Quotes of the week
“I would have asked Sonia O’Sullivan about tickets scandal.” Broadcaster Claire Byrne has said she would have asked the athlete and OCI committee member about the Rio ticketing scandal when she appeared as a pundit on RTE’s Olympics coverage.
“I thought I was doing everything right. I have just started a journey with cancer, I’m afraid to say. It was a huge shock of course.” Singer Brian Kennedy reveals he’s fighting cancer.
“Paddy Barnes has to translate! We would be down in the room in the apartment and when I talked Paddy would have to translate to Mick what I was saying and when he talked Paul would have to translate to me what he was saying.” Rower Gary O’Donovan tells the Late Late Show how he communicates with Michael Conlan.
“Yes, I was dead, it’s true I was dead. I resurrected as I always do. Once I get back to my country I am real.” Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe arrived at the capital’s main airport from abroad following intense rumours that he was gravely ill and had sought medical help in Dubai.
“This is not a fight that any one country no matter how powerful can take alone. Some day we may see this as the moment that we finally decided to save our planet.” President Barack Obama joins China’s Xi Jinping in delivering documents to UN Secretary-General entering their countries into the Paris climate change agreement.
“Today, I don’t remember feeling any affection in childhood except for my elder brother, who for a time was my only parent. I remember a constant tension in myself that even in great age has not relaxed.” John Le Carre writes in his autobiography, The Pigeon Tunnel, that his childhood was largely lacking in love.
“It will be a challenge trying to keep going with the training. I’m not 21, I’m not 31 or 41, so I think as far as that’s concerned that will probably be the biggest challenge.” Actress Lesley Joseph, who at 70 is the oldest contestant in Strictly Come Dancing.
“Anyone who has entered the United States illegally is subject to deportation. We will begin moving them out, day one. My first hour in office, those people are gone. There will be no amnesty.” Donald Trump, the Republican candidate for the White House.
“In my early days we did not know what ‘gay’ was. It didn’t take me long to know that people were different and that was always fine with me.” Singer Dolly Parton.
“John Cleese hasn’t been funny for 40 years, possibly 41.” Broadcaster Piers Morgan is no fan of the Fawlty Towers star.
“If I had an office up the road, I’d take time off, but I don’t. And that’s my life. It’s not a grumble. I can’t think what I’d do if I didn’t write.” Michael Bond (90), creator of Paddington Bear.
“This isn’t bloody funny.” Harry Potter creator JK Rowling, on the prospect that Jeremy Corbyn will win the British Labour leadership election.
“What I miss about old Hollywood is that, back then, you got to watch movie stars and imagine they were that person. Now, we’re inundated with stories about people picking up their dog’s poop, or stories that aren’t even true. I mean: how many times has Jennifer Aniston been pregnant? Dear God!” Actress Blake Lively.