Leitrim Post, 8-Apr-2008
Leitrim fans and players earn €18,433 for local GAA clubs and schools

Last Thursday in Croke Park, Leitrim fans and players were acknowledged for raising €18,433.54 during 2007! This is the amount generated by Gaelic Telecom and its Leitrim customers for local GAA Clubs and Schools in the county. Nationally, €2.9m has been raised over the past three years for Grassroots GAA. Leitrim achieved 9% of the provincial payout while neighbours Sligo edged ahead with 10%. GAA President, Nickey Brennan and Sean Bolger, Chairman of the imagine Telecommunications Group and owners of Gaelic Telecom were also in attendance and revealed that during 2007 alone, €1.4m was raised nationally and this was up by 35% on the previous year. Nickey Brennan welcomed the ongoing investment in grassroots GAA and wants the GAA Community to sign up in even greater numbers to Gaelic Telecom so that even more funding can be achieved for local GAA Clubs and Schools.
As well as giving customers significant savings on their phone and broadband bills, the Gaelic Telecom initiative sees 15% of call costs being donated back to customers’ nominated GAA Clubs or primary schools. Gaelic Telecom issues funds twice a year to GAA Clubs and Cumann na mBunscol Primary Schools.

The Gaelic Telecom partnership has grown from strength to strength in the Republic and the 6 Counties have earned 60% of the total Ulster payout and 27% of the National payout for 2007. Leitrim GAA Clubs and primary schools have already been presented with the €18,433.54 raised during 2007.

Nickey Brennan, President of the GAA said, “On behalf of all our members, I would like to express our sincere appreciation of the ongoing investment in grassroots GAA by Gaelic Telecom and its customers. I would ask all GAA members and supporters to seriously consider signing up to this initiative and continuing their ever-increasing funding support for our Clubs and Schools nationwide.”

Sean Bolger, Chairman of the imagine Group (owner of Gaelic Telecom), said, “As the official telecoms partner to the GAA, Gaelic Telecom is delighted and very proud of the amounts raised by our customers around the country. Local clubs and schools are enjoying ongoing and ever-increasing funding so they can invest in the present and the future. And it’s a very practical and easy way for supporters and members to give financial and moral support to their own GAA community. All of us at Gaelic Telecom are delighted to facilitate this funding at no cost to our customers, but with the added benefit to them of savings on telephone and broadband costs!”

Kevin Ludlow of Annaduff commented, “through working with Gaelic Telecom the club received in excess of €1,500 in the past twelve months. This was a great boost for the everyday running of our club. Gaelic Telecom does all the work so it is easy for the club to benefit. This initiative is an excellent opportunity for both the club and supporter and we would recommend everyone to get involved”