Latest news with #PaulWeller
Malay Mail
2 days ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Hundreds rally behind Kneecap's Mo Chara as he faces UK terrorism charge for Hezbollah flag display
LONDON, June 18 — A member of Irish rap group Kneecap appeared in a London court today charged with a terrorism offence for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed Lebanese militia Hezbollah, as hundreds of people gathered outside in support. Liam O'Hanna, whose stage name is Mo Chara, is alleged to have waved the flag of banned militant group Hezbollah during a Kneecap gig in London in November 2024. The 27-year-old was charged last month under the Terrorism Act, under which it is a criminal offence to display an article in a way which arouses reasonable suspicion that someone is a supporter of a proscribed organisation. Belfast-based Kneecap, who rap in Irish and English and regularly display pro-Palestinian messages during their gigs, previously said the flag had been thrown on stage and described the charge against O'Hanna as an attempt to silence them. O'Hanna appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court where supporters, including some Northern Irish politicians and musicians including Paul Weller, massed before the hearing. A group of musicians sang Irish ballads and many in the crowd waved Irish and Palestinian flags and held placards. He had to push past a scrum of photographers when he arrived as supporters chanted 'Free Palestine' and 'Free Mo Chara'. 'Up Hezbollah' Prosecutor Michael Bisgrove told the court the case was not about O'Hanna's support for Palestinians or his criticism of Israel, saying he was well within his rights to do that. 'The allegation in this case is a wholly different thing and deals with the video recording showing that, in November of last year, Mr O'Hanna wore and displayed the flag of Hezbollah ... while saying 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah'.' O'Hanna's lawyer Brenda Campbell said the defence would argue the charge was brought after the six-month limit to bring such a charge. 'If we are right in relation to that, then this court has no jurisdiction and there ends the case,' she added. A hearing will be held on August 20 to determine whether the charge was brought too late, Judge Paul Goldspring said. O'Hanna spoke only in court to confirm his name, date of birth and address. One of his lawyers, Darragh Mackin, told the crowd of supporters: 'The more they come after Kneecap, the louder they will get.' — Reuters
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
A look back at Merthyr Tydfil through the years
Merthyr Tydfil is in the spotlight at the moment as the town's Cyfarthfa Castle celebrates its 200th birthday. As a result, BBC Wales is marking this occasion with a special series of programmes. These will look at the history, culture and people of Merthyr and delve into how it developed as the first industrial town in the world and that legacy. Here is a look back at the people and places that have made Merthyr Tydfil over the past 200 years. 'I'm really bad at telling jokes,' says Ruth Jones My town, where community spirit makes leaving hard 'Paul Weller was my Welsh hero - now we're friends'
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
A look back at Merthyr Tydfil through the years
Merthyr Tydfil is in the spotlight at the moment as the town's Cyfarthfa Castle celebrates its 200th birthday. As a result, BBC Wales is marking this occasion with a special series of programmes. These will look at the history, culture and people of Merthyr and delve into how it developed as the first industrial town in the world and that legacy. Here is a look back at the people and places that have made Merthyr Tydfil over the past 200 years. 'I'm really bad at telling jokes,' says Ruth Jones My town, where community spirit makes leaving hard 'Paul Weller was my Welsh hero - now we're friends'
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
From ironworks to innovation in Merthyr Tydfil
From the early ironworks to 21st Century innovation, Merthyr Tydfil has always been a town in transition. While heavy industry has been and gone, Merthyr's manufacturing sector has ebbed and flowed with the changing priorities of global brands and the UK economy. There are some stalwarts of the business community who remain committed to the area, with the boss of Stephens and George printers speaking of his "pride" at employing local workers. And a decades-long renovation of the Prince Charles Hospital is now providing a route into work for young people. My town, where community spirit makes leaving hard 'Paul Weller was my Welsh hero - now we're friends' In the 19th Century, Dowlais in Merthyr had the largest ironworks in the world and helped fuel the industrial revolution. Big industries, employing thousands of people, shaped the economy. But as fortunes changed, so did the business landscape. They have been printing magazines in Dowlais for 60 years, at a company originally founded just over the hill in Aberdare a century ago. Andrew George is now at the helm, having joined the family business in the 1970s. He said: "You have to go back over a hundred years to 1912 when my father's mother's father was a Mr George. "He met a Mr Stephens in Aberdare and they created a company called Stephens and George." The company has weathered the economic storms that have swept through Merthyr and the printing industry over the past hundred years. "I have been coming to this valley for work since 1979, and the amount of change that I have seen is absolutely incredible," Mr George said. "The whole industrialised area of Merthyr is gone, there isn't any heavy industry left." While the area is no longer "an industrial heartland", Mr George said his company relied on a loyal and local workforce. He added: "We've got close to 190 people working here at the moment, and a large proportion of them come from within five miles of the factory." There is regular investment at the factory, where multi-million pound machines are bought from German specialist manufacturers every five or six years. The latest press, which is a year old, can print 21,000 sheets of magazine paper every hour at top speed. "Come here on Thursdays and it is manic," Mr George smiled. The company does a roaring trade in football and rugby programmes, which fly out of Merthyr to grounds across the UK every week. There is also investment in the workforce, though some people's expectations of the job have changed. "Since Covid," Mr George said, "people took a rain check, I think. "Trying to find the right type of youngster who wants to come and work in a factory, and do shifts, is difficult." The printing presses run all day and night, seven days a week, and he admitted: "We do find it difficult to recruit good people." Merthyr Tydfil's chimneys have been replaced with industrial estates, call centres and cutting edge military equipment. General Dynamics employs around 700 people on its armoured vehicle production line. And there is opportunity in the renovation of the town, with long-term work to modernise the Prince Charles Hospital providing construction work and opportunities for young people. Students from The College in Merthyr are getting a foot in the door with work experience on site. "In the industry we've got a huge skills shortage," said Kelly Edwards from construction firm Tilbury Douglas. "There are not enough young people taking construction as an option. Not many people are aware of the different opportunities within construction. "So it is highlighting to us, and developing, our future pipeline of workers." Carpentry student Kayla Williams, 18, said she "really enjoyed" visiting the site. "It was active. I could be hands-on. That's just what I love," she said. "I don't really like to sit down and do nothing!" Elliot Lewis-Campbell, also studying carpentry, said it was "so good to be able to watch other people who are more experienced" at the trade. "It's so informative to be able to learn from them," he added. Lewis Jones from The College in Merthyr Tydfil said the links with local construction projects were valuable. He said: "They are bringing contractors from the site down, they are doing CV talks about how to get into jobs, (sharing) interview techniques. "Learners are participating in these sessions, developing their skills and trying to get into work." Back at the printers in Dowlais, Mr George thinks his family firm can navigate any economic headwinds. "I am very proud to be able to do this. And I want to see the business continue well into the future," he said.
BBC News
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Paul Weller's little-known Welsh connection to Merthyr's Jonny Owen
For years, filmmaker Jonny Owen had been saying that his hero, singer Paul Weller, was Welsh. And not just Welsh - more importantly than that, The Jam lead vocalist had roots in Owen's beloved hometown of Merthyr to mark Weller's 60th birthday, a national newspaper asked 20 well-known figures to pose any question they wanted to the star, known as The Vicky McClure, Owen's wife, was asked to contribute. Without him knowing, she decided to put an end to the debate with her husband about Weller's Welsh roots. "She asked him, without telling me, which is quite funny," Owen told Lucy Owen. "She said, 'my husband is obsessed with you, to the point where he actually claims you're Welsh. Not only that, he actually claims you're from Merthyr Tydfil'. "And he came back confirming that his grandmother was indeed from Merthyr Tydfil and lived in Aberdare as a young girl. I was over the moon." Owen has since got to know Weller and they text and meet up every now and then. And when he played the Town Called Malice star some music by an up and coming singer from Merthyr called Nancy Williams, it proved to be a hit."He gave her a week free in his barn studios, he said 'get her down to my studios and let her record'," Owen said. "That's the kind of guy he is, he supports not just new artists but Welsh artists as well, so he hasn't forgotten his roots. What a guy." As part of a season across BBC Wales celebrating Merthyr Tydfil and the 200th birthday of Cyfarthfa Castle, Owen has been discovering more about the place where he grew up in a documentary series for BBC Radio Wales called Merthyr Made said his favourite thing he discovered from a historian he spoke to as part of the documentary was how the famous Welsh valleys accent was born in Merthyr. "There was no Welsh accent [when speaking English] before, because people spoke Welsh. All these people came together from Ireland, west, north Wales, England, Italy, Spain, as part of the industrial revolution there," he said. "And this accent was sort of created. It's the accent I've got, the accent people know all over Wales, all over the world know, a valleys accent. It was born in Merthyr. I thought that was fascinating." As part of the documentary series, Owen returns to his roots to learn about his own family history as well as the town's history - even going back to his old primary school in Heolgerrig. "They traced all my generations back and I'm almost a perfect example of someone from Merthyr," Owen said, speaking about relatives like his great-grandfather who left Ireland for the "goldrush" town in search of work during the industrial revolution."There was even a saying in west and north Wales that if someone disappeared for whatever reason, they would say they've gone to Merthyr," he said. "People would just turn up in Merthyr because there was work there." Owen and McClure now return to Merthyr Tydfil as often as possible, organising their Day Fever daytime disco events in the town as well as watching Merthyr Town FC, which they sponsor. "[Vicky] loves Merthyr," Owen said."We try to do as much as we possible can in our hometowns. We film stuff there and try to create a positive impression of both places."She's an adopted Merthyr girl, the people there love her and she loves the town as well." You can catch up with Lucy's full interview with Jonny Owen on BBC Sounds.
