It was a weekend of loss, with the passing of Pope Francis, beloved Irish showbiz legend Julian Benson, and Eurovision icon Clodagh Rodgers. You’ll find tributes and sombre headlines everywhere you look, so instead, we’re going to do what we do best: bring you the celebrity stories you may have missed. Let’s get into it!
Roy Keane: Grandad Goals and Grumbles
Roy Keane, the man whose stare could curdle milk and whose tackles made grown men weep, has gone and melted the nation’s heart—again. The Irish football legend became a grandfather for the third time and, in a move that shocked absolutely everyone (including himself, probably), marked the occasion with a rare, mushy Instagram post.
Keano, who usually reserves his emotions for the business end of a Champions League final, shared a photo of himself cradling his new born grandson, captioned: “My new grandson, big baby” with an actual heart emoji. Yes, a heart. The internet, naturally, lost the run of itself. Fans were quick to spot the nod to his infamous “What a baby. What a big baby.” jibe at Andy Robertson, and some even dredged up his classic deadpan about Robbie Keane becoming a dad: “Yeah, but he didn’t have a baby, did he?”
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At 53, Roy and his wife Theresa are now three times grandparents, and judging by that beaming photo, grandad duties are suiting him just fine. Congrats Roy and family!
Fionnuala Jay Ties the Knot—Cat-Eye Sunglasses and All
Social media’s favourite pop culture commentator, Fionnuala Jay (real name Jones), has officially locked down her long time love, Cian Roche, in an intimate legal ceremony that was as chic as it was low-key. The Virgin Media regular and Love Island oracle broke the news to her 66,000 Instagram followers with a snap of the happy couple and the cryptic caption: “Recession indicator 😔 11.04.2025 🤍.” Because nothing says romance quite like a nod to the state of your bank account.
Fionnuala looked every bit the effortlessly cool bride in a pearl-embellished gown and cat-eye sunglasses—move over, Meghan Markle, there’s a new bridal trendsetter in town. The pair are saving the big bash for later in the year, so this was just the legal bit—think registry office chic, but with more Instagram likes.
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Fans and fellow celebs flooded the comments, with Roz Purcell, Katja Mia, and Louise Cooney all sending their congrats and heart emojis. It’s a far cry from Fionnuala’s days roasting influencers online, but we’re delighted to see her living her best life—sexy shades, recession jokes, and all.
Colin Farrell Opens Up About Son James’ Long-Term Care
Colin Farrell, Ireland’s most charming rogue and now Golden Globe-winning star of The Penguin, has spoken candidly about the “tricky” and emotional decision to place his 21-year-old son James, who has Angelman syndrome, into a long-term care facility. Farrell, 48, revealed that he and his ex-partner Kim Bordenave made the call out of concern for James’ future if anything were to happen to them. “My horror would be, what if I have a heart attack tomorrow, and, God forbid, James’s mother, Kim, has a car crash and she’s taken too – and then James is on his own?” Farrell explained, adding that James would then become “a ward of the State” and lose the support and say of his family.
The actor described how, after James turned 21, he was no longer eligible for many of the affordable and accessible programmes that support children with special needs, leaving young adults like him at risk of being left behind. Farrell and Bordenave are now searching for a facility where James can thrive, feel connected, and enjoy a full life—ideally while they’re still around to visit and take him out for the odd spin to the beach or the cinema.
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It’s a decision that’s both heartbreakingly practical and deeply loving—proof, if we needed it, that even Hollywood’s biggest stars are just parents trying to do right by their kids.
That wraps up our look at the weekend’s Irish celebrity stories you might have missed. Whether it’s Roy Keane showing his softer side, Fionnuala Jay celebrating love in style, or Colin Farrell sharing a heartfelt family decision, it’s a reminder that behind the headlines, our stars are living real, messy, and sometimes moving lives. Thanks for reading—mind yourselves, and we’ll be back with more next time.
Topics: Ireland
Paul Farrelly