Ulster Bank GAA Force Initiative

Ulster Bank GAA-Stars announce Ulster Bank GAA Force initiative to kick-off GAA Football All-Ireland Championship Sponsorship Campaign

Ulster Bank, is celebrating its three-year extended sponsorship of the GAA Football All-Ireland Championship with the launch today of a major new club focused initiative, called Ulster Bank GAA Force. The initiative will support local GAA clubs across the country by giving them the opportunity to refurbish and upgrade their facilities.

As part of the Ulster Bank GAA Force initiative, one lucky GAA club will receive the top award including support worth €25,000, while four runners-up (one from each province) will receive a support package worth €5,000. Open to GAA clubs across the island of Ireland, entries must be submitted online – www.ulsterbank.com/gaa – by Friday, 19th August 2011. Entrants will provide details of their clubs plans to make improvements, the role of the club in their locality and the benefits the makeover would make to the club and the wider community. The first 100 clubs to register will also receive a mini support package to the value of €100.

As well as offering financial support, the Ulster Bank GAA Force initiative aims to show the power of team spirit by bringing local communities together over the October bank holiday weekend to carry out improvements to their GAA club facilities. Helpful, downloadable tools and guidance on how to build a team of helpers for each club are available on the Ulster Bank GAA Force website. 

Speaking at the launch of Ulster Bank GAA Force, Seán Óg Ó hAilpín, Ulster Bank GAA Force Ambassador, said: "This is the first time an initiative like this has been set up across the country. Ulster Bank GAA Force creates the perfect opportunity for local communities to pull together to improve their clubs facilities. A number of clubs across the country have been struggling to maintain and improve facilities in recent years. Ulster Bank GAA Force is about providing a helpful hand by bringing the community together to get behind their local club. I know at first-hand how important the GAA club is in local communities and this Ulster Bank GAA Force initiative will provide a massive boost, not only for the winning club but also for the communities of the winning clubs."

Assisting Seán Óg Ó hAilpín at the launch of Ulster Bank GAA Force were, Ulster Bank footballers, Darran OSullivan and Kieran Donaghy (Kerry), Joe Bergin and Finian Hanley (Galway) along with Ulster Bank hurlers JohnÓgardiner (Cork) and Michael Fennelly (Kilkenny).

In addition to Ulster Bank GAA Force, Ulster Bank is teaming up with Newstalk 106-108 fm to bring the Off the Ball Roadshow with Ulster Bank across the country once again. The Ulster Bank GAA Stars will be on the road with the Newstalk sports team conducting live broadcasts in eight counties throughout the championship, starting in June.

For more information and to access behind the scenes footage and analysis throughout the 2011 GAA Football All-Ireland Championship, go to www.ulsterbank.com/gaa.