While we were busy over the weekend dunking biscuits and avoiding chores, Irish celebrities were out making headlines. From Maura Higgins living it up at Coachella to Bryan Murray’s emotional farewell from Fair City, and Charlotte Church wowing us with an Irish classic, here’s what you missed.
Maura Higgins Does Coachella While We Do Rich Tea and Regret
Maura Higgins has officially outdone herself, turning her weekend into a whirlwind of celebrity encounters that most of us can only dream about. The Longford native kicked things off at Coachella, where she danced alongside Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber like it was just another Friday night. Lest we forget, it was merely a week ago when Maura jetted to Los Angeles to party the night away with Kim Kardashian at a star-studded SKIMS event.
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While Maura is clearly living her Hollywood fantasy, the rest of us are spending our weekends dunking rich tea into a cuppa and debating whether a spice bag counts as one of your five a day. Fair play to her though—she’s clearly mastered the art of turning a weekend into a blockbuster. From rubbing shoulders with A-listers to recently sipping gin with Margot Robbie, Maura proves she’s not just keeping up with the Kardashians; she’s giving them a run for their money!
Bryan Murray Bids Farewell to Carrigstown After 20 Years
After two decades of serving up drama in the fictional streets of Carrigstown, Bryan Murray is retiring from Fair City. The 75-year-old actor, who has played Bob Charles since 2005, is stepping away from the soap amid his ongoing battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
Murray’s retirement comes as his health has significantly declined in recent months. Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2019, he has bravely continued to act despite the challenges posed by the disease, even performing in a play written specifically for him two years ago. But now, it’s time for him to say goodbye to the show that made him a household name—a bittersweet farewell for fans who’ve watched him navigate Carrigstown’s endless parade of scandals, dodgy deals, and overly dramatic pub confrontations.
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His partner, Úna Crawford O’Brien, who also stars in Fair City, has been open about the toll Alzheimer’s has taken on their lives. Speaking ahead of Alzheimer’s Tea Day, she shared how Bryan no longer recognises their home and struggles with day-to-day life. It’s a poignant reminder that behind every soap star is a real person facing real challenges.
As Bryan prepares to leave Carrigstown on April 24th, we can only hope the cast and crew gives him a proper send-off—maybe a pint or two at McCoy’s after last calls. Whatever happens next, Bryan Murray remains an actor to his core, and his legacy will live on in Ireland’s most melodramatic postcode.
Charlotte Church Stuns Tommy Tiernan Show with Irish Classic
Charlotte Church, once the child prodigy with the voice of an angel, reminded us all why she earned that title during her appearance on The Tommy Tiernan Show this weekend. The Welsh singer-songwriter delivered a breath taking rendition of a classic Irish tune, My Lagan Love, leaving viewers in awe and possibly questioning their own karaoke abilities. Let’s face it—if most of us tried to belt out an Irish ballad, it would sound less like Church and more like someone strangling a cat in Temple Bar.
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Church’s performance was a poignant nod to her Irish roots, showing off her vocal range and emotional depth. Tommy Tiernan himself seemed genuinely moved, which is saying something for a man who’s usually cracking jokes about existential dread.
Charlotte’s ability to channel Ireland’s rich musical history was a refreshing reminder of her talent, proving she’s more than just the party girl tabloids tried to paint her as years ago. If this is what she can do on a talk show, imagine what she could pull off at a session in a Galway pub. Stunning stuff altogether!
There you have it folks! From Hollywood parties to heartfelt goodbyes and show-stopping performances, our celebs proved this weekend that they know how to make headlines.
Topics: Ireland
Paul Farrelly