The initiative supports GAA clubs and County Grounds in promoting healthier environments by providing outdoor and pitch-side signage.
The GAA, in collaboration with the Department of Health, is delighted to announce the return of the Smoke and Vape-Free GAA Venues initiative for 2025, made possible through generous funding from Healthy Ireland and the Tomar Trust.
This initiative supports GAA clubs and County Grounds in promoting healthier environments by providing outdoor and pitch-side signage that clearly communicates a club’s decision to adopt a Smoke and Vape-Free policy on its grounds. Since its launch in 2017, more than 450 GAA clubs and 16 County Grounds/Centres of Excellence have implemented this important policy.
Thanks to renewed funding—Healthy Ireland supporting clubs in the Republic of Ireland and the Tomar Trust supporting clubs in the North—approximately 100 clubs or County grounds will receive signage in 2025.
Priority will be given to clubs participating in the Irish Life GAA Healthy Clubs programme, but applications are also welcomed from the wider club network and will be considered based on available resources. Additionally, clubs that received signage prior to 2021, which may not reference vaping, are eligible to apply for updated signage, though availability is limited.
Clubs and County who receive signage agree to adopting the GAA’s Smoke and Vape Free Policy for the grounds.
This policy aims to:
- protect the health of club members, visitors, and the wider community by minimising their exposure all tobacco related harm, including second-hand smoke
- encourage people who smoke to consider quitting (while signposting to support services)
- reduce the initiation of smoking/vaping among young people
- minimise tobacco and electronic cigarette related litter
This initiative reaffirms the GAA’s commitment to fostering healthier communities and ensuring our club environments are safe places for children, players, spectators and the community.
The Irish Life GAA Healthy Clubs Programme aims to transform clubs into hubs for health within their communities. By focusing on areas such as mental fitness, physical activity, diversity, and community, the programme helps clubs make a positive impact far beyond the pitch. Over 600 clubs have already joined the programme, which is delivering health and wellbeing benefits to the value of €50 million to Irish society. Applications for new clubs to join the Irish Life GAA Healthy Clubs programme will open on November 22nd at www.healthyclubs.gaa.ie.
Uachtarán CLG Jarlath Burns said: “Through their very existence, GAA Clubs make a significant contribution to the positive physical and mental health of people, with obvious benefits accruing from their involvement in our activities both on and off the pitch. We also take our role as community leaders very seriously and this is why we are happy to promote our facilities as smoke and vape free zones, and to play our part at promoting a healthy lifestyle.”
Head of Healthy Ireland in the Department of Health, Matthew Doyle said:
“The GAA is at the heart of communities throughout Ireland and is uniquely placed to encourage and promote health and wellbeing.
Creating smoke free and vape free environments is a key priority in our road map to achieving a Tobacco Free Ireland. Healthy Ireland is delighted to support the GAA in this important initiative which plays an important part in delivering just that.”
I am delighted that so many clubs have already adopted a smoke and vape-free policy that supports people in making healthier choices and would encourage more clubs to get involved.”
UPMC Nowlan Park in Kilkenny is now a smoke and vape free venue after Kilkenny GAA adopted a smoke and vape free policy for their county grounds. Melissa Kelly, Chair of Kilkenny GAA Health and Wellbeing Committee said: “Kilkenny GAA took a strong stance on public health by officially adopting a smoke-free policy, following an agreement with the County Board in 2021. The smoke-free initiative is part of a wider effort to promote healthier environments at GAA grounds across the county.
UPMC Nowlan Park is now a designated smoke-free zone. It is important from a county perspective that we send out the message that smoking is unhealthy, particularly as children make up a significant portion of our visitors.
This move supports the GAA’s national initiative, with county grounds encouraged to apply for smoke-free status through their respective Health and Wellbeing Committees”.
How to get involved:
- Step 1: Review and download the GAA Smoke & Vape free policy, step by step guide and presentation via gaa.ie/smokefreeclubs
- Step 2: Discuss with your Club or County Executive. The decision to become a smoke & vape free club must be discussed and agreed at management level. Before you sign up, please ensure you have their commitment
- Step 3: Sign up HERE before July 4th (the form may close in advance if the quota is met and applying does not guarantee your application will be successful as funding is limited for 2025)
- Successful club and Counties must adopt the Smoke & Vape free policy and erect signage before 31 Dec 2025 and will be required to upload pictures on social media tagging our funding partners (info will be provided).
For further information, please contact community.health@gaa.ie
Anyone who is thinking about quitting can get free support from the HSE Quit Team at 1800 201 203 or https://www2.hse.ie/quit-smoking or Stop Smoking NI in the six counties https://www.stopsmokingni.info