Entertainment « Thurles Information

A Warning To Late Travellers On The Cashel Road.

If the Roads Around Cashel Fall Silent, Best Turn for Home.

If you find yourself out late around the town of Cashel, Co. Tipperary, take a bit of advice from the old people; go home before the road goes quiet.

Tourists especially beware, because according to the folklore of the Galtee country, there are worse things abroad at night than a Garda checkpoint or a missed Fish & Chipper.

Long before horror films discovered the headless horseman, Ireland already had the Dullahan, latter a charming individual who travelled the roads carrying his own head under his arm and announcing death wherever he stopped. No door lock kept him out. No gate latch held him back. The only known deterrent was gold, which feels very Irish altogether. Even supernatural evil respects inflation.

The most entertaining version of the tale comes from an old story called “The Good Woman”, collected by Thomas Crofton Croker in the nineteenth century. The story is set around the Galtee Mountains and Cashel, where a horse dealer named Larry Dodd makes the sort of decision that proves Irish folklore exists mainly to warn men against acting the maggot after dark.

Larry is riding home from Cashel one June evening after buying a horse. He’s feeling pleased with himself, no doubt after “just the one pint” that became several. Along the road he meets a mysterious cloaked woman walking alone at twilight.

Now, any sensible person in rural Ireland knows there are only three explanations for a woman silently appearing on a lonely road after sunset; a banshee, a fairy, trouble.
Larry, unfortunately, ignores centuries of accumulated wisdom and offers her a lift.
She says nothing. Climbs up behind him. Still says nothing, which, to be fair, should have been the first warning sign to any member of the male species.

Eventually the horse stops near the ruins of an old church. The woman slips down soundlessly and glides away across the graveyard. Larry, displaying the sort of judgement that has doomed Irish men since mythology began, chases after her looking for a kiss and catches her, only to discover she has no head.

At this point the story becomes considerably less romantic. Larry faints dead away and wakes among a gathering of Dullahans; headless ladies and gentlemen, soldiers, priests, musicians and skeletons tossing skulls around like hurling balls. Naturally enough, someone offers him a drink. Well this is still Ireland after all.

Things go poorly from there but eventually he escapes with his life, though not with his dignity, and his horse disappears entirely which may be the most authentically Irish ending imaginable. Survive supernatural terror if you like, but someone is still stealing the livestock.

So if you’re around Cashel late at night and happen to see a silent figure on the roadside, perhaps keep driving. Do not offer lifts. Do not flirt. And, absolutely do not follow mysterious women into ruined churches.

The old stories survive for a reason, and mainly because somebody ignored obvious warning signs and succeeded to live just long enough to warn the rest of us.

RTÉ Spending Public Donations While Sitting On A €725 Million State Bailout.

For many viewers, RTÉ no longer looks like an independent broadcaster but a taxpayer-supported institution protected by Government funding, despite repeated controversies.

After receiving a €725 million taxpayer-funded rescue package, RTÉ now faces growing criticism that it has become increasingly dependent on the State while asking the public to continue funding both its operations and charitable initiatives.

RTÉ is facing mounting criticism after launching a tender process that could see up to €855,000 spent on outside consultants to manage and distribute Late Late Toy Show Appeal funds, despite the broadcaster already benefiting from a massive taxpayer-funded rescue package worth €725 million over three years.

The national broadcaster is seeking a consultancy firm to oversee grant assessments, compliance, audits, reporting, PR support and fund distribution linked to the Toy Show Appeal, which has raised more than €31 million since 2020. Crucially, the tender documents confirm that the consultancy costs “will be deducted from the Fund” itself — meaning public donations intended for children’s charities will partly finance administration and consultancy fees.

The move is likely to anger many taxpayers and viewers who have already watched RTÉ receive extraordinary levels of state support following the broadcaster’s financial and governance scandals. In July 2024, the Government approved a controversial €725 million public funding package for RTÉ covering the years 2025 to 2027, effectively guaranteeing the broadcaster’s future despite collapsing public trust after the Ryan Tubridy payment controversy.

That bailout followed an earlier emergency rescue package worth €56 million approved in late 2023.

Now, critics are asking why an organisation already heavily dependent on taxpayers and public donations requires nearly another €1 million for consultants to administer a charity fund.

RTÉ insists the appeal operates efficiently, pointing to figures claiming that 96.7% of all Toy Show Appeal money raised has gone directly to frontline charities, with operating costs accounting for 3.3% of funds raised over five years. But opponents argue that almost €900,000 in administration costs remains difficult to justify given the emotional public fundraising campaigns surrounding the annual Toy Show.

The controversy comes as RTÉ also faces backlash over its politically charged decision to boycott the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest over Israel’s participation. Ireland is among several countries refusing to participate or broadcast the event this year.

The decision is expected to drive large Irish audiences toward rival UK coverage on BBC One, over the coming nights, with BBC broadcasts now becoming the default viewing option for many Eurovision fans in Ireland.

While millions across Europe tune into Eurovision from Vienna this week, RTÉ will instead stupidly air alternative programming including reruns such as ‘Father Ted’ during the final.

For many critics, the optics are increasingly damaging; a broadcaster reliant on hundreds of millions in taxpayer support, deducting consultancy fees from children’s charity donations, while simultaneously walking away from one of Europe’s biggest television events and effectively handing audiences to the BBC.

A Song For A Sunday.

Somebody’s Always Saying Goodbye.

Lyrics: Retired American songwriter Robert Lee McDill McDill.
Vocals: Canadian country-pop artist Anne Murray.

Released in 1982, “Somebody’s Always Saying Goodbye” is one of Ms Anne Murray’s most heartfelt country-pop ballads. Written by Bob McDill, the song beautifully captures the sadness and inevitability of parting, whether in love, friendship, or life itself. With Anne Murray’s warm, emotional vocals and gentle melody, the song became a memorable hit from her album ‘The Hottest Night of the Year’, reaching the top ranks of country and adult contemporary charts in Canada and the United States. Its timeless message about love and loss continues to touch listeners around the world.

Somebody’s Always Saying Goodbye.

Railroad station, Midnight trains,
Lonely airports in the rain,
And somebody stands there with tears in their eyes,
It’s the same old scene, time after time.
That’s the trouble with all mankind,
Somebody’s always sayin’ goodbye.
Taxi cabs leave in the night,
Greyhound buses with red tail lights.
Someone’s leavin’ and someone’s left behind,
Well I don’t know how things got that way,
But every place you look these days,
Somebody’s always sayin’ goodbye.
Take two people like me and you,
We could have made it, we just quit too soon.
Oh the two of us, we could have had it all,
If we’d only tried.
But that’s the way love is it seems,
Just when you’ve got a real good thing,
Somebody’s always sayin’ goodbye.
Somebody’s always sayin’ goodbye.

END

Lovin’ You.

Lyrics and Vocals: American singer, songwriter, actress, philanthropist, and businesswoman Ms Dolly Rebecca Parton.

Some songs speak softly to the heart, and “Lovin’ You” is one of those timeless expressions of devotion and tenderness. Dolly Parton’s gentle words remind us that true love is not only found in happiness, but also in standing beside someone through their broken moments, offering comfort, loyalty, and healing. The following lines beautifully capture that spirit of unconditional love and faithful devotion.

Lovin’ You.

Lovin’ you is my great honour,
Lovin’ you, my pride and joy.
I’ll defend you, I will mend you,
When you’re broken like a toy.
When your burdens get too heavy,
When you’re weary to the bone,
I will help you hold it steady,
Pack it up and head for home.
I will love you come whatever,
I will be there when you call.
I’ll encourage each endeavour,
Be the first one to applaud.
I’ll correct you when you’re sideways,
I will praise you when you win.
I will be there for you always
With a love that never ends.
I will always. (I will always).
I will always. (I will always).
I will always (always) be lovin’ you.
Midst the chaos and confusion,
I am never far behind.
My love is your transfusion,
To restore your soul and mind.
I will nurse you back to freedom,
Doctor up your shattered parts.
Two arms here when you need ’em,
And one lovin’, open heart.
And if the world should end tomorrow,
And we both know that it might.
‘Mongst the darkness and the sorrow,
I will be your guiding light.
And if God sees fit to let us,
Be together ever more,
If I had one question granted,
That’s what I would ask him for.
And I will love you come whatever,
I will catch you when you fall.
I’ll encourage each endeavour,
When your back’s against the wall.
I will hold you when you’re fragile,
I will always let you in.
I will rock you like a sweet child,
Like a lover and a friend.
I will always. (I will always).
I will always. (I will always).
I will always (always) be lovin’ you.
I will always (always), I will always (always).
Yes, I will always be lovin’ you (lovin’ you).
Lovin’ you (lovin’ you), lovin’ you.
Lovin’ you.
I’m lovin’ you.
(Lovin’ you, I’m lovin’ you, lovin you).
I will love you come whatever,
I will always let you in.
I will rock you like a baby,
Be your lover and your friend.
I’ll defend you, I will mend you.
I will always see you through,
And I will always (I will always), I will always love you.

END.

Sir David Attenborough Celebrates 100 Years As World Honours A Voice For Nature.

Legendary British broadcaster and natural historian Sir David Attenborough marked his 100th birthday, today Friday, May 8th 2026, receiving an extraordinary wave of tributes from around the world, after more than seven decades spent bringing the wonders of nature into millions of homes.
Born on May 8th, 1926 in Isleworth, Middlesex, England, Sir David has become one of the most respected and recognisable voices in broadcasting history.

In a heartfelt audio message released by the BBC, Sir David said he had expected a quiet celebration but was deeply moved by the global response to his milestone birthday. Messages arrived from children, families, schools and care homes, reflecting the affection generations of viewers feel for the man whose storytelling transformed wildlife filmmaking.

Across Britain, celebrations were organised to honour his remarkable contribution to television and environmental awareness. The BBC scheduled a week of special programming dedicated to his life and work, while events including concerts at London’s Royal Albert Hall, museum exhibitions, nature walks and tree-planting ceremonies were held nationwide.

For over 70 years, Sir David has documented the beauty, complexity and fragility of the natural world. His groundbreaking documentaries, including Life on Earth, The Blue Planet, Frozen Planet and Dynasties, revolutionised natural history broadcasting and inspired millions to care about wildlife and conservation.

Some of his most unforgettable moments include a famous encounter with playful mountain gorillas during the filming of Life on Earth, dramatic footage of orcas hunting seals in icy waters, and his emotional narration of the story of “Lonesome George,” the final surviving Pinta Island tortoise whose death marked the extinction of his species. These powerful scenes helped audiences understand both the wonder and vulnerability of life on Earth.

In recent decades, Attenborough has become one of the world’s strongest advocates for environmental protection. His acclaimed 2017 series Blue Planet II highlighted the devastating impact of plastic pollution in the oceans and sparked public pressure for action on waste reduction and conservation measures worldwide.

Despite his global fame, colleagues and friends often describe Attenborough as modest and deeply committed to public service. Producer Mike Gunton said Attenborough viewed himself not as a celebrity, but as someone fortunate enough to speak on behalf of the natural world.

Even at 100, Attenborough remains actively involved in filmmaking. One of the latest BBC projects celebrating his centenary is Secret Garden, a series exploring the hidden wildlife thriving in Britain’s gardens and green spaces.

Attenborough’s career began at the BBC in the early 1950s, before he rose through the organisation to become a senior television executive. However, his passion for storytelling and wildlife drew him back in front of the camera, leading to the creation of Life on Earth in 1979 — the landmark series that established him as a household name around the globe.

Today, Sir David Attenborough is regarded not only as a pioneering broadcaster, but also as one of the most influential communicators of science and conservation in modern history. His work has inspired generations to appreciate the natural world and to recognise the urgent need to protect it for the future.