Murphy's ends Cat Laughs sponsorship

Murphy’s Irish Stout today announced that it is to end its title sponsorship of the Kilkenny Cat Laughs Comedy Festival, which this year celebrated its 10th year.

Murphy's marketing manager Kevin Cullinane said: "Murphy’s has enjoyed a fantastic relationship with the Cat Laughs festival for the past nine years, which has played an important part in the development of Irish comedy, as well as developing a major tourism event for the south east. The sponsorship has been hugely successful for the Murphy’s brand, but after nine fantastic years, it is now time to move on.”

He continued: “I’d like to wish Richard Cook, Lynn Cahill and their team every success, and have no doubt that the future of this superb festival is secure, and will continue to prosper and entertain Irish comedy fans for many years”.

Festival Directors Richard Cook and Lynn Cahill said: “We’d like to thank Murphy’s for their wonderful support and commitment to the festival over the past nine years.

"They have played an important role in developing the Cat Laughs to the point where the festival is now recognised as one of the top three comedy festivals in the world, alongside Montreal and Edinburgh.

"This has been a very happy marriage and while we at Cat Laughs are sad to see it end, we are looking forward to a new decade and the 11th Cat Laughs Comedy Festival will take place in Kilkenny from June 2-6, 2005."