Tom Crean was an amazing man. He travelled and explored the Antarctic a hundred years ago.

The man so impressesed me that I made a video about him!

I’m in the process (and a long process it is too!!) of setting up a tribute site to him here.

Michaela Harte, the daughter of Mickey Harte, the Tyrone manager, was married 11 days ago.

She was on honeymoon in Mauritius when she was murdered in her room by an intruder.

An appalling tragedy.

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Caoineadh (le Máire Mhac an tSaoi)

Glór goil ar an ngaoith

Is brat síne liathaigh spéartha,

Ise dob áille fág ina luí

Ina caoluaigh chúng ina haonar.

Tiocfaidh an leoithne bhog aniar

Is an duilliúr úr ar lomaghéagam

Líonfaidh ré us éireoidh grian,

Ina gcúrsa síor triallfaidh réalta;

Is as an gcré tá os a cionn,

As a hucht geal, as a caomhchorp,

Trí aoibh an lae is deora ón ndrúcht

Trí fhód aníos fásfaidh féara –

Ach choíche ní cúmfar ceol ceart,

Feasta, ná caoinvéarsa;

Cailleann anois an croí a neart,

Is an mheabhair ghlic, cailleann a héifeacht.

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Lament (trans., Patrick Crotty)

The sound of tears on the wind

And storm-clouds darkening the skies;

She, the loveliest, let her lie

In her little narrow grave on her own.

From the west the gentle breeze will come

And the fresh leaf on boughs now bare,

Moon will wax and sun will rise,

And the stars resume their courses;

And from the clay above her,

From her bright breast, from her dear corpse,

Through the day’s beauty and the dew’s tears,

Up through the sod will grow grasses –

But never will appropriate music be composed,

No never, nor delicate verses;

Now the heart loses its strength,

And the quick mind, it loses its usefulness.

Rest in Peace Michaela.

Zsa Zsa Gabor has been given the last rites. She’s been ill since falling out of bed while attempting to answer her phone.

Her hips suffered and she suffered other medical complications as a result.

The upshot of it is that she requested a priest be brought to her hospital bedside to administer the last rites.

At 93 she’s led an eventful life – a life that filled with glamour, extravagance, self-importance and financial difficulties. A lady I find hard to comprehend.

Maureen O’Hara will be 90 tomorrow. I watched a Nationwide Special on her tonight where she was interviewed on her life over the past 90 years. The interview took place in Glengarriff, Co. Cork – a really nice place!

She has 43 films to her credit and has received numerous awards throughout the years.

Her flaming red hair earned her the title ‘Queen of Technicolor’. The Irish Film and Television Academy honoured her with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006

I hope that Zsa Zsa doesn’t suffer too much and that Maureen has many more years in front of her …. happy birthday Maureen.

I’ll call in for a cuppa the next time I’ll be passing through Glengarriff!

I couldn’t let the day go by without paying tribute to O’Brien of Wanderley Wagon fame.

Eugene Lambert died today at the age of 82.

He was an integral part of the Lambert Puppet Theatre and was a ‘star’ of the Irish children’s programme ‘Wanderley Wagon’ which aired during my childhood.

It was great clean fun …. Judge, Crow, Slippery Snake, Mrs. O’Brien, Forty Coats et al.

Rest in Peace O’Brien …. thanks for the memories of a great childhood.

Overture to ‘Stiffelio’ by Verdi  conducted by Sir Edward Downes.

Farrah Fawcett, one of the original Charlie’s Angels succumbed to her cancer today.

She had been battling it for the last three years.

She had an amazing smile.

I hope she becomes a true angel in heaven.

Rest in Peace Farrah.

Hugh Leonard, playright and journalist, died today at the age 83.

He wrote a play called ‘Da‘ which was performed 697 times on Broadway.

I met the man many years ago at a Murder Mystery Weekend in The Park Hotel, Kenmare, Co. Kerry.

He had penned the weekend of murder, mystery and intrigue.

I have a photo of myself and himself at the event.

A rare claim to fame.

I liked the man.

Rest In Peace Hugh.

It is with deep shock and sadness that I learn of the death of Tony Gregory T.D.

He died today at the age of 61 after a long illness.

He was a champion of inner city Dublin. He was a bit of a rebel. He rarely (if ever) wore a tie in his capacity as a T.D.

Gregory was a secondary school teacher before he became involved in politics.

He did a deal with Charlie Haughey in 1982 pledging his support for the Government in return for a cash injection into his deprived inner city Dublin constituency.

He was also an ardent campaigner on local issues including drugs and social justice.

He never held a cabinet position but this didn’t hold him back in his efforts to improve the living conditions for the people of his area.

A good politician. A true Irishman.

Rest In Peace Tony. You won’t be forgotten.

it pours.

First Kathy Staff. Now Peter Falk. No, he’s not dead but the poor man is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Peter Falk is best known for his role as Columbo …. the scruffy looking detective. He drove a battered Peugeot 403 convertible.

Falk’s daughter Catherine (a real life private detective) has applied to the Los Angeles County Superior Court for a conservatorship – a type of legal guardianship of her father to protect him from being deceived into transferring his property and for his own health and safety.

Court documents state that Falk “forgets events that have occurred and remembers events that did not occur”.

An accident six months ago seems to have been no help to him. It left him with head injuries and that he can no longer “recognise familiar people, places and things”.

At 81 Falk has achieved a lot in his life. As well as being internationally recognised as a brilliant thespian Falk is also an accomplished artist.

Visit his website to see some of his work.

Thanks for the entertainment Mr. Falk.

I hope things will get better for you soon.

Another stalwart of ‘Last of the Summer Wine‘ has died. Kathy Staff who played the infamous Nora Batty died on Saturday the 13th at the age of 80.

She played the character from the very first episode in 1973 until her last appearance in August.

The loss of Bill Owen (Compo) in 1999 was a big blow to the programme. To me, his chasing of Nora, and her chasing of him with a broom, brush, mop or whatever was at hand was the heart of the programme.

I could watch ‘Last of the Summer Wine’ all day. It is pure fun. Full of great characters who are now, sadly, leaving us.

I wrote about the death of Brian Wilde previously. With Kathy Staff passing away the old guard is slowly dwindling.

The only original main character still alive is Peter Sallis, a legend in his own right. A man to be honoured for his voice over work as much as anything else.

Peter Sallis has leant his voice to Rat in ‘The Wind and the Willows‘ and Wallace of  ‘Wallace and Gromit‘  fame.

Kathy Staff also appeared in ‘Coronation Street‘, ‘Crossroads‘ and ‘Open All Hours‘.

Her Times Online obituary is here.

Rest In Peace Kathy. ‘Last of the Summer Wine’ will not be the same about you.

Thanks for the laughs!