authors list | date_download timestamp[s] | date_modify null | date_publish timestamp[s] | description stringlengths 1 5.93k ⌀ | filename stringlengths 33 1.45k | image_url stringlengths 23 353 | language stringclasses 21
values | localpath null | title stringlengths 2 200 ⌀ | title_page null | title_rss null | source_domain stringlengths 6 40 | maintext stringlengths 68 80.7k ⌀ | url stringlengths 20 1.44k | fasttext_language stringclasses 1
value | date_publish_final timestamp[s] | path stringlengths 76 110 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
[] | 2016-08-26T14:03:59 | null | null | Space shuttle Endeavour landed safely Sunday afternoon at California's Edwards Air Force Base after NASA waved off two opportunities for a Florida landing because of poor weather. | http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2008%2FTECH%2Fspace%2F11%2F30%2Fspace.shuttle%2Findex.html%3Feref%3Dedition_space%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Brss%252Fedition_space%2B%2528RSS%253A%2BCNNi%2B-%2BScience%2B%2526%2BSpace%2529.json | http://i.l.cnn.net/cnn/.element/img/2.0/content/ads/advertisement.gif | en | null | Shuttle Endeavour lands at California air base | null | null | edition.cnn.com | (CNN) -- Space shuttle Endeavour landed safely Sunday afternoon at California's Edwards Air Force Base after NASA waved off two opportunities for a Florida landing because of poor weather.
Endeavour glides in for a landing Sunday at California's Edwards Air Force Base.
The shuttle, steered by commander Christopher Ferguson, landed at 1:25 p.m., ending a mission that lasted more than two weeks.
Wind, rain and reports of thunderstorms within 30 miles of the shuttle landing facility at Florida's Kennedy Space Center prompted NASA to cancel the landing attempts there. Those had been scheduled for 1:19 p.m. and 2:54 p.m. ET.
After determining Monday's weather forecast at Kennedy Space Center was equally unpromising, flight controllers decided they would try to land the shuttle and its seven astronauts at Edwards AFB, about 100 miles from Los Angeles, California, where Sunday's forecast was sunny.
Flight controllers prefer landings at Kennedy Space Center because of cost and schedule. NASA has estimated it costs about $1.7 million to bring a shuttle home to Kennedy Space Center from California. Watch Endeavour's Sunday landing in California »
It also takes at least a week to get the shuttle ready for the trip, but schedule is not a major factor for the Endeavour; it is not scheduled to fly again until May.
Endeavour's 15-day mission to the international space station began on November 14 and included four spacewalks.
During that time, the crew brought key pieces -- including exercise equipment, more sleeping berths and a urine recycling system -- for a project to double the capacity of the station from three in-house astronauts to six.
The recycling system was installed to turn urine and sweat from the astronauts into drinking water.
Other modules are scheduled to arrive on a February shuttle flight. The goal of expanding the station's capacity to six astronauts is expected to be reached by the summer.
The crew also worked on a joint that helps generate power for the space station. Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper and Steve Bowen spent hours cleaning and lubricating the Solar Alpha Rotary Joint, which is designed to allow the solar panels on the left side of the station to rotate and track the sun.
The astronauts also removed and replaced several trundle bearing assemblies.
The mission went according to plan, despite a minor interruption on the first spacewalk when a grease gun in Stefanyshyn-Piper tool's bag leaked, coating everything inside with a film of lubricant. While she was trying to clean it up, the bag -- with $100,000 in tools -- floated away.
CNN's Kate Tobin and Miles O'Brien contributed to this report.
All About Space Shuttle Endeavour • NASA • Kennedy Space Center | http://edition.cnn.com/2008/TECH/space/11/30/space.shuttle/index.html?eref=edition_space&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fedition_space+%28RSS%3A+CNNi+-+Science+%26+Space%29 | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | edition.cnn.com/165e8918411951d18b6a3d6c872381e0ca4c8665d40e6b5fa623c9e4bbcbedb9.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T15:34:15 | null | 2014-05-22T18:52:30 | Open Court meets Michael Chang and Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario 25 years after their Roland Garros wins. | http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2Fvideos%2Fsports%2F2014%2F05%2F22%2Fspc-open-court-michael-chang-arantxa-sanchez-vicario.cnn.json | http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/140522194954-spc-open-court-michael-chang-arantxa-sanchez-vicario-00000505-t3-entertainment.jpg | en | null | French Open champs 25 years on | null | null | edition.cnn.com | Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds. | http://edition.cnn.com/videos/sports/2014/05/22/spc-open-court-michael-chang-arantxa-sanchez-vicario.cnn | en | 2014-05-22T00:00:00 | edition.cnn.com/3655fc10444286cbc75b1c2cf46d7d9ddaedafa6908552a744d4e3822b516119.json |
[
"Alan Silverleib Cnn",
"Alan Silverleib"
] | 2016-08-26T14:04:49 | null | null | NASA's launch of the Mars Science Laboratory -- hampered by technical difficulties and cost overruns -- has been delayed until the fall of 2011, NASA officials said at a news conference Thursday in Washington. | http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2008%2FTECH%2Fspace%2F12%2F04%2Fnasa.mars.delay%2Findex.html%3Feref%3Dedition_space%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Brss%252Fedition_space%2B%2528RSS%253A%2BCNNi%2B-%2BScience%2B%2526%2BSpace%2529.json | http://i.l.cnn.net/cnn/.element/img/2.0/global/story_tools/txt_minus_dn_.gif | en | null | Mars Science Lab launch delayed two years | null | null | edition.cnn.com | WASHINGTON (CNN) -- NASA's launch of the Mars Science Laboratory -- hampered by technical difficulties and cost overruns -- has been delayed until the fall of 2011, NASA officials said at a news conference Thursday in Washington.
A photo illustration of a laser-equipped vehicle that is set to be part of the Mars Science Laboratory.
The mission had been scheduled for launch in the fall of 2009.
The Mars Science Lab is a large, nuclear-powered rover designed to traverse long distances with a suite of onboard scientific instruments aboard.
It is, according to NASA's Web site, part of a "long-term effort of robotic exploration" established to "study the early environmental history of Mars" and assess whether Mars has ever been -- or still is -- able to sustain life.
The delay of the launch, according to NASA, is due to a number of "testing and hardware challenges that must (still) be addressed to ensure mission success."
"The progress in recent weeks has not come fast enough on solving technical challenges and pulling hardware together," said Charles Elachi, director of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.
Changing to a 2011 launch "will allow for careful resolution of any remaining technical problems, proper and thorough testing, and avoid a mad dash to launch," argued NASA Associate Administrator Ed Weiler.
The overall cost of the Mars Science Lab is now projected to be roughly $2.1 billion, according to NASA spokesman Dwayne Browne. The project originally carried a price tag of $1.6 billion.
NASA's entire budget for the current fiscal year, according to Browne, is approximately $15 billion.
According to NASA, the Mars rover will use new technologies and be engineered to explore greater distances over rougher terrain than previous missions to the planet. This will be done in part by employing a new surface propulsion system.
"Failure is not an option on this mission," Weiler said. "The science is too important and the investment of American taxpayer dollars compels us to be absolutely certain that we have done everything possible to ensure the success of this flagship planetary mission."
Weiler asserted that, based on the agency's preliminary evaluations, additional costs tied to the delay of the Science Lab launch would not result in the cancellation of other NASA programs over the next two years. He did, however, concede that it would result in other unspecified program delays.
Critics have charged that the delay and cost overruns associated with the Mars Science Lab are indicative of an agency that is plagued by a lack of accountability and inefficiency in terms of its management of both time and taxpayer dollars.
"The Mars Science Laboratory is only the latest symptom of a NASA culture that has lost control of spending," wrote Alan Stern, a former NASA associate administrator, in a November 24 op-ed in the New York Times. "A cancer is overtaking our space agency: the routine acquiescence to immense cost increases in projects."
Stern charged that the agency's cost overruns are being fueled by "managers who disguise the size of cost increases that missions incur" and "members of Congress who accept steep increases to protect local jobs."
Browne replied in a written statement saying that NASA administrators are "constantly working to improve (the agency's) cost-estimating capabilities. ... We continually review our projects to understand the true risk in terms of performance, cost and schedule."
"The fact of life at NASA, where we are charged with creating first-of-a-kind missions of scientific discovery, is that estimating the costs of ... science can be almost as difficult as actually doing the science," Browne said.
NASA's most recent Mars project -- the mission of the Phoenix Mars Lander -- came to an end last month after the solar-powered vehicle's batteries ran down as the result of a dust storm and the onset of Martian winter. It had operated two months beyond its initial three-month mission.
NASA officials had landed the vehicle on an arctic plain after satellite observations indicated there were vast quantities of frozen water in that area, most likely in the form of permafrost. They thought such a location would be a promising place to look for organic chemicals that would signal a habitable environment.
Scientists were able to verify the presence of water-ice in the Martian subsurface, find small concentrations of salts that could be nutrients for life, and observe snow descending from the clouds, NASA said Thursday.
All About Mars Exploration • NASA | http://edition.cnn.com/2008/TECH/space/12/04/nasa.mars.delay/index.html?eref=edition_space&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fedition_space+%28RSS%3A+CNNi+-+Science+%26+Space%29 | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | edition.cnn.com/a957fe1b560fa0e03c53cba6732b1e6dea10ceee4990cb2a9c7be42e2e584721.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T15:04:57 | null | 2016-08-18T13:47:31 | CNN Open Court traveled to Rhode Island to see how a gifted team of silversmiths craft the U.S. Open trophy. | http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2Fvideos%2Fsports%2F2016%2F08%2F18%2Fspc-open-court-us-open-trophy.cnn.json | http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/160818144601-spc-open-court-us-open-trophy-00030327-large-tease.jpg | en | null | Silver service: The making of the U.S. Open trophy | null | null | edition.cnn.com | Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds. | http://edition.cnn.com/videos/sports/2016/08/18/spc-open-court-us-open-trophy.cnn | en | 2016-08-18T00:00:00 | edition.cnn.com/cc14907eb5a664f5eb87099f7ef8b99474959292d3e8c33379034ab730b2f37f.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T15:32:04 | null | 2013-10-17T17:32:07 | Pat Cash and Malaysian Open doubles champion Eric Butorac discuss the importance of nutrition in tennis. | http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2Fvideos%2Fsports%2F2013%2F10%2F17%2Fspc-open-court-player-nutrition.cnn.json | http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/131017182533-spc-open-court-player-nutrition-00002819-t3-entertainment.jpg | en | null | What do star tennis players eat? | null | null | edition.cnn.com | Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds. | http://edition.cnn.com/videos/sports/2013/10/17/spc-open-court-player-nutrition.cnn | en | 2013-10-17T00:00:00 | edition.cnn.com/2398aa6b68b2f094a448705cfb9b6810cd28a080619008b36054e249c2f8f5ad.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T15:28:55 | null | 2014-10-16T11:52:29 | Former world number 1, Thomas Muster meets Pat Cash in Vienna to discuss the challenges of traveling on tour. | http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2Fvideos%2Fsports%2F2014%2F10%2F16%2Fspc-open-court-d-thomas-muster.cnn.json | http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/141016124122-spc-open-court-d-thomas-muster-00003917-t3-entertainment.jpg | en | null | Thomas Muster's tour stories | null | null | edition.cnn.com | Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds. | http://edition.cnn.com/videos/sports/2014/10/16/spc-open-court-d-thomas-muster.cnn | en | 2014-10-16T00:00:00 | edition.cnn.com/1293a3972ba4cbdd2b2c8553fb55f33da0d6e91a5ea07f51a62911cdb2643154.json |
[
"Eoghan Macguire"
] | 2016-08-26T14:18:24 | null | 2016-08-13T02:55:55 | It was Spanish gold for Rafael Nadal in Rio Friday as he claimed Olympic tennis doubles victory alongside playing partner Marc Lopez. | http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2016%2F08%2F12%2Ftennis%2Frafael-nadal-rio-olympics-doubles-marc-lopez%2Findex.html%3Futm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Brss%252Fedition_tennis%2B%2528RSS%253A%2BCNNi%2B-%2BTennis%2529.json | http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/160813013818-nadal-lopez-rio-2016-large-tease.jpg | en | null | Rafael Nadal wins gold as Spain beats Romania in doubles | null | null | edition.cnn.com | (CNN) It was Spanish gold for Rafael Nadal in Rio Friday as he claimed Olympic tennis doubles victory alongside playing partner Marc Lopez.
Nadal has struggled with injury and form all year, but he also qualified for the semifinals of the men's singles event earlier in the day.
He and Lopez eventually wore down Romania's Florin Mergea and Horia Tecau, prevailing 6-2 3-6 6-4 in an exhausting final that lasted close to two and a half hours.
It was Nadal's second success at an Olympics, having also won gold in the singles at the 2008 Beijing Games.
The 14-time grand slam winner, who missed the London 2012 through injury, was visibly ecstatic on court Friday when celebrating alongside Lopez.
"It was an amazing experience, especially doing that with one of my best friends, with Marc, it's something unforgettable for me, for both of us, I think," he said.
"Win a gold medal today after two months and a half with no practice, with no preparation at all, just working on the gym, is something that is a dream, no? The moment was unbelievable, and we had fun. We fight hard. The only thing that we can say is that we are very, very happy."
Bronze went to Americans Steve Johnson and Jack Sock, who overcame Canada's Daniel Nestor and Vasek Pospisil in straight sets 6-2 6-4.
Defending Olympics doubles champions Bob and Mike Bryan had pulled out of the Rio Games over fears of the Rio virus.
Singles ambition
World No. 5 Nadal had earlier made his way through to the men's singles semifinals with victory over home favorite Thomaz Bellucci.
The 30-year-old is playing his first tournament since a wrist injury ended his bid for a 10th French Open title in June.
He will now face Juan Martin del Potro for a place in Sunday's final after the Argentine player -- who eliminated world No. 1 Novak Djokovic on Sunday -- beat Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut in straight sets.
Great Britain's Andy Murray overcame 22nd-ranked American Johnson in three sets, and the defending champion will face Japan's Kei Nishikori in Saturday's other semifinal.
Nishikori required two tie-breaks to move past Gael Monfils of France 7-6 4-6 7-6 to set up the tie with the world No. 2.
Puerto Rican joy
In the women's semifinals, Puerto Rico's Monica Puig shocked double Wimbledon champ Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic 6-4 1-6 6-3.
The 22-year-old has never gone beyond the fourth round of a grand slam, while no Puerto Rican has ever won gold at the Olympics.
Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 7 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 7 U.S. swimmer Katie Ledecky celebrates after setting a new world record in the 800-meter freestyle on Friday, August 12. It was her fourth gold medal in Rio and the fifth of her Olympic career. She also won the 800 free in London four years ago. Hide Caption 1 of 27 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 7 Joseph Schooling won Singapore's first-ever gold medal, edging Michael Phelps to win the 100-meter butterfly. Hide Caption 2 of 27 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 7 Spanish tennis players Rafael Nadal, left, and Marc Lopez acknowledge the crowd after winning gold in doubles. Nadal won singles gold in 2008. Hide Caption 3 of 27 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 7 Maya DiRado, right, looks up at her time after winning the 200-meter backstroke. DiRado was trailing Hungary's Katinka Hosszu, left, for much of the race but edged her at the end. It is DiRado's second gold medal in Rio. Hide Caption 4 of 27 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 7 U.S. soccer players Mallory Pugh, right, and Carli Lloyd react during their quarterfinal loss to Sweden. Sweden won on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw in extra time. It was the United States' first Olympic loss since 2000. Hide Caption 5 of 27 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 7 The British track cycling team set a world record on its way to winning gold in the pursuit event. Bradley Wiggins, left, is now the most decorated British athlete in Olympic history. He has eight medals -- five of them gold. Hide Caption 6 of 27 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 7 U.S. athlete Michelle Carter competes in the shot put final. She won gold with a throw of 20.63 meters, becoming the first American woman ever to win the event. Carter's father, former NFL player Michael Carter, won Olympic silver in the shot put in 1984. Hide Caption 7 of 27 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 7 Chinese gymnast Li Dan won bronze in the trampoline event. Hide Caption 8 of 27 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 7 French weightlifter Gaelle Nayo-Ketchanke competes in the 75-kilogram (165-pound) event. Hide Caption 9 of 27 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 7 Artur Brzozowski, a race walker from Poland, makes his way through the mist during the 20-kilometer event. Hide Caption 10 of 27 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 7 Ukrainian boxer Tetyana Kob celebrates a victory in the flyweight preliminaries. Hide Caption 11 of 27 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 7 Canada's Kate O'Brien and Monique Sullivan compete in team sprint qualifying. Hide Caption 12 of 27 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 7 Argentine sailor Lucia Falasca competes in the laser radial class. Hide Caption 13 of 27 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 7 Kariman Abuljadayel became the first female sprinter to represent Saudi Arabia at the Olympics when she took part in the 100-meter preliminaries. She set a new national record of 14.61 seconds but did not qualify for the next round. Hide Caption 14 of 27 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 7 Christine Wenzel of Germany ejects cartridges during skeet qualification. Hide Caption 15 of 27 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 7 Mexican swimmer Liliana Ibanez Lopez takes part in the 50-meter freestyle heats. Hide Caption 16 of 27 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 7 Croatia's Sandro Sukno shoots on goal during a water polo match against Italy. Croatia won 10-7. Hide Caption 17 of 27 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 7 U.S. archer Brady Ellison won a bronze medal in the individual competition. Hide Caption 18 of 27 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 7 China's Lu Wen, left, and Gao Song compete for a rebound with Serbia's Sonja Petrovic. Hide Caption 19 of 27 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 7 Ethiopia's Almaz Ayana celebrates after winning the 10,000 meters. She stunned spectators by crossing the line in 29 minutes, 17.45 seconds, smashing a record that had stood for nearly 23 years. Hide Caption 20 of 27 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 7 Sweden's Linnea Torstensson, center, competes against the Netherlands' Kelly Dulfer and Laura van der Heijden during a preliminary handball match. Hide Caption 21 of 27 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 7 U.S. athlete Raven Saunders competes in the shot put. Hide Caption 22 of 27 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 7 A remote-control car carries the discus in the men's qualifying round. Hide Caption 23 of 27 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 7 Germany's Claudia Rath competes in the high jump portion of the heptathlon. Hide Caption 24 of 27 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 7 France's Jeremy Cadot reacts during the team foil quarterfinal against China. Hide Caption 25 of 27 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 7 From left, Cuba's Yorgelis Rodriguez, Germany's Claudia Rath, the Netherlands' Anouk Vetter and Great Britain's Katarina Johnson-Thompson compete in the 100-meter hurdles during the heptathlon. Hide Caption 26 of 27 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 7 A rower prepares boats for a training session. Hide Caption 27 of 27
Ranked 34th in the world, she will face No. 2 Angelique Kerber of Germany on Saturday.
The Australian Open champion, and losing Wimbledon finalist in July, defeated American Madison Keys 6-3 7-5 in the other semifinal.
Switzerland's top male players Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka may be missing due to injury, but Martina Hingis and Timea Bacsinszky have a chance to win gold in the women's doubles.
The Swiss duo Czech duo Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka 5-7 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 to set up a final clash with Russia's Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina on Sunday. | http://edition.cnn.com/2016/08/12/tennis/rafael-nadal-rio-olympics-doubles-marc-lopez/index.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fedition_tennis+%28RSS%3A+CNNi+-+Tennis%29 | en | 2016-08-13T00:00:00 | edition.cnn.com/231a0869ee49f383e4fb658d30a053f5301268678cd258d4c87a4a48c0c14844.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T15:32:55 | null | 2014-06-19T13:25:53 | The 2013 Wimbledon champion talks about going into the hotel industry. Christina MacFarlane reports. | http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2Fvideos%2Fsports%2F2014%2F06%2F19%2Fspc-open-court-wimbledon-andy-murray.cnn.json | http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/140619141046-spc-open-court-wimbledon-andy-murray-00010209-t3-entertainment.jpg | en | null | Inside Andy Murray's luxury hotel | null | null | edition.cnn.com | Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds. | http://edition.cnn.com/videos/sports/2014/06/19/spc-open-court-wimbledon-andy-murray.cnn | en | 2014-06-19T00:00:00 | edition.cnn.com/6750926fc931674f2fa85997cb430ce98cb4e7e49b8d7ba6150be79b93d45f34.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T15:07:13 | null | 2016-07-21T11:39:28 | She won 7 grand slam titles and reached number one in the world. The 76-year old still plays four times a week. Pat Cash plays tennis with Maria Bueno. | http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2Fvideos%2Fsports%2F2016%2F07%2F20%2Fspc-open-court-maria-bueno.cnn.json | http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/160721123632-spc-open-court-maria-bueno-00034506-large-tease.jpg | en | null | Maria Bueno -- Meet Brazil's grand slam great | null | null | edition.cnn.com | She won 7 grand slam titles and reached number one in the world. The 76-year old still plays four times a week. Pat Cash plays tennis with Maria Bueno. | http://edition.cnn.com/videos/sports/2016/07/20/spc-open-court-maria-bueno.cnn | en | 2016-07-21T00:00:00 | edition.cnn.com/f3556f3d4559e6ce50041809294414b709ab4a9bdb2fa526ed4e696a7e52089c.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T15:30:10 | null | 2015-07-29T18:59:42 | CNN's Patrick Snell talks to tennis champions and identical twins Bob and Mike Bryan about what it takes to balance tennis and family. | http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2Fvideos%2Fsports%2F2015%2F07%2F29%2Fbryan-brothers-intv-sports.cnn.json | http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150729144710-bryan-brothers-intv-sports-00013514-large-tease.jpg | en | null | Bryan brothers believe Serena will win Calendar Slam | null | null | edition.cnn.com | Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds. | http://edition.cnn.com/videos/sports/2015/07/29/bryan-brothers-intv-sports.cnn | en | 2015-07-29T00:00:00 | edition.cnn.com/ce89dfef5d17fe835a717e92d5d1fd5eecf0a01dbb33d7b0fd0bbbb158a9811a.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T15:12:04 | null | 2016-04-21T14:13:55 | Feliciano Lopez is 34 and shows no signs of slowing down. Pat Cash caught up with the 4-time Davis Cup champ on the sidelines of the Barcelona Open. | http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2Fvideos%2Fsports%2F2016%2F04%2F21%2Fspc-open-court-feliciano-lopez-barcelona.cnn.json | http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/160421151138-spc-open-court-feliciano-lopez-barcelona-00030717-large-tease.jpg | en | null | Is 30 the new 20? Feliciano Lopez gets better with age | null | null | edition.cnn.com | Feliciano Lopez is 34 and shows no signs of slowing down. Pat Cash caught up with the 4-time Davis Cup champ on the sidelines of the Barcelona Open. | http://edition.cnn.com/videos/sports/2016/04/21/spc-open-court-feliciano-lopez-barcelona.cnn | en | 2016-04-21T00:00:00 | edition.cnn.com/07db9c7d06ddf4ee5a042973955cf9e4f963133d259ccf6c22d1fe763d83f958.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T15:32:15 | null | 2014-02-26T14:18:52 | Grand slam great René Lacoste is still making his mark on the fashion world --one crocodile at a time. CNN's Max Foster reports. | http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2Fvideos%2Fsports%2F2014%2F02%2F26%2Fspc-open-court-rene-lacoste-fashion.cnn.json | http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/140226134523-spc-open-court-rene-lacoste-fashion-00031924-t3-entertainment.jpg | en | null | Lacoste: From tennis legend to style icon | null | null | edition.cnn.com | Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds. | http://edition.cnn.com/videos/sports/2014/02/26/spc-open-court-rene-lacoste-fashion.cnn | en | 2014-02-26T00:00:00 | edition.cnn.com/b3be4fd95d5533db68f4dbee3081c449962c0fc4109b7fd778da928ce0d0ba27.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T15:15:29 | null | 2015-08-21T14:03:30 | As Serena Williams gears up to win the calendar year grand slam, we look back at her remarkable career, which started in one of the USA's toughest cities. | http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2Fvideos%2Fsports%2F2015%2F08%2F21%2Fspc-open-court-serena-williams-career-story.cnn.json | http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150821143850-serena-williams-childhood-large-tease.jpg | en | null | the story of a tennis sensation | null | null | edition.cnn.com | As Serena Williams gears up to win the calendar year grand slam, we look back at her remarkable career, which started in one of the USA's toughest cities. | http://edition.cnn.com/videos/sports/2015/08/21/spc-open-court-serena-williams-career-story.cnn | en | 2015-08-21T00:00:00 | edition.cnn.com/fdc01aa7cf4409226142c124aff6de99b72baeaaccdd08595c85228ea5c3a098.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T15:29:48 | null | 2015-06-08T15:02:27 | CNN's Christina Macfarlane catches up with Stanislas Wawrinka one day after winning the French Open. | http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2Fvideos%2Fsports%2F2015%2F06%2F08%2Fstanilas-wawrinka-interview.cnn.json | http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150608105658-stanilas-wawrinka-interview-00001111-large-169.jpg | en | null | Looking ahead to 'Grass Season' | null | null | edition.cnn.com | Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds. | http://edition.cnn.com/videos/sports/2015/06/08/stanilas-wawrinka-interview.cnn | en | 2015-06-08T00:00:00 | edition.cnn.com/719d8347440e5199517de03faf36d4c95f3052941ac546382f30c2884d6d87f4.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T15:16:14 | null | 2016-05-20T16:10:35 | 2015 French Open champs Serena Williams and Stan Wawrinka talk to Open Court about their Roland Garros title defenses. | http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2Fvideos%2Fsports%2F2016%2F05%2F20%2Fspc-open-court-the-defenders.cnn.json | http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/160520155209-spc-open-court-the-defenders-00013330-large-tease.jpg | en | null | Serena Williams' French Open defense plan | null | null | edition.cnn.com | Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds. | http://edition.cnn.com/videos/sports/2016/05/20/spc-open-court-the-defenders.cnn | en | 2016-05-20T00:00:00 | edition.cnn.com/847c76a78ba61d7891df9a9ad10df311716274f56a085cd5d57d1f12d7db883a.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T15:26:22 | null | 2015-03-20T18:10:17 | World number 1 doubles pair Bob & MIke Bryan invite Open Court to their tennis garden gig. | http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2Fvideos%2Fsports%2F2015%2F03%2F20%2Fspc-open-court-bryan-brothers.cnn.json | http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150320180943-spc-open-court-bryan-brothers-00033214-large-169.jpg | en | null | The Bryan brothers strike a new chord with fans | null | null | edition.cnn.com | Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds. | http://edition.cnn.com/videos/sports/2015/03/20/spc-open-court-bryan-brothers.cnn | en | 2015-03-20T00:00:00 | edition.cnn.com/9950753d804089810cb70cd2d66e8ddd34cdc6ba1a86bfb7d34331f6c70ba56e.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T15:28:00 | null | 2015-05-21T12:14:59 | No roof, no lights -- the French Open facility is the smallest of the four majors and needs improvements. We're taking a look at the latest expansion plans. | http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2Fvideos%2Fsports%2F2015%2F05%2F21%2Fspc-open-court-french-open-expansion.cnn.json | http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150521130653-french-open-expansion-large-169.png | en | null | The French Open's $400M makeover | null | null | edition.cnn.com | No roof, no lights -- the French Open facility is the smallest of the four majors and needs improvements. We're taking a look at the latest expansion plans. | http://edition.cnn.com/videos/sports/2015/05/21/spc-open-court-french-open-expansion.cnn | en | 2015-05-21T00:00:00 | edition.cnn.com/5bc7e11fe1d1f41a43705ad22a395609cbb73fa886f7d090b81ab8f0c778c05f.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T14:04:19 | null | null | null | http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2008%2FTECH%2Fspace%2F12%2F02%2Fplanetsalign.irpt%2Findex.html%3Feref%3Dedition_space%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Brss%252Fedition_space%2B%2528RSS%253A%2BCNNi%2B-%2BScience%2B%2526%2BSpace%2529.json | http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/img/2.0/mosaic/base_skins/baseplate/corner_dg_TL.gif | en | null | iReporters watch as planets, moon come together | null | null | edition.cnn.com | iReporters watch as planets, moon come together
Story Highlights
Venus, Jupiter and the moon formed a bright triangle in the night sky
iReporters around the world captured photos of the celestial event
The next time the three will be as close and visible will be November 18, 2052
iReport.com: Did you see the celestial scene? Share your photos
Next Article in Technology » | http://edition.cnn.com/2008/TECH/space/12/02/planetsalign.irpt/index.html?eref=edition_space&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fedition_space+%28RSS%3A+CNNi+-+Science+%26+Space%29 | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | edition.cnn.com/e98f2fac5ed9b57014ffbe447c6c2591be0b7f3dee3c2a104da71fe1b93faee2.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T15:07:55 | null | 2016-06-16T10:58:44 | Tennis legend Björn Borg talks to Pat Cash about his epic duels with John McEnroe, his Wimbledon memories and his 60th birthday. Part 2 of 2. | http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2Fvideos%2Fsports%2F2016%2F06%2F16%2Fspc-open-court-bjorn-borg-interview-part-2.cnn.json | http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/160616113446-spc-open-court-bjorn-borg-00010723-large-tease.jpg | en | null | Borg, McEnroe: Friends forever? | null | null | edition.cnn.com | Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds. | http://edition.cnn.com/videos/sports/2016/06/16/spc-open-court-bjorn-borg-interview-part-2.cnn | en | 2016-06-16T00:00:00 | edition.cnn.com/b9eb38db72a95eb160e39d04a73fafeebc437bbed54409077e5be3d3148b5b3b.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T14:21:20 | null | 2016-08-07T02:59:49 | Venus Williams' hopes of winning another Olympic gold medal now rest in the women's doubles after the veteran tennis star lost her opening singles match at the Rio Games on Saturday. | http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2016%2F08%2F06%2Ftennis%2Fvenus-williams-tennis-olympics%2Findex.html%3Futm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Brss%252Fedition_tennis%2B%2528RSS%253A%2BCNNi%2B-%2BTennis%2529.json | http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/160807034446-venus-williams-rio-defeat-large-tease.jpg | en | null | Venus Williams loses in opening round of Rio 2016 Olympics | null | null | edition.cnn.com | (CNN) Venus Williams' hopes of winning another Olympic gold medal now rest in the women's doubles after the veteran tennis star lost her opening singles match at the Rio Games on Saturday.
The American has had a resurgence this year, reaching the semis at Wimbledon and a WTA Tour final in Stanford, but lost in three sets to 62nd-ranked Kirsten Flipkens.
The Belgian won 4-6 6-3 7-6 (7-5) in a three-hour thriller to set up a second-round clash with Czech Lucie Safarova, who also came from behind to beat Italy's Karin Knapp 4-6 6-1 6-1.
"I've never played the Olympics before so it was already a dream coming true for me to come here," Flipkens said.
"I qualified for it, I worked a year for this, not to get medal but just to qualify and come here, but then to beat Venus Williams, one of the biggest champions in our history, on center court, gives me goose bumps all over the place."
The 36-year-old Williams won singles gold at Sydney 2000, but her three other Olympic titles are in the doubles with younger sister Serena. They will defend their crown from London 2012 in Brazil, starting with Sunday's match against Safarova and Barbora Strycova.
World No. 1 Serena begins her singles title defense Sunday against Australia's Daria Gavrilova, while men's champion Andy Murray starts his campaign against Serbia's Viktor Troicki.
Troicki's compatriot Ana Ivanovic also crashed out in the opening round, squandering a lead as she lost 2-6 6-1 6-2 to Spanish ninth seed Carla Suarez Navarro.
Serbia did have some good news, as men's No. 1 Novak Djokovic won his opening doubles match with Nenad Zimonjic, beating Croatian rivals Marin Cilic and Marin Draganja.
"I didn't play doubles in last two years, maybe four matches, so I'm not as comfortable as on the singles court, but I must say we played on a very high level," Djokovic said after a straight-sets victory.
Venus Williams returns the ball to Kirsten Flipkens.
The American lost in the third round at London 2012.
Polish fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska was another high-profile player to exit, losing 6-4 7-5 to China's world No. 64 Zheng Saisai.
U.S. seventh seed Madison Keys went through to round two but Sloane Stephens lost her North American battle with Canada's Eugenie Bouchard. There are only three Americans left in the singles after Jack Sock, Brian Baker, Denis Kudla also lost.
In the men's draw, French second seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga won his opening match, as did Japan's No. 4 Kei Nishikori and No. 9 Cilic.
Both competitions have been hit by withdrawals, with Swiss duo Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka injured while the likes of Tomas Berdych, Milos Raonic and Simona Halep cited heatlh fears due to the Zika virus. | http://edition.cnn.com/2016/08/06/tennis/venus-williams-tennis-olympics/index.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fedition_tennis+%28RSS%3A+CNNi+-+Tennis%29 | en | 2016-08-07T00:00:00 | edition.cnn.com/9b3d15a296c3720588d045c49534ce8d4100cc238db104c84a790f7c3d88a31f.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T15:08:37 | null | 2016-02-18T13:42:53 | Scotland's Gordon Reid won his first grand slam title at the Australian Open. The 24-year-old tells CNN how tennis helped him through his darkest moments. | http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2Fvideos%2Fsports%2F2016%2F02%2F18%2Fspc-open-court-gordon-reid-wheelchair-tennis.cnn.json | http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/160218133830-gordon-reid-australian-open-large-tease.jpg | en | null | The new star of wheelchair tennis | null | null | edition.cnn.com | Scotland's Gordon Reid won his first grand slam title at the Australian Open. The 24-year-old tells CNN how tennis helped him through his darkest moments.
Source: CNN | http://edition.cnn.com/videos/sports/2016/02/18/spc-open-court-gordon-reid-wheelchair-tennis.cnn | en | 2016-02-18T00:00:00 | edition.cnn.com/4671b7992555fbbd4885b822a224bddfbdc0667603e83ce5ee6299bca372880b.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T15:34:25 | null | 2014-07-17T11:31:28 | In 2015 Wimbledon will happen one week later than usual, giving players extra time to adapt to the grass courts. | http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2Fvideos%2Fsports%2F2014%2F07%2F17%2Fspc-open-court-grass-court-season.cnn.json | http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/140717120828-spc-open-court-grass-court-season-00011303-t3-entertainment.jpg | en | null | The grass court season grows | null | null | edition.cnn.com | Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds. | http://edition.cnn.com/videos/sports/2014/07/17/spc-open-court-grass-court-season.cnn | en | 2014-07-17T00:00:00 | edition.cnn.com/ce7de1187cd03c7d849ec496007b0ec642f2c772c2f3e7b653de5d19b48f4450.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T15:18:25 | null | 2016-03-18T20:57:52 | Tennis great evaluates his successors at the top of the men's game and tells CNN's Open Court why he's happy to stay at home. | http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2Fvideos%2Fsports%2F2016%2F03%2F18%2Fspc-open-court-pete-sampras.cnn.json | http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/160318201248-spc-open-court-pete-sampras-00040115-large-tease.jpg | en | null | Pete Sampras: Why I won't coach on the pro tour | null | null | edition.cnn.com | Tennis great evaluates his successors at the top of the men's game and tells Open Court why he's happy to stay at home.
Source: CNN | http://edition.cnn.com/videos/sports/2016/03/18/spc-open-court-pete-sampras.cnn | en | 2016-03-18T00:00:00 | edition.cnn.com/fcfde055ea33c7f315fb8b68954970822336db1323b0a95ba167a0c5079d9d63.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T15:24:30 | null | 2015-07-16T13:49:56 | The 2015 Wimbledon champions talk about how they won the most prestigious Grand Slam of the year. | http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2Fvideos%2Fsports%2F2015%2F07%2F16%2Fspc-open-court-wimbledon-champions.cnn.json | http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150716135814-serena-williams-novak-djokovic-large-tease.jpg | en | null | Serena and Novak look back at Wimbledon 2015 | null | null | edition.cnn.com | Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds. | http://edition.cnn.com/videos/sports/2015/07/16/spc-open-court-wimbledon-champions.cnn | en | 2015-07-16T00:00:00 | edition.cnn.com/71e51d26ec68d755795eb24a74ea8b964f92bd3ccd3bf5fb02354287989c4a6f.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T15:30:32 | null | 2014-10-16T11:51:36 | Open Court's Pat Cash and former top 10 player Barbara Schett look at the do's and don'ts of a tennis player's diet. | http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2Fvideos%2Fsports%2F2014%2F10%2F16%2Fspc-open-court-b-tennis-breakfast.cnn.json | http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/141016122210-spc-open-court-b-tennis-breakfast-00001727-t3-entertainment.jpg | en | null | What is a 'breakfast of champions?' | null | null | edition.cnn.com | Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds. | http://edition.cnn.com/videos/sports/2014/10/16/spc-open-court-b-tennis-breakfast.cnn | en | 2014-10-16T00:00:00 | edition.cnn.com/fb805fd6ec6c9c1ddac877956a4bde7ced21f5c3f2be5fdab82330d755a2978e.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T15:09:13 | null | 2015-09-17T11:54:30 | Serena Williams' shocking exit at the 2015 U.S. Open was one of the biggest surprises in tennis history. How did Roberta Vinci manage to beat her? | http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2Fvideos%2Fsports%2F2015%2F09%2F17%2Fspc-open-court-roberta-vinci-serena-williams.cnn.json | http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150911134611-serena-net-large-tease.jpg | en | null | Serena Williams: What went wrong? | null | null | edition.cnn.com | Serena Williams' shocking exit at the 2015 U.S. Open was one of the biggest surprises in tennis history. How did Roberta Vinci manage to beat her? | http://edition.cnn.com/videos/sports/2015/09/17/spc-open-court-roberta-vinci-serena-williams.cnn | en | 2015-09-17T00:00:00 | edition.cnn.com/bbcafdcc6cc4fc1cbaf8e683e12c7f2cbedfc9cbeb62fe1850c22aaacff042aa.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T15:25:14 | null | 2015-05-21T12:00:19 | Mary Pierce is the last tennis player from France to win a Roland Garros singles title. Open Court has secured a rare interview with the grand slam great. | http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2Fvideos%2Fsports%2F2015%2F05%2F21%2Fspc-open-court-mary-pierce.cnn.json | http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150521124625-mary-pierce-french-open-large-169.jpg | en | null | Mary Pierce: a French Open love story | null | null | edition.cnn.com | Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds. | http://edition.cnn.com/videos/sports/2015/05/21/spc-open-court-mary-pierce.cnn | en | 2015-05-21T00:00:00 | edition.cnn.com/10d75e0a5cba8aaa9b2d5ac247ad7dec1faa8bd46d577ddf97fe28fc66589129.json |
[] | 2016-08-30T15:39:12 | null | 2016-08-30T13:57:04 | Novak Djokovic dismissed fears of serious injury after winning the opening match of his title defense at the US Open. | http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2016%2F08%2F30%2Ftennis%2Fus-open-2016-day-1-novak-djokovic%2Findex.html%3Futm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Brss%252Fedition_tennis%2B%2528RSS%253A%2BCNNi%2B-%2BTennis%2529.json | http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/160830114441-djokovic-injury-us-open-large-tease.jpg | en | null | US Open 2016: Novak Djokovic downplays injury | null | null | edition.cnn.com | (CNN) Novak Djokovic dismissed fears of serious injury after winning the opening match of his title defense at the US Open.
The world No. 1 was taken to four sets by 247th-ranked Pole Jerzy Janowicz in his first tournament since losing his first singles match at this month's Rio Olympics.
Djokovic admitted before the season's final grand slam that his injured wrist has not fully healed, and Monday he had to call for a trainer in the first set to treat his right arm.
"Calling for the medical timeout was just prevention," the 29-year-old told reporters. "It's all good; to be honest, I take it day by day."
"It's getting better and better each day. I'm glad that I'm experiencing that so hopefully, as the tournament progresses, I'll reach my peak."
The Serb will face Jiri Vesely in the second round on Wednesday. The 49th-ranked Czech beat India's Saketh Myneni in five sets.
JUST WATCHED US Open: The Big Apple's biggest show Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH US Open: The Big Apple's biggest show 02:00
Fourth seed Rafael Nadal continued his recent promising run of form by beating Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan in three sets, dropping only seven games in the process.
The Spaniard has been troubled by a battery of ailments over the past two years. A wrist injury forced him to withdraw from the French Open and kept him out of Wimbledon.
However, Nadal bounced back at the Olympics, winning a gold medal with doubles partner Marc Lopez and reaching the bronze medal match, which he lost to Kei Nishikori.
The two-time US Open champion will next play Italy's Andreas Seppi.
Raonic and McEnroe end coaching ties
Fifth seed Milos Raonic beat German Dustin Brown in straight sets, following a surprise announcement that his coaching tie with John McEnroe had ended.
A photo posted by Milos Raonic (@mraonic) on Aug 29, 2016 at 8:30pm PDT
McEnroe cited his various media commitments as being a hindrance to his coaching duties with the 25-year-old Canadian at Wimbledon, despite the world No. 6 making it all the way to his first grand slam final.
McEnroe indicated that their parting was by mutual consent, and left the door open to the pair working together in the future.
"It's best to sort of separate at this stage," McEnroe told ESPN, one of his employers. "It will just make life easier for everyone."
Raonic, who will next play American Ryan Harrison, told reporters: "It's a decision we're both okay with. We spoke about it, were up front, and there's no ill feelings over it."
Tiafoe shines in grand slam debut
Teenage wildcard entry Frances Tiafoe tested compatriot John Isner, racing to a two-set lead before the long-standing US No. 1 battled back to triumph in a fifth-set tiebreak.
As temperatures reached into the 90s in New York, the six-foot 10-inch Isner needed 35 aces to defeat the 18-year-old from Maryland, who failed to serve out for the match in the final set.
A photo posted by Frances Tiafoe (@bigfoe1998) on Aug 7, 2016 at 7:05pm PDT
"At such a young age, he seems to be the type of kid that can rise up to the big occasion, big moment, and great atmosphere," Isner told reporters of the 2015 US national junior champion. "I can't say enough about Frances. He has a fantastic future.
"He's got wheels; he's got the hands; he's got shots on both sides. One area, if he improves his second serve a little bit. But I would certainly buy stock in him right now, for sure."
Isner, the 20th seed, next faces Belgium's Steve Darcis as he seeks to build on last year's fourth-round appearance. The 31-year-old has never got past the quarterfinals in nine attempts at his home slam.
Vinci advances
Last year's surprise finalist in the women's tournament, Roberta Vinci, sailed past her first-round opponent Anna-Lena Friedsam of Germany 6-2 6-4.
JUST WATCHED Angelique Kerber: How the gym has changed my tennis Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Angelique Kerber: How the gym has changed my tennis 02:31
JUST WATCHED Steffi Graf: 'I hope Serena breaks grand slam record' Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Steffi Graf: 'I hope Serena breaks grand slam record' 05:14
The Italian seventh seed, who ended Serena Williams' bid to complete her first career grand slam in the semifinals before losing to compatriot Flavia Pennetta, will next play American Christina McHale.
French Open winner Garbiñe Muguruza of Spain took three sets to beat Belgian Elise Mertens. The third seed, who lost in round two last year, next faces 48th-ranked Latvian Anastasija Sevastova.
Olympic champion Monica Puig, who beat Muguruza on the way to winning Puerto Rico's historic first Olympic gold medal, suffered a first-round defeat against China's Saisai Zheng.
Second seed Angelique Kerber, the silver medalist in Rio, had easy progress into round two after Slovenian opponent Polona Hercog retired while trailing 6-0 1-0.
The German, who can replace Williams as world No. 1 by winning the title at Flushing Meadows, will next play Croatian veteran Mirjana Lucic-Baroni -- who made her grand slam debut here as a 15-year-old in 1997.
Tuesday's highlights
Serena Williams, who has been battling a shoulder injury, will play Russian Ekaterina Makarova Tuesday as she begins her bid for an Open-Era record 23rd grand slam title.
Her sixth-seeded older sister Venus Williams is up against Ukraine's Kateryna Koslova.
JUST WATCHED U.S. Open 2016: $150 million roof gives slam new look Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH U.S. Open 2016: $150 million roof gives slam new look 00:59
Polish fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska and Romania's No. 5 Simona Halep are also in action, against American Jessica Pegula and Belgium's Kirsten Flipkens respectively.
Olympic men's champion Andy Murray plays Czech Lukas Rosol, third seed Stan Wawrinka begins against Spain's Fenrando Verdasco, world No. 7 Nishikori takes on Benjamin Becker of Germany, while Olympic men's singles runner-up Del Potro faces fellow Argentine Diego Schwartzman. | http://edition.cnn.com/2016/08/30/tennis/us-open-2016-day-1-novak-djokovic/index.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fedition_tennis+%28RSS%3A+CNNi+-+Tennis%29 | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | edition.cnn.com/99fb05a4aae15103130e82f6c860fcd52402fef898da547ec3383d9e3ded9cc9.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T15:27:39 | null | 2014-10-16T11:53:10 | Pat Cash squares off against the youngest men's player in the ATP top 40. Meet Austria's rising star Dominic Thiem. | http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2Fvideos%2Fsports%2F2014%2F10%2F16%2Fspc-open-court-f-dominic-thiem.cnn.json | http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/141016123823-spc-open-court-f-dominic-thiem-00015702-t3-entertainment.jpg | en | null | Dominic Thiem: Austria's rising star | null | null | edition.cnn.com | Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds. | http://edition.cnn.com/videos/sports/2014/10/16/spc-open-court-f-dominic-thiem.cnn | en | 2014-10-16T00:00:00 | edition.cnn.com/d2a4a9116d9f7201d544e934424117a1f3e06e1d51e2dbc093c1a5f2139a8d16.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T15:24:52 | null | 2015-04-16T14:41:31 | Former Grand Slam champion and Open Court host Pat Cash gives tips on how to be successful on the red surface. | http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2Fvideos%2Fsports%2F2015%2F04%2F16%2Fspc-open-court-clay-tips.cnn.json | http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150416153838-clay-tips-large-169.jpg | en | null | The champ's tips: How to do well on clay | null | null | edition.cnn.com | Former Grand Slam champion and Open Court host Pat Cash gives tips on how to be successful on the red surface. | http://edition.cnn.com/videos/sports/2015/04/16/spc-open-court-clay-tips.cnn | en | 2015-04-16T00:00:00 | edition.cnn.com/123dd084ed3add33420b13f825f5338bc8c5caf465582d33d9454edb52fad221.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T15:20:28 | null | 2015-07-09T20:34:51 | CNN's Christina Macfarlane looks at the matchup for the upcoming 2015 Wimbledon ladies final. | http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2Fvideos%2Fsports%2F2015%2F07%2F09%2Fwimbledon-finals-ladies-preview-macfarlane-lok.cnn.json | http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150709164607-serena-williams-wimbledon-large-tease.jpg | en | null | Williams beats Sharapova to advance to Wimbledon final | null | null | edition.cnn.com | Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds. | http://edition.cnn.com/videos/sports/2015/07/09/wimbledon-finals-ladies-preview-macfarlane-lok.cnn | en | 2015-07-09T00:00:00 | edition.cnn.com/6f1f9f2d71bf5180349a97ddf1aa4853746b74c0842e0f7906b15ba3c7bfcc23.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T15:09:46 | null | 2015-12-21T18:34:38 | CNN Open Court looks back on Novak Djokovic's three slam wins -- and the one that got away. | http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2Fvideos%2Fsports%2F2015%2F12%2F18%2Fspc-open-court-djokovic-2015-recap.cnn.json | http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/151218163705-djokovic-us-open-large-tease.jpg | en | null | Novak Djokovic: The $21M man | null | null | edition.cnn.com | CNN Open Court looks back on Novak Djokovic's three slam wins -- and the one that got away. | http://edition.cnn.com/videos/sports/2015/12/18/spc-open-court-djokovic-2015-recap.cnn | en | 2015-12-21T00:00:00 | edition.cnn.com/1839f184fda1abe12255e63ee362b60faa2354d8203a98582283ca337bb57228.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T15:11:39 | null | 2015-12-18T17:34:42 | The world number 1 and former number 1 treat their fans to a Q&A session on the sidelines of the Denmark Champions Battle. | http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2Fvideos%2Fsports%2F2015%2F12%2F18%2Fspc-open-court-serena-williams-caroline-wozniacki.cnn.json | http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/151218173417-spc-open-court-serena-williams-caroline-wozniacki-00013916-large-tease.jpg | en | null | When Serena met Caroline: Tennis' friendly foes | null | null | edition.cnn.com | The world number 1 and former number 1 treat their fans to a Q&A session on the sidelines of the Denmark Champions Battle. | http://edition.cnn.com/videos/sports/2015/12/18/spc-open-court-serena-williams-caroline-wozniacki.cnn | en | 2015-12-18T00:00:00 | edition.cnn.com/0fee080192637b6afd0dcb0223b6566b801a7b2e976a66154171bf5f860ff959.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T15:30:56 | null | 2014-10-16T11:51:12 | Pat Cash hears how the players are feeling as the season winds down. | http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2Fvideos%2Fsports%2F2014%2F10%2F16%2Fspc-open-court-a-tennis-season-fitness.cnn.json | http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/141016124455-spc-open-court-a-tennis-season-fitness-00005908-t3-entertainment.jpg | en | null | Wear and tear of the tennis season | null | null | edition.cnn.com | Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds. | http://edition.cnn.com/videos/sports/2014/10/16/spc-open-court-a-tennis-season-fitness.cnn | en | 2014-10-16T00:00:00 | edition.cnn.com/d07af8e26ac41b4e4187ba3ed2b49b1831cad81af355bcc58e530ee4fff66894.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T15:32:45 | null | 2014-05-22T19:09:40 | World number 4 Simona Halep has her eyes set on beating Serena Williams in the future. CNN's Pat Cash reports. | http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2Fvideos%2Fsports%2F2014%2F05%2F22%2Fspc-open-court-simona-halep.cnn.json | http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/140522200705-spc-open-court-simona-halep-00011004-t3-entertainment.jpg | en | null | French Open outsider's meteoric rise | null | null | edition.cnn.com | Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds. | http://edition.cnn.com/videos/sports/2014/05/22/spc-open-court-simona-halep.cnn | en | 2014-05-22T00:00:00 | edition.cnn.com/1c071cb3df2144431dad04d448fdff1657617471b43caf7238fc0fbede0edbe9.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T15:27:29 | null | 2015-05-21T11:41:50 | Rafael Nadal has dominated the French Open like no one else in tennis history. But this year things are different. Can the King of Clay extend his reign? | http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2Fvideos%2Fsports%2F2015%2F05%2F21%2Fspc-open-court-nadal-french-open.cnn.json | http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150521123329-rafael-nadal-french-open-large-169.jpg | en | null | French Open: Is Nadal's reign over? | null | null | edition.cnn.com | Rafael Nadal has dominated the French Open like no one else in tennis history. But this year things are different. Can the King of Clay extend his reign? | http://edition.cnn.com/videos/sports/2015/05/21/spc-open-court-nadal-french-open.cnn | en | 2015-05-21T00:00:00 | edition.cnn.com/a4cd0ced2d1b510f978994eb86a1f62c2968c3f6e9db0c989ea682c4203ffe0b.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T15:06:21 | null | 2016-06-16T11:42:07 | Pat Cash meets tennis legend Björn Borg in his home country for a rare interview about his classic moments and the current state of tennis. Part 1 of 2. | http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2Fvideos%2Fsports%2F2016%2F06%2F16%2Fspc-open-court-bjorn-borg.cnn.json | http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/160616113741-spc-open-court-bjorn-borg-00052108-large-tease.jpg | en | null | Björn Borg calls Federer 'best ever' | null | null | edition.cnn.com | Pat Cash meets tennis legend Björn Borg in his home country for a rare interview about his classic moments and the current state of tennis. Part 1 of 2. | http://edition.cnn.com/videos/sports/2016/06/16/spc-open-court-bjorn-borg.cnn | en | 2016-06-16T00:00:00 | edition.cnn.com/238d84907998b76371e9c3d9a38a06c70213451ebc100bd227d5e24e52de4103.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T15:29:37 | null | 2014-09-18T11:34:45 | CNN's Pat Cash explains the historic connections between Davis Cup and Roland Garros. | http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2Fvideos%2Fsports%2F2014%2F09%2F18%2Fspc-open-court-davis-cup-semi-final-c.cnn.json | http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/140918123316-spc-open-court-davis-cup-semi-final-c-00021802-t3-entertainment.jpg | en | null | Davis Cup vs. Roland Garros | null | null | edition.cnn.com | Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds. | http://edition.cnn.com/videos/sports/2014/09/18/spc-open-court-davis-cup-semi-final-c.cnn | en | 2014-09-18T00:00:00 | edition.cnn.com/6b2a4dc1d82515a692c3859352445553d40dd2f8add4a8cc9e0c963e249bdb48.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T15:14:23 | null | 2015-10-22T16:39:24 | Andy Murray wants to add one of tennis' greatest prizes to his trophy case, and he played a key role as Britain reached the Davis Cup final. | http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2Fvideos%2Fsports%2F2015%2F10%2F22%2Fspc-open-court-davis-cup-great-britain.cnn.json | http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/151022173747-andy-murray-davis-cup-large-tease.jpg | en | null | Andy Murray's Davis Cup dream | null | null | edition.cnn.com | Andy Murray wants to add one of tennis' greatest prizes to his trophy case, and he played a key role as Britain reached the Davis Cup final. | http://edition.cnn.com/videos/sports/2015/10/22/spc-open-court-davis-cup-great-britain.cnn | en | 2015-10-22T00:00:00 | edition.cnn.com/2e087b500134eac03a5932a693f72990c6189f81b9f1ff6c6276220079c8d0bf.json |
[
"Don Riddell",
"Danielle Rossingh"
] | 2016-08-26T14:19:58 | null | 2016-08-25T09:30:22 | Steffi Graf tells CNN's Open Court why she won't mind Serena Williams breaking her record of 22 grand slam singles titles at this year's US Open. | http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2016%2F08%2F25%2Ftennis%2Fsteffi-graf-on-serena-williams%2Findex.html%3Futm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Brss%252Fedition_tennis%2B%2528RSS%253A%2BCNNi%2B-%2BTennis%2529.json | http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/160825102411-serena-us-open-2015-fist-pump-large-tease.jpg | en | null | US Open 2016: Steffi Graf rooting for Serena | null | null | edition.cnn.com | London (CNN) Steffi Graf and Serena Williams played each other twice, and walked away with a win each.
But when it comes to winning grand slams, Graf is rooting for Williams to break her Open era record of 22 major singles titles at this month's US Open.
"I'm cheering her on, yes," the former top-ranked German told CNN's Open Court in an interview at the Rio Olympics . "Because it's great for the sport. Why not? She's done so much for the sport. She's out there working hard."
'I hope she does break it'
Aged 47 and now living in Las Vegas with husband and eight-time grand slam winner Andre Agassi and their two children, Graf said she wouldn't mind being knocked out of the history books by Williams.
"I'm happy for her, I'm excited for her," Graf said. "It's cool that records are being broken, that's what they're there for. She's been phenomenal for the sport of tennis, it has been great to watch. I hope she does break it."
JUST WATCHED Andre Agassi: from wild child to role model Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Andre Agassi: from wild child to role model 06:21
Williams, who turns 35 next month, tied Graf's slam record at Wimbledon , where she beat Germany's Angelique Kerber to clinch her seventh title at the All-England Club.. A double Olympic champion at the 2012 London Games, Williams was less successful in Rio where she was upset in the first round of the doubles event with sister Venus and in the third round of singles
Dubbed "Fraulein Forehand" by the late American tennis writer Bud Collins, Graf's game was built around a blistering forehand, athleticism and superb footwork.
Photos: Graf backing Serena Serena Williams is currently tied on 22 grand slam wins with Steffi Graf -- a joint-Open era record -- but can move ahead of the German with victory at this year's US Open. Hide Caption 1 of 7 Photos: Graf backing Serena Graf has backed Williams to make the record her own, telling CNN: "It's cool that records are being broken, that's what they're there for. She's been phenomenal for the sport of tennis, it's been great to watch, and I hope she does break it." Hide Caption 2 of 7 Photos: Graf backing Serena While Graf's record could be beaten, she still remains the first and only tennis player to achieve the "Golden Slam" after winning all four grand slam titles and Olympic gold in the same calendar year in 1988. Hide Caption 3 of 7 Photos: Graf backing Serena Graf, who is married to fellow former tennis star Andre Agassi, is also the only tennis player in history to have won each grand slam event at least four times. Hide Caption 4 of 7 Photos: Graf backing Serena Williams, who has yet to achieve the calendar grand slam, won Olympic gold in the singles in 2012 but suffered a third-round defeat to Elina Svitolina at this year's Games in Rio de Janeiro. Hide Caption 5 of 7 Photos: Graf backing Serena "I think she's been unbelievable, she's been amazing to watch," Graf added of Williams. "She's been around for over 20 years and to have a career and play at the level that she's been playing at is pretty unbelievable. I have so much respect for her." Hide Caption 6 of 7 Photos: Graf backing Serena While Graf and Williams hold the joint-Open era record for most grand slam wins, Margaret Court boasts the overall record, with the Australian racking up 24 titles during her career. Hide Caption 7 of 7
She dominated women's tennis in the late 1980s and 1990s, when she won 107 tournaments and topped the rankings for a record 377 weeks.
After winning her 22nd slam at the 1999 French Open where she beat Martina Hingis in a dramatic final, Graf retired shortly after her 30th birthday.
Longevity
Having struggled with injuries in her final years on tour, Graf is amazed by the longevity of some of the top players still competing for the big titles well into their 30s.
"I have a lot of respect for all these players," she said. "I'm looking at Roger Federer. You get into the sport at the sport at a young age and you play eleven months a year. It's physically and mentally very demanding. I think it's pretty amazing."
JUST WATCHED Angelique Kerber: How the gym has changed my tennis Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Angelique Kerber: How the gym has changed my tennis 02:31
Graf played then 17-year-old Williams twice in 1999, winning the first encounter in Sydney before losing the second in the final at Indian Wells, California, a few months later.
"She's been around for over 20 years," Graf said about US Open title favorite Williams. "To have that career and play at the level she's been playing at is pretty unbelievable."
Golden Slam safe, for now
Williams may soon become the most successful player since tennis turned professional in 1968, there is one record she's unlikely to take from Graf.
The German remains the only player to have won the so-called Golden Slam in 1988, when she swept all four majors and Olympic tennis gold at the Seoul Games.
Tennis was never about breaking records said Graf, who turned professional aged 13.
"It wasn't about numbers, it wasn't about am I going to win this many tournaments or grand slams," Graf said. "I was just striving to be the best. I'm happy where I ended up. I'm happy where I am in my life." | http://edition.cnn.com/2016/08/25/tennis/steffi-graf-on-serena-williams/index.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fedition_tennis+%28RSS%3A+CNNi+-+Tennis%29 | en | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | edition.cnn.com/90175edb124722242769183314c3443b52945bcf5f63bd861ebbbfa20fa53f92.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T15:22:28 | null | 2015-09-08T18:19:31 | The Williams sisters are from Compton, California. CNN's Christina Macfarlane goes there to learn more about them. | http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2Fvideos%2Fsports%2F2015%2F09%2F08%2Fserena-williams-compton-pkg-macfarlane.cnn.json | http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150908131832-serena-williams-compton-pkg-macfarlane-00020822-large-tease.jpg | en | null | Serena Williams' roots in Compton | null | null | edition.cnn.com | Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds. | http://edition.cnn.com/videos/sports/2015/09/08/serena-williams-compton-pkg-macfarlane.cnn | en | 2015-09-08T00:00:00 | edition.cnn.com/57d17f27f004e3d98f09538a6d819e44420de0d5aba6aa2750f560617dd02ab9.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T15:31:54 | null | 2014-06-19T13:31:33 | Goran Ivanisevic talks about his "mysterious" Wimbledon victory in 2001. CNN's Pat Cash reports. | http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2Fvideos%2Fsports%2F2014%2F06%2F19%2Fspc-open-court-wimbledon-goran-ivanisevic.cnn.json | http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/140619141639-spc-open-court-wimbledon-goran-ivanisevic-00011105-t3-entertainment.jpg | en | null | Ivanisevic: Wimbledon's luckiest wildcard? | null | null | edition.cnn.com | Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds. | http://edition.cnn.com/videos/sports/2014/06/19/spc-open-court-wimbledon-goran-ivanisevic.cnn | en | 2014-06-19T00:00:00 | edition.cnn.com/37e1aef44644fd20cca065c27d4ba74aebd717b039af6d859395b0408b6089ad.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T15:35:20 | null | 2014-07-17T11:55:57 | Clive Brunskill is one of the most famous tennis and sport photographers in the world. | http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2Fvideos%2Fsports%2F2014%2F07%2F17%2Fspc-open-court-tennis-photography.cnn.json | http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/140717120728-spc-open-court-tennis-photography-00024607-t3-entertainment.jpg | en | null | Capturing iconic tennis photographs | null | null | edition.cnn.com | Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds. | http://edition.cnn.com/videos/sports/2014/07/17/spc-open-court-tennis-photography.cnn | en | 2014-07-17T00:00:00 | edition.cnn.com/2c9be8c5b5c5121ee6057e233570ace08972fad7da0e415feefbdeaa9f621255.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T15:11:15 | null | 2015-08-21T14:49:49 | Gael Monfils is a fan favorite because of his trick shots and gags. But the Frenchman has serious ambitions. We caught up with him in Croatia. | http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2Fvideos%2Fsports%2F2015%2F08%2F21%2Fspc-open-court-gael-monfils.cnn.json | http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150821154206-gael-monfils-large-tease.jpg | en | null | Gael Monfils: tennis' greatest entertainer | null | null | edition.cnn.com | Gael Monfils is a fan favorite because of his trick shots and gags. But the Frenchman has serious ambitions. We caught up with him in Croatia. | http://edition.cnn.com/videos/sports/2015/08/21/spc-open-court-gael-monfils.cnn | en | 2015-08-21T00:00:00 | edition.cnn.com/1488ac76aa0eb4c1e38a60ebad3f6c623bdfffc85a97ce49ba23b6eac26b8d90.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T15:28:22 | null | 2014-11-12T16:33:57 | ATP Tour player Tommy Haas goes backstage at London's O2 Arena where the tennis elite get rock-star treatment. | http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2Fvideos%2Fsports%2F2014%2F11%2F12%2Ftennis-haas-o2-backstage-tour.cnn.json | http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/141112112737-tennis-haas-o2-backstage-tour-00013210-t3-entertainment.jpg | en | null | Behind the scenes at the O2 | null | null | edition.cnn.com | Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds. | http://edition.cnn.com/videos/sports/2014/11/12/tennis-haas-o2-backstage-tour.cnn | en | 2014-11-12T00:00:00 | edition.cnn.com/90ac0cf408dab29122953511f25c5a4e123253afeba7f1b37ff3e10147515244.json |
[] | 2016-08-31T07:36:15 | null | null | Why the battle is far from over for survivors of last week's earthquake in central Italy | http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2Finteractive%2F2016%2F08%2Fworld%2Fitaly-earthquake-aftermath-future%2F.json | http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/interactive/2016/08/world/italy-earthquake-aftermath-future/media/12.jpg | en | null | Lessons from L'Aquila | null | null | edition.cnn.com | Why the battle is far from over for survivors of last week's earthquake in central Italy Story by Lauren Said-Moorhouse, CNN Photographs by Sarah Tilotta for CNN
-- A brutal earthquake strikes a remote mountain city in the dead of night. By the time the dust settles, hundreds have died. But this isn’t the earthquake from seven days ago, it happened seven years previously. And the city is still in recovery.
L'Aquila lies about 50 km (31 miles) from Amatrice, the town at the center of last week’s earthquake in central Italy. In the early hours of April 6, 2009, L’Aquila’s heart was ripped out in an earthquake that killed 309 people.
The L’Aquila earthquake devastated the historic hilltop city, leveling homes and destroying the medieval, baroque and renaissance gems within; its abandoned center offers a grim prediction for the future of Amatrice and other quake-stricken towns.
A view of L’Aquila from the southeast. A chained door in the “zona rossa,” or red zone.
Both quakes were at a depth of about 10 km (6.2 miles) and both struck at about 3:30 a.m., as people slept in their beds.
“There was a big bang, an explosion and the whole house was shaking left and right,” recalls Davide Tonati, a 36-year-old L’Aquila survivor, who lived in the city center.
“Screams were coming from everywhere.”
Tonati, then 29, and his parents were some of the lucky ones. They escaped unscathed, the family home their only casualty.
Empty streets in the “zona rossa.”
“My house is the same as it was on April 6, 2009. Exactly the same,” he says with a sigh. “We can go in the house with police or firemen for security but I can’t go … by myself.”
Tonati is one of the tens of thousands of residents of L’Aquila and the communities around it who were displaced by the earthquake. Seven years on, their houses and businesses have not been declared safe by authorities.
A religious fresco adorns a damaged house. A memorial book for the 309 victims of the 2009 earthquake.
Today, the “zona rossa” -- or red zone -- remains in place, and the vast majority of structures within lie abandoned. The parallels between the two places have not gone unnoticed and many see L’Aquila as an example of things to come for survivors in Amatrice and the villages around it.
Related: ‘The future is finished,’ say Italy earthquake survivors
Monsignor Paolo De Nicolo tours the red zone. Visiting from Rome, he is set to perform Santa Messa, or 'Holy Mass,' at the Basilica Santa Maria di Collemaggio. Cranes tower over the historic city center where much of the reconstruction is still taking place.
“This is very emotional for us. It’s the same time and the same place,” says Giovanni Comoglio, one of the volunteers who responded to the disaster in 2009, standing at a memorial at the city’s college dormitory where 11 students died.
“We (in Italy) are suffering. This has brought strong feelings.”
Giovanni Comoligio views a memorial for the 11 students who died in a university dormitory that collapsed during the earthquake.
It’s a gloriously bright and sunny summer’s day when we visit L’Aquila, but only a handful of people wander along the cobbled avenues in the mid-afternoon.
A skyline of cranes rises high above the city, while countless angry fractures disfigure its once-beautiful buildings, now supported by a maze of scaffolding.
A significant section of the red zone is cordoned off from pedestrians. Shoes lie scattered across shelving in a former shop.
Litter fills an empty store in the red zone. An abandoned shopfront on the south end of L’Aquila, where damage was concentrated in student housing.
Doors hang off their hinges to reveal abandoned shops in the red zone, still filled with detritus and debris. Windows and rotting balconies have been stabilized with wooden frames and heavy-duty cables. The sound of birds and the inconsistent spurt of a nearby fountain pierce the quiet.
“The city is definitely coming back,” Comoglio says positively. “It’s very, very hard work (to rebuild). You must reconstruct with anti-seismic technology.
A man and woman take an evening stroll through the red zone.
“When the earthquake moves the ground, it breaks not only the foundations but also the water pipes, gas pipes. This is a very big problem because you have to go meter by meter. There is no way to do it fast… In time L’Aquila will come back.”
After ambling through row upon row of disheveled, forsaken side streets, we stumble out onto Corso Vittorio Emanuele, the busiest thoroughfare in town. The long pedestrian road flanked on both sides by tall, largely empty buildings, leads to the Piazza Duomo, the city’s main square.
Piazza del Duomo Corso Vittorio Emanuele
Here, parents walk, talking animatedly as their children run around. A sprinkling of bars, restaurants and a single gelato shop have moved back.
A server waits outside a restaurant before the Saturday dinner rush, on the main drag in the city center.
“The city is much better now,” says Nikos Katharosporis, a 35-year-old who splits his time between working as a mechanical engineer specializing in damage assessment and working part-time in a local restaurant.
“In the last few years you can feel the difference. More people are coming into the center of the town and a lot of restaurants have come back.”
People dine al fresco on a Saturday night in L’Aquila.
The sun sets. Larger crowds gather as the few bars and cafes open. Locals enjoy a “passeggiata” – an evening stroll. Friends stand laughing in the streets with drinks in hand. Teenagers congregate smoking and gossiping opposite the disused chamber of commerce.
The residents of L’Aquila are determined to revive the atmosphere of their pre-quake city.
But it’s a work-in-progress -- one that has been hit by allegations of corruption. Billions were earmarked by the Italian government in the aftermath of 2009 and much has been spent rehousing displaced people and restoring the city’s historical properties.
Related: Italy quake highlights our vulnerability to disaster
A derelict gas station. A building marked for demolition.
Meanwhile some residents are dissatisfied by the town’s revival, criticizing the allocation of funds spent on historical damage rather than their own neighborhoods.
"In the beginning, the response was good," says Tonati, a former L’Aquila resident. "But as time goes on, it is not as good. It’s too slow -- people think ‘How are you helping me?’"
“In Italy, corruption is the big problem. There are many politicians and bribes. It is the cancer in Italy."
He now lives in one of the temporary “new towns” swiftly constructed on the outskirts of L’Aquila with his wife and three-year-old daughter.
CNN contacted the city’s mayor for this story, but have not yet received a response.
After the quake, around 70,000 people from L’Aquila and the neighboring villages were left homeless. Towns ravaged by last week’s quake have seen around 2,500 people displaced.
Italy’s Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has vowed to rebuild Amatrice and its surrounding communes -- but to some this sounds eerily like the pledges made by former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi back in 2009.
A kitten represents the only inhabitants left in Fossa, a small hamlet about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) from L’Aquila. A view of Fossa’s main street, where buildings are shuttered and abandoned.
For the people of L’Aquila, many had to relocate to new satellite towns after their homes were destroyed.
Tonati says these housing projects will do for now but he yearns to return to his childhood home, missing the sense of community felt in the city center.
One of the post-quake towns is the village of Friuli Venezia Giulia, which replaced the destroyed -- and now unoccupied -- hamlet of Fossa, where 700 people once lived.
Related: Why Italian region wasn’t prepared for earthquake
Two men stroll down the thoroughfare of Friuli Venezia Giulia, where the community of Fossa has relocated.
The now 360-strong population live in a cluster of short wooden single-storey earthquake-resistant temporary houses, built neatly together on a small incline.
As we drive through the rows of small houses, women glance up as they hang their laundry on wire racks, noting our presence. We approached many houses to try talk to residents, but were turned away.
A congregation celebrates the union of a young couple at the new settlement.
On this August afternoon, it feels like the whole community is standing on the church steps in the center of the village, as a local couple's wedding gets underway inside. Guests laugh and smile, but there is an undercurrent of anger in the village.
A young woman in the congregation agreed to talk to us but declined to give her name.
Wedding guests take cover in the shade outside the church. The newlyweds sign their marriage license.
She says the village was supposed to be a temporary settlement but seven years on, there is still no word on when Fossa will be rebuilt.
“An earthquake first of all is very difficult psychologically. It’s difficult physically … on top of that you’ve lost the places where you’ve grown up, you’ve lost the people you’ve grown up with," she says. "It takes a very heavy toll on you.”
An elderly woman hangs laundry to dry outside the pre-fabricated houses built by volunteers in the months following the earthquake.
As the wedding crowd mingles, one of the guests, a bubbly, middle-aged man wanders over to greet people, appearing to know many of the congregation. He introduces himself as Luigi Calvisi, the village’s former mayor, and says Friuli Venezia Giulia was constructed with both disaster relief funds and donations. He recalls going door-to-door for donations to build the cornerstones of the new community, like the church.
“We wanted to give the people of the town a place where they can come together,” he says.
Life here has been hard, according to Calvisi, but the community stands united to face their future head on, something he thinks the people of Amatrice must do.
“It’s two very different types of earthquake," he says. "That can be difficult to understand but the numbers are exponentially different.
“They should be looking forward, I am positive because I have lived this before -- Italians are very generous.”
A back street in Friuli Venezia Giulia is named for the date of the L’Aquila earthquake. | http://edition.cnn.com/interactive/2016/08/world/italy-earthquake-aftermath-future/ | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | edition.cnn.com/b243f96557204c209c070b02faf8f8c2bdfd626bbc4f5ce128f529e143b18751.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T15:26:11 | null | 2015-04-16T14:24:49 | Andy Murray & Kim Sears tied the knot in Dunblane, Scotland. We'll look at the impact the 2013 Wimbledon champion is having on Scottish tennis. | http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2Fvideos%2Ftv%2F2015%2F04%2F16%2Fspc-murray-wedding.cnn.json | http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150416151740-murray-wedding-large-169.jpg | en | null | Scotland's Royal Wedding | null | null | edition.cnn.com | Andy Murray & Kim Sears tied the knot in Dunblane, Scotland. We'll look at the impact the 2013 Wimbledon champion is having on Scottish tennis. | http://edition.cnn.com/videos/tv/2015/04/16/spc-murray-wedding.cnn | en | 2015-04-16T00:00:00 | edition.cnn.com/83dc6392594aba21002f8b49832cbcbbcd0310f651e6cd1349505d0c7e834a8e.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T15:16:36 | null | 2016-05-20T16:34:45 | How is the world's most prestigious clay tennis court made? Bruno Slastan, head groundsman for French Open venue Roland Garros, explains to CNN Open Court. | http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2Fvideos%2Fsports%2F2016%2F05%2F20%2Fspc-open-court-roland-garros.cnn.json | http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/160524111842-clay-court-layers-large-tease.jpg | en | null | Roland Garros clay: A layered cake | null | null | edition.cnn.com | Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds. | http://edition.cnn.com/videos/sports/2016/05/20/spc-open-court-roland-garros.cnn | en | 2016-05-20T00:00:00 | edition.cnn.com/4064e1a22c3a5236d62ae4073d375c2b6498ee95aa9c8457e12dc5749750da84.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T15:06:09 | null | 2016-06-23T16:39:48 | Seven-time grand slam champion John McEnroe talks to Pat Cash about his new role as coach of world number 7 Milos Raonic. | http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2Fvideos%2Fsports%2F2016%2F06%2F23%2Fspc-open-court-john-mcenroe-coaching-role.cnn.json | http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/160623173746-john-mcenroe-coaching-raonic-large-tease.jpg | en | null | Coach John McEnroe: 'I want to make a difference' | null | null | edition.cnn.com | Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds. | http://edition.cnn.com/videos/sports/2016/06/23/spc-open-court-john-mcenroe-coaching-role.cnn | en | 2016-06-23T00:00:00 | edition.cnn.com/6154d0ae8590ba76ebfcfe2f67857ce651cd6798b7b2bee82fa14af61f36d70c.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T15:05:21 | null | 2016-08-18T14:43:42 | In a rare interview, tennis great Steffi Graf talks about Serena Williams' plans to break the 22 grand slam singles record they both share. | http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2Fvideos%2Fsports%2F2016%2F08%2F18%2Fspc-open-court-steffi-graf-rio-interview.cnn.json | http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/160818151600-steffi-graf-rio-2016-interview-large-tease.png | en | null | Steffi Graf: 'I hope Serena breaks grand slam record' | null | null | edition.cnn.com | Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds. | http://edition.cnn.com/videos/sports/2016/08/18/spc-open-court-steffi-graf-rio-interview.cnn | en | 2016-08-18T00:00:00 | edition.cnn.com/ac91fefdf8961987f1458121c34ae90c1f88459d6102d392bc4a9bedd0fe4776.json |
[] | 2016-08-31T07:37:27 | null | null | Why the battle is far from over for survivors of last week's earthquake in central Italy | http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2Finteractive%2F2016%2F08%2Fworld%2Fitaly-earthquake-aftermath-future%2F%3Futm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Brss%252Fedition_europe%2B%2528RSS%253A%2BCNNi%2B-%2BEurope%2529.json | http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/interactive/2016/08/world/italy-earthquake-aftermath-future/media/12.jpg | en | null | Lessons from L'Aquila | null | null | edition.cnn.com | Why the battle is far from over for survivors of last week's earthquake in central Italy Story by Lauren Said-Moorhouse, CNN Photographs by Sarah Tilotta for CNN
-- A brutal earthquake strikes a remote mountain city in the dead of night. By the time the dust settles, hundreds have died. But this isn’t the earthquake from seven days ago, it happened seven years previously. And the city is still in recovery.
L'Aquila lies about 50 km (31 miles) from Amatrice, the town at the center of last week’s earthquake in central Italy. In the early hours of April 6, 2009, L’Aquila’s heart was ripped out in an earthquake that killed 309 people.
The L’Aquila earthquake devastated the historic hilltop city, leveling homes and destroying the medieval, baroque and renaissance gems within; its abandoned center offers a grim prediction for the future of Amatrice and other quake-stricken towns.
A view of L’Aquila from the southeast. A chained door in the “zona rossa,” or red zone.
Both quakes were at a depth of about 10 km (6.2 miles) and both struck at about 3:30 a.m., as people slept in their beds.
“There was a big bang, an explosion and the whole house was shaking left and right,” recalls Davide Tonati, a 36-year-old L’Aquila survivor, who lived in the city center.
“Screams were coming from everywhere.”
Tonati, then 29, and his parents were some of the lucky ones. They escaped unscathed, the family home their only casualty.
Empty streets in the “zona rossa.”
“My house is the same as it was on April 6, 2009. Exactly the same,” he says with a sigh. “We can go in the house with police or firemen for security but I can’t go … by myself.”
Tonati is one of the tens of thousands of residents of L’Aquila and the communities around it who were displaced by the earthquake. Seven years on, their houses and businesses have not been declared safe by authorities.
A religious fresco adorns a damaged house. A memorial book for the 309 victims of the 2009 earthquake.
Today, the “zona rossa” -- or red zone -- remains in place, and the vast majority of structures within lie abandoned. The parallels between the two places have not gone unnoticed and many see L’Aquila as an example of things to come for survivors in Amatrice and the villages around it.
Related: ‘The future is finished,’ say Italy earthquake survivors
Monsignor Paolo De Nicolo tours the red zone. Visiting from Rome, he is set to perform Santa Messa, or 'Holy Mass,' at the Basilica Santa Maria di Collemaggio. Cranes tower over the historic city center where much of the reconstruction is still taking place.
“This is very emotional for us. It’s the same time and the same place,” says Giovanni Comoglio, one of the volunteers who responded to the disaster in 2009, standing at a memorial at the city’s college dormitory where 11 students died.
“We (in Italy) are suffering. This has brought strong feelings.”
Giovanni Comoligio views a memorial for the 11 students who died in a university dormitory that collapsed during the earthquake.
It’s a gloriously bright and sunny summer’s day when we visit L’Aquila, but only a handful of people wander along the cobbled avenues in the mid-afternoon.
A skyline of cranes rises high above the city, while countless angry fractures disfigure its once-beautiful buildings, now supported by a maze of scaffolding.
A significant section of the red zone is cordoned off from pedestrians. Shoes lie scattered across shelving in a former shop.
Litter fills an empty store in the red zone. An abandoned shopfront on the south end of L’Aquila, where damage was concentrated in student housing.
Doors hang off their hinges to reveal abandoned shops in the red zone, still filled with detritus and debris. Windows and rotting balconies have been stabilized with wooden frames and heavy-duty cables. The sound of birds and the inconsistent spurt of a nearby fountain pierce the quiet.
“The city is definitely coming back,” Comoglio says positively. “It’s very, very hard work (to rebuild). You must reconstruct with anti-seismic technology.
A man and woman take an evening stroll through the red zone.
“When the earthquake moves the ground, it breaks not only the foundations but also the water pipes, gas pipes. This is a very big problem because you have to go meter by meter. There is no way to do it fast… In time L’Aquila will come back.”
After ambling through row upon row of disheveled, forsaken side streets, we stumble out onto Corso Vittorio Emanuele, the busiest thoroughfare in town. The long pedestrian road flanked on both sides by tall, largely empty buildings, leads to the Piazza Duomo, the city’s main square.
Piazza del Duomo Corso Vittorio Emanuele
Here, parents walk, talking animatedly as their children run around. A sprinkling of bars, restaurants and a single gelato shop have moved back.
A server waits outside a restaurant before the Saturday dinner rush, on the main drag in the city center.
“The city is much better now,” says Nikos Katharosporis, a 35-year-old who splits his time between working as a mechanical engineer specializing in damage assessment and working part-time in a local restaurant.
“In the last few years you can feel the difference. More people are coming into the center of the town and a lot of restaurants have come back.”
People dine al fresco on a Saturday night in L’Aquila.
The sun sets. Larger crowds gather as the few bars and cafes open. Locals enjoy a “passeggiata” – an evening stroll. Friends stand laughing in the streets with drinks in hand. Teenagers congregate smoking and gossiping opposite the disused chamber of commerce.
The residents of L’Aquila are determined to revive the atmosphere of their pre-quake city.
But it’s a work-in-progress -- one that has been hit by allegations of corruption. Billions were earmarked by the Italian government in the aftermath of 2009 and much has been spent rehousing displaced people and restoring the city’s historical properties.
Related: Italy quake highlights our vulnerability to disaster
A derelict gas station. A building marked for demolition.
Meanwhile some residents are dissatisfied by the town’s revival, criticizing the allocation of funds spent on historical damage rather than their own neighborhoods.
"In the beginning, the response was good," says Tonati, a former L’Aquila resident. "But as time goes on, it is not as good. It’s too slow -- people think ‘How are you helping me?’"
“In Italy, corruption is the big problem. There are many politicians and bribes. It is the cancer in Italy."
He now lives in one of the temporary “new towns” swiftly constructed on the outskirts of L’Aquila with his wife and three-year-old daughter.
CNN contacted the city’s mayor for this story, but have not yet received a response.
After the quake, around 70,000 people from L’Aquila and the neighboring villages were left homeless. Towns ravaged by last week’s quake have seen around 2,500 people displaced.
Italy’s Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has vowed to rebuild Amatrice and its surrounding communes -- but to some this sounds eerily like the pledges made by former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi back in 2009.
A kitten represents the only inhabitants left in Fossa, a small hamlet about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) from L’Aquila. A view of Fossa’s main street, where buildings are shuttered and abandoned.
For the people of L’Aquila, many had to relocate to new satellite towns after their homes were destroyed.
Tonati says these housing projects will do for now but he yearns to return to his childhood home, missing the sense of community felt in the city center.
One of the post-quake towns is the village of Friuli Venezia Giulia, which replaced the destroyed -- and now unoccupied -- hamlet of Fossa, where 700 people once lived.
Related: Why Italian region wasn’t prepared for earthquake
Two men stroll down the thoroughfare of Friuli Venezia Giulia, where the community of Fossa has relocated.
The now 360-strong population live in a cluster of short wooden single-storey earthquake-resistant temporary houses, built neatly together on a small incline.
As we drive through the rows of small houses, women glance up as they hang their laundry on wire racks, noting our presence. We approached many houses to try talk to residents, but were turned away.
A congregation celebrates the union of a young couple at the new settlement.
On this August afternoon, it feels like the whole community is standing on the church steps in the center of the village, as a local couple's wedding gets underway inside. Guests laugh and smile, but there is an undercurrent of anger in the village.
A young woman in the congregation agreed to talk to us but declined to give her name.
Wedding guests take cover in the shade outside the church. The newlyweds sign their marriage license.
She says the village was supposed to be a temporary settlement but seven years on, there is still no word on when Fossa will be rebuilt.
“An earthquake first of all is very difficult psychologically. It’s difficult physically … on top of that you’ve lost the places where you’ve grown up, you’ve lost the people you’ve grown up with," she says. "It takes a very heavy toll on you.”
An elderly woman hangs laundry to dry outside the pre-fabricated houses built by volunteers in the months following the earthquake.
As the wedding crowd mingles, one of the guests, a bubbly, middle-aged man wanders over to greet people, appearing to know many of the congregation. He introduces himself as Luigi Calvisi, the village’s former mayor, and says Friuli Venezia Giulia was constructed with both disaster relief funds and donations. He recalls going door-to-door for donations to build the cornerstones of the new community, like the church.
“We wanted to give the people of the town a place where they can come together,” he says.
Life here has been hard, according to Calvisi, but the community stands united to face their future head on, something he thinks the people of Amatrice must do.
“It’s two very different types of earthquake," he says. "That can be difficult to understand but the numbers are exponentially different.
“They should be looking forward, I am positive because I have lived this before -- Italians are very generous.”
A back street in Friuli Venezia Giulia is named for the date of the L’Aquila earthquake. | http://edition.cnn.com/interactive/2016/08/world/italy-earthquake-aftermath-future/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fedition_europe+%28RSS%3A+CNNi+-+Europe%29 | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | edition.cnn.com/d64855e4442830d22ea82e93150037d0f3c6fd6936c2d1760c64e56f549cf288.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T15:20:06 | null | 2015-07-16T14:03:41 | Former tennis star Elena Baltacha lost her fight against cancer a year ago - but her legacy is burning bright at her academy in Ipswich. | http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2Fvideos%2Fsports%2F2015%2F07%2F16%2Fspc-open-court-elena-baltacha.cnn.json | http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150716145452-elena-baltacha-large-tease.jpg | en | null | The inspiring story of Elena Baltacha | null | null | edition.cnn.com | Former tennis star Elena Baltacha lost her fight against cancer a year ago - but her legacy is burning bright at her academy in Ipswich. | http://edition.cnn.com/videos/sports/2015/07/16/spc-open-court-elena-baltacha.cnn | en | 2015-07-16T00:00:00 | edition.cnn.com/e1c20bae88679b07ad57e582341454eaafb22d23d8e33592186ac1b56dbd0efe.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T15:23:53 | null | 2014-10-16T11:52:15 | The former number 1, Caroline Wozniacki trains for the New York Marathon in early November. | http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2Fvideos%2Fsports%2F2014%2F10%2F16%2Fspc-open-court-c-caroline-wozniacki.cnn.json | http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/141016124313-spc-open-court-c-caroline-wozniacki-00011227-t3-entertainment.jpg | en | null | Caroline Wozniacki's marathon challenge | null | null | edition.cnn.com | Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds. | http://edition.cnn.com/videos/sports/2014/10/16/spc-open-court-c-caroline-wozniacki.cnn | en | 2014-10-16T00:00:00 | edition.cnn.com/c4d84445ba8b6c4526cfa25e095a06bafcf3aaa9c1ca37e04a52c89b55086445.json |
[
"Aidan Lonergan"
] | 2016-08-27T10:48:38 | null | 2016-08-27T10:31:23 | null | http%3A%2F%2Firishpost.co.uk%2Firish-paralympians-excited-set-off-rio-farewell-event%2F.json | http://irishpost.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/TeamIreland_Paralympics_featured.jpg | en | null | Go Team Ireland: Irish Paralympians jet off to Rio | null | null | irishpost.co.uk | Ireland’s Paralympians are heading for Rio.
The majority of the athletes sett of yesterday, with the final few set to join their teammates before the end of August.
The Games get underway on Wednesday, September 7, and run for 11 days through to September 18, with 48 Irish men and women competing across 10 sports.
The event will be covered in Britain on Channel 4, while RTÉ will broadcast primetime coverage in Ireland every evening on RTÉ 2.
The Irish team enjoyed a farewell event at Clayton Hotel, Dublin Airport, and were visited by Annalise Murphy, who won a silver medal for Ireland in her sailing event at the Olympic Games earlier this month.
Speaking at the same event, Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan, told the Rio-bound group that the Government was “fully committed and supportive” of them.
“I would particularly like to express my gratitude to the families of the athletes — the parents, partners, siblings and children for the unwavering support you have given. What you have already achieved is massive and your country is hugely proud of you.”
After the event, Team Ireland headed straight to the airport, and some even managed to squeeze in some last minute exercise.
The group will no doubt be hoping to go one better than their impressive performance at London 2012, where they achieved eight gold medals throughout their disciplines — the best performance of an Irish Paralympic team in six straight Olympic games.
Like many other nations competing in Rio, Team Ireland have set up a crowdfunding campaign to see them through the Games.
Check out some of the messages they shared so far…
My legs have been called up to the PAralympics. Time to kit them out #morethansport#canoesprint#roadtoriopic.twitter.com/8X8hINTOKj — Patrick O’Leary (@eentjebeen) August 24, 2016
Airport Mobility 101:making sure the bodies are ready for the long flight to Brazil @ParalympicsIRE@Inst_of_Sportpic.twitter.com/TjXXSYfsBM — Toni Rossiter (@Toni_Rossiter) 25 August 2016
Bit disappointed in view from hotel in Rio prior to Paras! pic.twitter.com/GBXHi4SaSP — Austin o Carroll (@austinoc_austin) August 25, 2016 | http://irishpost.co.uk/irish-paralympians-excited-set-off-rio-farewell-event/ | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | irishpost.co.uk/6268eb0f0232087778088610bd7402a4b046ce3cc34f2734112fe9e27b22405b.json |
[
"Aidan Lonergan"
] | 2016-08-26T12:54:15 | null | 2016-08-26T13:17:23 | Fleadh Week acts include The Saw Doctors, Aslan, The Coronas, Mary Coughlan, Paul Brady, Cry before Dawn, The 4 of Us and a host of up-and-coming groups. | http%3A%2F%2Firishpost.co.uk%2Fhuge-week-live-irish-music-coming-october-london%2F.json | http://irishpost.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/coronas-f.jpg | en | null | Fleadh Week: Huge celebration of Irish music coming to London this October | null | null | irishpost.co.uk | IRISH music fans will no doubt be happy to learn that Fleadh Week — a new celebration of the Emerald Isle’s greatest bands — will be taking place in London in October.
The week-long live music event will be held at Nell’s Jazz & Blues, a live music bar and club in West Kensington.
For eight consecutive days, a host of both well-known and budding Irish talents will take to the stage, some of whom will be performing in Britain for the very first time.
Acts include The Saw Doctors, Aslan, The Coronas, Mary Coughlan, Paul Brady, Cry before Dawn, The 4 of Us, Brian Deady and a host of up-and-coming groups.
Fleadh Week runs from October 17-24. Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 will be a multi line-up all day starting from 2pm till midnight.
The music festival is being organised by music promoter and festival owner Vince Power, who has teamed up with The Irish Post who is the event’s media partner.
“This will be eight days of the best of Irish bands,” the Co. Waterford man said.
“We are delighted to be sponsoring Fleadh Week at Nell’s,” added Irish Post Commercial Manager Sarah Murphy.
“Vince Power continues his strong tradition of bringing the best Irish acts to the Irish community here in London.
“It is sure to be an action-packed week for all involved and The Irish Post — as the voice of the Irish community here in Britain — is proud to be able to support it.” | http://irishpost.co.uk/huge-week-live-irish-music-coming-october-london/ | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | irishpost.co.uk/e9e78d1586e5195d31b08abc7068389df53bd3cc0067eeaa44c1d7525a429f5c.json |
[
"Aidan Lonergan"
] | 2016-08-31T12:52:59 | null | 2016-08-31T12:42:55 | IRISHWOMAN Mary Ward who was unlucky enough to be the first person ever fatally injured by a motor vehicle died 147 years ago today. | http%3A%2F%2Firishpost.co.uk%2Fmary-ward-irish-scientist-became-worlds-first-car-death-day-1869%2F.json | http://irishpost.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Mary_Ward_Featured.jpg | en | null | Irish scientist Mary Ward - the first person in the world to be killed by a car in 1869 | null | null | irishpost.co.uk | AN IRISHWOMAN who was unlucky enough to be the first person ever fatally injured by a motor vehicle died 147 years ago today.
Mary Ward is best remembered for the events of August 31, 1869, in which she was thrown from a steam car onto the road near Birr, Co. Offaly—the county where she was born.
Ward was just as unusual in life as she was in death, particularly given what she achieved in a difficult time for women in Ireland.
Women were actively discouraged from engaging with the sciences in the mid-19th century, and just born female often meant ostracism from the scientific community.
As a child in Ferbane, Co. Offaly, Ward was fascinated with collecting and drawing insects, with the help of her scientist father’s magnifying glass.
As Irish universities accepted remarkably few female students at the time, Ward taught herself microscopy. Through her own endeavours, she became a respected member of the scientific community and was the first woman ever to be placed on the Royal Astronomical Society’s mailing list.
It was a relative of Mary Ward’s that built one of the world’s first steam-powered automobiles.
Out for a ride one afternoon, Ward’s cousin’s car hit a bend and sent her tumbling out of the vehicle and under the wheel. She died instantly from a broken neck.
Mary Ward is now cited as the first person to be killed by a car, but it is important to remember what she achieved in life as a 19th century Irishwoman. | http://irishpost.co.uk/mary-ward-irish-scientist-became-worlds-first-car-death-day-1869/ | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | irishpost.co.uk/7098ec3f0a3250c6847968a4e950844a70d7b03ccd07c2a6692147e774d3e1fe.json |
[
"John O'Shea"
] | 2016-08-26T12:52:13 | null | 2016-08-22T16:39:50 | The 76-year-old Northern Irish woman had her bank account emptied when an imposter arrived at a Santander branch in Croydon. | http%3A%2F%2Firishpost.co.uk%2Firish-tv-presenter-gloria-hunniford-feels-violated-imposter-steals-120000-bank-account%2F.json | http://irishpost.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Hunniford-f.jpg | en | null | Irish TV presenter Gloria Hunniford feels 'violated' after imposter steals £120,000 from her bank account | null | null | irishpost.co.uk | BBC Rip Off Britain presenter Gloria Hunniford has said she felt violated after a fraudster ripped her off to the tune of £120,000.
The 76-year-old Northern Irish woman, who is originally from Co. Armagh, had her bank account emptied when an imposter arrived at a Santander branch in Croydon with her ‘daughter’ and ‘grandson’.
Speaking today on Loose Women, the Irish TV star said: “The banks will have to up their security tactics. They’ve nothing to give you these days, no interest to give you for savings, the only thing they have to offer is trustability, safety and the knowledge that you can trust your bank.
“ I feel violated. I have no trust for the banks,” she added. “I know that the scammers are very, very clever these days but you know the thing is – she said her daughter was with her and sadly I don’t have my daughter any more.”
Gloria’s daughter Caron Keating died in 2004 after a seven-year cancer battle.
The incident took place on June 3 last year when personal banker Aysha Davis, 28, said a woman posing as Ms Hunniford told her she had ‘a few bob’ in her account and had come to add her teenage grandson as a signatory because she had been ill.
Davis, of Cromie House, Streatham High Road, south London, was accused of being part of the plot at the Croydon North End branch but was acquitted after less than 30 minutes of jury deliberation after saying the TV star was ‘not of my time’.
She had denied one count of conspiracy to defraud.
Police are still hunting for the imposter and her ‘daughter’, while stand-in grandson Alan Dowie, 18, of Hazelwood Road, Oxted, Surrey, was spared jail so he could go to university.
He was handed an 18-month term of detention, suspended for two years.
Old Bailey Judge Timothy Pontius said: “You achieved nothing accept your arrest and criminal conviction which will be on your record for many years.”
The court heard that within 90 minutes the first tranche of £19,000 was paid into Dowie’s bank account and over the course of the day a total of £102,000 had been drained.
His card was then used to blow hundreds of pounds on clothes and £80,000 on Rolex watches.
He told police he had been recruited by a pal called ‘Timmy’ to go into the bank with a woman pretending to be his grandmother and another posing as his aunt.
Reyon Dillon, also 18, of 30 Notson Road, Croydon, laundered some of the cash from the scam and will be sentenced on September 7 having pleaded guilty.
Santander have since reimbursed the money stolen from Ms Hunniford’s account after it was drained of the £120,000.
But Ms Hunniford, who regularly appears on This Morning, The One Show and consumer advice show Rip Off Britain, said: “From my point of view I have lost all faith in banks, there was nothing I could have done about this. I was a sitting duck.”
Giving evidence, Davis said she had never met Dowie before he walked into the bank and had to google TV star Ms Hunniford – to find out who she was.
Prosecutor Sheilagh Davies said: ‘But she’s pretty famous.’
Jurors giggled when the defendant replied: ‘In your opinion.’
She added: “Banks get defrauded every day but because of the high profile of the person on the account, I am being used as a scapegoat to try and repair the damage to the bank’s reputation.”
The court also heard how the imposter looked nothing like the glamorous star when she posed as the TV personality. | http://irishpost.co.uk/irish-tv-presenter-gloria-hunniford-feels-violated-imposter-steals-120000-bank-account/ | en | 2016-08-22T00:00:00 | irishpost.co.uk/43b8be7a01df06a3c2fefcd70fe5e65258acab3d4175a1f712fbd52defd053bb.json |
[
"Erica Doyle Higgins"
] | 2016-08-26T12:47:29 | null | 2016-08-24T14:08:31 | The Byrne Brothers from Mountcharles, Co Donegal gave an incredible traditional performance on the streets of Ennis at the Fleadh Cheoil 2016. | http%3A%2F%2Firishpost.co.uk%2Fthe-byrne-brothers-from-donegal-had-crowds-wowed-at-the-fleadh-cheoil-in-co-clare%2F.json | http://irishpost.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/BryneBrothersSlider.jpg | en | null | The Byrne Brothers from Donegal wowed crowds at the Fleadh Cheoil in Co Clare | null | null | irishpost.co.uk | FLEADH Cheoils the world over are known for producing good craic and this year’s Fleadh Cheoil in Co. Clare was no different.
While the line up for the festival was packed with traditional Irish music, three Co. Donegal brothers kept the hoards of people in the streets of Ennis entertained with their performances.
The Byrne Brothers – Luca, Finn and Dempsey, hail from Mountcharles in the south eastern corner of the county.
Armed with a bodhrán, banjo and accordion and decked out in matching caps and waistcoats, the brothers belted out traditional tunes.
Accompanied by their father Tommy on fiddle and the Uileann pipes, the brothers had all the attention in Ennis as they gave it their all.
Fleadh-goers watched on in delight as the threesome played impromptu sets, and just when they thought the music was over the brothers, who are also accomplished Irish dancers, broke into a jig.
To date the video, which was posted on the brothers’ Facebook page has been viewed over 2.5 million times and received over 68,ooo likes.
Check out the Byrne Brothers video below…
Posted by The Byrne Brothers on Thursday, 18 August 2016 | http://irishpost.co.uk/the-byrne-brothers-from-donegal-had-crowds-wowed-at-the-fleadh-cheoil-in-co-clare/ | en | 2016-08-24T00:00:00 | irishpost.co.uk/d585390ffd77a4b87af928c04a30fae863209a53e453bd7abbe639909ad20cb1.json |
[
"Pearse Corcoran"
] | 2016-08-31T10:53:03 | null | 2016-08-31T11:39:48 | SIXTEEN people were injured forcing a transatlantic flight they were on into an emergency landing at Shannon Airport. The flight touched down at 6am | http%3A%2F%2Firishpost.co.uk%2Fsixteen-people-rushed-to-hostial-in-shannon-after-plane-bound-for-london-makes-emergency-landing%2F.json | http://irishpost.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Shannon-Airport-F.jpg | en | null | Sixteen people rushed to hospital in Shannon after plane bound for London makes emergency landing | null | null | irishpost.co.uk | SIXTEEN people were injured from ‘unexpected turbulence’ forcing a transatlantic flight they were on to make an emergency landing at Shannon Airport.
Fourteen passengers and two crew members were taken to a local hospital upon arrival at the airport.
The United Airlines flight UA-880 touched down at the airport just before 6am this morning.
The flight was en route from Houston, Texas to London Heathrow.
A statement from the airline said:
“The aircraft diverted to Shannon Airport in Ireland where it was met by medical personnel,
“United Airlines is providing care and support to customers and crew of flight UA-880 which experienced severe and unexpected turbulence during a flight from Houston to London Heathrow today,”
The Boeing 767-300 jet had 207 passengers and crew of 13 on board.
Flight track of #UA880 diversion to @ShannonAirport after passengers and crew injured by severe #turbulence https://t.co/j82Nli7KVO — Josh Mainka (@JoshMainka) August 31, 2016 | http://irishpost.co.uk/sixteen-people-rushed-to-hostial-in-shannon-after-plane-bound-for-london-makes-emergency-landing/ | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | irishpost.co.uk/91304824578da5ec225591bcf86553d054414a4e08f8c904ec04ddb0919bcd23.json |
[
"Aidan Lonergan"
] | 2016-08-30T16:52:09 | null | 2016-08-30T16:57:43 | null | http%3A%2F%2Firishpost.co.uk%2Fgraham-norton-shares-trip-wild-atlantic-way-instagram%2F.json | http://irishpost.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/GrahamNorton_Ireland_featured.jpg | en | null | Graham Norton shares his trip around the Wild Atlantic Way on Instagram | null | null | irishpost.co.uk | FUNNYMAN Graham Norton returned to Ireland this week, sharing his pictures from the sunny west coast with his followers online.
The Cork native took to Instagram as he had a look around the famed Wild Atlantic Way with some friends.
The 53-year-old chat show host was taking time off from promoting his upcoming book Holding — a murder mystery novel set in the remote Cork village of Duneen.
The novel marks Norton’s first foray into fiction writing, having already penned an autobiography and memoir.
Norton unveiled the book’s cover last week and said he was “pathetically excited.”
Making the most of Ireland’s current spell of good weather, Graham even took a swim in the ocean with one of his beloved dogs.
“This is Ireland”, he cheekily posted with another picture of some sun loungers. “Just checking.”
Norton’s new novel Holding is due out in October.
As for The Graham Norton Show, Series 20 of the award-winning chat show starts back early next year.
See Graham Norton’s holiday snaps below…
Reservoir Gays! #wildatlanticway #sheepshead #summer A photo posted by grahnort (@grahnort) on Aug 27, 2016 at 2:45pm PDT
This is Ireland. #justchecking #adirondack A photo posted by grahnort (@grahnort) on Aug 28, 2016 at 6:07am PDT
doggy paddle #wetdog A photo posted by grahnort (@grahnort) on Aug 29, 2016 at 4:33pm PDT
Table for one please! #dogsdinner A photo posted by grahnort (@grahnort) on Aug 26, 2016 at 6:53am PDT | http://irishpost.co.uk/graham-norton-shares-trip-wild-atlantic-way-instagram/ | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | irishpost.co.uk/9dfd43b953cca764625ffb646f86559b4716945256a4652bb49596a55b5dc471.json |
[
"Aidan Lonergan"
] | 2016-08-31T06:52:45 | null | 2016-08-31T06:28:52 | DUBLIN ZOO have announced the birth of a southern white rhino calf, and they’re asking the public to help name him | http%3A%2F%2Firishpost.co.uk%2Fdublin-zoo-announced-special-new-arrival-public-asked-name%2F.json | http://irishpost.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Dublin_Rhino_Featured.jpg | en | null | Dublin Zoo has a new baby rhino, and the public get to name him | null | null | irishpost.co.uk | DUBLIN ZOO have announced the birth of a southern white rhinoceros calf, and they’re asking the public to give it a name.
The unnamed rhino was born at 1.45pm on Thursday August 25, to mother Ashanti and father Chaka.
Being part of the European Endangered Species Programme, the newborn’s birth is a success for Dublin Zoo, which prides itself on counteracting the effect of poaching on rhinos.
Staff at Dublin Zoo were said to be “delighted” at the news of a new birth, especially given the history of the southern white rhino’s conservation status.
In the early 1990s, the southern white rhino population dwindled to as low as 50 worldwide. Thanks to conservation projects such as Dublin Zoo’s, the subspecies has grown in number to become the most common.
Now figures are around 20,000 in the wild, a huge increase on two decades ago. Yet poaching is still a significant problem, and by far the most dangerous threat to wild rhinos.
Dublin’s newest addition is set to join up with his four brothers and sisters Nyala, Reni, Sam and Zanta to complete the herd.
As for his name, children have been encouraged to make suggestions. Possible names—which should reflect the calf’s African origin—should be submitted here via Dublin Zoo’s website. | http://irishpost.co.uk/dublin-zoo-announced-special-new-arrival-public-asked-name/ | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | irishpost.co.uk/440437bc2b1b4efea70224e56de103742194ddd3058031b27be8f857ed4685dc.json |
[
"Erica Doyle Higgins"
] | 2016-08-29T12:51:05 | null | 2016-08-29T12:18:05 | Read what some Dublin tenants have had to say about their horror experiences of renting in Ireland's capital city... | http%3A%2F%2Firishpost.co.uk%2F99272-2%2F.json | http://irishpost.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/DublinRenters-F.jpg | en | null | Broken washing machines and marijuana in attics | null | null | irishpost.co.uk | BROKEN washing machines, mould, fake landlords, marijuana in attics and flats so small you can’t open the oven – it seems Dublin tenants have had to deal with it all.
In a thread opened on Reddit, user ‘Catcaste’ asked if others had any horror stories from renting properties and rooms in Dublin.
While tenants obliged, poster Catcaste opened with their own horror stories from renting in Dublin for seven years.
“First place, I moved into with my girlfriend when we were both 17 and stupid. Didn’t realise until it was too late that there was no central heating whatsoever.
“We were in that apartment the winter of 2009, the coldest winter we’ve ever had on record. It was so cold that the condensation on the inside of the windows froze.
“I spent all my time on a chair, in front of two electric heaters. The landlord also evicted a young woman who lived upstairs because she had a baby and the landlord was not informed of this.”
“In another place that my girlfriend lived in, it was 900 a month and it was a hallway converted into a studio apartment. It was so small that she couldn’t fully open her oven cause it would hit the other wall. The entire flat was that width.”
“In our current place. Our landlord fixed our boiler with sellotape. The kitchen is in a wardrobe sort of set up.
The landlord entered our apartment illegally and looked through our stuff including our underwear drawer. I threatened legal action and since then he’s been quite alright.”
The stories just got worse from there. Take a read below…
Do you have any renting horror stories? Share in the comments below… | http://irishpost.co.uk/99272-2/ | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | irishpost.co.uk/aa23a985ed69e22801e955beaa8026b6b25fadc4c1a91f9506d7cd6082cf6e46.json |
[
"Aidan Lonergan"
] | 2016-08-26T14:59:50 | null | 2016-08-25T15:27:38 | null | http%3A%2F%2Firishpost.co.uk%2Ffleadh-cheoil-dancers-go-viral%2F.json | http://irishpost.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/fleadh_featured.jpg | en | null | Talented teenage dancers Fusion Fighters set Facebook alight with their skills | null | null | irishpost.co.uk | A VIDEO of a troupe of talented youngsters dancing at the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann festival in County Clare has gone viral, amassing over a million views so far.
The Irish music festival—which took place in Ennis—has reported record numbers for 2016 of both attendees and competitors from Ireland and overseas.
The festival has also gone down a treat online, with lots of fans of Irish song and dance liking what they see on the Fleadh’s official account on Facebook.
With over 1.1 million views, 20,000 likes and 3,000 comments alone, the video is one the favourites.
The dance troupe seen call themselves Fusion Fighters, and pride themselves on being a ‘performance crew that combine a fusion of dance forms with a limitless approach to collaboration with music, technology and martial arts.’
Check out some of their moves here…
Scoth na damhsóirí anseo in Inis
How good are these guys Fushion Fighters Tuilleadh damhsa le feiceáil anseo BEO ó 8.30pm anocht #TG4 Posted by TG4 on Friday, 19 August 2016 | http://irishpost.co.uk/fleadh-cheoil-dancers-go-viral/ | en | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | irishpost.co.uk/05c47c86d1d29bb7658dcbb45beef523b4b2d9f982157acdcd43bb0460804a0a.json |
[
"Jamie Casey"
] | 2016-08-31T10:52:58 | null | 2016-08-31T11:37:26 | Jack Grealish responded to a tweet sent out by Marlon Carrington, father of four-year-old Carter Carrington, a Villa fan and amputee. | http%3A%2F%2Firishpost.co.uk%2Fjack-grealish-make-four-year-old-aston-villa-fans-dream-come-true%2F.json | http://irishpost.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Jack-Grealish-Aston-Villa-N.jpg | en | null | Jack Grealish to make four-year-old Villa fan’s dream come true | null | null | irishpost.co.uk | JACK GREALISH is set to make a young boy’s dream come true this season after making a heart-warming gesture on Twitter.
Aston Villa’s Birmingham-Irish midfielder responded to a tweet sent out by Marlon Carrington, father of four-year-old Carter Carrington, a Villa fan and amputee.
The tweet included pictures of the youngster’s new prosthetic leg which bears a Villa crest on the shin and was re-tweeted over 300 times before being spotted by Grealish.
My little boy showing off his new Villa leg (prosthetic) on holiday! pic.twitter.com/XCb2AdHYfm — Marlon Carrington (@Marley1974) August 26, 2016
Moved by the images, Grealish responded, vowing to welcome young Carter to Villa Park as a mascot at a game this season.
@Marley1974 @slmissey @Dr_TonyXia what a little star! Choose a game this season & he can be mascot & walk out with me if I’m playing #AVFC — Jack Grealish (@JackGrealish1) August 27, 2016
Grealish, who is still eligible to play for Ireland despite declaring for England, has since got the go-ahead for his pledge from club owner Tony Xia.
@VillansHo Yes,choose a game and make sure @JackGrealish1 would score for that game! https://t.co/lrObgiV3oR — Dr. Tony Xia (@Dr_TonyXia) August 27, 2016
Young Carter was born with Fibular Hemimelia and had his left leg amputated at 11 months old and was eventually fitted with a prosthetic leg.
Unbeknown to Grealish, the midfielder is actually Carter’s favourite player, making the gesture all the more fitting. | http://irishpost.co.uk/jack-grealish-make-four-year-old-aston-villa-fans-dream-come-true/ | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | irishpost.co.uk/df17ec69ef89aefb754bf0287ef42e267a7f4010e6c7319541f0040570f6156c.json |
[
"Erica Doyle Higgins"
] | 2016-08-27T08:48:31 | null | 2016-08-27T09:10:21 | It doesn't matter how many times you've been to the Kingdom, you've never seen County Kerry like this before... | http%3A%2F%2Firishpost.co.uk%2Fawe-inspiring-footage-of-the-dingle-peninsula-like-youve-never-seen-it-before%2F.json | http://irishpost.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/KerryVideoSLIDER.jpg | en | null | Awe-inspiring footage of the Dingle peninsula like you've never seen it before | null | null | irishpost.co.uk | It’s not called the Kingdom for no reason.
Those who frequent County Kerry will be familiar with the sweeping coastline, breathtaking landscape and impressive cliffs. However, we doubt you’ve ever quite taken in Kerry’s famous views like this before.
Architecture student and freelance videographer Paddy Fernandez took to the Kerry coast to film this awe-inspiring footage.
“It took a few days of exploring and filming,” he says, “waiting for the right light and weather.”
“And finding the perfect locations,” he continued.
The short film, titled Out West covers the Dingle peninsula and the Irish Sky Garden by James Turrell in Skibbereen, and the footage is nothing short of spectacular.
Fernandez says he picked Kerry for one very special reason.
“My great-grandparents lived in Kerry and we go and stay in the family house every year.”
“It’s a really beautiful area of the country,” he says.
Check out the wondrous footage of the Kingdom below… | http://irishpost.co.uk/awe-inspiring-footage-of-the-dingle-peninsula-like-youve-never-seen-it-before/ | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | irishpost.co.uk/a43237fca1f226bc1d068804d716c20358bc22f0489b047f938e697ecef0c4b1.json |
[
"Pearse Corcoran"
] | 2016-08-30T12:52:01 | null | 2016-08-30T12:30:01 | YESTERDAY Gardaí confirmed the discovery of five bodies from the one family in a house in Ballyjamesduff, Co. Cavan in a suspected murder suicide | http%3A%2F%2Firishpost.co.uk%2Fdetails-of-horrific-murdersuicide-tragedy-in-cavan-come-to-light-following-discovery-of-five-bodies%2F.json | http://irishpost.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Alan-Hawe-Pic-F.jpg | en | null | Details of Hawe family murder/suicide tragedy in Cavan come to light following discovery of five bodies | null | null | irishpost.co.uk | NEW details have come to light following the discovery of five bodies from the same family in a house in Ballyjamesduff, a small town in the south of Co. Cavan.
The bodies were that of a man in his 40s, a woman in her 30s and three boys aged 13, 11 and 6.
The five people found dead were all members of a family – father Alan Hawe, mother Clodagh Hawe and their three children Liam (13), Niall (11) and Ryan (6).
Senior Gardaí said the investigation is ongoing and they are not looking for anyone in relation to the deaths.
Speaking at a press conference outside the Garda station in Ballyjamesduff yesterday evening, Gardaí Assistant Commissioner for the Northern Region, John O’Driscoll, confirmed that a call was received on Monday 29 August to Monaghan Garda Station from a member of the public raising the alarm.
Two members of the Garda Siochana twent to the house and discovered five bodies.
Gardaí are treating the case as a murder-suicide and say there is no evidence that a firearm was used.
The Irish National Teachers Organization have since released a two statements – one from the principal of Castlerahan National School, Anne Foley, and one the principal of Oristown National School, Ann O’Kelly Lynch.
The statements confirmed Alan Hawe was a member of staff at Castlerahan National School while Niall and Ryan were pupils at the school, Liam Hawe was a past pupil at the school.
Clodagh Hawe was a member of staff at Oristown National School.
The family were well-known in the area and were members of the local GAA club, Castlerahan GAA club. | http://irishpost.co.uk/details-of-horrific-murdersuicide-tragedy-in-cavan-come-to-light-following-discovery-of-five-bodies/ | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | irishpost.co.uk/8be28438f6a1147a2d650c2d462855aa18589323221a7950142fd6bb1f8da6ba.json |
[
"Erica Doyle Higgins"
] | 2016-08-29T14:51:13 | null | 2016-08-29T14:46:33 | Superintendent Singleton proved a hit with the ladies on the PSNI Facebook page... | http%3A%2F%2Firishpost.co.uk%2Fbelfast-policeman-bobby-singleton-got-people-hot-collar%2F.json | http://irishpost.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/PSNIHottie-SLIDER.jpg | en | null | Why Belfast policeman Bobby Singleton has got people hot under the collar | null | null | irishpost.co.uk | THE Police Service of Northern Ireland released a warning about drink driving – and received a very different response than anticipated.
The PSNI posted the statement on their Facebook page about the Tennant’s Vital festival’s return to Belfast last week (August 24).
The statement was on behalf of Belfast’s Superintendent Bobby Singleton, and he asked that attendees remember to “enjoy the music, have a good time, but most importantly, stay safe.”
The statement also asked people to drink responsibly, show respect to residents and to not drink and drive.
But it wasn’t Superintendent Singleton’s words that got the female population of Northern Ireland talking, but rather his appearance.
Pictured in his PSNI uniform at the arena in Belfast, Supt Singleton talked to local media about the upcoming event, but many people commenting on the post were more interested in the superintendent’s good looks.
On Thursday and Friday, Tennant’s Vital returns to Belfast at Boucher Playing Fields, with headliners The Red Hot Chilli… Posted by Police Service of Northern Ireland on Wednesday, 24 August 2016
The comments were nothing short of hilarious… | http://irishpost.co.uk/belfast-policeman-bobby-singleton-got-people-hot-collar/ | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | irishpost.co.uk/6f50c1ed2aa5829d91a04335e242c32096f29601902a0b8ad56e8a5dd252d578.json |
[
"Katy Harrington"
] | 2016-08-30T14:49:38 | null | 2015-10-30T15:57:59 | Fifteen common words that Irish people use in different ways to our British and American friends | http%3A%2F%2Firishpost.co.uk%2Ftwelve-words-that-irish-people-use-differently-to-everyone-else%2F.json | http://irishpost.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/bluepants-f.jpg | en | null | Fifteen words that Irish people use differently to everyone else | null | null | irishpost.co.uk | The Irish Post
is the biggest selling national newspaper to the Irish in Britain. Irishpost.co.uk delivers all the latest Irish news to our online audience around the globe. | http://irishpost.co.uk/twelve-words-that-irish-people-use-differently-to-everyone-else/ | en | 2015-10-30T00:00:00 | irishpost.co.uk/fe9662030ebddeab3c29d16dc357014be20cb5c9b9cfa7ed8d1cbe08f3d196c5.json |
[
"Erica Doyle Higgins"
] | 2016-08-26T12:55:34 | null | 2016-08-26T09:53:34 | It was left to one An Post postie to get a special letter addressed simply to 'Annalise Murphy Olympic Silver Medalist'. | http%3A%2F%2Firishpost.co.uk%2Firish-postal-service-does-it-again-this-time-delivering-a-letter-to-olympic-medalist-with-no-address%2F.json | http://irishpost.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Annalise-SLIDER.jpg | en | null | Irish postal service gets letter to Olympic medalist Annalise Murphy with very little to go on | null | null | irishpost.co.uk | EVERYONE wants to congratulate Team Ireland after the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
But it was left to one An Post postie to get a special letter addressed to ‘Annalise Murphy Olympic Silver Medalist, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14.’
Annalise Murphy, who consistently ranked well in her preliminary heats in Rio and took silver in the ladies’ laser radial sailing at the Games, holding strong throughout the tense race.
Her win was particularly sweet for the Dublin sailor as she just missed out on a medal at London 2012 as she placed fourth.
She posted the photo of the letter to her Facebook page saying, “An Post doing a fine job getting this mail to me with limited info!”
Annalise Murphy arrived home from Rio with the rest of the Irish team on Tuesday (August 23), and is set to be toasted at a homecoming celebration in her hometown of Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin later today (August 25).
An Post doing a fine job getting mail to me with limited info! Posted by Annalise Murphy Sailing on Thursday, 25 August 2016 | http://irishpost.co.uk/irish-postal-service-does-it-again-this-time-delivering-a-letter-to-olympic-medalist-with-no-address/ | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | irishpost.co.uk/ebb838bc3057c9f74b59dee6df8e1ca98b150db990d90b36f547a62de222e23e.json |
[
"Katy Harrington"
] | 2016-08-30T12:51:57 | null | 2016-08-30T12:08:19 | THE FAMILY of Irishman Tony Conroy, who has been missing for 30 years, is appealing to the Irish in Britain to help in their search. | http%3A%2F%2Firishpost.co.uk%2F99389-2family-appeal-to-irish-in-britain-to-find-missing-man-tony-conroy-who-disappeared-30-years-ago%2F.json | http://irishpost.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Tony-conroy-2f.jpg | en | null | Family appeal to Irish in Britain to find missing man Tony Conroy who disappeared 30 years ago | null | null | irishpost.co.uk | THE FAMILY of an Irishman who has been missing for 30 years is appealing to the Irish in Britain to help in their search.
Anthony (Tony) Conroy was born on 18 April 1959 in Mountmellick, Co Laois.
He was educated at St. Mary’s College in Mountmellick, from 1972 to 1977.
A talented middle and long distance runner, Conroy won many titles in Ireland before getting an athletic scholarship hip to Arkansas Universiry.
He travelled to the States to take up his scholarship, but returned to Portlaoise in Ireland around 1985 or 1986.
He left Ireland again in 1986 and never returned. His family have not had contact with him in 30 years and they are desperate to find him.
The family have set up a ‘Finding Tony’ Facebook Page and are asking the Irish in Britain to come forward if they have information about Tony after 1986.
One post appeals specifically for the help of the London Irish Community.
Please share this post to all London Irish clubs, Sports, Social dancing, Comhaltus Ceoloiri Eireann, GAA , Country & Western , Social clubs , Churches.
His brother Darren Conroy says he would dearly love for his brother to get in contact.
“We have lost contact for 30 years. We think of you always, we love you and we just want to know that we are here for you always.”
Since starting the appeal the posts have been shared thousands of times and the family has received messages of support from Ireland, the UK, Australia and the USA.
If you have information you can leave a message on the Facebook page here. | http://irishpost.co.uk/99389-2family-appeal-to-irish-in-britain-to-find-missing-man-tony-conroy-who-disappeared-30-years-ago/ | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | irishpost.co.uk/703a12b175206c857ea8f1a9c8a91624bafe895ae89765565844e7c03c9519cc.json |
[
"Erica Doyle Higgins"
] | 2016-08-30T14:52:04 | null | 2016-08-30T14:25:26 | Former OCI President is due to be released from prison and placed on house arrest in an apartment in Rio paid for by the OCI. | http%3A%2F%2Firishpost.co.uk%2F99394-2%2F.json | http://irishpost.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Pat-Hickey.jpg | en | null | Pat Hickey's Rio apartment will be paid for by the OCI after his release from maximum prison | null | null | irishpost.co.uk | FORMER Olympic Council of Ireland President Pat Hickey is to be placed on house arrest in Rio today, and the OCI are paying for the apartment.
Judge Fernando Antonio de Almeida of the Criminal Court in Rio granted an order last night (August 29) to revoke the probation of Mr Hickey, placing him on house arrest.
The 71-year-old was also ordered to return his passport to Brazilian authorities, preventing him from leaving the scountry.
Mr Hickey was arrested on August 17 at his hotel room in the Barra de Tijuca district of Rio, in relation to the illegal reselling of Olympic tickets for the Rio games.
Brazilian police found emails between Pat Hickey and THG boss Marcus Evans, allegedly in conversation about the sale of tickets for events dating back to 2010.
A spokeswoman for the OCI told The Irish Post this morning that a one bedroom apartment had been rented for Mr Hickey for one month in Rio, at a cost of “approximately €2,300”.
The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport confirmed that the OCI received funding from the state in 2016 amounted to €520,000.
Total funding for the OCI since 2013 from the state totals at €1,722,088.
In a statement from the state judiciary in Rio, it was announced that the judge accepted the request of Mr Hickey’s Irish solicitors to grant a habeas corpus.
Habeas corpus writs are typically used to bring a party who has been criminally convicted in state court into federal court to review the legality of the party’s arrest, imprisonment or detention.
Judge de Almeida also noted that none of the three crimes Mr Hickey is charged with carry a sentence longer than four years, and is “unlikely to keep him in prison where he is.”
The Judge concluded that Mr Hickey’s release will not bring “any obstacle or risk to public order, criminal investigation or future application of criminal law.”
Earlier this month, Irishman Kevin Mallon was arrested for reselling tickets for the Opening and Closing ceremonies of the Games.
Mr Mallon, along with Mr Hickey, was detained in Rio’s maximum security prison Bangu 10 for 22 days, before being released on bail on Saturday. | http://irishpost.co.uk/99394-2/ | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | irishpost.co.uk/32be6bb21c6fa0842b6bed261104597cfe29c4013ff19d6061cce576309b68da.json |
[
"Pearse Corcoran"
] | 2016-08-31T06:52:31 | null | 2016-08-31T06:00:18 | Situated on 2.5 acres of landscaped gardens in the centre of Ballinamore in Leitrim, overlooking the Shannon-Erne Waterway, this convent is on the market. | http%3A%2F%2Firishpost.co.uk%2Fhistoric-20-bed-convent-could-be-yours-for-a-mere-e300000%2F.json | http://irishpost.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Convent-For-Sale-F.jpg | en | null | Historic 20-bed Leitrim convent goes on sale for €300,000 | null | null | irishpost.co.uk | ABOUT Pearse Corcoran
The Irish Post is the biggest-selling weekly newspaper for the Irish in Britain and the voice of the Irish community since 1970. Follow the Irish Post on Twitter @theirishpost | http://irishpost.co.uk/historic-20-bed-convent-could-be-yours-for-a-mere-e300000/ | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | irishpost.co.uk/4b47f71bcf25751fd9764ded04261e618391d76acc38f4867d3c2fa108b6011f.json |
[
"Jamie Casey"
] | 2016-08-30T08:51:50 | null | 2016-08-30T08:30:21 | LONDON IRISH CEO Bob Casey believes the club are well prepared for life in the Championship on the strength of their new-look first team backroom set-up. | http%3A%2F%2Firishpost.co.uk%2Fmood-upbeat-around-london-irish-ahead-new-season-second-tier%2F.json | http://irishpost.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/London-Irish-F.jpg | en | null | Mood is upbeat around London Irish ahead of new rugby season | null | null | irishpost.co.uk | LONDON IRISH CEO Bob Casey believes the club are well prepared for life in the Greene King IPA Championship on the strength of their new-look first team backroom set-up.
The Exiles begin their quest for promotion back to the Aviva Premiership at the first attempt on Saturday as Doncaster Knights visit the Madejski Stadium on the opening weekend of the season.
It’s the first time London Irish have been in the second tier in the professional era, but with former head coach Tom Coventry having left the club, a raft of changes has occurred in the coaching set up.
Perhaps the most notable of those changes has been the return of South African Brendan Venter as Technical Director, while former player Nick Kennedy is now Director of Rugby.
“We had to look at what was best for London Irish,” Casey told The Irish Post. “Tom Coventry is a good man and a good coach, but we felt as though it was best for him to step aside.
“As it’s turned out, we’re really happy with Brendan Venter, Nick Kennedy, Paul Hodgson (Skills Coach), George Skivington (Forwards Coach), Declan Danaher (Defence Coach) and Clark Laidlaw (Clark Laidlaw) driving the team forward.
In particular, Casey is excited to have 1995 World Cup winner Venter back at the club, pointing to his top class work with European Champions Cup winners Saracens, where he previously held the Director of Rugby role.
“We were delighted to get Brendan Venter back at the club. He’s one of the most experienced men London Irish have ever had.
“He’s got experience of setting up a foundation at Saracens, one of the best teams in Europe, and also won the Currie Cup with the Sharks.
“He brings in over 20 years of experience in coaching. He’s been very successful and he knows what it takes to win in English rugby.”
Meanwhile, Irish won all three of their pre-season games – against Harlequins, Nottingham and Loughborough – and Kennedy is now fully focussed on the one that counts this Saturday.
“The guys are really looking forward to getting the season underway – it’s a fresh and exciting new challenge for us,” he said.
“The Championship will be hugely competitive for us, especially the opening game with Doncaster. We’ve got so much respect for Doncaster as they are a very strong side and it will be a very tough game for us.”
As for the players, the changes have been easy to adapt to because of the wealth of experience on offer, according to scum-half Scott Steele.
“There’s been a lot of changes but ‘Dec’, Paul and ‘Kendo’ coming up to the first team has put a really positive twist on things,” he told The Irish Post.
“They’ve brought a lot of new things into the coaching regime and Brendan is running the schedule and everything on top of that. So I think with the experience that is there, with everyone having been at London Irish through the years, they know the club inside out.
“Everything that they’ve done so far has been good and me and the boys are just looking forward to getting stuck into the league now.” | http://irishpost.co.uk/mood-upbeat-around-london-irish-ahead-new-season-second-tier/ | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | irishpost.co.uk/908c8a4bc2bd5c07f5ac130a6ffdcffc0615f822a3dd896152c9573208b7b679.json |
[
"Irish Post"
] | 2016-08-26T12:50:44 | null | 2013-11-08T17:02:22 | Ryanair chief Michael O’Leary thinks he's a 'Neanderthal' and that women should stay at home. The Irishman also believes men should not attend childbirth. | http%3A%2F%2Firishpost.co.uk%2Fmichael-oleary-believes-neanderthal-women-stay-home%2F.json | http://irishpost.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/ryanair-f.jpg | en | null | Michael O’Leary thinks he's a 'Neanderthal' | null | null | irishpost.co.uk | MICHAEL O’Leary thinks he is a “Neanderthal” who holds views that many would find outrageous.
The Ryanair CEO told a British national newspaper this week that he does not think men should feel pressure to help raise their children.
As well as claiming that it drives him “mad” that he has to grant male staff paternity leave, the controversial figure said fathers who show interest in the birth of their child are “making it up”.
Mr O’Leary added that while women should always be able to work, he believes most would prefer to raise their children instead.
“We sow the seed, women have the babies and after that we provide,” the Westmeath-native added.
In an interview with The Times he said, “I don’t want to be at home with young babies, breastfeeding and changing nappies,’ he said. ‘That is not my function in life.
“This bonding stuff is rubbish. Men tend to bond with their children when they are walking, talking, following football – then we have something to say to them.”
He continued: “What are men doing on the delivery ward? Once the contractions kick you are entirely bloody irrelevant.”
Mr O’Leary, 52, also admitted that Ryanair needs to improve its customer service, pledging to make its website easier to navigate and crack down on oversized fees for minor infringements such as forgetting a boarding pass.
But he still placed the blame on passengers who fail to follow instructions.
He said: “I have always said that the customers who comply with the rules are always right.
“They don’t moan. It’s the customer who shows up not having checked in online who is a nightmare.”
He admitted he acts like a ‘cheeky chappy’, but said he never meant to be ‘intentionally rude’ and confessed that many of his outlandish suggestions about slashing services are nothing more than publicity stunts.
He insisted: “I am soft, cuddly, misunderstood, with huge concern for my fellow human beings.” | http://irishpost.co.uk/michael-oleary-believes-neanderthal-women-stay-home/ | en | 2013-11-08T00:00:00 | irishpost.co.uk/43512a87fb31ddd3ccd399560dd626382843f097fc6068c05a12e3ff7e9f9b1e.json |
[
"Erica Doyle Higgins"
] | 2016-08-26T12:53:47 | null | 2016-08-26T10:00:10 | Gerard Carroll, 27, has only been playing the harp for a short time but a video he uploaded to his Facebook page has since been viewed over 33,000 times. | http%3A%2F%2Firishpost.co.uk%2Fnorthern-irish-man-playing-harp-singing-shut-dance-will-make-day%2F.json | http://irishpost.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/HarpSLIDER.jpg | en | null | This Northern Irish man's cover version of Shut Up and Dance on the harp is genius | null | null | irishpost.co.uk | IF viral videos have taught us anything, it’s that the Irish are a talented bunch.
This man from Dungannon Co Tyrone in Northern Ireland is no different.
Gerard Carroll, 27, has only been playing the harp for a short time but a video he uploaded to his Facebook page has since been viewed over 33,000 times.
“I started playing just over a year ago when my friend Michaela suggested I learn the harp for her friend’s wedding, so I just bought one and got started, and I actually ended up playing at my sister’s wedding too.”
“I always wanted to learn because of its relaxing and soothing tone – I just needed a reason,” Mr Carroll says.
“I can’t believe the amount of views it’s gotten,” he says, “I teach Irish dancing and my students and their parents have all said they’ve seen it, and even a few random people in the street have said they’ve seen it too.”
In the video, Carroll – who is a professional Irish dancing teacher – is in his kitchen wearing a GAA jersey singing and playing Walk the Moon’s Shut Up and Dance.
“I’ve got a few more videos to come and I’ve got a few weddings booked off the back of this too!”
If this doesn’t get stuck in your head today, nothing will.
Check out the video below…
First harp video, Shut Up And Dance Posted by Gerard Carroll on Thursday, 11 August 2016 | http://irishpost.co.uk/northern-irish-man-playing-harp-singing-shut-dance-will-make-day/ | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | irishpost.co.uk/1f42edacb0177972631247780ed16ebcaed649f5aad590f79da736dc514a5bf1.json |
[
"Erica Doyle Higgins"
] | 2016-08-29T16:51:35 | null | 2016-08-29T17:02:33 | Ahead of Tipperary and Kilkenny taking to the pitch in Croke Park these two lads have gone viral with their rap tribute to Tipp's hurlers. | http%3A%2F%2Firishpost.co.uk%2F2-johnnies-rap-tribute-tipperary-hurlers-ahead-ireland-hurling-final-pure-gold%2F.json | http://irishpost.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Johnnies-SLIDER.jpg | en | null | The 2 Johnnies rap tribute to the Tipperary hurlers ahead of the All-Ireland hurling final is pure gold | null | null | irishpost.co.uk | IT’S coming to the end of the summer which can only mean one thing – the All-Ireland hurling final.
On Sunday, Tipperary and Kilkenny will take to the pitch in Croke Park and while fans will have their own ways of gearing up for game, these two Tipperary lads have gone viral with their rap tribute to Tipp’s hurlers.
The 2 Johnnies are a comedy duo from Cahir in south Tipperary, and while they’ve only been performing locally together since last November, the duo have recently gained a significant following on their Facebook page.
The twosome, who perform under the stage names of Johnny Smacks (25) and Johnny B (30) are both passionate GAA fans and their Tipp tribute, The Premier Rap came from a rap Johnny B penned a few years ago.
“Johnny B has been doing Tipp songs for maybe four years now, so when we got together we started working on a few things and performed at a few local events and then we thought, we’re on to something here,” Johnny smacks told The Irish Post.
Johnny Smacks, a butcher, says that the other Johnny, a hurley maker, had previously brought out a Premier Rap for the 2010 All- Ireland Final, so they remade the 2010 rap and “made it more current to the new block of players.”
As for Tipp’s chances of winning this year? “Ah, we’re always wary of Kilkenny I think, just as Tipperary people in general,” Smacks jokes.
“We’ve performed well this year, and I think Kilkenny are an ageing team as well, so the pressure is on Kilkenny to maintain the championship whereas Tipp are free spirits, and hopefully they can just go all the way this year and we’ll have a right session,” he added.
“There won’t be a cow milked in the county if they win.”
So far the video has received over 4,000 likes and 167,000 views.
Watch The 2 Johnnies’ Tipperary tribute below…
The 2 Johnnies – The Premier Rap 2016Here it is….
Official Tipperary hurling song “The Premier Rap 2016” .
The Premier county are going all the way. like & share for the boys in blue & gold. Thanks to EXIT8 Tv & Joe Gallagher Posted by The 2 Johnnies on Wednesday, 24 August 2016 | http://irishpost.co.uk/2-johnnies-rap-tribute-tipperary-hurlers-ahead-ireland-hurling-final-pure-gold/ | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | irishpost.co.uk/37a2968ccddd579833e8ee923cd88dd933d7bf7273b564c605c18c1f8a776385.json |
[
"Pearse Corcoran"
] | 2016-08-27T12:48:49 | null | 2016-08-27T13:04:47 | A man has been arrested in connection with the death of Guildford man Mark O'Donnell, who lost his life in a suspected hit and run last weekend. | http%3A%2F%2Firishpost.co.uk%2Ftributes-paid-guildford-man-mark-odonnell-died-fatal-collision%2F.json | http://irishpost.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Turnham-Road-Portsmouth-Road-1.jpg | en | null | Man arrested in connection with the death of Guildford man Mark O'Donnell who died in a suspected hit and run | null | null | irishpost.co.uk | A man has been arrested in connection with the death of Guildford man Mark O’Donnell, who lost his life in a suspected hit and run last weekend.
On Tuesday 22 August a man in his 40s was arrested on suspicion of causing the death by dangerous driving.
The family of Mr O’Donnell, from Guildford, have led the tributes to the 22 year old.
A statement from the family read: “Mark is survived by his loving parents and three sisters who are completely devastated at this tragic loss.
“Mark was a kind and dearly loved friend, brother and son who will be missed by all who knew him.
“We urge anyone with information about what happened to Mark to contact Surrey Police straightaway.”
Mr O’Donnell was pronounced dead at the scene of the incident near the junction with Turnham Close in Portsmouth Road, between Guildford and Artington, after being found with serious head injuries at around 3am.
Police have said that Mr O’Donnell’s injuries were consistent with being involved in a road traffic collision but no car stopped at the scene.
Officers are also appealing for any witnesses to come forward, and want to speak to the drivers of two cars who may have seen the collision.
The first is a large silver saloon, possibly an old-style Mercedes, and the second a small red hatchback.
Surrey Police Sergeant John Davis said: “At this stage in the investigation, we believe those travelling in the two vehicles are potential witnesses to this tragic incident.
“I would appeal for the drivers to make contact with officers even if they feel they have nothing to add to the investigation.
“We now believe the vehicles could have been travelling to the Godalming or Farncombe areas.” | http://irishpost.co.uk/tributes-paid-guildford-man-mark-odonnell-died-fatal-collision/ | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | irishpost.co.uk/7f9110cabbbcd24546856f7e5f8501c0d7c392ae0f2efa7e4d173d3b125a9709.json |
[
"Pearse Corcoran"
] | 2016-08-29T16:51:31 | null | 2016-08-29T15:46:48 | GARDAÍ have confirmed the discovery of the bodies of five members of a family at a house at Oakdene, Barconey, Ballyjamesduff, Co.Cavan today. | http%3A%2F%2Firishpost.co.uk%2Fgardai-investigate-five-bodies-discovered-house-cavan%2F.json | http://irishpost.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Garda.jpg | en | null | Gardaí investigate as five bodies are discovered in a house in Cavan | null | null | irishpost.co.uk | The Irish Post
is the biggest selling national newspaper to the Irish in Britain. Irishpost.co.uk delivers all the latest Irish news to our online audience around the globe. | http://irishpost.co.uk/gardai-investigate-five-bodies-discovered-house-cavan/ | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | irishpost.co.uk/b4daa11cf60933e3e4e8eba0e4ddbd9add62cedf319f2fa037049e8705ec1553.json |
[
"Cóilín Duffy"
] | 2016-08-29T10:51:02 | null | 2016-08-29T11:22:49 | CORK rowing sensations Paul and Gary O'Donovan touched down at Cork Airport on Sunday evening with their Olympic Silver medals. | http%3A%2F%2Firishpost.co.uk%2Fpictures-odonovan-brothers-greeted-cork-olympic-silver-world-gold%2F.json | http://irishpost.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/GP-OD-F.jpg | en | null | O'Donovan brothers greeted in Cork Airport with medals | null | null | irishpost.co.uk | CORK rowing sensations Paul and Gary O’Donovan touched down at Cork Airport on Sunday evening with their Olympic Silver medals and a World Gold medal after an incredible month for the Skibbereen brothers.
Over 1,000 supporters gathered in the Arrivals area at Cork Airport, where just after 10pm their heroes emerged, along with the rest of the Irish rowing team returning from the World Championships.
That was ahead of a massive party in Skibbereen on Monday night, which begins at 7pm, with a crowd of over 10,000 people expected.
Paul was thrilled to be back on home soil. “It’s absolutely great,” he told The Irish Post. “It’s brilliant to have so many people out here, and seeing them shouting and roaring for us. We’ll be looking forward to welcoming them again in Skibbereen on Monday night for a big party.
Gary added: “We’ve all the rest of the Irish rowing team here with us today. It’s incredible. It’s great that they all got to be a part of this as well.”
And the lads are looking forward to showing off the medals and sharing them.
“Oh yeah. Every kid in West Cork is going to want to get their hands on our medals now!
“We’ve been hearing a few rumours that most of Ireland is going to be in Skibbereen tomorrow and we are really looking forward to that!”
And Paul’s plans now are to focus on his studies after the celebrations.
“I’m going back to college anyway on the 12th of September, so I will get on with that.”
Speaking on stage, Paul said it was overwhelming to receive such support, and that ahead of the Olympics, the brothers could have only dreamed about what was going to happen next!
“We are absolutely delighted to be home. It’s incredible to see so many people out here today to support us. It’s just – it’s breathtaking really. We never thought that going away to Rio that we would come back to this. I’d say it will be mad tomorrow down in Skibbereen again.”
In keeping with the great craic of recent weeks, Cork boxer Gary ‘Spike’ O’Donovan presented the lads with steak and spuds on stage. | http://irishpost.co.uk/pictures-odonovan-brothers-greeted-cork-olympic-silver-world-gold/ | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | irishpost.co.uk/ef2371259310fd8923118e809965af94a21dca5d3dda6c20c22b617c2ae4cf0b.json |
[
"Katy Harrington"
] | 2016-08-27T10:48:43 | null | 2016-08-27T10:56:15 | FROM the surreal starkness of Wadi Rum, to the majestic ruins of ancient civilisations, Jordan is a destination to make your eyes widen and the jaw drop. | http%3A%2F%2Firishpost.co.uk%2Fjordan-is-a-jewel-in-the-middle-eastern-crown%2F.json | http://irishpost.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Salt1feature.jpg | en | null | Jordan is a jewel in the Middle Eastern crown | null | null | irishpost.co.uk | IT IS hard to know where to start where to start with travelling to Jordan, so I’ll begin with the first question I had – is it safe?
The answer is yes. Although Jordan borders Syria, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Israel and Iraq it is one of the safest and most politically stable places to visit in the Middle East.
The latest information from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advises against all but essential travel to within 3km of the entire Syrian border, for obvious reasons, but other than that if you consult their travel advice before you go, Jordan is open for business.
After a five-hour flight from London, we touched down in the capital Amman, an odd mix of new and old, and home to about four million of the country’s total population of 9.5million.
After a night’s rest, we wasted little time in high-tailing it out of Amman, heading 30 minutes drive west to the ancient city of Salt where you can wander through the hilly streets, see the souk in full swing, stop at a bakery where you’ll see traditional bread (shrak) being made, buy some spices or wander and watch old Arabian men immersed in games of Mangala in the shade.
But we didn’t come to Jordan to stay in cities, the focus of our trip is outdoor eco-tourism, and living like locals. Nowhere is this better experienced than Rummana campsite, part of the Dana Biosphere Reserve.
We travelled down the steep hill to the campsite in a 4X4 and arrived in darkness before falling asleep in our tents after a delicious array of Jordan dishes for dinner. Only in daylight can you really appreciate the staggering, otherworldly beauty of the area.
We hiked a trail of three-four hours, taking in the incredible views. The vast, scorched rocky landscape is so utterly unlike anything I’ve see in another country or continent it almost feels like you are in a George Lucas Star Wars set, but this is planet Jordan.
Later that evening, in the tourist hub of Petra we were treated to an authentic Jordanian cooking class at Petra Kitchen.
Jordanian food deserves honourable mention.
It comes in an abundance of beautifully displayed dishes, exotic but not unfamiliar in flavour if you have eaten Lebanese food. Like most of the Middle East, meals are made up of a large selection of hot and cold meze, from the familiar hummus, tabouleh and kofta to the national dish of Mansaf – Arabic rice made with lamb or chicken and presented in huge serving dishes – often served at occasions and celebrations.
As well as eating, you actually learn the basics of making some Jordanian classic dishes at Petra kitchen.
From Shourbat Adas (lentil soup) to Baba Ganuj (roasted aubergine mashed with pepper, tomato and garlic), tahini salad, galayat bandura (a tasty fresh tomato dish that literally means ‘skillet of tomatoes’), fatoosh (cucumber and tomato salad), Bedouin pizza (every bit as delicious as it sounds) and Suniyat (a popular chicken dish that is made in many variations with meat or aubergine.)
A note on alcohol, it is available in places, usually larger hotels. But you shouldn’t plan on a drinking much while on holiday in Jordan, the locals don’t do it, and honestly, who’d want a hangover in the heat?
While Jordanians speak Arabic, English is also widely spoken and understood and most people are open and friendly to tourists.
Currently ruled by King Abdullah II, son of the late Kin Hussein. Jordan is a Muslim country and the conservative dress code should be observed.
More than 92 per cent of Jordanians are Sunni Muslims. Women are advised to cover up, and the tourist board advises that revealing clothing is never appropriate, anywhere in Jordan.
Loose lightweight layers are the best way to go.
At tourist hotels and resorts, for example in hotels along the Dead Sea, tourists do tend to wear bikinis and shorts, but these are the only places you can get away with it.
Petra itself is Jordan’s jewel, much written about and photographed. And yet, nothing can quite prepare you for its scale and spectacular views.
The ancient city, situated about three hours south of Amman is the legacy of the Nabataens the Arabs who settled there 2000 years ago. You enter via a long winding Siq – a narrow gorge, feeling like an ant winding under the red cliffs until you get a splinter view of the site that lies ahead.
What the Nabataens have left behind is a mind blowing site of architecture and human engineering alongside natural wonders. You could spend days in Petra alone, talking trails along the routes where caravans and camels laden with silk and spices once went.
But there’s more to Jordan than Petra.
We spent our penultimate night in vast Wadi Rum dessert, sleeping in traditional Bedouin accommodation, feasting on local food (one meat dish buried and barbecued in a pit and then dramatically unearthed in the dark before serving) and even being treated to some lively music and dancing
The sunset in Wadi Rum is unmissable, climb a rock and watch the ruby red sun set, and then revel in the galaxy of stars as clear as crystal in the night sky.
Camel rides and a trio across the sands on a 4×4 with local guides is the best way to experience the dessert, but really whether you are on foot or wheels or overhead in a hot air balloon – Wadi Rum is one of the most incredible sites you’ll ever see.
Our final day in Jordan summed up what the country has to offer neatly. Part one was a wild adventure through the Mujib Nature reserve, a rapid water hike through the lowest altitude nature reserve in the world.
You’ll get soaked and probably loose your sunglasses along the way, but the end paradise waterfall at the end of the trail is well worth it.
The Mujib reserve is situated within the deep Wadi Mujib gorge (wadi means valley so you’ll hear it a lot). When you are down this low, (the gorge measures 1300m from top to bottom) then you know you must be near the lowest point on Earth- the Dead Sea.
It’s at this famous point, 400 metres below sea level, we end our trip. The Dead Sea is undoubtedly the most westernised and tourist friendly part of Jordan. With its warm climate – and the advantage of having the world’s most unique natural spa at its feet – it’s not hard to see why.
Its waters, nine times saltier than the Mediterranean, are practically impossible to swim in, instead you coat yourself in the mineral rick mud, bask in the sun until it is caked on your skin and then float in the salty sea before washing it off.
The mud and the waters are said to be rich in healing properties, great for easing stiff muscles and relieving stress, but after five nights sleeping wild in Jordan, I hardly needed it.
Go to www.visitjordan.com for full information | http://irishpost.co.uk/jordan-is-a-jewel-in-the-middle-eastern-crown/ | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | irishpost.co.uk/be04a809215ac435c040298774c080211a5928ff07507b9a76cf83f0b35f38b0.json |
[
"Pearse Corcoran"
] | 2016-08-26T12:56:03 | null | 2016-08-25T16:34:12 | IRISH AND football fans alike saw the end of era pass yesterday when the news broke that Robbie Keane was retiring his green shirt once | http%3A%2F%2Firishpost.co.uk%2Fsocial-media-reacts-with-sadness-to-the-news-of-robbie-keane-retiring-from-international-football%2F.json | http://irishpost.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Robbie-Keane-Ireland-F.jpg | en | null | Social media reacts with sadness to the news of Robbie Keane retiring from international football | null | null | irishpost.co.uk | IRISH AND football fans alike saw the end of an era pass yesterday when the news broke that Robbie Keane was retiring his green shirt once and for all after next week’s friendly with Oman.
Keane announced yesterday that he was retiring from international football after next weeks friendly in a heartfelt statement online.
The Tallaght born lad has lined out 145 times for the Boys in Green and scored 67 times, making him by far the highest-scoring player in Irish football history.
Keane has built up a steady legion of fans throughout Ireland and Britain after his exploits throughout the years with Ireland, the Premier League and beyond.
From his last minute equaliser against Germany in 2002 – which felt like a winner – to his goal against France in Paris in 2009, only to be undone by the hand of Thierry Henry.
Following the news, social media took a moment to appreciate the brilliance with one particular English footballing legend paying his respects.
Here’s the best of the reaction.
Goldenballs took some time out to appreciate Robbie
145 caps , 67 goals .. Passion and love for the game especially when playing for his country .. Doesn’t matter where he plays he scores goals.. Sad to see Keano retiring from Ireland but this last game wed should be a huge celebration.. Congrats mate @robbiekeane 🍀🍀🍀 @lagalaxy A photo posted by David Beckham (@davidbeckham) on Aug 24, 2016 at 10:12am PDT
There was the sad reflection from his fans
Farwell to the legend that is Robbie Keane. The memories will live forever#ONEKEANO pic.twitter.com/3VZeARIpqG — YBIG (@YouBoysInGreen) August 24, 2016
Always appropriate to bring this up again
And, in case anyone’s forgotten, Robbie Keane and Morrissey are related. #Irishblood pic.twitter.com/2WdGhWOaMe — Danny Kelly (@dannykellywords) August 24, 2016
But not to forget how we all celebrated THAT goal from Robbie
I’ve never celebrated a goal like Robbie Keane’s equaliser against Germany in 2002 & I don’t think I ever will again — Philip Egan (@PhilEganTodayFM) August 24, 2016
The nation’s mood in a tweet
What a servant Robbie Keane has been to this country. One of my favourite goals of all time was 2002 against Germany! Thanks Robbie 🇮🇪🍀 — Rachel Lynch (@Rachel_Lynchx) August 24, 2016
Well, is he?
Is Robbie Keane Ireland’s greatest ever sportsman/person #gottobeupthere — Chris lyons (@clyons77) August 25, 2016
One particular Irish legend put a lot of the doubters in their place
To all the nuggets out there Robbie Keane is 5th all time European goal scorer at international level enough said — Jason MCATEER (@MCATEER4) August 24, 2016
Not forgetting what a baby-faced Robbie Keane looked like | http://irishpost.co.uk/social-media-reacts-with-sadness-to-the-news-of-robbie-keane-retiring-from-international-football/ | en | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | irishpost.co.uk/9d4b0e7282b2685cd184cb2a6f2132c95158df05ff6adc6621bc78194f8da62f.json |
[
"Irish Post"
] | 2016-08-29T16:51:26 | null | 2016-08-29T16:50:54 | Dublin woman Séana Sweeney has been crowned the winner of Curvy Kate’s national lingerie model search Star in a Bra. | http%3A%2F%2Firishpost.co.uk%2Firish-woman-seana-sweeney-wins-britains-star-bra-lingerie-model-search%2F.json | http://irishpost.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Seana-f.jpg | en | null | Irish woman Séana Sweeney wins Britain's Star in a Bra lingerie model search | null | null | irishpost.co.uk | A DUBLIN woman has been crowned the winner of Curvy Kate’s national lingerie model search, Star in a Bra.
Selected by an online vote, Séana Sweeney beat 2,000 others to the top spot.
A single mum who works as a receptionist, Seana said she wants to help spread the message that women should love their bodies regardless.
Having struggled with her body image from a young age, the Irish woman said pregnancy and motherhood has changed her opinion of herself.
“When I became pregnant it was made clear to me quite early on that if I went ahead with the pregnancy I would be doing so alone,” she said.
“So I decided to make that journey on my own. I’m so grateful that I was brave enough to do it but it was so hard.
“My family was brilliant but being a single mum was daunting.
“Every decision from choosing my little boy’s name to what school he’d eventually go to, was down to me.
Speaking out about her past insecurities she added: “I absolutely hated my body growing up.
“I was always bigger and more awkward than my friends who were all gorgeous and petite.
“I had big everything – big freckles, big lips, big bum, big hips.
“And I hated all of it. It eased a bit when I became pregnant – I began to appreciate how amazing my body was.
“I’ve come through to the other side of accepting myself now, and being genuinely happy in my own skin.”
Now the face and body of lingerie brand Curvy Kate, Séana wins an all-expenses paid trip to London to shoot the latest marketing campaigns.
She will also gain a year-long contract with Bridge models and will win a year’s supply of Curvy Kate Lingerie. | http://irishpost.co.uk/irish-woman-seana-sweeney-wins-britains-star-bra-lingerie-model-search/ | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | irishpost.co.uk/950c96ea2d4192143ac1e169365d09a71323b3e5b7c5e71951b0ef135c8b3a0c.json |
[
"Erica Doyle Higgins"
] | 2016-08-31T06:52:48 | null | 2016-08-31T06:47:42 | The Malone Road in Belfast was closed last weekend due to a sinkhole, however, The Irish Post found 8 potholes bigger than the sinkhole. Take a look... | http%3A%2F%2Firishpost.co.uk%2Fdear-belfast-_-potholes-bigger-sinkhole%2F.json | http://irishpost.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/BelfastSinkhole-Slider.jpg | en | null | Eight potholes in Ireland that are bigger than Belfast's new sinkhole | null | null | irishpost.co.uk | A ROAD in Belfast was closed this weekend because of a sinkhole.
According to The Belfast Telegraph, the Malone Road in south Belfast was closed on Sunday while repairs were carried out.
A spokesperson for the Department of Infrastructure said the road was closed due to “subsidence” and TransportNI were making arrangements to repair the road as soon as possible.
However, some on Twitter mocked the “sinkhole” for its size – or indeed, lack thereof.
BELFAST ROAD COLLAPSES IN SINKHOLE DRAMA! In otherwords, Malone Rd beside the Bot has a bit of a pothole.#Belfast pic.twitter.com/ak1qWohKHs — Niall Donnelly (@NiallDonnelly5) August 28, 2016
So here it is Belfast, eight other potholes in Ireland that are bigger than your sinkhole…
Out for a run/cycle with my girls and Barney, we usually go as far as Ireland's biggest pothole and back! #meathroads pic.twitter.com/Vdv0izcV3Z — The Celtic Tenors (@celtictenors) June 7, 2015
Is this Ireland’s biggest pothole? Local pub owner, Mike at Poc Ar Buile, Ballinrostig in East Cork thinks so. Between… Posted by Irish Queenslander on Tuesday, 29 December 2015
I am entering this road near my home in the worst road in #ireland competition #irishroads pic.twitter.com/M6ZbUKeT — thespeckledbird (@ederoiste) February 10, 2013
So the storms took their tole on Tramore. Brand new pothole pic.twitter.com/cNKDLHwenu — Sean Defoe (@SeanDefoe) January 5, 2014
And finally… | http://irishpost.co.uk/dear-belfast-_-potholes-bigger-sinkhole/ | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | irishpost.co.uk/dc9748cecfa0d353d34c3a54b4c2768657c5eb700360842d75627b2472975b10.json |
[
"Pearse Corcoran"
] | 2016-08-26T13:00:04 | null | 2016-08-25T16:01:05 | RTÉ 2FM may have found the most miserable sounding Leaving Cert student in Ireland after the student called into the Eoghan McDermott show on air | http%3A%2F%2Firishpost.co.uk%2Fwatch-miserable-sounding-irish-student-leaves-rte-2fm-host-eoghan-mcdermott-enraged%2F.json | http://irishpost.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Eoghan-McDermott-NF.jpg | en | null | Miserable Irish caller leaves RTÉ 2FM presenter Eoghan McDermott and his listeners in a rage | null | null | irishpost.co.uk | RTÉ 2FM may have found the most miserable Leaving Certicate student in Ireland.
A young man called Kev called The Eoghan McDermott Show last Thursday and got cranky when his slot was pushed back.
As a form of reconciliation with angry Kev, Eoghan McDermott called him up on air and tried to win him around, offering him free tickets to a gig by Irish band Hermitage Green.
Kev was underwhelmed by the offer, to say the least.
The unperturbed Leaving Cert student talked down the prospect of seeing popular band Hermitage Green, saying his true love in life is farming and silage.
Eoghan McDermott called Kev back on Friday to try and cheer him up.
McDermott also called one of the band members from Hermitage Green and a particular favorite of Kev’s, Marty Mone who has an album called Hit the Diff.
Dan Murphy from the band Hermitage Green made the charitable offer of sending a chauffeur to pick up Kev and promised him he’d enjoy the gig.
Marty Mone offered Kev tickets to his gig too.
How did Kev take the offer? He wasn’t too bothered really.
Take a listen….is this the most unenthusiastic Irishman ever?
Can you take any more? | http://irishpost.co.uk/watch-miserable-sounding-irish-student-leaves-rte-2fm-host-eoghan-mcdermott-enraged/ | en | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | irishpost.co.uk/94fff241f575c7db16905ed1c53815be5e45583316839666c7be015edfa7d813.json |
[
"Erica Doyle Higgins"
] | 2016-08-26T12:51:43 | null | 2016-08-23T13:21:48 | Blogger and model Michelle Marie was tweeting from the @Ireland Twitter account when she received the abuse on the social media site. | http%3A%2F%2Firishpost.co.uk%2Fblogger-tweeting-praise-ireland-told-blacks-ireland-irish%2F.json | http://irishpost.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Ireland-f.jpg | en | null | Blogger who was tweeting in praise of Ireland told 'Blacks out, Ireland for the Irish' | null | null | irishpost.co.uk | A BLACK British blogger and model received a torrent of abuse yesterday when she chaired an Irish Twitter account.
Started in 2012, the @Ireland Twitter account is based on the idea that a single voice cannot represent a country.
By sharing different people’s experiences and lives, the Ireland account aims to connect Ireland to the world through the different voices that chair the account each week.
This week the selected curator for the @Ireland twitter account was Michelle Marie, an Oxford-born body confidence blogger and plus size model.
Michelle Marie, who moved to Lough Mask in Mayo three years ago, says that while she is not of Irish descent, she has settled in Ireland and says “it has my heart” when speaking of her love of her adopted home.
Michelle is also mixed race of Guyanese, Jamaican and white British descent, and was adopted by white parents as a baby.
When Michelle announced her take over of the account early yesterday morning, most of the responses were positive and welcoming.
But some Twitter users took the opportunity to tweet the blogger abuse relating to her race.
Throughout the day, Michelle was told “Blacks out, Ireland for the Irish!” and referred to as a “negress”, amongst other offensive tweets.
In response to the backlash, Michelle said, “I am in no way claiming to be Irish or to reflect the native Irish in anyway [..] My daughter is an Irish citizen, it is my adopted home and I love being here.”
On deciding to curate the account, she said she “expected trolls and backlash” but yesterday she “experienced racism, sexism, fat phobia, and homophobia to a degree I have never known.”
“I have had 8 hours of non stop hate thrown at me,” she said, “I am hurt, shocked and appalled.”
Read some of the abusive tweets Michelle was sent below…
A FAT BLACK BBW CAMERA SLUT GOT AHOLD OF @IRELAND'S TWITTER — donovan (@billowax) August 22, 2016
@ireland you're a Negress why are you running Ireland's twitter account? — Vanguard PA (@Vanguard_PA) August 22, 2016
@ireland Why are you posting on the Irish twitter account? Shouldn't you be on @Nigeria or something? — J Stephens (@j_stephens_14) August 22, 2016
@ireland When did the Irish become Negros? — Dick Dagger (@DickDagger405) August 22, 2016
@ireland What the hell is a "race row"? And you are not and never will be Irish. — Draugluin (@DraugluinsWrath) August 22, 2016
Your mere presence does not belong.@ireland — marin (@holomarin) August 22, 2016
@ireland You're not Irish, you need to go back. — White Identity (@White_Identity) August 22, 2016
@ireland Why are you posting on the Irish twitter account? Shouldn't you be on @Nigeria or something? — J Stephens (@j_stephens_14) August 22, 2016 | http://irishpost.co.uk/blogger-tweeting-praise-ireland-told-blacks-ireland-irish/ | en | 2016-08-23T00:00:00 | irishpost.co.uk/39d35676e0d30933408798cfcd446cafb19ae9387c4fa7050a0ff4bb8a77de11.json |
[
"Dougie Costello"
] | 2016-08-26T12:53:14 | null | 2016-08-26T11:19:03 | THE racing fraternity in Britain and Ireland have been mourning the loss of legendary racing journalist Tom O’Ryan this week, writes jockey Dougie Costello. | http%3A%2F%2Firishpost.co.uk%2Fjockeys-journal-tom-oryan-commanded-respect-everyone-racing%2F.json | http://irishpost.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Tom-ORyan-F.jpg | en | null | ‘Tom O’Ryan commanded the respect of everyone in racing’ | null | null | irishpost.co.uk | THE racing fraternity in both Britain and Ireland have been mourning the loss of legendary racing journalist Tom O’Ryan at the age of 61 this week.
Tom was based in Malton, where I live, and he was a great help to everyone in racing in the north of England through writing for the local and national newspapers, from the Press newspaper in York to institution that is The Racing Post.
Having been named Racing Journalist of the Year in 2002, he was quite rightly an award-winning writer and also a broadcaster with Racking UK.
Born in Dublin and raised in England, he commanded the respect of everyone in the business on both sides of the water.
Sadly, he died last Tuesday night after a battle with cancer, which was just so sad for his family – who are all associated with racing up here – and everyone who knew him.
Family friend and colleague Richard Fahey broke the news on Twitter and O’Ryan himself only announced that he had cancer a few weeks ago via the same social media website.
Thanks to you all. Tough cancer battle ahead. Been involved in greatest game of all with the best of people. Been lucky for 61 years. — Tom O’Ryan (@Ballyhurst) July 28, 2016
After reading that, I kept telling myself I’d give him a call, but I didn’t want to disturb him right away, so I let it be.
I kept putting it off, saying ‘I’ll ring him next week’, but unfortunately next week never came.
As a former jockey and apprentice on the flats, O’Ryan knew what he was talking about. A multi-talented man, he was also a qualified jockeys’ coach and mentored many young aspiring jockeys who came over from Ireland to Britain.
But above all, he was a good man. It’s a sad loss for racing, particularly for those of us based in the north of England because he always sang our praises, and we needed that.
TOM O’RYAN TRIBUTES
Very sad news about a lovely man. Condolences to his family RIP Tom https://t.co/KRC2rs6rQk — AP McCoy (@AP_McCoy) August 23, 2016
Just woken up to hear about the passing of Tom O’Ryan. What sad news. Racing will miss him #RIPTom — Alex Hammond (@skysportsAlexH) August 24, 2016
Very sad to hear Tom O’Ryan has passed away. He always wanted to help and loved seeing people do well. #RIP — Richard Johnson (@dickyjohnson77) August 23, 2016
RIP Tom O Ryan , a man with great loyalty who I trusted immensely. A real gentleman and friend. Will be sadly missed. — Denis O’Regan (@DenisFORegan) August 23, 2016
Awful news to hear of the passing of Tom O’Ryan. R.I.P Tom , thoughts with family and friends! — Sam Twiston-Davies (@samtwiston) August 23, 2016
Jockeys at Musselburgh today observing a minute’s silence in memory of Tom O’Ryan pic.twitter.com/v2HtJIBcjn — Racing Post (@RacingPost) August 24, 2016
All of our thoughts here at Racing UK are with Tom O’Ryan’s family after he died today, aged 61. #RIP pic.twitter.com/uUVVLkaONq — Racing UK (@Racing_UK) August 23, 2016
Meanwhile, I’ve been enjoying watching other sports and trying to learn new things about other athletes, in particular at the Olympics and Conor McGregor’s win over Nate Diaz.
I actually didn’t get to watch any of the events involving horses, believe it or not, but me and my wife enjoyed the hockey, which was the first time I’d ever watched it properly.
But I learned so much from the individual athletes because I could relate to them more; people like Mo Farrah, who was bundled over but got up to go on and win gold, which was amazing.
I felt a little for the sprinters who got disqualified for false starts though. There was one in the 400m hurdle final with Thomas Barr too. That’s four years of hard work down the drain, and it just shows you the pressure some of them were under.
I was mesmerised by Usain Bolt, though, I mean the guy is just a freak of nature, he’s so exciting and entertaining to watch, even if his main event took less than 10 seconds!
A lot of the athletics –sprinting, hurdles and the steeplechase – is comparable to racing in that the humans go through similar physical strains as our animals, so it’s no wonder I found it fascinating to watch.
As for McGregor, I watched his recent fight back and I’m always amazed at the fitness levels of those MMA fighters.
To fight like that for 25 minutes is incredible, I can’t imagine how well conditioned their bodies are.
It was bloody, brutal, messy and tactical, but thoroughly entertaining and well done to the Dubliner for getting the decision.
As for myself, it’s been an interesting few weeks. I’ve been over to France at Clairefontaine again, but had no joy over there, although before that I had a good winner in Hamilton on board Apres Midi for Karl Burke.
I didn’t get back until 12.30am the night before I went to France and then somehow managed to get up at 4am to set off for my flight at Doncaster Airport.
It was a two-hour drive at the other end to get to the racecourse in France. I had two rides and then jumped back in the car for the two hours back to the airport.
I managed to make it home to York for 9.30pm, which I thought was good going.
It’s not always that way though. Karl, who has been very good to me this year, sorts me out with a private plane when he can.
We flew out to Deauville Racecourse that way at the beginning of August and I took a few pictures of the experience.
Hope he knows what his doing because Harriet dosen’t!!
😳😳 pic.twitter.com/vpfhf6x8f2 — Dougie Costello (@DougieCostello) August 2, 2016
It’s true what they say; hard work pays off. | http://irishpost.co.uk/jockeys-journal-tom-oryan-commanded-respect-everyone-racing/ | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | irishpost.co.uk/de425e2dd0ae13a67f2a0c54835869c43ed109c2c67daf14d5dfa57aa85f3740.json |
[
"Aidan Lonergan"
] | 2016-08-31T08:52:46 | null | 2016-08-31T09:00:59 | IRELAND has been named in the top 10 of the world's most innovative economies, leapfrogging the Netherlands to 7th place globally. | http%3A%2F%2Firishpost.co.uk%2Fgaining-uk-ireland-ranked-one-innovative-countries-earth%2F.json | http://irishpost.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Beckett_Bridge_Dub_featured.jpg | en | null | Gaining on the UK: Ireland ranked as one of the most innovative countries on Earth | null | null | irishpost.co.uk | IRELAND has been named in the top 10 of the world’s most innovative economies, leapfrogging the Netherlands to 7th place globally.
2016’s Global Innovation Index report sees the United Kingdom overtaken by Sweden and dropping one place to 3rd, while Switzerland holds on to the top spot as the world’s most innovative economy.
Ireland’s move up the table was fuelled by ranking top in Royalty and Licence fee payments into the economy, which reflects the interest multinational giants such as Facebook and Apple have shown in holding intellectual property assets in Ireland.
Ireland ranks highest globally for the number of edits made to Wikipedia, the largest and most popular Internet encyclopaedia on Earth.
Other sectors topped by the Irish were how easy it is to pay tax, foreign direct investment as a share of the economy and computer services exports.
Ireland could have placed even higher if it wasn’t for its relatively poor capital investment and gross capital formation. Surprisingly, Ireland also ranked low on cultural and creative exports.
But the Irish still ranked above world-leading economies such as Germany, Australia, Israel, Denmark and the Netherlands.
Other big rises included China who entered the top 25 for the first time to become the first “middle income” economy to do so well.
War-torn Yemen perhaps unsurprisingly ranks the lowest globally, while Georgia’s placed 64th. | http://irishpost.co.uk/gaining-uk-ireland-ranked-one-innovative-countries-earth/ | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | irishpost.co.uk/4187c9dfccd1452aae9ecef6c04be7db73dcdda45a3717d8ffb7a44429fb3b21.json |
[
"Jamie Casey"
] | 2016-08-28T16:50:04 | null | 2016-08-28T16:22:58 | LONDON-BORN Austin Hayes made his international debut for Ireland in 1979, but seven years later his family had to come to terms with his shock death. | http%3A%2F%2Firishpost.co.uk%2Fthe-fascinating-life-and-days-of-austin-hayes%2F.json | http://irishpost.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Austin-Hayes-Southampton-Wembley-f.png | en | null | The fascinating life and days of Austin Hayes | null | null | irishpost.co.uk | AUSTIN HAYES was one of the originals – a prototype player for the Irish passport loophole that would eventually define the Jack Charlton era.
Few English-born players had turned out for the Republic of Ireland before Hayes.
Mark Lawrenson was one, Gerry Peyton another, while there was also Brendan O’Callaghan, but Tony Grealish really set the benchmark.
Like Grealish, the lesser-known Hayes played in a cup final in Wembley and, like Grealish, he was taken from his loved ones too soon.
But unlike Grealish, Hayes’ story has been scarcely documented, perhaps because his international career only consisted of one cap.
When Hayes’ 90-year-old mother Patsy – who was born in Theatre Lane, Limerick – wrote to me a number of weeks ago, asking if we could help find a picture of her son in his Ireland gear, I must admit I had never heard of him.
But a quick scan through the fairly limited information on Hayes online was enough to convince me that this was a tale that needed to be brought to the public’s attention in what is the 30th anniversary year of his untimely death.
Born in Hammersmith to Irish sweethearts and raised in Chiswick from 1958, there was nothing unusual about Hayes’ upbringing giving the influx of immigrants from the Emerald Isle to London at that time.
In contrast, the career path of the pint-sized forward could be described as unorthodox.
A product of Bob Higgins’ London Selection Centre, Hayes signed for Southampton as a 15-year-old and made his competitive debut against Northern Irish side Carrick Rangers a month before his 18th birthday in 1976.
The home leg of the Cup Winners’ Cup tie allowed him to endear himself to The Dell faithful, scoring two goals on the night, while his close friend and room-mate Steve Williams also netted in the 4-1 win.
However, by the time Hayes was 19, Southampton were shipping him out on loan to the old LA Aztecs team, who were part of the North American Soccer League (NASL), the then equivalent of Major League Soccer (MLS).
The move was an unusual one for a teenager. American soccer had become a luxury pre-retirement home for legends of the game, much as it still is in its current form.
Not that Hayes was complaining mind you, although he did have to ring his mother and ask her to send him out some sun cream.
“When they sent him over there for a little loan period he was thrilled to bits,” said Hayes’ brother Tony, two years his junior.
“The North American Soccer League was in its infancy, and not many people went over there.”
The ones who did go were usually pretty recognisable though, none more so than George Best, whose second spell with the Aztecs coincided with Hayes’ loan move.
“I don’t think they were ever in the side at the same time, they were always chopping and changing the team,” recalls Tony.
“So they didn’t cross paths too often, but they were both at the club at the same time, that’s for sure.
“Best was Best, you know? Let’s put it this way, he was busier hanging out with celebrities rather than the players, and why wouldn’t he? It was 1978.”
Former Scotland international Charlie Cooke was also there at that time, while the late, great Johan Cruyff arrived a year later.
Upon entering the Hayes’ distinctly Irish family home in Staines, the most striking piece of memorabilia – or any decoration for that matter – is a Man of the Match award for Austin’s two-goal performance for the Aztecs against San Jose Earthquakes.
True to American form, it’s enormous – you wouldn’t get one for Player of the Season as big as it on this side of the Atlantic. Off the top of the trophy dangles Hayes’ actual international cap, a priceless heirloom.
He earned that Man of the Match award after coming off the bench to bag a delightful brace, a pair of goals the family had read about but never seen, until Tony’s persistent search finally paid off.
“I thought there must be something out there. I must have put hundreds of messages and posts on websites. ‘Anyone know where I can get this footage?’
“And then one day, finally, I got this e-mail back. This guy in the USA said he had a video of the game of Austin against San Jose Earthquakes. ‘It’s a bit dodgy’ he said, ‘but it works’.
“Of course, they have a different region over there so I told him ‘whatever it costs, just have it converted and send it to me, I’ll cover it’. I just had to have it.”
What ensued was an anxious wait for a huge favour from a total stranger, but the Good Samaritan stuck to his word.
“I didn’t say anything to my mum, but finally it came, so I put it in the machine. And there it was – not the greatest quality but clear enough – Austin scoring two great goals. Mum had never seen him score a goal before, she’d always been too nervous to go to the games.”
After featuring in over 20 games out in America, Hayes returned to Southampton and 1979 would become the finest year of his career.
At a time when double Ballon d’Or winner Kevin Keegan was making a mockery of the notion that short players couldn’t cut it in the game, 5ft 5in Hayes was doing likewise on a smaller stage.
Lawrie McMenemy, then Southampton manager, saw something in the youngster, handing him a start in the League Cup final on St Patrick’s Day, 1979.
Southampton lost 3-2 to Nottingham Forest, but Hayes played 83 minutes before being replaced by his good friend Tony Sealy.
“I’ll never forget watching that game,” his brother recalls. “They were a goal down and I remember Terry Curran going down the wing, and my brother was around the penalty spot.
“All Curran had to do was pick him out across the face of the box, but the greedy bugger took a shot!”
Although defeat at Wembley was tough, Hayes had been thrust into the limelight, and within two months Republic of Ireland player-manager Johnny Giles – who played against him in the US during his time with Philadelphia Fury – called Hayes up to the national squad for a competitive qualifier with Denmark in Dublin.
Quoted in the Irish Independent ahead of the match, Hayes said: “When I heard that the FAI were interested in me a few weeks ago I didn’t hesitate in saying that I’d be proud to declare for Ireland. There was no way that I’d consider England, even if they were to approach me.”
Much like he endeared himself to the Southampton fans with his feet on his debut, Hayes was making all the right noises ahead of the biggest moment of his career.
Giles, meanwhile, told the sceptical press that Hayes would “link up the attack with great effect” before knocking back questions about his physical ability. “He may be small, but he’s nippy and he comes off centre-halves very well and uses the ball well,” said Giles.
The aforementioned Gerry Peyton was making his competitive debut in the Irish goal and was a “bag of nerves” in the opening half, according to former Irish Press journalist Mel Moffatt.
No such nerves overcame Hayes though, with Moffatt describing “one magical moment when he crossed beautifully from the right for [Gerry] Daly to score in the 44th minute” at the end of a tricky half for Ireland.
“Giles found Hayes in space on the right,” continued the match report. “The little Southampton player killed the ball with great skill and turned to find Daly with his cross, which was side-footed into the far corner of the net by the Derby player.”
Not a bad contribution for a 20-year-old who had only set foot in the country for the first time a matter of days earlier.
Hayes was substituted just after the hour mark and replaced with Mickey Walsh – another one of the original English-born crew – and Daly would go on to take the plaudits having set up Don Givens for Ireland’s second in the 2-0 win.
After returning to his club to compete for places with former England internationals Charlie George and Phil Boyer, plus Keegan himself as of February 1980, Hayes soon found game time difficult to come by with Southampton in the old First Division.
A move to Millwall materialised in February 1981, with the Lions paying a reported £50,000 for his services.
Since Millwall were a Division Three side at the time, the move will have done Hayes’ international career little good due to a lack of exposure.
He spent two years at The Den before dropping down another division to join Northampton in a transfer deal that involved a car. Ironically, it was an old model manufactured by Austin.
“The press picked up on it and so that’s where the ‘Mini Austin’ headlines came from,” recalled an amused Tony, showcasing streams of newspaper clippings and pictures from his brother’s career.
Two fairly prolific years passed at Northampton before Hayes was on the move again, this time a short loan move to Barnet towards the end of his contract with the Cobblers.
Having richly enjoyed his time overseas with the Aztecs earlier in his career, a rare opportunity to ply his trade abroad once more proved too tempting for the London-Irishman, who by 1986 had fallen way out of the international reckoning just as Charlton was about to shake things up.
Swedish outfit Friska Viljor FC came calling, so Hayes duly accepted the fresh challenge of competing in a summer league in Scandinavia.
“He was between clubs, as they say, and they just came in,” said Tony of the unexpected approach.
“When he came back, I remember the side of his face was all puffed out and bruised. He said he went up for a header and clashed heads.
“He was home for a few weeks, but you could tell something was wrong; he was deteriorating, he had no energy. So he went to the doctors and they sent him straight to the hospital.”
Devastatingly, Hayes was diagnosed with lung cancer, and his family were left helpless as his condition worsened so rapidly that he had passed within a matter of weeks of the diagnosis.
“The crazy thing about it is that it was just such a short period of time. The quick demise was just incredible,” said Tony.
“It was literally six weeks from that incident to him passing away. Even to this day we’re still not 100 per cent sure how and why it happened.
“But it came back to us that he had developed pneumonia which led to other issues. For a young man of 28 that played football for a living and never smoked, it crazy.”
With the father of the house, Cecil Hayes of Limerick, having passed a year earlier, the family were forced to come to terms with tragedy yet again as Austin passed away on December 3, 1986.
Ever since then, his mother Patsy had been longing to see her son in the kit of her beloved Ireland.
“She’s been on about it for a long, long time and I’ve been trying and trying and trying,” said Tony, who has amassed an incredible amount of archive material on his brother’s career.
“When you replied to her letter, she freaked out,” he told me. “Because she knew there was still a chance. She felt more comfortable that you’d have a better chance of finding the picture than I would.
“And when you told me you had found a picture of him in a tracksuit, I didn’t say anything because I wanted to see her face when she seen it. We can’t thank you enough for doing this.”
And yet we might not be done here – Tony is convinced more images must exist.
And he could be right, because as well as veteran English sports photographer Bob Thomas, who took the portrait picture, Irishmen Cyril Byrne and Pat Cashman each provided images for Irish national newspapers following the Lansdowne Road encounter.
With three professional photographers there on the day, a team shot must exist somewhere, while the best case scenario would be to locate an action shot of Hayes from the game.
“There might be some older fans reading this now who watched Ireland back in the day, and it may trigger something, who knows? There might be some fans and collectors out there, or other photographers with pictures in their archives.”
Come what may, the Hayes family are incredibly proud of their boy, who defied belief in making it as a pro when no one believed his small stature would allow him to.
“When you think about that notion now, I mean, look at Lionel Messi.
“But to do what Austin did in that day and age at only 5ft 5 was a real achievement, and he worked hard for it, he really did.
“When someone asks me what football team do I support, I start reeling off all his teams. Southampton, Millwall, Northampton, Barnet, LA Aztecs, and of course they all look at me as if to say ‘what’s that all about?’
“And then I tell them about my brother.”
Suited and booted at Wembley with his friend Steve Williams Warming up on the Wembley turf Austin pictured with his Southampton team-mates Austin Hayes feeling the force of Ron 'Chopper' Harris In his latter days at Northampton | http://irishpost.co.uk/the-fascinating-life-and-days-of-austin-hayes/ | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | irishpost.co.uk/9603397b4aaed3913727cf9b0dd7bda4be82c347d2e30e813518054a04c8547e.json |
[
"Garry Doyle"
] | 2016-08-31T12:52:54 | null | 2016-08-31T13:00:26 | AS Robbie Keane hangs up his international boots, Garry Doyle pays homage to Ireland’s underappreciated hero. | http%3A%2F%2Firishpost.co.uk%2Ffarewell-robbie-keane-irelands-undervalued-national-treasure%2F.json | http://irishpost.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Robbie-Keane-celebrates-his-first-goal-for-ireland-against-Malta-in-1998-F.jpg | en | null | Farewell Robbie Keane, Ireland's undervalued national treasure | null | null | irishpost.co.uk | THERE was an interesting exchange on Twitter last Wednesday in the aftermath of Robbie Keane’s decision to announce his retirement from international football.
After posting his tribute to the former Ireland captain, ‘trolls’ immediately undermined Jason McAteer for suggesting Keane was one of the few world class players Ireland has produced.
ROI have only had a few world class players Robbie Keane was one of them absolute pleasure to call you a team mate pic.twitter.com/NfFwGtNk34 — Jason MCATEER (@MCATEER4) August 24, 2016
@MCATEER4 your at the wind up here surely?? Very good player and great career but WORLD CLASS…..behave. — Willie Campbell (@williec2811) August 24, 2016
@williec2811 Ireland against crap teams.v over rated by media.baffling that mcateer gets paid for a deluded opinion — Niall Purcell (@purcelln421) August 24, 2016
@MCATEER4 @CelticRebelArmy we’ve had loads of world class players. Robbie wasn’t one of them. — Damien Hanley (@damien_hanley) August 24, 2016
To all the nuggets out there Robbie Keane is 5th all time European goal scorer at international level enough said — Jason MCATEER (@MCATEER4) August 24, 2016
While there was a certain amount of validity in questioning whether Keane’s talents ever reached world class levels, the overall point wasn’t missed. That even on the day he pulled the curtain down on an 18-year international career, a certain level of disdain for the country’s record goalscorer, and caps holder, was evident.
It has been there for some time. Goals were his currency yet they continue to be devalued – one troll who went to social media war with McAteer expressed the view that so many of them came against ‘teams who were sh**e’.
That was the perception. Here is the evidence. Sixty-seven times Keane scored for Ireland; more than Frank Stapleton, Don Givens and Niall Quinn – the second, third and fourth highest scorers in the country’s history – combined.
That he also scored more goals than any other player in European Championship qualifying history shouldn’t be readily dismissed, either; nor the fact that he found the target on 44 occasions in qualification or finals games, including five times in major tournament play-offs, and three times in the 2002 World Cup.
If anything, the fact he was a regular punisher of Europe’s weaker sides – 15 of his goals came in qualifiers against San Marino, Andorra, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Malta – seems to have worked against him in the court of public opinion, from people who must have little or no memory of Ireland’s scoreless draw in Liechtenstein in 1995.
“He did it against Germany, Holland, Spain,” McAteer said. And to that list you can add the following names: Yugoslavia, Sweden, Russia, Turkey, Italy, France, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Albania, Wales, Georgia, Cyprus, Israel, Macedonia, Estonia and Kazakhstan.
The above goals came in key qualification or finals games. A flat track bully he most certainly was not. Yet loved? At best, the level of affection (within Ireland) was mixed, a source of annoyance to his team mates.
“Whenever we were abroad, Robbie was the face of our team,” said Shay Given. “So when you’d go to different parts, they’d be all wanting to have pictures with Robbie. Sometimes that gets lost a little bit in Ireland because different quarters, and different sections, would be giving him stick and stuff. He was the most famous player we had, a player that fans around the world look up to. And sometimes Irish fans, for whatever reason, didn’t appreciate how good he was. But we’ll probably look back in 10 or 20 years and realise then that his record is untouchable.”
Niall Quinn shares that view. “It won’t be broken,” he said. “I should know. It took me long enough to get ahead of Don Givens and Frank (Stapleton). Then Robbie came along and smashed it to smithereens. For me, he has to go down as one of our greatest ever players, because he did it so often and for so long.”
And therein lies the crux of the matter. At 36, Keane is still prepared to board a trans-Atlantic flight and travel across to Dublin, something he has been doing for 18 months, even though he knew the most he could hope for was a place on the bench.
His team-mates loved him, no matter what stage of his international career he was at.
“He wasn’t just our record goalscorer,” wrote Tony Cascarino in his Irish Sun column. “What was just as important in my book was the fact that he always turned up. I remember when I first started in the Ireland squad. I’d be gobsmacked to see Liam Brady travelling halfway across Europe to join us for some friendly in the middle of nowhere. It was a lesson to me that if one of Ireland’s all-time greats was going to put in such a huge effort for the country, then the rest of us had to too.
“Robbie is just like Liam. It would be easy to skip a game or two but he was always there and that rubs off on other people. He’s a legend – and a great guy too.”
If his personality wasn’t initially appreciated then the course of time served to change that, particularly when he grew into the captaincy role after a troubled first campaign during Steve Staunton’s reign.
When Giovanni Trapattoni arrived, the armband seemed to fit so much better, a point Don Givens made to Trapattoni after working closely with the Dubliner during his reign as caretaker boss.
He didn’t look for publicity when he organised hospital trips with Ireland squad members; nor did he want it mentioned when he persuaded the players to sign away their image rights to the PFAI in order to help Irish based players enrol on education courses.
By now he was maturing and what inadvertently helped was the vacuum Trapattoni’s long silences left in the dressing room before games and at half-time. Keane, Given and, surprisingly, Stephen Hunt filled the void and the Italian’s trust in Keane was rewarded with goals too. The best period of his international career came during Trap’s tenure.
During the Staunton era, he had a habit of talking a lot but saying little, aside from general platitudes.
This all changed in Paris in 2009. After losing the first leg of the World Cup play-off 1-0, he delivered a primal rallying cry in the pre-match press conference and the tone for the following night’s performance was set.
A year later, he used the press for his own needs again. Angry with Jon Walters, James McCarthy and Anthony Stokes – who for one reason or another, failed to appear for a crucial qualifier away to Macedonia, he cut loose.
A questionable strategy was rewarded. McCarthy and Walters’ commitment has improved dramatically since. More to the point, Keane backed up his outspoken comments with two priceless goals in a 2-0 win.
“He played that game with a painkiller,” Trapattoni said. “He showed real leadership.”
And that was something O’Neill quickly noticed when he became the third, and final, manager of Keane’s captaincy. “What I have noticed here is the superb atmosphere around the camp,” said O’Neill after his second game in charge.
For this, Keane was credited. He had learned his lesson from the Staunton era and worked on making newcomers feel more at home. The ritual, where a newly appointed player has to sing a song of his choice in their first week in camp, has become popular.
“I was mortified when it was my turn,” said Keith Treacy. “I hated the thought of it. But it broke the ice. I sang the first verse of You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling and by the chorus the others had all joined in. Did it make a difference to how I felt around the squad? Absolutely. I felt a hell of a lot more comfortable around the lads from there on in.”
Aside from acting as a makeshift X-Factor judge, Keane has also learned how to play the political game. He and John Delaney, the FAI CEO, speak regularly. Throughout the summer he was in regular touch with Delaney about the best way to handle his retirement. They settled on a farewell game against Oman.
And yet you sense this won’t be goodbye. More of a ‘see you later’. Keane is bound to return in some coaching or ambassadorial capacity.
There is another chapter of the Keane-Ireland story still to be written.
Robbie Keane and Mark Van Bommel 1/9/2001 Robbie Keane - Damien Duff - Featured robbie keane-n robbie keane-n Keane-celebrates robbie keane1 web Robbie Keane and Damien Duff at the end of the game 18/6/2012 Robbie Keane Sub N ROBBIE KEANE-N Robbie Keane Shane Long Germany Robbie Keane Ireland F
Pictures: Inpho | http://irishpost.co.uk/farewell-robbie-keane-irelands-undervalued-national-treasure/ | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | irishpost.co.uk/0236be81048426dcba3588a853549fc843a71d920e687bbdced379719189093f.json |
[
"Pearse Corcoran"
] | 2016-08-29T14:51:21 | null | 2016-08-29T14:55:35 | THE man arrested last week in connection with Northern Ireland terrorism related offences has been transferred to a London police station. | http%3A%2F%2Firishpost.co.uk%2Fman-arrested-northern-ireland-related-terrorism-offences-moved-london-police-station%2F.json | http://irishpost.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Ciaran-Maxwell-Three-facebook-F.jpg | en | null | Man arrested for Northern Ireland related terrorism offences moved to London police station | null | null | irishpost.co.uk | The Irish Post
is the biggest selling national newspaper to the Irish in Britain. Irishpost.co.uk delivers all the latest Irish news to our online audience around the globe. | http://irishpost.co.uk/man-arrested-northern-ireland-related-terrorism-offences-moved-london-police-station/ | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | irishpost.co.uk/e7bbebab6a93598a3422c7e45bae322e2cce523c6dac5f496f7f460d6dd4f265.json |
[
"Erica Doyle Higgins"
] | 2016-08-30T16:52:14 | null | 2016-08-30T15:58:54 | A wedding party in Derry was wowed when the A-Team singer dropped in to perform with Snow Patrol... | http%3A%2F%2Firishpost.co.uk%2Fderry-brides-get-surprise-ed-sheeran-snow-patrol-pop-perform%2F.json | http://irishpost.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/EdInDerry-SLIDER.jpg | en | null | Ed Sheeran and Snow Patrol's Johnny Mc Daid join forces in Derry to make the best wedding band ever | null | null | irishpost.co.uk | IMAGINE if Ed Sheeran and Snow Patrol decided to drop into your wedding reception and perform a few tunes?
Well, that’s exactly what happened for one Derry bride when her famous brother brought the A-Team singer along to sing at her wedding.
Snow Patrol’s Johnny McDaid and singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran performed together at Mc Daid’s sister Brid’s wedding last weekend in the Beach Hill Country House Hotel in Derry.
The pair took to the stage and performed Snow Patrol’s hit, Chasing Cars, to serenade the Derry-born bride and her Scottish love, Sandy Statham.
The duo also performed Sheeran’s Tenerife Sea and Stevie Wonder’s Superstition.
Manager of Beech Hill Country House Hotel, Conor Donnelly, said, “We enjoyed a wonderful day to celebrate the beautiful garden wedding of the happy couple, Brid and Sandy.”
“The wedding guests were treated to very special performance,” Mr Donnelly told the Belfast Telegraph, “which was fitting for such a great occasion.”
Johnny McDaid and Ed Sheeran became friends after working on Sheeran’s song, Photograph together.
Check out the video of their performance below…
Ed Sheeran and Johnny McDaid at the Beech HillWe’ve hosted some fantastic wedding bands but few like this….Many congratulations to the happy couple Brid and Sandy, it was a pleasure to have been part of your special day….the great music comes courtesy of Johnny McDaid and Ed Sheeran Posted by Beech Hill Country House Hotel on Monday, 29 August 2016 | http://irishpost.co.uk/derry-brides-get-surprise-ed-sheeran-snow-patrol-pop-perform/ | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | irishpost.co.uk/23b3f037f81ef572702c407379ddcad76e31385a3222dc53b31adaf3487c89cb.json |
[
"Pearse Corcoran"
] | 2016-08-30T14:52:17 | null | 2016-08-30T15:05:57 | SKIBBEREEN in County Cork was out in force last night to welcome their Olympic hometown heroes and rowing silver medalists, Gary and Paul O'Donovan. | http%3A%2F%2Firishpost.co.uk%2Fodonovan-brothers-quite-welcome-home-cork-last-night-also-produced-another-hilarious-tv-interview%2F.json | http://irishpost.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/ODonovan-Featured.jpg | en | null | The O'Donovan brothers got an epic welcome home from the Olympics in Cork last night and gave another golden interview | null | null | irishpost.co.uk | THE PROUD people of Skibbereen in County Cork were out in force last night to welcome home their Olympic heroes and rowing silver medalists, Gary and Paul O’Donovan.
The pair has captured the hearts of the nation over the last few weeks with their sporting prowess as well as their hilarious media interviews.
The nation fell in love with the two brothers after they picked up Ireland’s first medals of the Olympics claiming silver in rowing.
But their post-race interviews attracted almost as much attention.
Their relaxed nature made them new fans across the world, despite the lads being in such an intense environment at the Olympics.
Scroll down to video of the O’Donovan brothers homecoming…
Since Rio, Paul O’Donovan has added a gold medal at the World Lightweight Single Sculls final in Rotterdam last Saturday.
Last night the pair were welcomed home by their fans, with Corkonians greeting them with the Iceland’ impressive thunder clap.
The two boys also delivered another stand out performance in front of the cameras during an interview on RTÉ news last night.
Referencing Father Ted, Paul O’Donovan made an estimation that a million people had come down to welcome them home.
Watch the interview with RTÉ here…
Olympic heroes welcomed home – ‘We’re not great at judging crowds but I’d say there’s a million or something here’ https://t.co/h5fgk4UKeK — RTÉ News (@rtenews) August 29, 2016
Now watch the people of Cork give the boys the Icelandic Thunder Clap | http://irishpost.co.uk/odonovan-brothers-quite-welcome-home-cork-last-night-also-produced-another-hilarious-tv-interview/ | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | irishpost.co.uk/2adc05d40cefafd9bc8d901904dabf203a39728a37058b070e580245bf7d2f58.json |
[
"Pearse Corcoran"
] | 2016-08-26T14:51:26 | null | 2016-08-23T12:52:45 | POLICE are treating the vandalism of a wall outside a Catholic school in Glasgow over the weekend as a hate crime. The incident.. | http%3A%2F%2Firishpost.co.uk%2Ffamine-time-go-home-catholic-school-graffiti-treated-hate-crime%2F.json | http://irishpost.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Famine-Slur.jpg | en | null | 'The Famine is over, time to go home' Catholic school graffiti being treated as hate crime | null | null | irishpost.co.uk | POLICE are treating the vandalism of a wall outside a Catholic school in Glasgow over the weekend as a hate crime.
Graffiti spray-painted onto the wall read: ‘The famine is over, time to go home’.
The act of vandalism has been by described as ‘sad and unfortunate’ by a national group that works to empower Scotland’s ethic and cultural minority communities.
BEMIS Parliamentary and Policy Officer Danny Boyle said: “It’s sad to see and very unfortunate, that this particular slogan is raised it’s head again.
“We had significant issues in the last decade in Scotland with that slogan. It’s been sung at football matches or it’s been stickered around the city centre or spray-painted on the walls of buildings.”
@LaytonBhoy seen this message for the kids arriving @ St Aloysius school this morning ! Racism at it’s worst, scum ! pic.twitter.com/PJSxIZkcNA — Grant Neil (@GRANTO74) August 22, 2016
Police were called to St Aloysius’ College in the Garnethill area of Glasgow on Sunday at 9pm.
An investigation has now been launched into the Famine slur, which has since been removed.
“Around 9pm on Sunday, August 21, police received a report of a vandalism outside a school on Hill Street, Glasgow,” a Police Scotland spokesperson said. “The incident is being treated as a hate crime and inquiries are ongoing.”
A statement from St Aloysius’ College said: “Graffiti was discovered on the Dalhousie Street side of the main building on the morning of Monday, August 22, following the weekend.
“The matter was reported to police and enquiries are ongoing. The graffiti has now been removed.”
BEMIS policy officer Danny Boyle added: “In relation to the slogan, Police Scotland and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service will need to progress it as a racially motivated but aggravated offence because it’s quite clearly directed towards a community’s ethnicity, which has protection under the equality act as opposed to the perceived religious identity.
“The comments are quite clearly directed towards Irish people and not Catholic people i.e Polish or Nigerian Catholics wouldn’t take offence to a slogan of that nature,” he said.
The incident comes following a Scottish Government report published at the end of last year that suggested religiously and racially aggravated hate crimes in Scotland have reached its lowest levels since 2004.
Read it here. | http://irishpost.co.uk/famine-time-go-home-catholic-school-graffiti-treated-hate-crime/ | en | 2016-08-23T00:00:00 | irishpost.co.uk/1afce876e225385a8a933a349620fad3aa096dd6f07d0ec38a5693df5b042174.json |
[
"Erica Doyle Higgins"
] | 2016-08-30T14:52:13 | null | 2016-08-30T14:41:38 | This Dubliner had a lucky escape at the Dublin City Triathlon in the Phoenix Park when a stag leapt over him causing him to crash | http%3A%2F%2Firishpost.co.uk%2Firishman-hit-by-a-leaping-stag-during-dublin-city-triathlon-manged-to-finishe-the-race%2F.json | http://irishpost.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/DublinCityTri-F.jpg | en | null | Irishman hit by a leaping stag during Dublin city triathlon managed to finish the race | null | null | irishpost.co.uk | ONE triathlon cyclist in Dublin had a near miss this weekend as a stag came down a hill in the Phoenix Park and leapt over him.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Liveline yesterday, cyclist Shane O’Reilly said he was “pretty lucky” to not have been more badly injured.
“I was coming into the last lap of the cycle on the triathlon course and there were two or three deer running alongside the path. One ran in front of me and I just hit the brakes, and went flying over [the handlebars] and the other just went over my back wheel.”
“I was actually pretty lucky,” he told Liveline presenter Joe Duffy. “I had a cracked helmet and a sore shoulder and that’s about it so I was fortunate enough, it was obviously a bit of an impact but I was relatively ok after.”
An eagle-eyed spectator at the race, caught this image just moments before the stags crossed Mr O’Reilly’s path.
Scroll down to see the pictures….
Mr O’Reilly, 30, from Blackrock in Dublin said he was helped to remount his bicycle by a fellow competitor.
“I got back up and the guy beside me helped me fix my bike,” Mr O’Reilly said, “then he told me to go do the Lotto I was that lucky.”
O’Reilly then completed the last 10 kilometres on the cycle course, before completing the running portion of the race.
Check out the incredible photo below… | http://irishpost.co.uk/irishman-hit-by-a-leaping-stag-during-dublin-city-triathlon-manged-to-finishe-the-race/ | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | irishpost.co.uk/308dfd69489db9baff6a2d56c6471383e6918ec79495f72443fa9e8293ae4add.json |
[
"Garry Doyle"
] | 2016-08-28T08:49:44 | null | 2016-08-28T09:00:27 | IF Kerry thought they were on cruise control en route to another All-Ireland final then they’re about to discover the road ahead isn’t just filled with potholes, but one giant canyon. | http%3A%2F%2Firishpost.co.uk%2Fwounded-animal-kerry-wont-go-without-fight%2F.json | http://irishpost.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Kerry_GAA_F.jpg | en | null | Wounded Kerry won't go down without a fight | null | null | irishpost.co.uk | IF Kerry thought they were on cruise control en route to another All-Ireland final then they’re about to discover the road ahead isn’t just filled with potholes, but one giant canyon.
Having eased their way to semi-finals – Clare, Tipperary, Clare again – they now face Dublin, the one team who have had their number since 2009 (in Championship terms at least).
That they arrive at this stage undercooked is another problem altogether, yet for Kerry, it isn’t revenge that is driving them this weekend. It’s something deeper than that – a need to prove they aren’t a flash-in-the-pan side.
“Good teams win one All-Ireland, great teams win two or more,” Peter Crowley, their half back said.
“We feel we can get there. We need to shore up where we fell short last year and we acknowledge that the Dubs are leading the way at the moment, taking up from our team of the Noughties.
“That’s something we want to address. We feel we can beat any team in the country but the reality is we have to show it. Dublin haven’t lost in the Championship since Donegal beat them in 2014, so at the moment they are kingpins.”
And don’t Kerry know it.
Having met in the last two national finals, they have been comprehensively beaten twice, although the irony remains that their performance in April’s league final was better than the end result suggested, whereas their result in last September’s All-Ireland was more impressive than the performance.
“April football and August/September football aren’t first cousins of each other,” Crowley said.
“The fact is we tried out a few things in the league final. Up to the 60th minute we were doing alright. We didn’t have enough possession, enough chances, and if you don’t have that you’re not going to win a game.”
Especially when that game is against Dublin – a team who have now won three All-Irelands this decade and who, quite possibly, could end up not just as the greatest Dublin team of all-time, but possibly the second greatest side Gaelic football has known.
Thus far, they have reversed the trend that characterised the original Dublin-Kerry rivalry. Back then, after Dublin’s triumphs in the 1976 All-Ireland final and the 1977 semi-final, the rivalry existed in name only. Dublin turned up, alright, but Kerry kept beating them (in the Championship), all the way through from 1978 until 2011.
And then the pendulum shifted when Pat Gilroy’s nearly men came of age and Kerry came unstuck.
Yet even though they seem clearly superior to the Munster champions, neutrals, including the Longford manager and former Dublin forward, Jack Sheedy, feel the gap Kerry have to bridge is manageable.
“In many ways Dublin and Kerry play very similar styles,” Sheedy said. “They play with very strong and attacking half-back lines, are highly mobile and they look to squeeze things high up the pitch.
“Both have half-forwards with serious pace and a high work ethic, players like Paul Flynn and Ciarán Kilkenny in Dublin or Paul Murphy and Johnny Buckley in Kerry.
“They’ll be trying to get as much ball into their forwards as they can and they’ll be happy to take their chances from there. That’s how Kerry play and they have the quality of players in all the positions to make it work.
“The intriguing thing is that Dublin do an awful lot of the same things as Kerry. The basis of both teams is that they try to win primary possession and turn it into scores.
“Trying to plan against that for the other team is difficult because they both have so much firepower.”
While the capacity of the Kerry forwards to catch fire is definitely there – other issues remain, the main one being that last year’s All-Ireland finalists have played just three games since June 12.
“Now this is my beef,” Tomas O’Se, their former player, said. “Nearly everybody will say that Kerry will be fresh coming in, but Kerry have played roughly two games in eight weeks in the middle of the summer, and that for me is madness.
“Ideally, it would be great to have a situation where you’re playing, worst case scenario, every three weeks.
“Games are where you learn. You can do all the training you like in Killarney but you won’t learn as much as you would in a Championship match.”
Yet if Eammon Fitzmaurice learned anything from Kerry’s quarter-final win over Clare, he was able to keep it hidden. Like O’Se, his former colleague, their relative inactivity is a concern. “Four weeks between games is a long time,” the Kerry manager said.
“When you’re going through the league, playing week in and week out or every second weekend, there’s a bit of momentum there and you’re changing, working on things and if you’ve an issue you’re trying to polish it up in the next game and at the end of a run of games you’ve often made a good bit of progress.
“Whereas when the games come more sporadically, it’s more of a challenge, but, look, we’re in an All-Ireland semi-final and we’ve a good bit of improving to do.”
They know it. Dublin know it too. “You always have to be wary of Kerry,” Jim Gavin, their manager, said last week.
And here’s why.
“We are dealing with a reality here,” Crowley said, “which is that if we don’t get a couple of All-Irelands, people might start arguing that 2014 was a fluke. You need to move on.”
Sunday will determine if this wounded animal is still a dangerous one. | http://irishpost.co.uk/wounded-animal-kerry-wont-go-without-fight/ | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | irishpost.co.uk/0ee060b9227e10989232e15bbcc19baa67bb143bd0a29a6cf44c6359ca7a6e1b.json |
[
"Jamie Casey"
] | 2016-08-26T12:57:50 | null | 2016-08-25T14:50:24 | IN the days before the internet, I had to be content with reading up on Liam Brady’s Serie A past through books and magazines, writes Jamie Casey. | http%3A%2F%2Firishpost.co.uk%2Fhow-i-came-to-love-and-appreciate-robbie-keane%2F.json | http://irishpost.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Robbie-Keane-Inter-Milan-F.jpg | en | null | How I came to love and appreciate Robbie Keane | null | null | irishpost.co.uk | AS a young lad, I was fascinated by Italian football.
The huge stadiums left over from Italia 90, half-filled with crazy, passionate fans intrigued me more than any other division in Europe.
And the football wasn’t bad either. Gabriel Batistuta; Alessandro Del Piero; Marcelo Salas; Ariel Ortega; Roberto Baggio; George Weah – it didn’t matter who was playing or where they were from, I loved it all.
In the days well before YouTube and the widespread availability of the internet, I had to be content with reading up on Liam Brady’s Serie A past through books and magazines.
‘Imagine an Irishman scoring a title-winning goal in his last act as a Juventus player’, I used to think, ‘that’ll never happen again’.
It still hasn’t, but when Robbie Keane joined Inter Milan from Coventry in 2000 on the back of a golden period of Italian football in the 1990s, he offered fresh hope.
I was filled excitement, joy and anticipation. This was the moment Robbie Keane became my hero.
Obviously, I was well aware of him as he’d already been an Ireland international for two years and turned heads with fine performances for Wolves and Coventry in England, but to go from that to the San Siro was mind blowing for me.
Robbie got off to a great start in Italy, lobbing legendary goalkeeper Angelo Peruzzi in the Italian Super Cup (their version of the Community Shield) against Lazio.
If my memory serves me correct, that goal made the opening credits of Channel 4’s Football Italia highlights programme that season, a must-see for me every Saturday morning during the 90s, followed by Sunday’s live game.
Sadly for Robbie, that was as good as it got in Italy. He did score two more goals – in the UEFA Cup and Coppa Italia – but his six Serie A appearances brought none.
He finished with just 14 appearances, scoring three times.
Keane’s short stint in Italy was brought to a premature end not out of failure, but because of a change in management at Inter.
The manager who brought him to Italy and used him regularly in the opening stages of the season, the iconic Marcello Lippi, was sacked after poor results, and the writing was on the wall for Keane thereafter.
Ironically, Lippi’s successor Marco Tardelli had no place for the young Irishman in the squad he inherited, but he would eventually go on to appreciate his worth as assistant to fellow Italian Giovanni Trapattoni, under whom Keane enjoyed his most prolific spell in an Ireland shirt.
Robbie returned to the Premier League with Leeds, and although I was a Liverpool fan underneath the love for Italian football, from there I watched his every move no matter what jersey he was wearing.
He’s always been a joy to watch, a scorer of all types of goals, a great user of his body to shield the ball and allow his exquisite footwork to prevail.
A reliable penalty taker and combative leader in his latter days, Keane has gone on to set the standard for Irish players abroad.
It’s a high standard, one that only his namesake Roy has also managed to reach as an Irishman in the Premier League era, arguably.
The timing of his retirement from international football is right – he’s 36 now and can only offer guidance and advice to younger players at this level – but I’m still sad to see him go.
If his 67 goals in an Ireland shirt is ever beaten (he may of course add to it against Oman), then we’ll have a hell of a player on our hands.
My favourite of those 67? Memorable as they are, not the late equaliser against Germany in the 2002 World Cup, nor the side-footer against France in that ill-fated play-off in Paris in 2009.
No, my favourite of his is the opening goal in the 2-2 draw against the might of Holland in Amsterdam in 2000.
To me, that was Robbie saying: ‘look at me, I’m a big-time Inter Milan player – we’re Ireland, and we’re going to the World Cup, not you’.
And so it proved. | http://irishpost.co.uk/how-i-came-to-love-and-appreciate-robbie-keane/ | en | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | irishpost.co.uk/5637ebcac15f9fac4eec1f5d6df0171ea9de5d3ade4adf1178f6d236558ee611.json |
[
"Pearse Corcoran"
] | 2016-08-29T12:51:10 | null | 2016-08-29T12:20:55 | FORMER Ireland international Stephen Hunt has opened up on his relationship with departing Ireland captain Robbie Keane. | http%3A%2F%2Firishpost.co.uk%2Fstephen-hunt-i-never-really-saw-eye-eye-robbie-keane%2F.json | http://irishpost.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Stephen-HUnt-Robbie-Keane-F.jpg | en | null | Former Ireland international Stephen Hunt: 'I never really saw eye to eye with Robbie Keane' | null | null | irishpost.co.uk | FORMER Ireland international Stephen Hunt has opened up on his relationship with departing Ireland captain Robbie Keane.
Keane, who announced his impending international retirement last week, will hang up his Irish boots after this Wednesday’s friendly with Oman in Dublin.
Fans and former team-mates from across the football spectrum have been paying tribute to Keane this week but one former team-mate has taken an alternative view.
Writing in the Sunday Independent, Hunt has offered an interesting theory as to why Keane divides opinion among Irish fans, while also admitting the two never got on well.
Hunt wrote: “If he was sometimes under-appreciated, I wonder was it because of his body language. When Robbie scored a goal, he almost turned into Cristiano Ronaldo. It was ‘look at me’. You could have made a lung-bursting run to set it up for him, someone could have put it on a plate, but it was still all about him.
“It didn’t matter what type of goal it was, even a tap-in. It was as if he was saying, ‘I am the king.’
“He definitely turns into that when he scores, craving the attention.”
The relationship between the two never really improved, with Hunt citing Robbie’s equaliser against Italy in a World Cup qualifier in Bari in 2009 as the straw that broke the camel’s back.
Watch the goal here:
Hunt’s brother Noel wrote to the FAI claiming he got the last touch, which would have been Noel’s only goal for Ireland, but the association ruled that it was Keane’s goal.
Hunt added: “A good example of his hunger was the last-minute equaliser in Bari in 2009, when my brother Noel thought he’d scored.
“I thought it would have been easy for the captain to give it up – but he didn’t.
“The FAI backed Robbie, no surprise there. But then this shouldn’t be a surprise when you have the record he does.”
Despite that, Hunt paid his respects to Keane and what he brought to the Ireland squad.
He said: “He should be proud of his achievements in international football.
“He should be proud of his goalscoring record. It undeniably makes him one of our best ever.” | http://irishpost.co.uk/stephen-hunt-i-never-really-saw-eye-eye-robbie-keane/ | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | irishpost.co.uk/b419f3aefc69956830f380886abe290c2e0bee0bf6111111ea85ed3397de03d1.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T12:48:01 | null | 2016-08-12T12:17:49 | The cottage, situated on Dinish Island, off the Connemara coast in Co. Galway and will provide plenty of peace and quiet on the uninhabited island. | http%3A%2F%2Firishpost.co.uk%2Fhistoric-stone-cottage-for-sale-on-uninhabited-irish-island%2F.json | http://irishpost.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/writersretreat.png | en | null | Secluded cottage on an idyllic uninhabited Irish Island could be yours for €150,000 | null | null | irishpost.co.uk | ARE you looking for a secluded writer’s retreat or a holiday home to really get away from it all?
If so this secluded stone cottage could be your perfect escape.
The cottage is situated on Dinish Island, off the Connemara coast in Co. Galway and the quaint property will provide plenty of peace and quiet on the uninhabited island.
The island itself is connected by a narrow channel to the island of Lettermullen and forms part of a group of islands known in Irish as Ceantar na nOileán.
The islands are part of the Gaeltacht, so you’ll need to brush up on your Irish.
The cottage is “rustic”, but has both running water and electricity. It features a main sitting room with stove and a bedroom and loft sleeping area in the mezzanine above.
A small kitchen houses a cooker, fridge and other fittings and the bathroom comes with a toilet and shower.
The cottage comes with ¾ acres of land, with access to some of Ireland’s most beautiful and unspoilt beaches nearby.
Dinish Island has no permanent population at present, although that has not always been the case. Nine families were recorded as living on the island full time in the 1911 census.
There is no bridge connecting Dinish Island with its larger neighbour Lettermullen, although it is possible to cross the 50 metre channel on foot in low tide. At all other times the island can only be reached via boat.
The rugged island boasts an incredible scenic coastline and is surrounded by crystal clear water.
The cottage is on the market for €150,000 (£128,250)
For more information on the property contact Premier Properties here. | http://irishpost.co.uk/historic-stone-cottage-for-sale-on-uninhabited-irish-island/ | en | 2016-08-12T00:00:00 | irishpost.co.uk/02de19cd875aaad8c69c0da3d184aba547197814183a3697ebfd25e08e0ee454.json |
[
"Pearse Corcoran"
] | 2016-08-27T12:48:53 | null | 2016-08-27T13:07:00 | FORMER Tánaiste Peter Barry has died at the age of 88 in Cork this morning surrounded by his family. He is the father of Fine Gael MEP Deirdre Clune | http%3A%2F%2Firishpost.co.uk%2Fformer-tainiste-peter-barry-died%2F.json | http://irishpost.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Peter-Barry.jpg | en | null | 'He gave outstanding service to his country': Enda Kenny leads the tributes to former Tánaiste Peter Barry | null | null | irishpost.co.uk | FORMER Tánaiste Peter Barry died yesterday at the age of 88 in Cork surrounded by his family.
An Taoiseach Enda Kenny confirmed the news.
Mr Kenny also paid tribute to Mr Barry, highlighting his prominent role in the negotiating the Anglo Irish Agreement in 1985.
He said: “It is with very deep regret that I confirm the death of former Tánaiste, Minister and Deputy Leader of Fine Gael, Peter Barry, who passed away peacefully in Cork this morning surrounded by his family.
“Throughout his long and distinguished political career, Peter gave outstanding service to his country and to his native city. In particular, his central and pivotal role in negotiating the Anglo Irish Agreement in 1985 helped to create the foundations on which the peace process in Northern Ireland was built.
“In the coming days we will reflect on and salute Peter Barry’s extraordinary legacy, but today, our thoughts and prayers are with his beloved family at the loss of their father.
“We also remember at this time Peter’s late wife Margaret who was such a support to him throughout his career.”
The Lord Mayor of Cork, Councilor Des Cahil, also paid tribute to Mr Barry on Twitter.
Sad news in #Cork with the passing of former Táiniste and pioneer of peace process Peter Barry
May he rest in peace pic.twitter.com/WdqeKQC4Hf — Des Cahill (@CllrDesCahil) August 26, 2016
A former Lord Mayor of Cork, he served as a TD on Leeside for 28 years and also helped oversee the expansion of his family business, Barry’s Tea, into one of Ireland’s best known consumer brands.
The son of a former TD, Peter Barry was first elected for Fine Gael in the south side of Cork City in 1969 and he would serve as tánaiste for a brief period in 1987.
He was also a widely respected minister and served at the departments of Transport, Education and Environment.
Mr Barry was then succeeded in his seat by his daughter, Deirdre Clune, who is now a MEP for Fine Gael.
In 2010, Mr Barry received the highest accolade his native city could bestow, the Freedom of Cork. | http://irishpost.co.uk/former-tainiste-peter-barry-died/ | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | irishpost.co.uk/99f7e7c6bc7ee2f0ec4d627a551955da0ec5c88370a124ebb60a5b24dba88633.json |
[
"Katy Harrington"
] | 2016-08-26T12:52:44 | null | 2016-08-26T11:52:59 | IRISHMAN Julian Checkley has broken a new Guinness World Record with his awesome cosplay Batman suit which comes with 23 functioning gadgets | http%3A%2F%2Firishpost.co.uk%2Firishman-julian-checkley-just-broke-guinness-world-record-creating-awesome-batman-suit-planet%2F.json | http://irishpost.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/batman-suit-f.jpg | en | null | Irishman Julian Checkley just broke a Guinness World Record for creating the most awesome Batman suit on the planet | null | null | irishpost.co.uk | IRISHMAN Julian Checkley has broken a new Guinness World Record with his awesome cosplay Batman suit.
The incredible Batman outfit, which comes with 23 functioning gadgets appears in the new Guinness World Records Gamer’s Edition 2017, out on 8 September.
Galway-based Checkley is a “special creature effects expert” who got his break working in London.
He started a specialist make-up/beauty-therapy course in London School of Fashion before getting work at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and finally found his calling working in film and TV for over two decades.
“When I was about seven years old I made my first cosplay costume, a little Darth Vader costume”, says Checkley.
Inspired by Stars Wars and his love of comics, the Batman fan set up his small company Order 66 Creatures and Effects in Spiddal, Co. Galway.
Checkley specialises in “creating creatures, costumes and effects for film, TV” and says the World Record challenge started out “as just a bit of fun.”
Watch the incredible video of Batman in action below…
Checkley says it took “hundreds of hours” to build the incredible suit.
The Batsuit includes smoke bombs, a grapnel gun and ‘bat tracker’, UV lamp, NBC (nuclear, bacterial, chemical) bat respirator and even a bat sign projector for the night sky.
The suit, which is based on Bruce Wayne’s outfit from the Batman: Arkham Origins videogame, was 3D printed and then moulded and cast in a flexible urethane rubber.
The parts were then trimmed, detailed and painted, before being mounted on a specially designed undersuit.
When wearing the suit, Checkley “strikes an imposing figure, towering over 6”10’ (208cm).”
And while he loves his suit, constructing it was no easy task.
“There were many long hours trying devising the gadgets and finding ways to store them on the suit. They are classic gadgets but also some are specific to Batman: Arkham Origins. I am immensely proud of my Guinness World Records title and to be part of the Gamer’s Edition is just the next level.”
Speaking to The Irish Post, Checkley says there is no way he could put a monetary value on the suit. “It’s priceless”, he says, but his Canadian wife Margaret is not that fussed about the Batsuit. “She’s not into it at all, she thinks i’m a big kid like everyone else does”, he says laughing.
Asked how he’s going to celebrate his success, Checkley says it won’t be anything over the top, “just a few pints with the lads.”
Julian’s Batman cosplay suit gadgets include:
1. Fireball Shooter
2. Gauntlet Video Screens x 2
3. Bat Tracking Beacon
4. Bat Sign Projector
5. Folding Batarang
6. Grapnel Gun
7. Cowl Respirator
8. Pneumatic Tranquilliser Gun
9. Ultrasonic Anti Dog Device.
10. Bat Shuriken x 4 11. UV Lamp
12. Ball Bearing Grenades x 2
13. Gauntlet Flashlight 14. Medi-kit.
15. Battery Pack.
16. Laser Designator.
17. Bat-cam.
18. Strobe Stun Gun.
19. Gas Dispenser
20. Smoke Bombs x 2
21. The Bat Flask.
22. Concealed Laryngeal Microphone.
23. Two-way Radio.
Watch the video of Batman in action here… | http://irishpost.co.uk/irishman-julian-checkley-just-broke-guinness-world-record-creating-awesome-batman-suit-planet/ | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | irishpost.co.uk/02440ac6aadbde19cb55c7ecce7508601aebb3b1d9bdffdb9e92875df2a0846c.json |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.