THIS WEEK’S BIRTHDAYS
TODAY
Peter Murphy, son of Bishop Eamon Casey and Annie Murphy, is 42. JK Rowling, author of the Harry Potter books, is 51. Eva Hall, highly respected page editor, is 26. Jim Corr, of The Corrs, is 52. Jonathan Dimbleby, TV presenter, is 72. Wesley Snipes, actor, is 54. Will Champion, drummer with Coldplay, is 38. Norman Cook, aka Fatboy Slim, is 53.
MONDAY
Frances Fitzgerald, Tanaiste, is 66. Paddy Moloney, band leader of The Chieftains, is 78. Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, folk singer, is 85. Chuck D, rapper and founder of Public Enemy, is 56. Sam Mendes, director of Spectre and American Beauty, is 51. Joe Elliott, singer of Def Leppard, is 57. Coolio, rapper, is 53. Micheal Martin, Fianna Fail leader, is 56. Adrian Dunbar, actor and director, is 58. Ger Canning, sports commentator, is 65.
TUESDAY
Davy Fitzgerald, Clare hurling manager, is 45. Edward Furlong, star of Terminator 2 and American History X ,is 39. Sammy McIlroy, former Northern Ireland footballer, is 62. Alain Giresse, French former footballer, is 64. Stephen Ferris, retired Ulster and Ireland rugby player, is 31.
WEDNESDAY
Eamon Dunphy, sports broadcaster and journalist, is 71. Tony Bennett, veteran crooner, is 90. Martin Sheen, actor who starred in Apocalypse Now, is 76. GV Wright, former Fianna Fail TD for Dublin North, is 69. Ossie Ardiles, Argentinian former footballer, is 64. Martha Stewart, lifestyle guru and ex-con, is 75. James Hetfield, singer/guitarist of Metallica, is 53. Ryan Lochte, American Olympic swimmer, is 32. Stephen Gleeson, Birmingham City and Republic of Ireland footballer, is 28.
THURSDAY
Barack Obama, US president, is 55. Moya Brennan, singer with Clannad, is 64. Simon Preston, British organist, is 78. Billy Bob Thornton, actor, is 61. Roy Hodgson, former England football manager, is 69. John Gormley, former Green Party leader, is 57.
FRIDAY
Gay Byrne, Ireland’s favourite television presenter, is 82. John Whitaker, international show jumper, is 61. Ray Clemence, former Liverpool and England goalkeeper, is 68. Kajol, Indian actress, is 42. Pete Burns, androgynous singer and reality TV star, is 57. Louis Walsh, Mayo-born pop music guru and judge on The X Factor, is 64. Felix Jones, retired Munster and Ireland rugby player, is 29.
SATURDAY
Geri Halliwell, ‘Ginger Spice’ from the Spice Girls, is 44. Melissa George, Australian actress, is 40. Marisa Miller, model, is 38. M Night Shyamalan, movie writer/director of The Sixth Sense, is 46. Robin van Persie, Fenerbahce and Netherlands footballer, is 33. Conor McPherson, playwright and director, is 45.