GAA and Loyal and Supportive Down Fans raise
€18,613 for local GAA Clubs & Schools!
Nationally, €3.4m raised for Grassroots
GAA over past four years
The love for, and pride in, the GAA, which
is shared by GAA fans across Down is responsible
for raising €18,613 for grassroots GAA
in the county between January and June of
this year! Down increased the amount it raised
by 2% over the same period in 2007 taking
11% of the total Ulster payout.
Over the past three years, the GAA and Down
fans have earned a total of €65,970 for
the local Association!
“It is only due to the support and loyalty
of the members of the Down Association and
the GAA itself, whose commitment to this project
is invaluable, that we have been able to raise
such a large sum,” says Ciaran Doyle,
General Manager, Gaelic Telecom. “Working
with the fans and the Association, we, as
the official telecoms partner to the GAA,
are incredibly proud of the funds raised so
far and hope they have made a real difference
to clubs and schools in the county.”
Nationally, the GAA and its exceptionally
loyal and supportive fans have raised €3.4m
for GAA clubs and schools over the past four
years! The innovative but simple scheme sees
15% of call costs being donated back to customers’
preferred club or school, while at the same
time saving them money on their home phone
and Broadband bills. All 32 County Boards
support the scheme, which sees 2,500 Clubs
around the country receive cheques from Gaelic
Telecom twice a year.
Nickey Brennan, President of the GAA, comments,
“On behalf of all our members, I would
once again like to thank Gaelic Telecom and
its customers for their ongoing support of
GAA Clubs and Schools nationwide. This significant
continuous investment at grassroots level
is vital to the organisation and I would urge
all GAA members to consider signing up to
this initiative and helping us to maximise
this great funding opportunity.”
Between January and June of this year, a total
of €520,000 was raised by Gaelic Telecom
customers. All Provinces showed great growth
and while Cork, Dublin and Tyrone were the
highest earners nationally, Armagh, Derry
and Fermanagh showed the highest growth on
the same period in 2007. The total raised
by the 6 Northern Counties during the same
period was €110,143. And they are now
earning over 62% of the total Ulster payout.
Joseph Doonan, Secretary of An Ríocht
comments:
“The money we get is being spent on
development of two more pitches for the benefit
of our underage football and camogie teams.
I would like to thank those members who have
availed of this service and are helping the
club and would encourage more to give this
great money saving venture a go.”
Ciaran Doyle concludes, “Remember, behind
each payment to a Club or School, there is
a list of ordinary members and supporters
who have made this cheque possible by joining
Gaelic Telecom. I encourage other Down GAA
fans to join with us in generating even more
funds for grassroots GAA locally.”
For more information on Gaelic Telecom visit
www.gaelictelecom.ie
