Latest news with #Cullen
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Daily Record
The Scottish Borders hotel with food 'to die for' you can book at major discount
Its restaurant has been especially acclaimed by guests. A popular Scottish Borders hotel can now be booked at a significant discount. The accommodation has been praised by previous guests, with one describing its food as "to die for". The Plough Hotel is situated in the village of Town Yetholm, a short distance from the English border. Located on the village's main street, it features five guest rooms and a dining room. At the moment, an overnight stay for two at The Plough Hotel is available for £79 through Wowcher —plus an additional £3.99 admin fee. The usual price of one night at the hotel is £130, meaning guests paying through the discount site receive 39 per cent off their stay. All of the twin and double rooms at the hotel feature plush furnishings and peaceful views. Meanwhile, each one comes with a modern en-suite bathroom with complimentary toiletries. Wi-Fi access is included as well, while The Plough Hotel is also pet-friendly. Guests at the hotel can also enjoy a free breakfast in the morning. Visitors can choose to upgrade their deal to include a two-course dinner at the hotel's restaurant. The total cost of a one-night stay with dinner is £109—a discount of 16 per cent. Sample starters on the hotel's menu include homemade Cullen skink and prawn cocktail in a marie rose sauce. Meanwhile, among the mains are breaded Whitby scampi served with full salad, petit pots, and chips and chicken breast stuffed with haggis and wrapped in bacon. When not in the hotel, there are many things to see and do in the local area during your getaway. Highlights include the 18th century Floors Castle and spectacular surrounding Roxburgh Estate and the picturesque St Cuthbert's Way walk that links Scotland and England. The Plough Hotel has mostly received rave reviews from past guests. On Tripadvisor, the hotel has a rating of 4.5 out of five based on 101 reviews. One visitor shared: "Excellent food, better than we expected. Six of us ate here and the food was very good indeed, especially the homemade sticky toffee and date pudding, ah to die for! "Food was better than we expected so credit to the chef." On the other hand, a slightly less positive three-star review reads: "Nice room, good food, no sleep on Saturday night as music was cranked in the bar and too much shouting." Another happy guest posted: "Brilliant stay at this hotel. We had a great stay in this wee hidden gem, everything was exceptional about our stay from the rooms, the staff and the food." If The Plough Hotel does not appeal, there are other accommodation options in the area to choose from. Among these are the nearby Border Hotel and the Mill House bed and breakfast.
Sky News AU
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
Ex-Today show presenter Alex Cullen to join The Christian O'Connell Show as resident sports guru following shock dismissal
Axed Today show presenter Alex Cullen has landed a new gig in breakfast radio, joining GOLD FM's The Christian O'Connell Show as its resident 'sports guru'. The Melbourne-based program, part of the ARN network, confirmed Cullen's appointment on Thursday. He will step into the role previously held by longtime co-host Jack Post, who announced his departure in May. The move will see Cullen relocate from Sydney to Melbourne with his wife Bonnie and their three children, marking a fresh start just months after his abrupt exit from the Nine Network. In January, Cullen was dismissed by Nine after accepting a $50,000 cash reward from billionaire The Block personality Adrian Portelli. Portelli, 35, had publicly requested to be dubbed "McLaren man" rather than "Mr Lambo"- a nickname tied to his multiple appearances on the reality show. O'Connell revealed the news to listeners live on air, hinting at Cullen's recent media headlines: "We've got some exciting news on the show- we're bringing in someone new to be a part of our radio family," he said. "…Alex Cullen is a brilliant journalist who is actually looking for a job- you might recognise the name - that guy, who took the $50,000. "Now, Channel Nine might go, 'Listen, we can't have that', but commercial breakfast radio, we're very much up for payola. "Don't worry Alex, you've found a home here, my friend," he joked. In a statement shared by ARN, O'Connell said that Cullen "is a real talent and a very likeable guy". "I called him out of the blue a few weeks ago and we hit it off like old mates," the British radio star said. "He came over for a rigorous interview with me- that to onlookers may have looked like a long lunch with flowing red wine- but we bonded over being dads and a shared love of storytelling and how sport could be delivered on my show. "I can't wait for him to join my team and start working together." Cullen, 44, also expressed his enthusiasm about the new chapter in his career. "This is such an exciting next chapter for me. I actually started my career in radio, so to be coming back to it and joining a show that's so loved and so full of heart is a real thrill. "I can't wait to be on air with Christian, Pats and Rio, and to get to know Melbourne, my family and I are thrilled to be making it our new home." More to come.
The 42
7 days ago
- Sport
- The 42
'They said it was Ireland v Bulls. We said, 'Right, let's not disappoint them''
LEINSTER'S MESSAGES IN the media have traditionally been all about focusing on themselves, getting their performance right, and ignoring the outside noise. But in recent weeks, we've seen and heard a shift. It has been obvious that the negative words being spoken and written about Leinster have been discussed within the set-up. Joe McCarthy gave us an insight when he said that 'everyone loves to hate Leinster' after their semi-final win over Glasgow. After Saturday's final victory over the Bulls, skipper Jack Conan spoke about how Leinster had 'silenced a few critics.' Head coach Leo Cullen went a step further and invited more of the negativity towards his team. 'Pressure is great, it's part and parcel of sport,' said Cullen after his men had beaten the Bulls in dominant fashion. 'It's a great way to feel alive, we're lucky to be involved in it. 'Keep the abuse coming, we don't mind – thick skins.' It's clear that Leinster have leaned into what people say about them more than ever on the run to this URC title. And so they should. Sport is simple sometimes. Being able to generate a f**k-you mindset is valuable, especially in a physical game like rugby. Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls always had an 'us against the world' mindset, even when the world wasn't actually against them. The venom in Leinster's play over the last two weekends has been impossible to miss. The prospect of winning a trophy inspired that, of course, but it seems like paying more attention to the outside noise might have been helpful too. Advertisement Rather than ignoring Bulls boss Jake White pitching this final as Ireland against the Bulls, the Leinster players took his words on board. Leo Cullen with Jordie Barrett. Ben Brady / INPHO Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO The massive defensive holdouts from Leinster late in the first half were partly inspired by White's provocative comments. 'You've got to love those physical moments, the lift that it gives you, and says so much about where we are mentally,' said Conan. 'They came out with a lot of stuff in the media during the week about it's Ireland versus the Bulls. 'So we said, 'Right, let's not disappoint them, let's be at our best, let's give them Irish rugby,' and I thought we did that. 'I don't know if I had too many collisions out there but I was absolutely loving seeing the lads whack people and forcing them back.' As Cullen outlined, Leinster were under huge pressure to end their wait for silverware. The Leinster boss is not someone who shows his emotions in public often but this success must have sparked great joy and relief after the travails of recent seasons. Cullen dislikes how Leinster have been perceived as failures because they haven't won more trophies, but he knows trophies are crucial. Cullen's biggest smile in the post-match press conference came when one reporter made the mistake of thinking that the 'Leo, Leo, Leo' chants from Leinster fans were for their head coach. 'That was for Leo the Lion!' said Cullen. 'Just to say I don't want to take the credit here! 'One of my memories when I came back from England – I was playing in England between 2005 and 2007, Leinster wasn't a happy place back in those days – but I remember playing in the RDS in 2007 and we were defending a lineout and I could hear the crowd go, 'Leo, Leo!' and I was thinking 'this crowd love me' and then in the corner of my eye I could see the lion doing a dance, and I was like, 'Ah, good luck'. 'But Leo the Lion did a great job!' Leo the Lion with Caelan Doris at Croke Park. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO It was a laughing matter but it was interesting to hear Cullen note how Leinster 'wasn't a happy place' while he was over in Leicester. The return of Cullen and Shane Jennings was crucial in helping the province to win their first-ever Heineken Cup. Cullen has won one of those trophies as a head coach too, while coming up just short on three other occasions. Leinster wasn't the happiest of places when Cullen first took over as head coach and his reign started in rocky fashion. Stuart Lancaster's impact was important in turning the ship around to win four consecutive Pro 14 titles and the Champions Cup in 2018. Then Jacques Nienaber succeeded Lancaster and has helped drive them to this first URC title. But Cullen is the connecting factor between every single one of the 14 trophies Leinster have won in their professional history. That's remarkable stuff. Cullen has always had his fair share of critics, as a player and as a coach. Now it looks like he and his Leinster team are taking energy from that outside noise.
The Irish Sun
7 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘Keep the abuse coming, we don't mind' – Leo Cullen's pointed message to Leinster critics after URC triumph
LEO CULLEN insists the haters can keep abusing Leinster because it is water off a duck's back. But Jack Conan and Dan Sheehan admitted that breaking their trophy duck is a big deal. 2 Leo Cullen's side ended a four-year trophy drought at Croke Park 2 It was the first trophy Dan Sheehan has won with the province The Blues were crowned URC champions on Saturday night by It was And the pressure was on this season following the shock Euro last-four defeat by Northampton. That put the focus on Cullen's side that boasts the bulk of the Ireland team as well as two of the world's best imports in All Black Read More On Irish Sport Bulls coach Jake White insisted his pre-match comment about effectively facing Ireland — eight of the starting XV on Saturday were also Lions — was not a criticism. Captain Conan said: 'They came out with a lot of stuff in the media during the week about it's Ireland versus the Bulls. 'So we said, 'Right, let's not disappoint them, let's be at our best, let's give Irish rugby' and I thought we did that. 'I don't know if I had too many collisions out there, but I was absolutely loving seeing the lads whack people and forcing them back.' Most read in Rugby Union Leinster set the tone by scoring three unanswered tries in the first half and producing a brilliant 18-phase stop to deny Bulls a try before the break. The display will also have silenced the critics who questioned whether Leinster, who have an embarrassment of playing riches, lacked the character to win. Inside Leinster's boozy celebrations as stars dance on team bus while leaving Croke Park as URC champs Cullen, 47, has been head coach for a decade and led the Blues to Champions Cup glory and four URC titles before their recent struggles. And he never had any doubt that they were on the brink of success. The former lock said: 'We've lost in different ways, at the death, after extra-time, you've just got to keep putting ourselves in that position and keep pushing the boundaries of what we do. 'You get criticism when you lose, it still doesn't take away what we actually . . . personally speaking, what I love doing. 'Pressure is great, it's part and parcel of sport. It's a great way to feel alive, we're lucky to be involved. Keep the abuse coming, we don't mind — thick skins.' RELIEF AMONG PLAYERS But Conan, 32, acknowledged that lifting silverware again with Leinster was important for the present and future. He said: 'We spoke a lot in the last few weeks . . . so many lads here have never won anything for Leinster. 'They've won a load of stuff for Ireland, they've won Grand Slams, Triple Crowns and things, but have never won anything for Leinster.' Dan Sheehan is one of those as the 2021 season was his rookie year when he was largely a bit-part player. The hooker, 26, said: 'This is the first one that I feel properly a part of. It was definitely on my mind over the last couple of years. 'You work so hard during the season and you're spending the majority of your time with this group of players. It gives us a boost, I think it gets the monkey off the back and it is incredibly rewarding.'
The Irish Sun
15-06-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Inside Leinster's boozy celebrations as stars dance on team bus while leaving Croke Park as URC champs
LEINSTER'S players got to bask in a job well done as they partied into the evening following their victory over Bulls in the URC Grand Final. The Blues Advertisement 7 Players got to don eyewear to protest themselves from all over the champagne that was being sprayed around the dressing room Credit: @joetmmcc 7 French international Rabah Slimani captioned this snap with Andrew Porter 'Champions mon frere' Credit: @slim_rab 7 He then led them in a French sing-song on the team bus Credit: @slim_rab 7 They partied into the night at the RDS Credit: @leinsterrugby A forward-inspired victory was largely done in the first half as Jack Conan, Jordie Barrett and Josh van der Flier scored before rookie Fintan Gunne's late try. The crowd of 46,127 - a record attendance for an Irish final in the competition - showed the public interest, as did the smiles of Would everyone of a Leinster persuasion prefer a Champions Cup? Absolutely. But after four years of hurt, and seeing and hearing the pleasure the Leinster-haters out there take from it, it was a win that was savouried. Advertisement Read More On Irish Sport And it was also never in doubt the way they tackled the game and tackled the Bulls, with player of the match Ryan Baird leading by example. Afterwards Cullen insisted his players now deserve to be written up as winners after being written off as failures. After three Champions Cup final losses, it bothered Cullen that his men were being called failures, which is why winning this one mattered so much. He said: 'You get told the losers of the finals are failures. When you get to the last two, I think you should celebrate both. Advertisement Most read in Rugby Union "We've been on the flip side in the past, that the team were failures and I personally don't think that was the case.' But Baird admitted that the final losses of the past had put pressure on Leinster this week. 'Pierre loving retirement' - Peter O'Mahony's wife teases Ireland legend as kids run amok in cute snap He said: 'I found it toughest this week. I felt the pressure. I think a lot of us did. 'But we kept coming back to what got us here, moment by moment, inch by inch, and every time I saw someone else make a tackle, it gave me energy to make another one myself. Advertisement 'It's been a long time coming to win a trophy with this team in front of a full stadium. Last time we did, it was during Covid.' Captain Conan put it down to the team fronting up on the evening. 7 This triumph will act as a welcome tonic to wash out the pain from their Champions Cup semi-final loss to Northampton 7 Youngster Fintan Gunne got a helping hand in this funny snap Credit: @leinsterrugby Advertisement 7 They had an extra bit of fun by doing a second trophy lift atop the Hogan Stand in true GAA fashion He said: 'It's putting your head where you wouldn't put a shovel. Ultimately, it's a physical game, it's what we teed ourselves up for all week.' Bulls coach Jake White admitted his side ran into a Leinster side that produced their best rugby of the season in the first half. White said: 'We were never going to win that game once they got that 14-0 start. Advertisement 'We got the 40 minutes the Leinster supporters were waiting for the whole season. It was like watching a horror movie, and you hope the ending will be different. 'This was Test-level rugby. Leinster normally have 23 internationals, today they were short, they only had 22. They are a phenomenal team. That is probably the best Leinster team ever.'
