Family home is torched in arson attack
A PROPERTY in a social housing development has been damaged in an arson attack.
Gardai and firefighters were called to the home in St Cuthbert’s, Clondalkin, West Dublin, at11.30pm on Sunday.
The quick response of the emergency services ensured only minor damage was caused.
A Garda spokesperson said: “The small fire was quickly extinguished by gardai and only minor damage reported. No arrests have been made.”
Independent councillor Francis Timmons said: “This must stop.” STYLE icon Darren Kennedy said he would happily partner a man on Dancing With The Stars – but added it wouldn’t be the same watching two men in suits.
He was among some of the latest names confirmed to be taking part in the next series of the RTE show, alongside Mrs Brown’s Boys star Eilish O’carroll.
But despite both contestants being gay, they will both dance with partners of the opposite sex when the third series kicks off next month.
Speaking on The Ryan Tubridy Show yesterday about the decision to stick to the traditional pairing format, they both said they understand why there are no same-sex couples in the competition.
When asked whether he would prefer to dance with a man, Darren, 34, said: “Actually I did give it quite a bit of thought because I kind of thought potentially I could be asked and I started researching it.
“Now it turns out there is a gay couple on the competition scene competing globally who are doing very well.”
Yet, while insisting he would have no problem breaking tradition, he said a woman’s involvement is vital for the full theatrical experience of the performance.
Darren said: “However, for me I feel such a big part of this show is the theatre of the dress, and I think you lose that when you’ve two men wearing suits.
“I would happily dance with a man but in terms of embracing this show and what it is, the dress is as much a part of the theatre as the partnership.”
Funny woman Eilish, best known for her role as Winnie Mcgoogan on Brendan O’carroll’s hit show, agreed her dance partner was never going to be a problem regardless of whether it was going to be a male or female.
She told Ryan: “If they’d said to me, ‘Surprise, surprise Eilish, your partner is going to be a woman’, I wouldn’t have had an issue.
“I have no issue at all that it’s not a woman because I just love getting up there and jigging about and it doesn’t bother me whether I’m dancing with a man or dancing with a woman.”
The 66-year-old actress added: “I’m so excited to be doing Dancing With The Stars.
“It’s like a dream come true. I feel like a kid and all my Christmases have come at once.”
Darren and Eilish will be joined by TV presenter Mairead Ronan who was the first star to confirm she would don her dancing shoes next month.
A total of 11 celebrities will pair up with professional dancing partners.
There has been speculation that former Miss Ireland Holly Carpenter, country singer Cliona Hagan and Fair City’s Clelia Murphy could be the next to announce their bid for the glitterball trophy.