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Irish Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
All-Ireland handball finals: Martina McMahon wins women's title, Gary McConnell dethrones Robbie McCarthy
Martina McMahon once again underlined her dominance in overcoming Kilkenny's Amy Brennan to win the All-Ireland Women's Senior Softball Singles title in Abbeylara, Co Longford. The Limerick woman has battled adversity in recent years – having suffered a freak soccer injury requiring her to undergo an L5-S1 spinal fusion – and she revealed after her win on Saturday that she had played with a broken finger. 'Handball, like anything in life, is kind of a mental game, and I suppose if you believe you can do something, nine times out of 10 you'll achieve it,' said McMahon. 'Not to take away from Amy's performance today, but I actually broke a finger on my right hand during the week. I just think when you're inside these four walls and adrenaline is kicking in, you don't feel anything. You'll feel it afterwards but I just think for as long as I can play and as long as I can give back to the game of handball, I'll continue to do so.' READ MORE McMahon produced another clinical performance in the decider, her powerful serves and relentless accuracy setting the tone as she raced into commanding leads in both games. Brennan (21), a member of the Kilkenny under-23 camogie panel, showed her quality in spells but McMahon was always in control, winning 21-8, 21-11. The victory extends McMahon's unbeaten run, which stretches back to last August, during which time she has captured a string of major titles across handball's three main codes. 'Softball is our traditional game and my favourite code. Big kudos to Amy Brennan, she put it up to me there today. I have no doubt she will be back again.' While McMahon's success maintained her remarkable streak, the men's final produced a seismic shock. Meath's Gary McConnell celebrates after beating Westmeath's Robbie McCarthy. Photograph: Stephen Marken Meath's Gary McConnell defeated 11-time champion Robbie McCarthy of Westmeath to get his hands on the Ducksy Walsh Cup for the first time. McConnell controlled the opening game with superb fly kills and tactical dominance, running out a 21-8 winner. McCarthy raced into a 6-0 lead in the second but McConnell fought back to edge ahead 8-7. At that point, the 38-year-old Mullingar man was forced to retire injured, an anticlimactic finish to what was an enjoyable contest. McCarthy, who had been unbeaten in softball since 2019, announced his retirement immediately afterwards, bringing the curtain down on one of the great careers in Irish handball history. For McConnell, though, this was a career-defining triumph. The 35-year-old Kells man has enjoyed major success in doubles, but this was his maiden senior singles crown. 'A fella said to me a couple of years ago, and it really annoyed me, 'you're like Andy Murray's brother in tennis, you only win in doubles'. It really bugged me,' said McConnell. 'I was wondering if everybody thought that and it was definitely one of the things that pushed me on this year.' He admitted he spent the early exchanges probing for weaknesses before asserting control. 'It was all about me, being in the right frame of mind. I'm a firm believer that if I show up on my game, nobody can touch me, especially in the big court,' he added.
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
McMahon underlines handball dominance, McConnell shocks McCarthy
Martina McMahon once again underlined her dominance when she overcame Kilkenny's Amy Brennan to win the All-Ireland Ladies Senior Softball Singles title in Abbeylara, Co Longford. Limerick's McMahon has battled adversity in recent years – after a freak soccer injury, she required an L5 S1 spinal fusion on her back and she revealed after her win over Amy Brennan that she was playing with a broken finger. 'Handball, like anything in life, is kind of a mental game and I suppose if you believe you can do something, nine times out of 10 you'll achieve it,' she remarked. 'Not to take away from Amy's performance today but I actually broke a finger on my right hand during the week. I just think when you're inside these four walls and adrenaline is kicking in, you don't feel anything. You'll feel it afterwards but I just think for as long as I can play and as long as I can give back to the game of handball, I'll continue to do so.' McMahon produced another clinical performance in the decider, her powerful serves and relentless accuracy setting the tone as she raced into commanding leads in both games. Brennan (21), a member of the Kilkenny U23 camogie panel, showed her quality in spells but McMahon was always in control, winning 21-8, 21-11. The victory extends McMahon's unbeaten run, which stretches back to last August, during which time she has captured a string of major titles across handball's three main codes. 'Softball is our traditional game and my favourite code. Big kudos to Amy Brennan, she put it up to me there today. I have no doubt she will be back again.' While McMahon's success maintained her remarkable streak, the men's final produced a seismic shock. Meath's Gary McConnell in action at the GAA Handball All Ireland Championship final at Abbeylara, Longford. Photo by Stephen Marken Meath's Gary McConnell defeated 11-time champion Robbie McCarthy of Westmeath to get his hands on the Ducksy Walsh Cup for the first time. McConnell controlled the opening game with superb fly kills and tactical dominance, running out a 21-8 winner. McCarthy raced into a 6-0 lead in the second but McConnell fought back to edge ahead 8-7. At that point, the 38-year-old Mullingar man was forced to retire injured, an anti-climactic finish to what was an enjoyable contest. McCarthy, who had been unbeaten in softball since 2019, announced his retirement immediately afterwards, bringing the curtain down on one of the great careers in Irish handball history. For McConnell, though, this was a career-defining triumph. The 35-year-old Kells man has enjoyed major success in doubles but this was his maiden senior singles crown. 'A fella said to me a couple of years ago, and it really annoyed me, 'you're like Andy Murray's brother in tennis, you only win in doubles'. It really bugged me,' he revealed. 'I was wondering if everybody thought that and it was definitely one of the things that pushed me on this year.' He admitted he spent the early exchanges probing for weaknesses before asserting control. 'It was all about me, being in the right frame of mind. I'm a firm believer that if I show up on my game, nobody can touch me, especially in the big court,' he said.
Scottish Sun
21-06-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Family-run business holding ‘everything must go' sale as Labour's tax hikes force the closure of its last shop
Has a retailer near you closed down? We'd love to hear from you please email: money@ BYE BYE Family-run business holding 'everything must go' sale as Labour's tax hikes force the closure of its last shop Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A FAMILY-run retail business is closing its last store in a few days, offering great bargains before it shuts. The Cotswolds Sewing Centres, a family-run business, is closing its last store in Witney next week, offering big discounts in a "everything must go" sale. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 The Witney store will close for the final time on Tuesday, June 24 Credit: Witney Sewing and Knitting Centre The business, which has been a local favourite since 2021, says rising taxes under the Labour government have made it impossible to continue. This closure follows the shutdown of its sister store in Banbury earlier this year, ending over 40 years of serving the high street. Amy Brennan, who took over the business after her mother passed away in 2020, previously stated that the Witney shop and online store would stay open after closing the Banbury branch. However, she has now announced that both will be closing as well. In a notice sent to customers she said: "With a heavy heart I'm announcing the closing of Cotswold Sewing Centres. "Our Witney store and website will close in June 2025. "Unfortunately the April increases for businesses has forced this decision. "Thank you for all the support over the years." The Witney store will close for the final time on Tuesday, June 24. Until then, shoppers can grab bargains both in-store and online as the owners work to clear out their remaining stock. Britain's retail apocalypse: why your favourite stores KEEP closing down According to recent posts on the retailer's Facebook page, shoppers can get 30% off all fabric, 20% off yarn and 10% off drops yarn. Items in the haberdashery are discounted by 10%, and knitting and crochet patterns are available for just £3. In response to the post shoppers have shared their sadness about the closure. One person said: "This is just awful. Witney High Street is dying because of the high rents and rates. "I will be very sorry to see this particular shop go, as a dressmaker it's been a life-saver on many occasions." Another said: "That's a crying shame! "Where do all of us who enjoy being creative with knitting or sewing go now?" A third shopper said: "I'm so sad to hear the news. "This shop has always been such a special place for me - not just for finding beautiful fabrics and materials, but for the calm and welcoming atmosphere." RETAIL PAIN IN 2025 The British Retail Consortium predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs will cost the retail sector £2.3billion. Research by the British Chambers of Commerce showed that more than half of companies planned to raise prices by early April. A survey of more than 4,800 firms also found that 55% expect prices to increase in the next three months, up from 39% in a similar poll conducted in the latter half of 2024. Three-quarters of companies cited the cost of employing people as their primary financial pressure. The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year. It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year. Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: "The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025." Professor Bamfield has also warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector. "By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer's household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020. Why is the retail sector struggling? The retail sector has struggled in recent years due to the onset of online shopping and lockdowns during the coronavirus pandemic. Just this week, the owners of Poundland confirmed they would shut 68 stores in a major shake-up, with 82 more at risk. Both Hobbycraft and The Original Factory Shop are also shutting branches as part of restructuring efforts. Higher inflation since 2022 has also hit shoppers' budgets while businesses have struggled with higher wage, tax and energy costs. The Centre for Retail Research has described the sector as going through a "permacrisis" since the 2008 financial crash. Figures from the Centre also show 34 retail companies operating multiple stores stopped trading in 2024, leading to the closure of 7,537 shops.
The Sun
21-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Family-run business holding ‘everything must go' sale as Labour's tax hikes force the closure of its last shop
A FAMILY-run retail business is closing its last store in a few days, offering great bargains before it shuts. The Cotswolds Sewing Centres, a family-run business, is closing its last store in Witney next week, offering big discounts in a "everything must go" sale. 1 The business, which has been a local favourite since 2021, says rising taxes under the Labour government have made it impossible to continue. This closure follows the shutdown of its sister store in Banbury earlier this year, ending over 40 years of serving the high street. Amy Brennan, who took over the business after her mother passed away in 2020, previously stated that the Witney shop and online store would stay open after closing the Banbury branch. However, she has now announced that both will be closing as well. In a notice sent to customers she said: "With a heavy heart I'm announcing the closing of Cotswold Sewing Centres. "Our Witney store and website will close in June 2025. "Unfortunately the April increases for businesses has forced this decision. "Thank you for all the support over the years." The Witney store will close for the final time on Tuesday, June 24. Until then, shoppers can grab bargains both in-store and online as the owners work to clear out their remaining stock. Britain's retail apocalypse: why your favourite stores KEEP closing down According to recent posts on the retailer's Facebook page, shoppers can get 30% off all fabric, 20% off yarn and 10% off drops yarn. Items in the haberdashery are discounted by 10%, and knitting and crochet patterns are available for just £3. In response to the post shoppers have shared their sadness about the closure. One person said: "This is just awful. Witney High Street is dying because of the high rents and rates. "I will be very sorry to see this particular shop go, as a dressmaker it's been a life-saver on many occasions." Another said: "That's a crying shame! "Where do all of us who enjoy being creative with knitting or sewing go now?" A third shopper said: "I'm so sad to hear the news. "This shop has always been such a special place for me - not just for finding beautiful fabrics and materials, but for the calm and welcoming atmosphere." RETAIL PAIN IN 2025 The British Retail Consortium predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs will cost the retail sector £2.3billion. Research by the British Chambers of Commerce showed that more than half of companies planned to raise prices by early April. A survey of more than 4,800 firms also found that 55% expect prices to increase in the next three months, up from 39% in a similar poll conducted in the latter half of 2024. Three-quarters of companies cited the cost of employing people as their primary financial pressure. The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year. It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year. Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: "The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025." Professor Bamfield has also warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector. "By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer's household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020. Why is the retail sector struggling? The retail sector has struggled in recent years due to the onset of online shopping and lockdowns during the coronavirus pandemic. Just this week, the owners of Poundland confirmed they would shut 68 stores in a major shake-up, with 82 more at risk. Both Hobbycraft and The Original Factory Shop are also shutting branches as part of restructuring efforts. Higher inflation since 2022 has also hit shoppers' budgets while businesses have struggled with higher wage, tax and energy costs. The Centre for Retail Research has described the sector as going through a "permacrisis" since the 2008 financial crash. Figures from the Centre also show 34 retail companies operating multiple stores stopped trading in 2024, leading to the closure of 7,537 shops.
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Oxfordshire sewing centre closes final shop as business shuts down
A sewing business in Oxfordshire will close the last of its stores by the end of the month as the company shuts down for good. Cotswolds Sewing Centre is an independent family business, which had stores in Banbury and Witney and popular online shopping site. The company announced it would be closing its shop in Parsons Street, Banbury, in January earlier this year after more than 40 years as a staple of the craft industry in the old town. READ MORE: Amber heat-health alert issued for Oxfordshire amid heatwave At the time, Amy Brennan, who took over the business after he mother died in 2020, said the business' other shop in Witney and its online retail store would remain open. Amy Brennan of Cotswold Sewing Centres (Image: Banbury Sewing Centre) Now, however, the owner has announced the closure of both. Experience the pulse of Oxford at your fingertips 🗞️ With our flash sale, Oxford Mail keeps you updated for less: only £4 for 4 months or save 40 per cent on an annual subscription. Don't miss out on what's happening locally #DigitalDeal #LocalJournalismhttps:// — Oxford Mail (@TheOxfordMail) June 16, 2025 Ms Brennan said in a notice to customers: "With a heavy heart I'm announcing the closing of Cotswold Sewing Centres. "Our Witney store and website will close in June 2025. Unfortunately the April increases for businesses has forced this decision. "Thank you for all the support over the years." READ MORE: Award-winning Cotswolds pub sold to family-run pub company The shop has an "everything must go" sale on in its Witney store and online site to get rid of the last of the stock before it shuts its doors on Tuesday, June 24. When she closed the Banbury store, Ms Brennan said: "As many will know, I took over the shop after the death of my lovely mum in order to continue with her dream of what the business could become. 'I took a leap of faith five years ago during Covid and decided to take the shop on, and turn it around. I feel I've honoured my mum the best I can.'
