GAA'S Glór na nÓg Community Initiative returns with €100,000 funding from Amazon
Pictured left to right in Croke Park are Brian Huseman (Amazon VP), Peter McKenna (GAA Commercial and Croke Park Stadium Director), and Alison Dunn (Amazon Ireland).
Amazon and the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) have opened nominations for Glór na nÓg (Voice of the Youth), the groundbreaking Community Funding Initiative that empowers young people in GAA clubs to shape the future of their communities. Following the success of its inaugural year, Amazon Ireland has committed €100,000 to the programme in 2026, representing an increase on the €85,000 invested in Year One.
In its first year, the initiative provided a digital platform for junior GAA members to share their experiences and ideas for improving their clubs, attracting entries from GAA, LGFA, and Camogie clubs across Ireland and internationally. The programme returns in 2026, once again open to clubs nationwide and overseas, inviting young members to respond to two questions: 1. Who is your favourite GAA player and why? 2. Imagine you are in the future and you are now a GAA star talking to your favourite player. Think Big! Tell them how they inspired you?
Amazon Recommits to Youth Development
Alison Dunn, Country Manager of Amazon in Ireland said: “Seeing the impact that Glór na nÓg has had on clubs across Ireland, from sensory rooms in Donegal to summer camps in Roscommon, has been incredibly inspiring. The GAA has a unique ability to bring communities, and indeed the whole country, together. We all saw that this summer when the All-Ireland had the nation wishing they were from Mayo. What makes the GAA so special starts at club level, with young people who care deeply about their communities. Glór na nÓg has shown that when they are given the opportunity to share their ideas, they come forward with initiatives that genuinely strengthen their communities. That is why we are proud to commit €100,000 to support the programme for a second year. We hope it will give even more young GAA members the opportunity to have their voices heard and to turn their ideas into positive change for their clubs and communities.”
Croke Park Stadium and GAA Commercial Director Peter McKenna said: “Last year was a resounding success for what was the inaugural Glór na nÓg initiative and the winning entries exemplified the talent, awareness and creativity of our young members while at the same time underlining what the GAA and Gaelic games mean to them. Amazon’s generous partnership on this scheme helped us bring it right across our club network and we hope to get the same level of engagement from our young players this year as they are challenged to outline how their heroes inspire them on and off the field.”
Year One Impact: How Clubs Used Their Funding
The inaugural Glór na nÓg initiative distributed funding to clubs across Ireland and internationally, making a tangible difference in communities from Roscommon to Donegal. Grand Prize winners Shannon Gaels GAA, along with provincial winners Ringtown Camogie Club, Ardara GAA, and Glin GAA, have shared how they put their funding to work.
Shannon Gaels GAA, Roscommon – Grand Prize Winners
“In the spirit of Glór na nÓg, Shannon Gaels plan to invest the prize money in and for our younger members. We run camps at Easter and during the summer holidays for our national school aged children. Older children who have left national school often volunteer and return to help. We plan to engage with that volunteer group to identify and invest in equipment and activities to make these camps an even more enjoyable and rewarding experience. Shannon Gaels see these camps as a cornerstone of our club because for some children it can be their first point of contact with the broader club community.”
— Pádraig Tiernan, Club Secretary, Shannon Gaels
Ringtown Camogie Club, Westmeath – Leinster Winners
“This prize means everything to us. We take great pride in this achievement because it is based on the feedback from our young members — an indication that we, as a club, are providing a place where the kids are happy and proud of. As we are a juvenile club, the prize will be redirected directly back into our players. We’ve already started planning some trips and get-togethers, with the first being a trip to the Teidí Tour in Croke Park for our U8s and U10s.”
— Pat O’Boyle, Club Secretary, Ringtown Camogie Club
CLG Ard an Rátha (Ardara GAA), Donegal – Ulster Winners
“We plan to use the prize money to further develop our current sensory room and to support our Saturday night youth hub for 14–18-year-olds, helping us to continue providing a safe, inclusive, and welcoming space for young people in the community. The Glór na nÓg initiative gave our young members a genuine platform to have their voices heard and allowed them to play an active role in shaping the future of the club.”
— Mairead Ní Maoilréana, Club Secretary, CLG Ard an Rátha
Glin GAA, Limerick – Munster Winners
“It means a great deal. It’s a sign that our community is strong — from the teachers to the kids who took part to our delegate who took time out to go to Dublin for the summit. The prize money could go a long way in the club’s grounds from a paint makeover to helping pay for the nets behind the goals.”
— Kenneth Lyons, Club Secretary, Glin GAA
Glór na nÓg 2026: How to Participate
Through QR codes displayed online and at local GAA clubs, junior members will access a dedicated digital platform where they are invited to respond to two questions: 1. Who is your favourite GAA player and why? 2. Imagine you are in the future and you are now a GAA star talking to your favourite player. Think Big! Tell them how they inspired you?
Key details:
Eligibility: Open to GAA, LGFA, Camogie, Handball and Rounders clubs across Ireland and internationally
Timeline: 10 August – 21st September
Prize Structure:
Grand Prize winners; Provincial winners x 4; County winners x 28.
Selection: Winners selected through a combination of AI-assisted scoring and a judging panel, with judging criteria this year being: passion & sincerity, creativity & imagination, detail specificity, and relevance & engagement.
About the Partnership
The collaboration between Amazon and the GAA combines technological innovation with Ireland’s rich sporting heritage to create positive community impact and empower young voices across the country. Amazon’s technology powers the initiative’s digital infrastructure, including a streamlined submission portal and an AI-powered system to assist the judging panel with analysing submissions.