Centra's successful summer of hurling events
Centra's successful summer of hurling events
Centra's successful summer of hurling events
This summer, Centra has been working together with the GAA to promote and celebrate the game of hurling across the country, in both well established and developing hurling counties. Throughout June, July and August, Centra got together with some of the greatest hurling stars in the country to help raise the profile of the game and encourage children to get involved.
Over 1,200 children attended these events held in ten different stadium locations, where Centra hosted fun-filled hurling days that involved a skills session with top hurling players such as Henry Shefflin, Eoin Kelly, Damien Hayes, John Mullane and Seán Óg Ó hAilpín who provided invaluable hurling tips to the next generation of potential hurling stars. These community events took place across the country, from Donegal to Kerry and along with the all-star hurling line out, the events included a free BBQ and a host of family entertainment.
In addition to these ten stadium events, over 40 Centra retailers throughout Ireland got together with their local GAA clubs and hosted their own local community event, with local hurling heroes leading out the skills session. Approximately 2,000 kids enjoyed these local community get togethers in both hurling and non-hurling strong holds in counties such as Donegal, Kerry, Dublin, Westmeath, Limerick, Cork and Wicklow.
In recent years, thanks to initiatives such as these and the GAA's National Hurling Development Plan, the promotion and development of hurling has gone from strength to strength across all ages. There are now almost 8,000 hurling teams across GAA clubs and schools nationwide (5,208 juvenile and 1,871 adult) with approximately 127,422 youths and adults currently playing the game.
Speaking about the success of the community events, Martin Kelleher, Managing Director, Centra, commented; "Once again we have got together with local communities this summer, with hundreds of families attending our Centra community events right throughout the country.
"We have been working with the GAA to promote the game of hurling, especially in developing hurling counties, and these events really help to bring the community together to showcase and develop the sport. We are delighted to be celebrating the fourth year of our sponsorship of the GAA All-Ireland Hurling Championship and bringing this sponsorship to a local level cements our presence in the heart of local communities, where the spirit of GAA lives."
Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael Liam Ó Néill said, "Centra's activity across the country, in both hurling strongholds and in counties that wouldn't be viewed in that light, has been a massive success encouraging hundreds of people to make a connection with the game of hurling. Their engagement with some of the top names in the game has helped enormously to bring top level hurling and those who play it right into the heart of our communities across the island.
"I laud Centra for the tangible connection they have created between those who enthral us playing a game we marvel at and those who strive to reach the same level in the years and decades ahead as we continue to try and grow the game."
For more information on Centra's community events or see images of the events, go to www.centra.ie or find 'Centra Ireland' on Facebook and Twitter.
