Latest news with #BrianByrne
Irish Examiner
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Eight Gaelic football championship observations: David Clifford has mastered sport's new hat-trick
A bounce of the ball. With the last kick of the game, Rory O'Brien went for goal with a chance to leave the sides level. Brian Byrne managed to block it, but the shot continued towards the posts. It looped over. Heartbreak. It was a fitting finale for a fiercely dramatic Tailteann Cup decider. Kildare withstood an intense fightback. Cian Burke's initial save was terrific, Byrne's defensive dive was clutch. The Kildare corner-back is not one to rest on his laurels either. 24 hours later he came on for his club Naas in their Kildare SHC opener. This is exclusive subscriber content. Already a subscriber? Sign in Take us with you this summer. Annual €130€65 Best value Monthly €12€6 / month
The Irish Sun
25-05-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Iconic football clubs are teetering on the edge of financial disaster – they need more than goals to stay in the game
FOOTBALL is the world's most popular sport, attracting ultra-rich owners, huge broadcast deals and hundreds of millions in kit and merchandise sales. But across 3 Clubs such as Real Madrid work to stay within the rules Credit: AFP or licensors 3 Brian Byrne, COO of Miagen Enter SportsGen from Miagen, a new data platform designed to help clubs navigate The new solution comes on the back of Miagen's dominance in financial modelling for the world's The Writing in The Irish Sun on Sunday, Brian Byrne, COO of Miagen, says the beautiful game is a brutal business where clubs face the red card for reckless spending. READ MORE IN OPINION AS they chase silverware, more and more clubs are teetering on the edge towards financial disaster. It's all down to financial fair play rules, which inflict penalties on clubs who spend beyond their means or get into excessive debt. Fall foul of the regulations and clubs face points deductions, relegation and even total collapse. Thanks to a perfect storm of rising costs and unpredictable matchday revenues, sticking to the rules has become a minefield even for the biggest names in European Most read in The Irish Sun Financial fair play rules — or Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) — were introduced by The regulations put transfer spending limits on clubs, depending on their revenues. LEGACY CLUBS Some have criticised the rules, saying they protect legacy clubs by preventing newer clubs with wealthy backers from buying their way up to the top of the table. But even legacy clubs, such as Miss out on the In fact, some estimates suggest that clubs relegated from the That makes navigating financial fair play rules — and what they may or may not be allowed to spend during transfer windows — all the more difficult for clubs. 'EXPENSIVE RISKS' They say every business is a For years, clubs have been using data and analytics to enhance player performance, assess the opposition and engage fans. It can help clubs to scout out the next young talent, or even prevent player injury. Clubs are less likely, however, to have the cutting-edge technology they need for financial management within the restrictions of fair play rules. The reality is, football economics are volatile. SOARING COSTS Revenues — from broadcast rights, sponsorship deals, ticket sales and merchandising — fluctuate wildly depending on team performance. At the same time, costs continue to soar. Player wages, transfer fees, stadium maintenance and matchday logistics are all on the rise. Clubs are often forced to take expensive risks to remain competitive — and those gambles don't always pay off. Just as data analytics has improved matchday outcomes, clubs must pursue smarter, faster, data-driven financial planning. Yet many clubs continue to rely on old tech or spreadsheets to make crucial spending decisions. In an industry where fortunes can change week to week, this won't cut it. Platforms like Miagen's newly-launched SportsGen allow clubs to simulate hundreds of scenarios — from finishing fourth in the league to crashing out of the cup in the early rounds — and see in real time what that would mean for their finances. INFORMED DECISION-MAKING It gives clubs a clearer view of when and how they might risk breaching financial regulations. The platform enables clubs to see missed revenue opportunities including those relating to attendance, pricing and scheduling, so they can implement new strategies to optimise ticket sales. That means informed decision-making, earlier interventions, and potentially avoiding the devastating sanctions we've seen in recent seasons. Football is waking up to the power of real-time data. The clubs who embrace it will be the ones who thrive. The stakes have never been higher, as financial miscalculations can mean relegation, massive revenue losses and even club extinction. Because in the modern game, winning isn't just about goals. It's about financial survival — and making the right moves off the pitch as well as on it. 3 Brian said the beautiful game is a brutal business where clubs face the red card for reckless spending Credit: Getty Images - Getty
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The Compleat Food Group creates COO role to drive growth
The Compleat Food Group has appointed its first chief operating officer as the UK business seeks to supports its "growth strategy". Having expanded through M&A since the company formed through a merger in 2021, The Compleat Food Group has promoted Brian Byrne to COO. He takes on his new role from today (1 May). With more than two decades in global supply chain leadership roles, Byrne "will take overall accountability for the end-to-end supply chain, including planning, sourcing, manufacturing and delivery", according to a statement announcing his appointment. CEO Nick Field said: 'Brian has already made a significant impact since joining us, and his promotion to chief operating officer is a natural next step as we evolve our business. "His expertise, leadership and drive for excellence will be instrumental as we continue to build a supply chain that is agile, resilient and built for the future." The group's portfolio, grown through acquisitions, includes baked goods such as pies and quiches, and sausages. It also features deli items like olives, antipasti and pickles. Pork Farms, Wall's Pastry, Squeaky Bean, Unearthed and Vadasz are among the company's brands. The Compleat Food Group was formed in 2021 when private-equity owner, Paris-headquartered PAI Partners, merged its UK portfolio companies Winterbotham Darby and Addo Food Group. The first acquisition out of the blocks was pie maker Wrights Food Group in 2021. That business has an extensive portfolio stretching across pasties and sausage rolls, ready meals and bakery. Dairy-free cheese business Palace Culture followed in 2023, adding the Kimcheeze, The Mouldy Goaty, Sacre Blue and Holy Smokes alternative cheese brands to the group offering. Then last year, dips and party food specialists SK Foods and Zorba Foods were added to The Compleat Food Group portfolio. Harvey & Brockless, a producer of cheeses, charcuterie, olives and deli products, also joined the line-up last year. And in 2025, the group acquired fellow UK business The Real Yorkshire Pudding Co. for an undisclosed sum in March, but has also made redundancies at some of its UK factories this year. Headquartered in Surrey, south of London, The Compleat Food Group employs more than 5,500 people across 16 sites and has an annual turnover in excess of £1bn ($1.3bn), according to the company's LinkedIn page. 'I'm delighted to take on this new role and help shape the next phase of growth for The Compleat Food Group. We have an incredible team and a strong foundation to build upon," Byrne said. "The Compleat Food Group creates COO role to drive growth" was originally created and published by Just Food, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Irish Post
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Post
Celtic Throne steps up: a new era for Irish dance
UP UNTIL 1994, anytime before that year's Eurovision Song Contest, had you predicted that a show featuring Irish step dancing would become the next big thing in global entertainment—packing out venues around the world—you'd likely have been ushered into a darkened room and told to get some rest. But we now know that Irish dance has pulled off the improbable over the past three decades. It has leapt from draughty parish halls to major global auditoriums—and in the process, it has become glamorous and, yes, even sexy. Now, a new Irish dance show featuring original music from Golden Globe-nominated composer Brian Byrne is aiming to go a step further—no pun intended. Drawing from ancient Irish sagas and setting them to a score rooted deeply in tradition, Celtic Throne—Psalter of Ireland presents an epic story inspired by the Irish annals and is set to embark on a UK tour beginning June 22. The Celtic Throne cast 'This is a one-of-a-kind production that is guaranteed to be unlike anything audiences have ever experienced,' said Brad Macdonald, the show's director. 'Imagine taking a classic Irish dance show, like Riverdance, and blending it with a West End musical and a Hollywood movie. You won't find better value for your money—it's three experiences in one.' Celtic Throne fuses Irish dance with acrobatics, martial arts, innovative choreography, a dramatic set, and theatrical lighting and effects. Cinematic video storytelling adds another layer to what the creators promise will be a truly original experience. The cast features more than 30 Irish dancers, ranging in age from 24 down to just five years old. 'Our older dancers are phenomenally talented,' said Macdonald, 'but the kids always get the biggest applause—audiences have never seen children in an Irish dance show, and it melts their hearts.' Rehearsals for Celtic Throne Jude Flurry, the principal dancer and lead choreographer, added that cast members trained with a U.S. Olympic Taekwondo coach to prepare for the martial arts sequences. 'We're pushing the boundaries of traditional Irish dance and blending rock-solid fundamentals with theatrical innovations to match Brian Byrne's score,' he said. The tour kicks off at Birmingham Symphony Hall (June 22) before heading to Manchester Bridgewater Hall (June 24), Liverpool M&S Bank Auditorium (June 26), Leeds first direct arena (June 29), and Derby Becketwell Live (July 1), wrapping up at London's iconic Eventim Apollo (July 3). Tickets for Celtic Throne—Psalter of Ireland are now on sale, for tickets and further information click here. See More: Celtic Throne, Irish Dancing
