Kearney pranks salesmen in Audi Q7 promo

A still of Kearney in the clip with RTÉ’s Aidan Power

Rugby star Rob Kearney showed his funny side when he took part in a prank video to promote the launch of the new Audi Q7 recently.

The Leinster and Ireland star, who is preparing for next month’s World Cup at present, took two car salesmen for a test drive but little did they know they were being filmed by hidden camera as the Willville man was egged on by his team-mates Peter O’Mahony and Robbie Henshaw and RTÉ’s Aidan Power.

The hilarious clip features Kearney’s supposed fear of roundabouts, his claims he could beat Brian O’Driscoll in a fight, a couple of Conor McGregor impressions and some questionable animal noises.

Check out the video on Joe.ie here.

 

Dave’s disappointment at missing out on Six Nations glory

Dave Kearney (right) and older brother Rob with the Six Nations title last year

Rob Kearney got his hands on another Six Nations Championship at the weekend but there was no such fortune for younger brother Dave.

While Rob now holds the honour of being the only member of the 2009 Grand Slam winning team to start and play every minute of the last two championship wins, this year was a tough one for the younger of the two rugby players from Willville in Carlingford.

While a frequent member of the Irish training camp this year, injury denied the Leinster player a proper run at contending for his place in this year’s side.

A stand out performer in last year’s Six Nations success, Dave said this week that he cheered on his friends, team-mates and brother Rob from Dublin, but the acute sense of missing out was difficult to shake off.

“I pretty much didn’t leave my couch for the day,” he said.

“It was a pretty amazing day. It was a great outcome at the end to see the lads win the competition. It was very tough, to be honest. I’m not going to lie about it.

“To be involved in winning the competition last year, I know what that feeling is like . . . At the same time, I’m delighted for the lads and it’s great again for Irish rugby in a big year.”

Dave is hopeful of being involved in Leinster’s Guinness PRO 12 game against Glasgow Warriors on Friday night, with one eye on the Champions Cup quarter-final clash with Bath at the Aviva Stadium the following week.

Support urged for the Polar Plunge in aid of Special Olympics in Clogherhead this Saturday

aking the Polar Plunge with Dave Kearney, Colm O’Shea and Kane Douglas (Leinster Rugby) are Garda Patrick Sheridan (Drogheda), Garda Eugene Mulligan (Drogheda), Sargeant Anne Byrne (Clogherhead), Garda Pat Merrick (Castleblaney) and Garda Mark Kirwan (Clogherhead) during the launch of the Special Olympic Polar Plunge on Clogherhead Beach see http://www.specialolympics.ie for more details Pic: Thos Caffrey/Newsfile

People are being urged to get freezin’ for a reason this Saturday by signing up for Special Olympic’s Ireland icy Polar Plunge.

Leinster Rugby players Dave Kearney, Australian international Kane Douglas and Collie O’Shea were on-hand to support the launch of this unique event recently. It will see plungers brave the icy waters at Clogherhead beach Saturday in the hope of raising thousands of euro for Special Olympics athletes.

Separate plunges are also taking place in locations around the country this December as part of a fundraising drive to support athletes with intellectual disabilities.

The Clogherhead Polar Plunge is being spearheaded by local garda Patrick Sheridan from Drogheda Garda Station along with colleague Patrick Merrick, who is based in Castleblaney, Co Monaghan. Members of the RNLI, whose life boat station is based at Clogherhead, were also involved in the launch.

The event is being run as part of the Gardai’s role with the Law Enforcement Torch Run, an organisation that has been in partnership with Special Olympics for many years. Gardaí said they are hoping to attract up to 150 plungers on the day with the first plungers due to take their icy leap of faith at 11am.

Leinster player Kearney said signing up to take the plunge is a great way to support some of Ireland’s most inspiring athletes.

“Rugby players like myself are well used to taking ice baths but the Special Olympics Polar Plunge at Clogherhead beach on Saturday is a much more fun way to get freezin’ for a really good reason. I’d encourage everyone to sign up for the event at specialolympics.ie/polarplunge and help support some of Ireland’s most inspiring athletes,” said Kearney, who hails from Willville in north Louth.

Garda Patrick Sheridan is also hopeful that the people of Louth, Monaghan and Meath will get behind the event: “This is a fantastic way to raise much needed funds for Special Olympics athletes. All of the money raised will go towards supporting athletes in this region and ensuring that they continue to get access to sporting opportunities through competitions, leagues and interclub competitions. On top of that it promises to be good fun so sign-up today!”

A number of other local organisations have also pledged their support to the event.

Those interested in signing up for the Polar Plunge can do so at www.specialolympics.ie/polarplunge. Registration costs €15 and plungers are asked to raise a minimum €50, which goes directly to supporting athletes with intellectual disabilities through sport and competition. Plungers who raise more than €50 will also receive a complimentary ‘Ice Cool’ t-shirt.

Dundalk IT’s Paddy O’Rourke named in goal for International Rules clash

Paddy O’Rourke

Dundalk IT student Paddy O’Rourke has been named in goal for Ireland for tomorrow’s match with Australia in the International Rules series.

The Meath man is the current vice president of the Students’ Union.

The game is at 9.45am Irish time and will be shown live on TG4.

Meanwhile, Willville’s Dave Kearney will make a long-awaited return from injury after being named on the wing for Leinster’s RaboDirect Pro 12 clash with Treviso at the weekend. His older brother Rob will also be in action at the weekend having been named yesterday at full back for Ireland’s test match against Australia on Saturday evening.

Kearney signs new three-year deal with Leinster

Leinster and Ireland rugby star Rob Kearney has signed a new three-year contract with the IRFU which will see him remain at the province until at least June 2018.

The full back, who hails from Willville in Carlingford, made his senior debut for Leinster against the Ospreys in September 2005 and has since made 155 appearances, scoring 38 tries.

Commenting on the new contract, Kearney said: “I am happy to have signed a new contract that will keep me at Leinster for another three years.

“I made my debut for Leinster almost 10 years ago and it is a great honour be in a position to extend my contract and hopefully play a part in future success at both provincial and national level.”

IRFU Performance Director David Nucifora said: “We are delighted that Rob has committed his future to Leinster and Ireland for the next three years. Rob has shown his world class in the blue of Leinster, the green of Ireland and the red of the Lions.”

Leinster CEO Mick Dawson added: “It is great that Rob has signed a new IRFU contract which keeps him at Leinster up to the end of the 2018 season. Rob is a senior international with a proven pedigree and a key voice within our environment.

“Keeping our stars at Leinster will ensure that we continue to compete for silverware in our domestic competition and in Europe.”

Kearney made his Ireland debut against Argentina in June 2005 and the 28-year-old full-back has gone on to win 56 caps for his country, scoring 10 tries and a drop goal.

Kearney has twice toured with the British & Irish Lions in 2009 and 2013, playing in all three Tests in South Africa five years ago.

He has won a Grand Slam (2009) and Six Nations Championship (2014) with Ireland and three Heineken Cups, an Amlin Challenge Cup and three PRO12 titles with Leinster, as well as being voted the ERC European Player of the Year and IRUPA Players’ Player of the Year in 2012.

Kearney off the market as new girlfriend is revealed

Rob Kearney’s reported new girlfriend, Jess Redden

One of this area’s most eligible bachelors, Rob Kearney, is off the market and has been for a year, according to a report in today’s Herald.

The newspaper has revealed that the 28-year-old rugby star has been dating “blonde bombshell” Jess Redden for the last year.

A native of Dundrum, Jess is 21 and has reportedly been seen with the Ireland and Leinster full back in a number of Dublin pubs and restaurants.

Kearney, who last month launched his new Ballsbridge-based bar The Bridge 1859 with younger brother David and team-mates Jamie Heaslip and Sean O’Brien, is said to have kept the relationship under wraps for some time but is now more open about it.

The Willville man had previously dated English actress Susie Amy for three years before they split in 2012.

Rob’s younger brother Dave also recently split with his girlfriend of two years, model Hayley Ryan.

Kearney features in anti-homelessness video

Leinster and Ireland rugby star Rob Kearney features in a new anti-homelessness video from Focus Ireland.

The short video, made in association with Aviva, sees the Willville man interviewed by Moone Boy star David Rawle. Also grilled as part of the hilarious clip is actress Amy Huberman – wife of Kearney’s former teammate Brian O’Driscoll – and Taoiseach Enda Kenny.

The video was made to highlight the importance of education, especially when it comes to preventing homelessness amongst young people.

Check it out above.

Kearney brothers announce the name of their new Ballsbridge pub

Leinster Rugby players Sean O’Brien, Jamie Heaslip, Rob Kearney and Dave Kearney at The Bridge 1859

The Bridge 1859 has been officially announced as the name of the Ballsbridge bar formerly known as Bellamy’s.

Recently acquired by Noel Anderson of The Grafton Lounge alongside Ireland and Leinster Rugby stars Jamie Heaslip, Sean O’Brien and Willville brothers Rob and Dave Kearney, The Bridge 1859 is looking forward to welcoming a scrum of customers from the end of September.

“I’m obviously over the moon to have gone into business with the four lads,” said Anderson.

“I can see us having some great days ahead in The Bridge 1859. The highs and lows of the last few months will all be worth it when we open the doors and pull that highly anticipated first pint.”

Heaslip added: “For all of us it was important to get a name that paid homage to the history of the building and the area. We feel that The Bridge 1859 captures both – we’re located in Ballsbridge, and the building was first used as a pub in 1859. We also wanted a name that was easy to roll off the tongue standing in the RDS or the Aviva – let’s go to The Bridge for one.”

The Bridge 1859 has been completely redesigned. The bar counter is now longer and the new back bar has a selection of wine, whiskey and spirits. It is currently recruiting full-time and part-time bar and waiting staff at jobs@thebridge1859.ie.

The new pub will open on Thursday September 25th.

Kearney and Kenny complete ice bucket challenges

Following on from his brother Rob’s ice bucket challenge last week, Dave Kearney stepped up to the plate over the weekend with his own comical version of the latest craze to sweep the internet.

In the clip, the Leinster and Ireland winger pretends to chicken out of the challenge before getting absolutely drenched by a digger.

Meanwhile, Dundalk manager Stephen Kenny also got in on the act yesterday after being drenched by first team players John Mountney, Simon Kelly, Brian Gartland, Pat Hoban and coach Graham Byrne – who he nominated. Check out the clip here.

Rob Kearney takes part in Ice Bucket Challenge

Ireland and Leinster rugby star Rob Kearney has become the latest celebrity/sports star to take part in the Ice Bucket Challenge.

Prior to being drenched by two of his Leinster colleagues, the Willville man nominated TV presenters Laura Whitmore and Pat Kenny to join him in the challenge.

You can view Kearney’s drenching here.