Latest news with #NiamhMurphy
Irish Examiner
06-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
My Job: The partnerships powering Cork growing food festival
MY JOB Name: Niamh Murphy Occupation: Festival manager, Cork On A Fork Fest and MD of ETC the Events Tourism and Communications Agency Background: A Cork City Council festival run in partnership with Cork hospitality businesses and producers, the festival includes chef demos, workshops, farm visits, market tours and talks by artisan producers. Cork has long been a 'farm-to-fork' destination, leading the modern Irish speciality food movement for decades through a thriving network of artisan producers, supplying the iconic English Market and the restaurants that are a hallmark of the city's vibrant food scene. Cork On A Fork Fest, taking place August 13-17, is now firmly established as an economic driver for the city, bringing direct and indirect benefits to the hospitality and tourism sectors. Estimates indicate the festival generates hundreds of thousands of euros in spend through events, accommodation, dining, and shopping. Last year, 7,500 tickets were sold for various events, and the festival has seen a steadily increasing number of overseas visitors attending. 'What began in 2022 as a small pilot to support post-covid recovery in the hospitality and tourism sectors, and showcase the newly-pedestrianised streets and nighttime economy, has quickly evolved into a key fixture on the national food festival calendar,' explains Niamh Murphy. The Long Table on MacCurtain Street in Cork's Victorian Quarter was a shared dining event for 400 people which marked the start of the five day long Cork on a Fork food festival. 'The enthusiasm from the public has been immense, and the festival's reach continues to grow each year — both in terms of the number of events and its appeal to wider audiences, including international visitors. We've gone from 30 events in the first year to over 100 planned for 2025, and the feedback shows that people are hungry for unique experiences.' A city-wide, multi-day food festival involves extensive coordination across venues, suppliers, producers, sponsors, and stakeholders. The need to ensure quality and consistency across more than 100 events runs in tandem with considerations around accessibility, sustainability, affordability, and variety. 'Weather is always a wildcard in Ireland, especially for outdoor events, so flexibility is also key. Aligning the schedules of busy chefs, producers, and partners while delivering a diverse and cohesive programme takes months of behind-the-scenes planning.' The festival is a Cork City Council event managed by tourism officer Elmarie McCarthy and her team who partner with Niamh on the delivery and promotion of the festival. 'Like any growing festival, we could always do with more sponsors. Demand and ambition grow every year, so additional funding would help us expand further.' Niamh adds that partnerships are central to the success of the festival: 'This is a truly collaborative celebration of Cork's food culture, and it simply wouldn't be possible without the passion, creativity, and commitment of our local chefs, restaurants, producers, hoteliers, and tourism stakeholders. The festival thrives on the strong relationships between those who drive Cork's dynamic food scene — this fork-to-plate connection is at the heart of everything we do. 'There's incredible camaraderie, a real buzz in the air, and a shared pride in showcasing what Cork has to offer as the country's best region for food. As organisers, we see ourselves as facilitators — the programme is very much shaped by the food industry itself.' While the festival is a Cork City Council initiative, the support of key strategic partners including Fáilte Ireland, Pure Cork, Cork Airport, IHF Cork, Cork Business Association, the Irish Examiner, and RedFM help amplify the message and ensure the festival's long-term sustainability. Cork's historic food status been central in promoting the festival internationally. 'Cork's identity as a food destination dates back centuries. From its history as a 10th-century trading port to its current status as home to over 60% of Ireland's artisan producers, the city's food credentials are deep and genuine.' This authenticity resonates strongly with international audiences who are looking for immersive and meaningful travel experiences, she adds. 'Cork on a Fork provides a platform to showcase that story, from Atlantic seafood to spiced beef, artisan cheeses to tripe and drisheen. We're also actively working with Fáilte Ireland on a Food in Tourism plan and this event will be critical in their aim to position Cork as a Unesco World Region of Gastronomy. In an uncertain global climate, people are looking for experiences closer to home that are rich in culture and community. 'Cork on a Fork provides just that — a celebration of place, people, and produce. It draws overseas visitors, but it's just as much about locals reconnecting with their city in new ways and supporting local producers and restaurants. The programme is designed to be inclusive, with free events, family activities, and neighbourhood-based experiences that invite everyone to participate, regardless of background or budget.' In a crowded schedule where culture and music events across the country compete for potential audiences, the need for annual innovation is key. 'One of the festival's strengths is its evolving programme. While some much-loved events return annually, there is always space for new ideas — whether it's rooftop culinary tours, meet the producer experiences, immersive foraging walks, chef collaborations, or multi-cultural tastings. People love something new so every year we want to bring new experiences that reflect Cork's dynamic food scene and cultural diversity. This year we're seeing even more events focused on sustainability, storytelling, and behind-the-scenes access.' Always learning and looking outward while staying rooted in Cork's unique identity is the driver of Cork On A Fork success. 'International food festivals — from Waterford to Copenhagen — offer inspiration in terms of structure, innovation, and visitor experience. But what sets Cork On A Fork apart is the authenticity and accessibility of our food here,' she says. 'It's not about copying, it's about bringing the best ideas home and interpreting them through a Cork lens. The collaborative energy in this city makes it possible to deliver something very special.' The festival creates a platform to highlight Cork's rich culinary diversity, from long-standing family-run businesses to new international food influences — bringing together different cultures, spotlighting emerging food trends, and celebrating the chefs and restaurateurs keeping Cork's food scene innovative and inclusive. Events such as the VQ Shared Table on MacCurtain St count as one of the festival's more notable attractions. It is added to by the city's status as a walkable environment and buzzing centre — another factor underpinning its appeal for festival-goers. 'You can stroll from a cooking demo to a pop-up feast, explore the English Market, join a food trail, and finish your evening with live music and late-night bites - all within a short distance. This ease of movement enhances the experience and makes it perfect for immersive, multi-stop itineraries. It's also great for sustainability and creates a more vibrant, animated city centre.'
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Player anger as Blackburn likely to withdraw from WSL 2 due to financial reasons
Blackburn's place in the Women's Super League 2 next season is in major doubt after their players were informed on Tuesday morning that the club is highly unlikely to provide the funding to meet the division's new minimum licence requirement. No decision has yet been made by the club for next season but the Blackburn defender Niamh Murphy wrote on X that the players had been warned the club's mind was already '99%' made up. Multiple sources have told the Guardian that the club have been given a deadline to confirm by next week whether or not they wish to participate, or face demotion. Related: Hemp, Greenwood and Stanway back in major Euros boost for England The situation is understood to have left the players and staff anxious, angry and feeling like they are in a state of limbo, while they await a formal decision. Some of the squad have posted their concerns on social media, with the Scotland youth international Murphy writing: 'We, Blackburn Rovers women's first team, were made aware there is a 99% chance that the club's owners won't be financially supporting the team next season. 'Us players and staff deserve far better than what we've experienced in recent seasons. We've once again been left in the dark, waiting to see if the owners will have the decency to do what's best for their players, staff and women's football.' Simon Parker's team finished 10th, second from bottom, in the women's second tier this term, five points clear of danger, despite operating on what was understood on a comparatively low playing budget. The second tier – which was known previously as the Women's Championship – was renamed on Monday as WSL 2. This summer, the minimum requirements to take part in the division are being increased in a bid to raise minimum standards for the players involved, to an extent whereby it is understood second-tier women's clubs will now have to essentially operate a full‑time, professional operation. The list of criteria is believed to include requirements for clubs to commit to appointing the following staff within one month of next season starting: a head of women's football, marketing manager, head coach, assistant coach, physiotherapist or sports therapist, doctor, a strength and conditioning coach, a goalkeeping coach and several people in specific safeguarding and player-welfare roles. Blackburn played all of their home women's matches at Ewood Park this season and their former players include the England internationals Georgia Stanway, Ella Toone and Keira Walsh and have a proud history of developing young players. The league will be keen to avoid a repeat of the situation last summer when Reading withdrew from the second tier at the end of June – for financial reasons – at such a relatively late point in the summer that there was deemed to be insufficient time before pre-season to begin a process of promoting a replacement club, which led to the division including only 11 teams this season. Related: Reading Women ask to leave Championship and aim to play in fifth tier A source told the Guardian that one reason Blackburn have been given a deadline of next week by which to make their decision is to avoid another 11th‑hour withdrawal and ensure there is time for a contingency plan, should Blackburn decide to pull out. The Blackburn goalkeeper Alex Brooks shared the same message posted on X by Murphy, which added: 'Whilst this season may have looked successful to others, we have once again avoided relegation despite having the smallest budget. This group has worked relentlessly hard all season for so little reward.' If they withdraw, Blackburn would not be the only club to decide not to fund a WSL 2 licence this summer, after third-tier Wolves did not submit a bid for promotion despite finishing second in their division. On Monday, the Wolves chairman, Jeff Shi, promised to apply next season instead.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Blackburn Rovers pull out of Women's Championship due to league demands
Image Source: Getty Blackburn Rovers have confirmed their withdrawal from the FA Women's Championship due to being unable to fund their squad as a professional side. The club is now in discussions with the FA Women's National League board regarding the level of the women's football pyramid that the team will be operating in next season, with a decision to be confirmed in due course over the coming weeks. Financial challenges and league requirements The move comes after the recent rebranding of the Women's Championship, which, from next season, will require its clubs to run fully professional sides with increased support and facilities in order to protect player welfare and the integrity of competition. The increased demands on clubs are taking a huge toll financially, especially on smaller clubs. While the effort to save the club is in vain, league officials and other interested parties did what they could to help out Blackburn, who blamed unviable financial pressure for the situation, including ballooning wage bills and reliance on matchday revenue. Rovers cited further problems of stagnant home crowds, despite playing their matches at Ewood Park. There have been some grim reports of the club's financial shortcomings, with players on part-time contracts just being paid the minimum wage, which has brought public criticism from former players and leading figures in the sport. Players were also notified of the withdrawal via WhatsApp, underscoring communication problems in the club. Also Read: FA Cup: Tottenham Hotspur suffer two cup exits in a week after fourth-round defeat to Aston Villa Impact on players and future prospects The withdrawal has left players, coaches, and staff in limbo. Defender Niamh Murphy expressed her frustration on social media, revealing that management had issued a seven-day deadline for securing funding and criticizing the ongoing lack of financial support from the club. The team, which is coming off a 10th-place finish in the division despite having one of the smaller budgets, has a proud tradition of developing talents such as Georgia Stanway, Ella Toone, and Keira Walsh. The club's exit from the Championship has come in the wake of a similar announcement from Reading FC Women last year, which also cited financial pressures and an inability to comply with regulations. Such changes highlight the wider pressure point on women's football clubs to remain financially viable with higher professionalisation requirements. Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
Telegraph
13-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Glitzy rebrand cannot mask grim reality in women's second tier
There was a sense of Groundhog Day when Blackburn Rovers player Niamh Murphy shared on social media that the club's owners are not likely to support the women's team financially next season. A little under a year ago, Reading withdrew their women's team from the second tier because of financial pressures on the men's side. A final decision on Blackburn's position is yet to be made, but the club are understood to have until the start of next week to commit to financing the women's team. While Blackburn are yet to comment on the situation, the statement posted by Murphy and other Blackburn players said: 'Today we were made aware that there is a 99 per cent chance that the club's owners won't be financially supporting the team next season. The club have been given a seven-day deadline to state their intention to financially support the team and if this isn't signed then the club will be forced to drop out [of] the Championship/WSL2.' Blackburn, who helped produce England players Keira Walsh, Georgia Stanway and Ella Toone, have had on-going problems for some time. They are understood to have started pre-season for the 2024-25 campaign with a budget of just £100,000, while players were told they would be operating on 16-hour contracts worth just £9,000 a year. It was clear this was not going to be sustainable and would not conform to the new licensing requirements, which are understood to include a salary floor, as Telegraph Sport outlined in March. Across the pyramid, there is little surprise at Blackburn's plight. But for it to come 24 hours after a glitzy rebrand of the top two tiers only emphasises the issues in the women's game. On Monday, the Women's Professional Leagues Limited – the company in charge of the top two divisions – announced it will now be called Women's Super League Football (WSL Football). As part of the rebrand, the Championship will be called Women's Super League 2 (WSL2). All of the above and the new logo – or 'visual identity' as it was described – was revealed in a one-minute promotional video on social media. It would be an understatement to say the reaction of fans was underwhelming. We're not just a league. We're a movement. This is the new era of Women's Super League Football. #BarclaysWSL #BarclaysWSL2 — Barclays WSL 2 (@BarclaysWSL2) May 12, 2025 Whether you like or despise the font or find the 'pitch please' and 'I kick balls for a living' stickers used in the promotional video cringe-worthy, the rebrand is essentially a distraction. The grim reality is that the second tier of women's football has far greater problems than whether it is called the Championship or WSL2. Clubs are repeatedly being asked to invest more money without assurances over a future return. Participation money in the second tier is not increasing for next season. The League Cup, now sponsored by Subway, will be worth more than in previous campaigns but several clubs have told Telegraph Sport that they are unlikely to see any real benefit. Owners need incentive to invest Club owners should rightly be at the centre of discussions when it comes to investment in women's football. Former Blackburn players have regularly spoken on social media about a lack of resources and it is clear they have repeatedly been let down. Elsewhere, Wolves were the subject of criticism for failing to apply for a WSL2 licence despite the club having gone into the final day of the season with a chance of promotion. Too often, players are not protected and there is perhaps a wider question around whether there needs to be a fit-and-proper test for those who own women's football clubs. Aside from that, owners need to be given an incentive to invest, especially those not connected to huge Premier League clubs. The league will point to the fact that London City Lionesses were promoted to the WSL following a huge investment from their owner Michele Kang, who also owns American side Washington Spirit and French club Lyon. But not every club in the second tier can compete with the millions Kang invested and it is unreasonable to expect them to when women's football is still early into its professional era. It will be an extremely poor look if Blackburn follow in Reading's footsteps by withdrawing from the league. Many have feared this was coming, and the club and the league should have made a decision by now. The consequences do not just affect Blackburn, with relegated Sheffield United waiting to hear whether they will be given a reprieve. The club have been planning for tier-three football and need to know sooner rather than later which division they will be playing in or they will be at a disadvantage. In her statement on social media, Blackburn player Murphy said: 'I have been a @RoversWFC player for three seasons and the only consistency there has been is the lack of financial support from the club. We deserve better.' The stark reality of that statement might not fit with the flashy, ultra-positive messaging in the WSL's rebrand, but it should focus the minds of everyone working in women's football.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Blackburn might withdraw from Women's Championship
Blackburn Rovers might withdraw from the Women's Championship next season because the club's owners are unwilling to meet the league's requirements on facilities, player welfare and staffing. They are in discussions with Women's Super League Football (WSL Football) - the company overseeing the top two tiers in England - on whether special considerations can be made. Meetings are taking place over the next week but it is understood they are in a perilous position, with players claiming they were told by a team-mate via WhatsApp that there is a "99% chance the owners will not be financially supporting the team next season". Defender Niamh Murphy, 22, said: "I have been a Blackburn Rovers player for three seasons and the only consistency there has been is the lack of financial support from the club. "Whilst this season may not look successful to some, we have once again avoided relegation despite having the smallest budget. "This is a huge success and a credit to the women's players and staff." I have been a @RoversWFC player for three seasons and the only consistency there has been is the lack of financial support from the deserve better. @Rovers — Niamh Murphy (@niamhmurphy_3) May 13, 2025 She goes on to say the team "deserves far better" and have been "left in the dark" over their future. It would be the second year a club withdraws from the league because of financial concerns after Reading dropped to the fifth tier in June 2024. All clubs in the Women's Super League (WSL) and Women's Championship must meet licence criteria to create a professional environment. The criteria includes minimum standards on aspects such as elite facilities, the number of full-time staff, wellbeing support and contact hours with players. A compliance and development review is carried out at each club at the start of the season. Blackburn's women have a rich history of developing talent with England internationals Keira Walsh, Ella Toone and Georgia Stanway among those to have come through the club's academy. But the news about the women's team comes amid wider issues around the club in recent months, and financial pressures. While Blackburn Rovers' latest accounts, published in March, showed they made a £3.3m profit, that was because of significant sales of players in the men's team such as Adam Wharton, who joined Crystal Palace for £18m. The club was spending 119% of its turnover on wages. Blackburn Rovers chief operating officer Suhail Pasha told BBC Radio Lancashire that every year the club was guaranteed to have a £20m shortfall that needed to be bridged by owners Venky's. In March several fan groups called on Pasha and two other leading officials to stay away from men's matches at Ewood Park. They were also calling on Venky's to sell the club as the men's team fell out of Championship play-off contention and lost manager John Eustace to Derby. The women's team have played matches at Ewood Park this season in an attempt to grow the fanbase, and in turn matchday revenue, but average crowds remain under 1,000. The repercussions of Blackburn's situation - should they withdraw from the second tier - are still unknown. However, one option could be to reinstate relegated Sheffield United to the Women's Championship. As is stands, it is understood the Blades have been given no indication of a change to their league status. Women's Championship renamed WSL2 from next season Get the latest WSL news on our dedicated page
