RIP thread for people involved in TV - Mod warning, see OP (21/08/25)

dublinman1990 · 03-10-2025 07:43AM

The last time I watched Manchán Magan on RTÉ was him doing his documentary Manchan's Europe by Train. I didn't watch every episode of it but with me being a railway enthuiast; I thought it was great television at the time. I also listened to his interview with Brendan O'Connor on the RTÉ website. I was amazed that a man of his calibre and his ability could have so much positivity within himself when he was facing such a horrible illness. I was sad to read about his death this morning.

I never met the man in person. And I never thought that this illness would have killed him so quick.

He had a great passion & enthusiasm for anything involving Irish language & culture that leapt off the page of a book a million times over. It made you feel that you were experiencing those moments with him by being at your side. Sincere condolences go out to his family & loved ones.

Rest easy Manchán. You will be dearly missed.

SuperBowserWorld · 03-10-2025 07:53AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123872321#Comment_123872321

Poor guy. Was only paging through his new book in Easons yesterday and I haven't been in a book shop in ages. Kinda surreal then, to read of his passing this morning.

He seemed to operate on that essential plane of life where art, language, spiritually, nature, culture, sustainability, slow, intentional living matter. But he was never in your face about it, just showing the way.

Was also thinking he could have been an Irish president one day.

May he rest in peace.

The Subliminal Verses · 03-10-2025 07:54AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123870293#Comment_123870293

i actually just watched that movie last weekend, i didn't even cop on he was in it!! 🤦‍♂️, i must take another look at it again, R.I.P 🙏

a side note, Charlie Lawson (Jim McDonald) also in it, must have been one of his first roles.

maximo31 · 03-10-2025 08:12AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123872606#Comment_123872606

Thought the same regards the Presidency. RIP.

Badly Drunk Boy · 03-10-2025 08:12AM

Ah, that's sad about Manchán Magan. I have one of his books, which is beautifully illustrated, and I was just about to buy one of his newer ones, Ireland In Iceland. I still will get it, obviously.

Larbre34 · 03-10-2025 08:15AM

He didn't last too long in the finish bless him.

I didn't know much about him but I did watch his railway trip around Europe that was shown this year and it was interesting, showed people and places off the beaten track that other travel diaries probably wouldn't.

RIP

spakman · 03-10-2025 08:26AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123872588#Comment_123872588

A person pure of heart. You just know he didn't have a mean bone in his body. RIP.

Igotadose · 03-10-2025 08:31AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123872543#Comment_123872543

One of our neighbours told us that his Grandmother, gave the neighbour (now a grandmother herself) sixpence when she did her first Communion. Sighle Humphreys was well known in the area and yeah, apparently had a famous temper.

Humphreys famously carved "Ní suíocháin go saoirse." (No peace until freedom) on the prison walls. Quite the character.

https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/was-my-grandmother-a-nazi-spy-1.471086

adaminho · 03-10-2025 10:14AM

Patricia Routledge has kicked the bouquet aged 96.

https://news.sky.com/story/keeping-up-appearances-star-dame-patricia-routledge-has-died-13443457

New Home · 03-10-2025 10:17AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123873178#Comment_123873178

Ah, noooo. Genuinely sorry to hear this, she was a wonderfully gifted person. May she rest in peace.

Girly Gal · 03-10-2025 10:23AM

Shocked to hear of Manchán's passing, didn't know he was ill. He came across as a really genuine decent guy, very interesting and knowledgeable. Wouldn't have thought he was 55, no age at all, RIP

archfi · 03-10-2025 10:30AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123873178#Comment_123873178

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123873192#Comment_123873192

RIP Patricia Routledge.

Excellent actress.

Hangdogroad · 03-10-2025 10:31AM

RiP, a great age. She was still making public appearances up to fairly recently.

https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2025/1003/1536655-actress-patricia-routledge-has-died-aged-96/

Cody montana · 03-10-2025 10:40AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123873247#Comment_123873247

Hopefully she’s up there having tea from Royal Doulton with the hand-painted periwinkles.

Gael23 · 03-10-2025 10:51AM

One of the post war greats of television. Won’t ever be another like her.
Id say Richard is trying to find a place to hide up there

Aglomerado · 03-10-2025 10:58AM

Two of my favourite TV people!

Manchán had a lovely way about him, so engaging. I would love to have had a pint with him to listen to him speak about his travels and Irish etymology.

And Patricia Routledge for her hilarious Hyacinth antics - I know there was more to her than that but Mrs Bucket was her stand out.

RIP to them both.

New Home · 03-10-2025 11:04AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123873383#Comment_123873383

Lady of Letters, A woman of no importance, and the work she did with Victoria Wood. And Hetty Wainthropp Investigates… She was a truly talented woman.

New Home · 03-10-2025 11:04AM

Damn. I should have taken a leaf off Onslow's book and said "Awh, noice!".

Burt Renaults · 03-10-2025 11:14AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123873178#Comment_123873178

I'll be very disappointed if "Hyacinth kicks the Bouquet" isn't on the front page of one of the tabloids tomorrow morning.

sligeach · 03-10-2025 11:16AM

Very sorry to hear of the passing of Patricia Routledge. 96 is a great age. RIP. Keeping Up Appearances was terrific, it's still shown on TV. "~~Bucket~~ Bouquet residence, lady of the house speaking."

https://youtube.com/watch?v=FboWtJiNYro

Doctors room ghost · 03-10-2025 11:16AM

RIP to Manchan and Mrs Bucket.

RoryMurphyJnr · 03-10-2025 11:30AM

Loved her in Hetty Wainthropp Investigates.

supereurope · 03-10-2025 11:54AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123873192#Comment_123873192

Very sad to hear this, but 96 is a great age. She was still making public appearances until fairly recently in "An Evening with…" talks, and was interviewed on BBC back in May during the VE Day celebrations. But she'll live forever as Hyacinth.

I think Daisy is the only one of the main cast still with us now. I think Emmett might still be alive as well, but he was slightly younger than the other main cast members.

I only recently found that that Patricia Routledge was part of the early cast of Coronation Street, she played cafe owner Mrs Snape in a few early episodes. The character appeared around March and April 1961.

Hangdogroad · 03-10-2025 12:00PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123873588#Comment_123873588

Writer Roy Clarke is still with us aged 95.

Its hard to imagine that its 35 years since it was first shown and 30 years since it ended.

breezy1985 · 03-10-2025 12:13PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123872336#Comment_123872336

Sounds interesting. I've been looking for books or podcasts on Irish myths and customs so this looks adjacent to that.

Only came across him for the first time recently watching his railway journeys show which I thought was very well presented.

Some contrast today. 55 and 96 are 2 very different ways to go.

New Home · 03-10-2025 12:22PM

Some contrast today. 55 and 96 are 2 very different ways to go.

At the risk of sounding too philosophical (or too obvious), each of us has the rest of our lives ahead of us, be they 1 hour or 100 years.

Also, thankfully, pensions don't have an expiry date, yet. 😉

castletownman · 03-10-2025 12:28PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123873219#Comment_123873219

Yeah I always liked Manchan whenever he popped up. His show when he travelled across Europe by train/sea was enjoyable. The least annoying enviromentalist and gealigoir around.

RIP.

DBB · 03-10-2025 12:31PM

I am honoured that I somewhat knew Manchán. I can't believe his illness took him so quickly. The world has truly lost our very own one-of-a-kind. He was a great patriot... it was in his blood, and yes, he would indeed have made a great President, though I suspect he'd have giggled at the suggestion!

He rarely stopped talking, effortlessly gliding between speaking in English and Irish, maybe even other languages from the far-away places he had visited. After a while, you'd barely notice him doing it... I'm not sure he realisesd he did it so much himself! His understanding and knowledge of far-flung cultures, customs, and spiritualities, and their parallels to our own unique Irish ways was utterly encyclopaedic.

He was a true free spirit. No pretensions, no bullshit. He adored wildlife and nature, and indeed was ahead of his time, having planted a lovely native forest in the few acres around his home over 20 years ago, not for any funded schemes or projects.... He just did it for its own sake, and now it's lovely place to be. My husband and I strolled through his forest with him only earlier this year, chattin' about trees and plants, rivers and streams, birds and beasts... the interconnectedness of them all, the simple pleasure of enjoying the outdoors and nature for its own sake.

So long Manchán, thanks for the chats, smiles and laughs. You will be missed ❤️

GerardKeating · 03-10-2025 12:44PM

RIP Patricia Routledge .

Best known (to me at least) as Hyacinth Bucket in Keeping Up Appearances.

sligeach · 03-10-2025 12:48PM

That's quite a one-two sucker punch today, with the announcement of the passing of Patricia Routledge and Manchán Magan. I loved watching Manchán's programme, Crainn na hÉireann on TG4. Lovely tributes are being paid to him. I never listen to Brendan O'Connor, but I caught Manchán being interviewed by him a few weeks ago and had to listen. He was a great ambassador of Ireland, Irish and our culture.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123872606#Comment_123872606

I'm glad to see I'm not the only person to think he would have made a great Irish president.

RIP thread for people involved in TV - Mod warning, see OP (21/08/25)

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