Kaizer Chiefs transfer update on Sipho Mbule
I’m the Irish artist who created world’s most famous image but refused cash – I lost my home but my reason mattered more
HE created the iconic image that’s adorned the walls of millions of homes across the globe – but passed up the opportunity to make hundreds of thousands in royalty cash.
And Dublin artist Jim Fitzpatrick, 81, has lifted the lid on how he met the man who inspired his most famous work – Che Guevara.




He told The Irish Sun: “I never sought royalties for the Che image because I was absolutely enraged by the manner of his death.”
The artist, who is also famous for his work designing Thin Lizzy album covers and Celtic myth illustrations, created the iconic black-on-red silkscreen image of the Cuban Revolution figure in 1968 – but decided against seeking the copyright at the time.
Explaining the move to leave the potential cash unclaimed, he said: “I never wanted to accumulate money, all I wanted was to put a roof over my head.”
The Skerries native, who battled cancer and other health issues, told of his surprise to be living into his 80s, but remains busy with new projects at his studio overlooking Sutton beach in north Dublin.
He told us: “I never thought I’d still be on the planet at this age. It’s way beyond my expectations.
“I had cancer in 2017, but survived that, and I am still walking around even after a hip replacement.
“Getting to 81 means I am getting to do all the things I wanted to do and that’s sending me down all sorts of highways and byways.”
And Jim’s focus remains keenly on revolutionary figures – but this time just closer to home.
He continued: “I was working on a project about the women of 1916 and now I am switching over onto a series about the rebels of 1798.”
Aside from creating stunning album sleeves for the likes of Thin Lizzy, Sinead O’Connor, and Ash, Jim makes a living from his website – jimfitzpatrick.com – where he sells limited edition signed prints and other luxury items.
Some of the notable album covers he’s produced over the years include Sinead O’Connor’s Faith And Courage and Thin Lizzy’s Black Rose: A Rock Legend – which has been a tattoo choice for celebs such as Axl Rose and Johnny Depp.
Jim also produced a striking portrait of American abolitionist Frederick Douglass for the civil rights leader’s family to commemorate his bicentennial in 2018.
But despite commissions from around the world throughout his long career, Jim lost his house to vulture funds a few years ago, and now owns an apartment where he creates his art.
The talented craftsman missed out on a fortune by refusing to copyright or charge for his most famous work – arguably the world’s most recognisable image.
The renowned piece on Marxist revolutionary and guerrilla leader Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara was based on a photograph by Alberto Diaz Gutierrez – known as Korda – in German magazine Stern in 1967.



While the image was later reproduced on t-shirts, cups, posters and other merchandise worldwide, Jim did not assert his copyright until 2010, more than four decades after its creation.
In 2013, Jim attempted to hand over the rights to the picture to the Cuban people to be administered by the Guevara family.
However, because Che’s family never signed and ratified the documents, the copyright on the picture remains with Jim.
He said: “It’s not valid until they sign those papers, but the family don’t want to be dragged into the courts for every copyright violation, and I don’t want to spend my time in the courts either.
‘ACT OF SOLIDARITY’
“Gerry Adams has tried to help. He brought me into the Dail to meet the new Cuban Ambassador, and explained to them, this image is worth millions and I want to give it to Cuba. Not as an act of charity but as an act of solidarity.
“I’ve been told I need to be patient. All I want to know is that when I pop my clogs, that piece of paper exists and I have done the right thing. I never wanted to accumulate money, all I wanted was to put a roof over my head.”
Jim created his two-tone masterpiece by making a line drop-out of Korda’s photograph.
He then submitted it to Dublin’s Scene to accompany a feature about the revolutionary’s move from Cuba to Bolivia.
Shortly after, Guevera was captured and killed by the Bolivian army.
The following year, when Fitzpatrick showed his stark poster at the Viva Che exhibition in London it instantly became a bestseller.
‘DEMAND WAS INSANE’
Jim explained: “The demand was insane. It went off like a rocket. I just kept supplying, supplying, supplying.
“I couldn’t afford to keep getting it photographed, which is why I had to make all these variations.”
Pop artist Andy Warhol was among those first to hail Fitzpatrick’s image as he credited the picture with inspiring him to create a nine-panel fluorescent-coloured silkscreen portrait of Che in its likeness.
Despite his image gaining popularity, Fitzpatrick didn’t pocket a penny from its global success due to his copyright stance.



He explained: “I never sought royalties for the Che image because I was absolutely enraged by the manner of his death.
“He was shot in the neck and left to drown in his own blood, because they didn’t want to harm his face.
“The Bolivians wanted his face intact so they could prove it was him. I was trying to get people to notice this man had been murdered.”
“I never thought I’d still be on the planet at this age. It’s way beyond my expectations.”
Jim Fitzpatrick
Fitzpatrick said he took the murder personally because he met the doomed Argentinean-born revolutionary five years prior to designing the poster while working as a barman at the Marine Hotel in Kilkee, Co Clare.
CHAT WITH CHE
Jim said: “What happened was Che was flying back from Moscow to Havana when his plane got grounded by fog at Shannon Airport.
“He ended up staying the night in Ireland and walked into the pub I was working in. I recognised him straight away.
“I remember him saying his father’s grandmother, Isabel Lynch, was from Cork, though I later learned she was from Galway.
“He was very proud of the fact that the Irish were the first to begin to bring down the British empire.”
AN IRISH ED ON HIS SHOULDERS

THIN Lizzy album designer Jim Fitzpatrick has said that Ed Sheeran can call himself Irish despite being born in the UK – just like his music icon pal Phil Lynott did.
Ed, 34, came under attack on social media when he told podcaster Louis Theroux that he identifies culturally as Irish, although he was born in Yorkshire and raised in Suffolk, England.
However, Celtic artist Jim has defended the Shape Of You hitmaker.
He told The Irish Sun: “Yes, Ed Sheeran is entitled to say his father’s family are Irish. Anybody with Irish blood is entitled to be Irish, it’s that simple.
“My friend Phil was born in West Bromwich, outside Birmingham, but he was vehemently Irish.
“Like Phil, Ed Sheeran is an amazing, talented songwriter, and I’d be very proud to add him to the list of Irish diaspora.
“President John F Kennedy and his brother Bobby Kennedy were not born here but they also had Irish blood and Irish genes. Anyone with Irish blood is entitled to say they are Irish, like Ed.”
Jim claims he is delighted that we are living in a time where Ed can boast of his Irishness.
He said: “I knew George Harrison of The Beatles who couldn’t say it back then, but they were all Irish. Paul McCartney is talking about his mum’s Irish family now.
“Once it was viewed in England as a sign of inferiority and then during The Troubles people clammed up about Irish pride and heritage, but now The Troubles are over, groups like Kneecap are extolling everything Irish and we have an Irish language revival and people worldwide can be open and proud about their roots.
“I only wish Phil was around to see this because he was proudly Irish at a time when it was wiser to keep your mouth shut about your Irishness in Britain.
“But Phil never tried to hide or disguise it. He strutted around England being an Irish man.”
The creative talent added: “When Che was murdered, the first thing his father said was, ‘Che died like a true Irish revolutionary’. That kind of stuff had a lot of resonance with me.”
Jim recently donated a print of 1916 hero Elizabeth O’Farrell to The Moore Street Preservation Trust, which is battling to save the historic street from development.
And, like most of Jim’s work, the limited edition signed print quickly sold out.
This Friday, Jim is donating another new work, a painting of 1798 Irish Rebellion icon John Kelly – who was immortalised in the Dubliners’ song Kelly, The Boy From Kilanne – to the National 1798 Rebellion Centre in Enniscorthy, Wexford.
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Michelle Keegan rakes in a huge SIX figure sum while on maternity leave as she makes £8k a week from string of TV jobs
NEW mum Michelle Keegan’s bumper bank balance has given her another reason to celebrate.
The actress, 38, raked in a staggering £441,082 while pregnant with daughter Palma, bringing her net worth to more than £4million.


New accounts for her artistic creation performing arts firm Rosia Promotions show Michelle’s income was thriving while she was off on maternity leave.
Accounts filed at Companies House today show that she made the equivalent of £8,482 per week for the year up to September 30, 2024.
The fresh profit increases the net worth of Keegan’s company to £4,032,277 after bills are accounted for.
The firm boasts £3,473,623 in cash and £610,370 in property – a flat in Altrincham bought in 2022 – as well as £120,219 in monies due in.
Michelle, who has been a hit in Netflix’s Fool Me Once, Sky’s Brassic and the BBC’s Ten Pound Poms, set her company up in 2013 and signed off the latest accounts on June 13.
Earlier accounts reveal Michelle made £280,000 in her firm’s first year of trading and made her first corporate million by 2016.
She exceeded £2 million in 2021 before topping £3 million in 2023 – with £3.6 million in accumulated profits held as at September 30 2023.
In addition to her acting firm, Michelle co-directs clothing business Mysa Active with husband Mark Wright.
Not such a money spinner as yet, it held £37,838 as at 31 May 2024.
Hubby Mark also runs fitness firm Train Wright, property business Chigwell Properties and media firm – The Wright Look Models.
His firms add £3 million to the family riches.
And the money is set to keep rolling in as we exclusively revealed this week that Michelle has signed a six-figure advertising deal to become the new face of Sky.
She is set to film a series of promo clips — which will be shown around the globe — with fellow British actor, Luther star Idris Elba.
She landed the deal after becoming a major player for Sky, with her comedy-drama Brassic one of the most popular series to air on the platform.


Kaizer Chiefs face Euro competition in chase for AFL star
I’m Muhammad Ali’s grandson but kept it a secret when I walked into the gym… I took beatings like everyone else
BIAGGIO ALI WALSH is related to the most famous fighter of all time but he hid it – because he wanted to take beatings just like everyone else.
The 26-year-old is the grandson to boxing icon Muhammad Ali and now finds himself making his own way in MMA.


Biaggio once had aspirations of going to the NFL but swapped American football for MMA – where he is now 2-0.
The lightweight trains at Extreme Couture – the Las Vegas gym headed up by Eric Nicksick – trainer to Francis Ngannou.
When Biaggio first walked into the gym he kept his identity a secret – and it took ex-UFC champion Sean Strickland FOUR YEARS to catch on.
Biaggio told SunSport: “I never walked into Extreme Couture and I would tell people, ‘Oh, I’m Muhammad Ali’s grandson.’
“That’s actually the last thing I want is for people to know as soon as they get to a gym.
“So yeah, I think just word of mouth, people started to find out who I was. Apparently Sean Strickland didn’t know till like a couple of weeks ago.
“He came up to me and he’s like, ‘Bro, you’re Muhammad Ali’s grandson?’ I was like, ‘Yes Sean, you didn’t know this? I thought like Eric or someone would have told you or something.
“He’s like, ‘No. I didn’t know, that’s so cool. Like, how was he? Was he cool?’ I was like, ‘Yeah, he was cool, he was funny. Does the boxing make sense now?'”
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS
Biaggio – who shares his Islamic faith with his grandad – had seven amateur fights – winning six – before turning professional in 2024.
But that came after years of learning the ropes in the gym and taking his licks in the gym – just like everyone else.
Biaggio said: “In a combat sport, who you’re related to means nothing, Where you come from means nothing.
“You could come from a silver spoon in your mouth, your dad could be a billionaire, but when you get in that cage and it’s locked, even for sparring, that’s not gonna help you.
“It’s you that’s gonna be fighting for you. When I first got to Extreme, you know, a lot of ass whoopings, a lot of ass whoopings. You pay your dues, dude. That’s how it is in the sport.”
Biaggio – signed to the Professional Fighters League – returns to the cage on June 27 in Chicago against 2-0 Ronnie Gibbs after nearly one year out.
And he said: “I think in this sport, a break like that is good because you can sharpen so many tools and get your mind right and it gives you plenty of time to just get better in everything, physically and mentally.
“And that’s where I feel like I am. I feel like I’ve gotten so much better as a fighter and I’ve gotten so much better in my mental too, so super excited for this fight. I’d like to get a couple more fights at the end of this year.”


How hot does it have to be for creches to close in Ireland and what should be done in heatwave as temps to soar to 29C
FORECASTERS have confirmed, blasting sunshine, scorching 29C temperatures and dry weather in the coming days.
But while country will be basking in sunshine and hot and humid temperatures – how will this impact creches?
Met Eireann and nationwide weather experts have revealed it will be “very warm” heading into the weekend and into next week.
Cathal Nolan from Ireland’s Weather Channel said: “We can say with certainty that Ireland will experience its warmest temperatures of the year to date this week, as very warm air from the Iberian peninsula is pulled northwards on the back of a southerly airflow.”
The meteorologist also revealed temperatures could reach close to 30C.
He explained: “Thursday and Friday will be both very warm or locally hot days with temperatures generally reaching between 23-26C, but locally reaching up to 27C or even 28C in prolonged spells of sunshine or areas northwest of high ground.”
But many parents may be finding themselves asking if creches will close with the huge soar in temperatures.
Could it be a case where children are sent home early and creches close if the weather gets too hot?
HOW HOT DOES IT HAVE TO BE FOR CRECHES TO CLOSE?
Creches and early years services are required to ensure the health, safety and well being of children by making sure temperatures remain within a safe range, according to Tusla.
According to Quality and Regulatory Framework they must make sure there is suitable heating provided in both the summer and winter.
Rooms for sleeping should always be maintained at between 16C and 20C, while care rooms used for children should have a temperature of between 18C and 22C.
Tusla explained that in the event of extreme temperatures, “providers of early years services should undertake a risk assessment and take appropriate actions to mitigate against potential risks to the children in attendance.”
WEATHER WARNINGS
Serious weather warnings, such as status red, orange or yellow heatwave warnings could urge a creche to shut its doors.
For there to be a weather warning in the first place, there are certain temperature factors that are necessary.
To require an orange “threat to life” warning, temperatures would need to reach over 30C for three days and a minimum of 20C for two nights.
In a Status Red weather warning, all schools and universities are required to shut.
For this level of alert, temperatures would be required to hit 30C during the day and 20C at night for five or more
consecutive days and nights.
Without these factors, it’s up to the individual creche to decide whether they are capable of maintaining a comfortable temperature for the little ones.
If, for example, the water isn’t running or the air conditioning is interrupted, they may decide it’s best to shut.
HOW TO PROTECT CHILDREN
When sending your little one to their creche during a heatwave, there are a number of things to keep in mind – for both parents and teachers.
Always make sure to pack extra water to keep them hydrated throughout the day.
You should also put sun cream and a hat on them before they head off to avoid sunburn and overheating.
Parents may also be asked by the creche to dress their kids in light and breathable clothing.
Teachers should keep rooms ventilated with an open window, and may even limit outdoor play time during the peak hours of 11am to 4pm.
They will also ensure kids have access to enough water, and apply sun cream again throughout the day if needed.
Early Childhood Ireland advised teachers: “Use a room thermometer to ensure that nap rooms or sleep rooms are at the correct temperature.
“We recommend that rooms in which babies or children sleep are at 16C to 20C.
“Children should not sleep in direct sunlight.”
And for kids with other health concerns, it’s important to keep an extra eye on them – which teachers will do in extreme heat.
Early Childhood Ireland added: “If a child in your care has additional health needs or special needs, ask the parents if there are any special recommendations for their child, or if they are more at risk from the heat.”

Huge shake-up on popular ITV quiz as two big name stars QUIT ahead of new series

ITV has scrambled the dial on its quizshow Password and made huge changes ahead of series two.
I can reveal that Alan Carr and Daisy May Cooper will no longer be part of the show, with just host Stephen Mangan remaining.

The brilliant duo stood as team captains on the popular gameshow.
But for its second run, a revolving panel of celebrities feature instead.
A source said: “Password did brilliantly on its first outing so it’s always a shame to make unnecessary changes, but Alan and Daisy are both incredibly busy and diaries just wouldn’t align.
“Something had to give and sadly it was their roles as team captains.
“But there’s an exciting line-up of celebs ready to take part instead and everyone’s confident the format works without them.”
On each episode, Alan and Daisy teamed up with a civilian contestant.
Each was given a secret word – the password – which their team mate had to guess based on a one-word clue.
There was a £10k prize on offer in the final.
The new series, which comes from the makers Blankety Blank, Britain’s Got Talent and QI, will film this July and air later this year.
The source added: “If anything, the variety of celebrity players will help keep the show fresh and exciting.”
Hugh’s up for the cup
HUGH BONNEVILLE’s Ian Fletcher was last seen bossing the London Olympics in BBC mockumentary Twenty Twelve – but now he’s moved to football in Twenty Twenty Six.
The six-parter will see Ian and his team jet off to Miami to be in charge of “integrity” at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

He’ll be joined by Day Of The Jackal’s Nick Blood, Ten Percent’s Chelsey Crisp, Designated Survivor’s Paulo Costanzo and The Handmaid’s Tale’s Stephen Kunken.
Speaking in character as Fletcher, Hugh said: “I’m thrilled at the prospect of joining the Oversight Team in Miami for this unique event.
“To borrow a soccer analogy, this is a rare opportunity to set out your own goals and then score them on the global stage.”
The series will air on BBC One and iPlayer.
May's return
JAMES MAY will be back in his Wiltshire workshop as his Quest series Shed Load Of Ideas returns for eight episodes this autumn.
The show follows the presenter as he uses engineering hacks and simple solutions to tackle Britain’s bugbears and solve everyday problems for everyday people.
Catch a catfish with C4
SINGLETONS are being put to the test in a new Channel 4 show where they have to work out which of their matches is actually a pal pranking them.
Find The Catfish, the first series for the broadcaster’s new digital channel, Channel 4.0, will follow one person as they go through five blind dates.
But two of their friends will be secretly pranking them, using voice-changing tech to try to convince their friend they are the real deal.
The six-part series will be joined on the new channel by The Intern, which offers amateurs a once-in-a-lifetime internship, and quiz show Family Face-Off, which sees contestants go head-to-head with their families.
The shows will all be available to stream this summer.
Sun is out for Rivals
DISNEY+ show Rivals is getting a helping hand from our very own newspaper.
In snaps taken from the set of the second series, which is currently filming in Wiltshire, a cast member is seen flashing a 1980s copy of The Sun during a photo call for Conservative MP Paul Stratton, played by Rufus Jones.



Last time, Paul was seen going through a mid-life crisis after becoming embroiled in an adultery scandal.
But he looks to have got his act together for series two and is seen, vying for votes outside a town hall.
TV firm owner, Lord Tony Baddingham, played by David Tennant, Alex Hassell’s Rupert Campbell-Black and Bella Maclean’s Taggie O’Hara were also in the new scenes.
The second series, based on Dame Jilly Cooper’s hit novel, is expected to again follow the rivalry between Tony and Rupert.
Season one ended with Tony left for dead after being hit with a television award by American producer Cameron, played by Nafessa Williams during a row.


Roisin’s return
ROISIN GALLAGHER is heading back to our screens as recovering alcoholic Shiv Sheridan in The Dry.
It has been revealed that filming for the third and final series of ITV’s hit comedy got under way this week.
The last run ended with Shiv leaving behind her dysfunctional family and saying goodbye to her artist ex-boyfriend, Jack (Moe Dunford) before flying off to Melbourne on her own.
In the new eight-part series, she finds a new love interest, Daryl, played by Rick Donald, after meeting him at a recovery meeting.
Award-winning comedy becomes latest hit show to be slapped with woke trigger warnings in crackdown by the BBC
HIT mockumentary sitcom The Office has been slapped with “discriminatory language” trigger warnings by BBC bosses.
Five episodes of Ricky Gervais’s award-winning show on iPlayer have been flagged.

All 14 episodes are available on the streaming service.
Its two series, with Gervais as paper company branch boss David Brent, carry a ‘G’ rating to indicate adult humour.
But some episodes also carry the additional warning.
In the first series, debut episode Downsize — first aired in July 2001 — and the sixth episode Judgement are hit with the alert.
And from series two, the first, third and fifth — Merger, Party and Charity — also carry the warnings.
The Office won a clutch of awards in its time — most notably scooping a Golden Globe in 2004 for Best Television Series, the first British comedy to win.
It was co-written and co-created by Gervais and Stephen Merchant, and went on to spawn a successful US version starring Steve Carell.
The Office’s alerts come after the BBC also put disclaimers about offensive or outdated language on episodes of Only Fools and Horses from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.
In February, Channel 4 was branded “humourless” for flagging a series of Father Ted on its catch-up.
Broadcasters also hit Bafta-winning C4 sitcom The IT Crowd with advisories, with one warning: “This episode was made in 2006 and contains strong, strong/offensive derogatory language and adult humour.”
ITV slapped 1970s comedy George and Mildred with a similar caution.
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