April 2, 2021 ON THIS DAY
FROM THE ARCHIVE APRIL 2, 2001
BRENDAN O’Reilly, who died yesterday aged 71, was one of Ireland’s first TV ‘megastars’. He first came to prominence as a high jumper and later as a sports presenter on RTÉ. Born in Longford, O’Reilly, right, won a scholarship to the University of Michigan, where he studied drama. He was one of the top ten high jumpers in the world and was named on the Irish team for the 1956 Olympics. However, at the last minute he was told the Olympic Council of Ireland didn’t have the money to send him to Australia. His contemporaries said he would have won at least a bronze. O’Reilly was a man of many gifts, writing hit songs (The Ballad of Michael Collins and Let The Nations Play) and acting. He also commentated on the Eurovision in the 1960s. Those of a certain age will fondly remember the Granard man’s mid-Atlantic salutation: ‘Hello again and welcome to Sports Stadium.’ APRIL 2, 2006 A TORNADO has left a trail of destruction just outside Bailieborough in Co. Cavan. There were no injuries, but the freak weather system lifted roofs off houses, uprooted trees and damaged sheds. Power to the area was also cut. Met Éireann have confirmed they received reports of a twister, but say they had no instruments on the ground near where it struck.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
KEREN WOODWARD, 60. The Bristol-born singer-songwriter is one third of Bananarama, who have had 25 top 40 hits since 1982 including Cruel Summer and Venus. She says of the band: ‘I’m proud we became so successful wearing dungarees and Dr Martens.’ Woodward split from former Wham! star Andrew Ridgeley in 2017 after 25 years together.
BORN ON THIS DAY
SUE TOWNSEND (1946-2014). The chain-smoking creator, right, of diarist Adrian Mole was the UK’s best-selling novelist of the 1980s. The angst-ridden teenager complained he had ‘never seen a dead body or a real female nipple. This is what comes of living in a cul-de-sac’.
ON APRIL 2 . . .
In 1902, Yeats’s Kathleen Ni Houlihan premieres starring Maud Gonne. It is her only performance, with the role being taken on by Abbey actress and 1916 rebel, Máire Nic Shiubhlaigh. In 1914, Cumann na mBan is founded. In 1972, President de Valera launches Radio na Gaeltachta. In 2000, Westlife have their fifth consecutive number one in the UK. In 2003, Fair City star Pat Leahy dies of kidney failure. She has been on the soap for 11 years.
WORD WIZARDRY GUESS THE DEFINITION: Bismuth (c1660s)
A) Judging by the eye instead of by measurement. B) A reddish, white metallic chemical. C) More on one side than on the other, ill-balanced, shaky. Answer below.
PHRASE EXPLAINED
On a hiding to nothing: To be faced with a situation where a successful outcome is impossible. Example: Carlow’s footballers were on a hiding to nothing when they lined out against Dublin – they were going to have their backsides kicked (a hiding) or come away with no points (nothing).
QUOTE FOR TODAY
The Irishman in English literature may be said to have been born with an apology in his mouth.
James Connolly, Irish patriot (1868-1916)
JOKE OF THE DAY
What’s the Easter Bunny’s favourite kind of music? Hip-hop.
Guess The Definition answer: B