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The Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA) has announced what it has described as "a game-changing" multi-year partnership with global giant Nike.
Under the deal, IABA international boxers will wear the iconic Nike swoosh, in the ring and on the podium, up to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
IABA said the deal will raise 'the commercial profile of boxing, at home and worldwide'.
Boxing is Team Ireland’s most successful Olympic sport, and TeamNI topped the medals table at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
The 2025 World Boxing Championships in Liverpool, from 4-14 September, will debut the IABA-Nike partnership.
Gary Stewart, chief executive of IABA, said: “This exciting partnership, with a true global brand icon, really demonstrates the world-class reputation of our athletes.
"That our Nike partnership has its first outing during our World Boxing Championships is perfect timing.
He added: “This is an unprecedented partnership for the IABA, and speaks to our new direction in terms of brand, identity, and commercial relationships."
RTÉ and Virgin Media retain Six Nations rights
RTÉ and Virgin Media Television will broadcast the Six Nations until 2029 after agreeing a four-year extension.
The two free-to-air broadcasters will air live matches from the Guinness Men’s, Women’s and the U20 Six Nations.
Fixtures from all three championships will be shared equally by RTÉ and Virgin Media. Confirmation of how is to be announced.
RTÉ has also secured audio and radio rights to the Men’s Six Nations until 2029.
"The Six Nations tournaments remain marquee international sports rights and RTÉ are delighted to join with Virgin Media in bringing the games to a mass audience," said Declan McBennett, group head of sport at RTÉ.
Mick McCaffrey, director of news and sport at Virgin Media Television, said: “Free-to-air broadcasting has been instrumental in the growing popularity of rugby in Ireland.
"Together with RTÉ, we’re ensuring that the men’s, women’s and U20 Six Nations remain accessible to fans across the country, and we look forward to delivering four more years of top-class rugby to Irish audiences.”
Byrne, Kenny and McCullagh make radio moves
A game of musical chairs was swiftly concluded last Friday as Pat Kenny, Claire Byrne and David McCullagh all made moves.
Kenny announced on air that he would be leaving his late morning weekday slot on Newstalk, which he has held since 2013.
He will move to weekends in the new year, setting up a battle for listeners with RTÉ's Brendan O'Connor, while Claire Byrne will take over his slot in January.
Replacing Byrne as host of Radio 1's Today programme will be Six One anchor David McCullagh, who starts work in November
Byrne is reported to have signed a three-year deal with Newstalk worth a total of €2m, while McCullagh said he would receive an annual package of €240,000, including a salary of €209,000.
"So for the first time, I'll be in, I presume I'll be in, the top ten list. So everybody will know how much I'm getting paid," he told Oliver Callan on Radio 1.
He added that as a staff member, his contract will run for three years, adding, "Sure who knows, it might be renewed".
McCullagh also said that he "didn't really want to leave Six One," but that it didn't take him long to make up his mind after being offered "one of the best gigs in Irish media" fronting Today.
Today currently has an audience of around 354,000 daily listeners while The Pat Kenny Show on Newstalk, with which it overlaps, is listened to by 216,000 people.
Taaffe made Penneys corporate affairs director
Claire Taaffe has been appointed corporate affairs director at Primark, which trades as Penneys in Ireland.
Taafe joined the retailer as director of communications in 2020 and since then has built its internal communications teams and developed its external reputation strategy
In her new role, she will lead Primark's global corporate affairs function across its 17 markets.
Her remit includes overseeing global communications, deepening stakeholder trust, protecting and enhancing Primark’s reputation, and leading ESG communications and public policy engagement.
Prior to joining Primark, Taaffe held a number of senior communications roles at GSK. She is based at Primark’s international headquarters in Dublin.
"Claire’s strategic insight and experience, coupled with her deep knowledge of our business, will be critical to strengthening our voice with colleagues, customers, communities, and stakeholders as we continue to grow," said Eoin Tonge, interim CEO at Primark.
Taaffe said: "I’m proud to take on the leadership of Corporate Affairs for such an iconic brand. Primark has deep roots, bold ambitions, and brilliant people.
"It’s also a brand with strong inclusive, and democratic values, and a genuine commitment to doing the right thing. I’m excited to ensure our story is heard in the places and conversations that matter most.”
Google allowed to keep Chrome and Android
Google will not have to sell its Chrome browser, a judge in Washington has ruled, handing a win to Big Tech in its ongoing antitrust battle with US regulators.
The tech giant has been ordered to share data with rivals to open up competition in online search, though.
Shares in Alphabet, Google's parent company, rose 7.2% in extended trading on Tuesday as investors hailed the ruling, which also allows Google to keep making annual payments of $20bn to Apple that regulators said froze out search rivals. Apple shares similarly rose 3%.
US District Judge Amit Mehta also said Google could keep its Android operating systems, which, together with Chrome, help to drive Google's dominant online advertising business.
The ruling is the result of a five-year legal battle between Google and the US government, where antitrust regulators and lawmakers have long questioned Big Tech's market domination.
Mehta ruled last year that Google holds an illegal monopoly in online search and related advertising.
But the judge approached the job of imposing remedies on Google with "humility," he wrote, pointing to competition created by artificial intelligence companies since the case began.
"Here, the court is asked to gaze into a crystal ball and look to the future. Not exactly a judge's forte," Mehta wrote.
'The Difference is Real' campaign positions Supervalu as a quality retailer
Every week, Amárach and Future Proof Insights share exclusive findings from their PRIZM+ ad testing service, showcasing best practice creative advertising in Ireland.
SuperValu’s latest campaign, “The Difference is Real,” aims to showcase the retailer’s expertise and quality, through the lens of wine in this case.
The 30-second execution takes us to the vineyards with SuperValu’s wine expert Kevin O’Callaghan.
It positions him, and SuperValu, as a trusted guide behind the shelves, sourcing wines from world-class producers.
The creative tone is observational, calm, and authentic, leaning on Kevin’s credibility rather than dramatisation.
Framed through differentiation, this approach signals that while many supermarkets sell you your groceries, SuperValu deliver a uniquely high-quality selection, one that is worth paying for, because "The Difference Is Real".
To learn more about this advert, CLICK HERE
(Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile)
