Latest news with #BenMurphy
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
'Best Airbnb in England' located on private lake has 'one important factor'
After a two-night stay, solo traveller, Ben Murphy believes he may have stumbled upon the 'best Airbnb in England', which offers unique private lake views and is 'super cosy' If you're looking to go on a 'staycation' this year, one British holidaymaker believes he discovered arguably "the best in England" owing to its stunning views and facilities. Ben Murphy, who is a hotel consultant and specialising in short-term rental accommodation, took to TikTok to detail the property. "Welcome to the Island Lodge," he began in a video as he arrived for his own stay. "It's set on a private lake in the Cotswolds, just out Cirencester and it's an incredibly unique property and exactly what I was looking for." Ben proceeded to showcase the home's interior, decked out with grey and yellow furnishings. It was the Airbnb's exterior that was of particular interest to Ben, however, who revealed it boasts three outdoor decks which are "great for relaxing on" as well as sun-loungers and a table and chairs overlooking the water while you eat. Elsewhere on the decking is a hot tub, something Ben described as a "nice touch" where he relaxed lakeside. Back inside, he continued: "It's a fully equipped kitchen with all the pots and pans and bits and bobs. And there's a working log fire that's 'super cosy'." Ben headed upstairs to the bedroom, again overlooking the lake where he added: "Views of the water from three sides offers lots of natural light." Following his first of two nights, he went for a swim in the lake in the morning. "Because, why not? You're staying on a lake after all," he joked. Ben closed by revealing the "most important" aspect of the Airbnb. "Peace and quiet," he praised. "I fully enjoyed my two nights here and I would highly recommend it if you're looking for a peaceful UK stay." Writing in response, one TikTok user who has stayed at Island Lodge himself, hailed: "Was the best place I've stayed in a while. Lots to do about." A second added: "This looks so wholesome and amazing." While a third person agreed: "Island Lodge looks divine." Marketed on Cotswold Water Park Retreats, the property is described as: "Tucked away on a quiet stretch of Little Horseshoe Lake, Island is a sleek, glass-fronted stay with its own hot tub, kayaks and multiple sun-drenched decks." The site adds: "Perfect for couples or solo escapes, this lodge gives you space to fully switch off – with trails to wander, wild water to swim in, and not a neighbour in sight." The Airbnb also benefits from Underfloor heating throughout, fishing opportunities and "sunsets that deserve your attention" over the "crystal-clear" water. "Just you, the water, and that exhale you didn't know you needed," the description closes.
CTV News
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Cavendish Beach Music Festival: Part 1
Atlantic Watch CTV's Katie Kelly talks to Whitecap Entertainment CEO Ben Murphy about the star-studded lineup at Cavendish Beach Music Festival.
RTÉ News
26-06-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Ben Murphy: Stuart Lancaster can bring Connacht to next level
Ben Murphy believes Stuart Lancaster can take Connacht to the next level when he takes over as head coach next season. The former England and Racing 92 head coach was confirmed as Connacht's new boss on a two-year deal earlier this month, replacing Pete Wilkins who stepped down in May following a period of sick leave. Murphy briefly crossed paths with his new coach at Leinster when he was in the academy and Lancaster was part of the senior coaching staff. And the scrum-half says news of his appointment has generated a lot of "excitement" in the province's squad, as they look to get back on track following a 13th place finish in the URC last season. "I didn't feel we were too far away from being very good. And I think Stu has the ability to take us to that next step," Murphy said. "He's been left a good foundation by the staff that were there last year but were ready to take that next step obviously next year. "Any dealings I had with him, I've always had massive respect for him and I think you can see the development in the likes of a lot of the [British and Irish] Lions who've gone in, who've worked with him in Leinster. "How he's brought them up from 19, 20-year olds to now hopefully Lions internationals in a few weeks. "He is very good, not just on the pitch, but off the pitch in building leadership skills and driving a team so I'm looking forward to hopefully picking his brain a bit on that." Murphy left Leinster last summer to join Connacht, and while the 24-year-old's signing had gone under the radar at the time, he was a revelation at the province in his debut season, scoring nine tries in 16 games. That form saw him called into the Ireland squad a training panellist for the 2025 Guinness Six Nations, and he's now likely to make his Ireland debut in the coming weeks as part of the tour of Georgia and Portugal. Although very few would have had him on the Ireland radar 12 months ago, the Bray native insists he had been quietly targeting this summer, having expected so many Irish players to be away with Andy Farrell's Lions squad. "From the outside looking in it probably would have been far-fetched but I kind of felt that with the movements this year, Lions year and all that, that there was going to be an opportunity for a young scrum-half to come into the squad and I just wanted to put my best foot forward to be the one to be in that position. "Thankfully I got an opportunity earlier with Connacht. I've managed to push forward and get into the squad so delighted." Murphy (below) is one of 12 uncapped players in the squad of 32, coached by Paul O'Connell, and while he's still very much a new face in this group, he's grateful for getting the chance to dip his toe into the Ireland squad back in January. "Yeah it definitely feels a little bit more comfortable because you've had them experiences. "Whether I was a training panellist or whether I'm in the normal squad you go out to train in the same way, try and earn your opportunity to play, that hasn't really changed. I suppose in that aspect its been similar but I think those experiences have helped me. "There's not a whole lot of experience in the group but the lads who've been in for the last couple of years, obviously Craig [Casey] as captain has been great, he's been great to myself and Doaky [Nathan Doak] as well. "I've worked with both 10s before, they're very good at setting up the team and getting their messages across. And then there's obviously lads like [Ryan] Baird, Stuart McCloskey, who've been around for a little bit longer again. "I think there's a really good mix of that experience and then I feel that with so many new caps or potential new caps that brings a bit of enthusiasm as well which I think all together is a good mix."
BBC News
26-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Murphy on Ireland, Lancaster at Connacht and family success
This summer, another door will open for Ben Murphy. A year ago, he was packing his bags and heading west after agreeing to join Connacht from has proved a fruitful step. While he admits the province's 2024-25 season was "up and down", his progress was smooth. He played 16 times and scored nine tries. Earlier this year, he was a training panellist on Ireland's Six Nations squad. But now, with the country's frontline stars on British and Irish Lions duty, the 24-year-old scrum-half is keen to impress while swapping the green of Connacht for the similarly shaded Test jersey. "From the outside looking in, it [receiving an Ireland call-up] probably would have been far-fetched," he admits. "But I kind of felt that with the movements this year, Lions year and all that, that there was going to be an opportunity for a young scrum-half to come into the squad and I just wanted to put my best foot forward to be the one to be in that position. "Thankfully I got an opportunity earlier with Connacht. I've managed to push forward and get into the squad so [I'm] delighted." After Ireland's summer's Tests against Georgia and Portugal, Murphy will return to the winds of change in Galway, with former England boss and Leinster senior coach Stuart Lancaster having recently taken the reins. Murphy previously crossed paths with Lancaster while he was coming through the Leinster academy. "I didn't feel we were too far away from being very good [last season]," added Murphy, who flourished in the latter stages of Pete Wilkins' tenure. "And I think Stu has the ability to take us to that next step. He's been left a good foundation by the staff that were there last year but were ready to take that next step obviously next year."With Ben on the cusp of a Test debut and his younger brother Jack establishing himself in the Ulster first-team under dad/head coach Richie, it has been a whirlwind couple of years for the Murphy clan. "Yeah its been busy for my mum anyway," he smiled."She's been up and down the road a lot from Belfast to Galway to wherever. It has been hugely exciting obviously. Ulster have had their ups and downs as well as us. "We've kind of been on a similar journey I feel. And Jack the same. Young half-back, learning his trade but he's starting to come into his own now. Massively exciting times for everyone."
Irish Times
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Connacht's Ben Murphy out to cap year of stunning personal progress with Ireland debut
Ben Murphy will have an opportunity later in the summer to reflect on an eventful last 12 months and all he accomplished, including his move from Leinster to Connacht , getting selected as a training panellist with the Ireland squad ahead of the Six Nations and now being chosen for the summer tour to Georgia and Portugal. The 24-year-old scrumhalf played 16 matches for Connacht, starting 14 and scoring 11 tries. He also missed six weeks of the season following surgery on a fractured finger. It's an impressive tale of the tape. While Munster scrumhalf Craig Casey will captain the Ireland squad for the upcoming two Tests in Tbilisi and Lisbon, Murphy should get some game time. Others may have doubted the speed of his progression, but the Bray native took a pragmatic view based on a numbers game. He explained: 'From the outside looking in, it probably would have been far-fetched, but I felt that with the movements – Lions year and all that – there was going to be an opportunity for a young scrumhalf to come into the [Ireland] squad [for the summer tour]. 'I just wanted to put my best foot forward to be the one in that position. Thankfully, I got an opportunity earlier with Connacht. I've managed to push forward and get into the squad, so I'm delighted.' READ MORE While his time as a training panellist in January demystified the inner workings of Ireland camp, it hasn't changed his mindset now that he is a bona fide member. That early taster helped, but the onus is still on taking to the training pitch and making a positive impression. Will the Lions tour save Australian rugby? Listen | 48:40 He wants to contribute to the environment in the same way he managed for his province, which was recognised with in Connacht's end-of-season honours list. 'Individually, I was fairly happy with how much I played and how much I contributed to the group, but obviously what it comes down to mainly is the team performances and ultimately, we were too inconsistent. 'There was a lot of frustration around the end of the year, particularly around the Racing game (in the Challenge Cup) and the end of the URC where we felt like we still had a chance and unfortunately, we just didn't take it. It was great learning for me as a young halfback.' Ulster's Jack Murphy and his brother Ben Murphy, of Connacht, with their mother Stephanie after a United Rugby Championship match between the provinces last December. Photograph: Dan Sheridan/Inpho Murphy will enjoy reuniting with a familiar face next season, with Stuart Lancaster taking over as head coach of Connacht. Their relationship that dates back to a two-year spell when the young scrumhalf was in the Leinster academy. 'Yeah [it's a feeling of] excitement. I didn't feel we were too far away from being very good. And I think Stu has the ability to take us to that next step. He's been left a good foundation by the staff that were there last year. 'Any dealings I had with him, I've always had massive respect. You can see the development in the likes of a lot of the Lions players who've worked with him in Leinster, how he's brought them up from 19/20-year-olds to now, hopefully Lions internationals in a few weeks. 'He is very good, not just on the pitch but off the pitch in building leadership skills and driving a team. I'm looking forward to hopefully picking his brain a bit on that.' Murphy is one of six Connacht players in the squad, something that's had a practical positivity ahead of the summer tour. 'I think it's definitely made it easier, because we were able to train in a group and build that excitement and work on things in Galway that can transfer over to here. We're a tight-knit group as it is. It's been an enjoyable but tough few weeks training together.' [ Paul O'Connell minding the house but Andy Farrell kept abreast of Ireland progress on summer tour Opens in new window ] [ Gordon D'Arcy: Lions made lots of errors against Argentina - now is the time to eradicate those mistakes Opens in new window ] There will be time down the road to catch up with younger brother Jack and father Richie. Jack has exceeded expectations in claiming the 10 jersey at Ulster while still in the academy. Richie is head coach in Belfast. Perhaps it's his mother, Stephanie, who merits the summer break most, having taken to the motorways most weekends in support of her two sons and husband. 'Yeah, it's been busy for my mum anyway. She's been up and down the road a lot from Belfast to Galway. It has been hugely exciting obviously. Ulster have had their ups and downs as well as us. We've kind of been on a similar journey I feel. And Jack is the same; a young halfback learning his trade, but he's starting to come into his own now. It's massively exciting for everyone.' The focus for Ben Murphy is to maximise any opportunity that comes his way in Tbilisi and Lisbon in the early weeks of July. An Ireland debut would cap the season nicely.
