste. With the Guinness Chocolate Collection, we bring together two of our nation’s favourite things: Guinness and chocolate. We’re delighted with the reaction to the Guinness Chocolate Rugby Ball and hope that it adds an extra element of joy for our customers as they enjoy the upcoming Rugby World Cup!”

The Guinness Chocolate Rugby Ball is available from selected Supervalu and Carroll’s Irish Gift stores nationwide. You can also shop online at www.lirchocolates.com.

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