Cork Independent, Page 32, 09-Oct-2008
Cork fans raise €64,435 for local Clubs

Loyal GAA fans in Cork have raised almost €65,000 for local GAA clubs and schools this year by simply using their phones. The funding, which has proved to be of great benefit to grassroots GAA in Cork, was raised by GAA subscribers in Cork between January and June of this year.Under Gaelic Telecom’s scheme 15% of their customers call costs are donated back to customers’ preferred club or school, while at the same time saving them money on their home phone and Broadband bills.

Since the scheme was established four years ago, Cork fans have earned a total of €245,847 for the local Association, while nationally, €3.4 million has been raised for GAA clubs and schools across the country.Aghada’s GAA club was one of a number of clubs in Cork to benefit under the scheme. Barra O’Dea, runai at Aghada welcomed the funding which he said has been of great benefit to the local club.

“In the past 18 months at least half a million has been spent on Club development. We got some funding from the National Lottery but it still left us with a shortfall, which is where the cheque from Gaelic Telecom comes in handy”, he said.Commenting on the latest funding announcement, Ciaran Doyle, General Manager, Gaelic Telecom said “It is only due to the support and loyalty of the members of the Cork Association and the GAA itself, whose commitment to this project is invaluable, that we have been able to raise such a large sum. “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.”