Tubridy is star turn at Standún birthday celebrations

Ryan Tubridy proved the star turn at the special birthday celebrations of Standún in An Spidéal last Saturday.

The Late Late Show host and RTÉ Radio One presenter was a real crowd-puller, as hundreds of people flocked to the family-run store in Spiddal to share in its 70 years of success.

Upon his arrival shortly after 2pm, Tubridy – a frequent visitor to the West of Ireland, and in particular Connemara – declared he was delighted to be back ‘home’.  His appearance at Standún’s, located on the coast road on the Galway City side of Spiddal, coincided with one of the most contentious Late Late Show the Friday night before.

Tubs said he had brought controversial guest Katie Hopkins with him to Galway before jokingly adding: “She’s back in Britain where she belongs!”

After posing for countless photographs and selfies with fans, Tubridy interviewed members of the Standún family, including Donal Standún, who ran the business until 2012 when the baton was passed on to his daughter Cliona, a grandchild of the founders.

The day long celebrations began with children’s storytelling in the morning, and a puppet show as Gaeilge for children. There was also a ‘Ready Steady Cook’ competition where two local chefs from the Lodge at Ashford, Jonathan Keane and Evan O’Ceallaigh had a ‘cook off’ with ingredients from McGeough’s of Oughterard.

There was a fashion show where the store’s range of clothing were showcased, as well as demonstrations from artists and craftspeople.  Music and dance form Trad on the Prom concluded the they celebrations at one of Connemara’s landmark stores, which was founded in 1946 by May and Mairtín Standún.