Roscommon Champion: Oct 2nd, 2007
Over €2 Million 'Dialled Up' for GAA clubs and schools with Roscommon scoring well

Over €2m has now been raised for Irish GAA clubs and schools by Gaelic Telecom and in customers over the past two years. By the end of 2007, Gaelic Telecom hopes that figure will have reached in excess of €2.5m. All Roscommon Clubs and schools will receive their cheques this week and will share the county payout of €11,004, which covers, the period January-June 2007. To celebrate this great achievement and the distribution of these cheques to participating GAA clubs and schools nationally a photo call was held today (Friday 28th September) in Croke Park featuring RTE's Joanne Cantwell, Mr Nickey Brennan, President of the GAA, Mr Sean Bolger, Chairman of Gaelic Telecom and two dedicated GAA supporters, Lucy Murphy Palmer (aged 8) and Eoin Byrne (aged 10). As well as saving customers costs on their phone bills, this innovative but simple sche,e sees 15% of call costs being donated back to customers' preferred club or school. Twice a year, Gaelic Telecom issues these funds to GAA clubs and Cumann na mBunscol Primary Schools and they will all receive their cheques this week at their County Board meetings.

All Provinces showed great growth and while Galway, Dublin, Cork and Donegal were teh highest earners provincially Wexford, Sligo, Clare and Tyrone showed the highest growth in each of their Provinces by up to 523% in the same period in 2006.

The Gaelic Telecom partnership has grown from strength to strength in the Republic and the 6 Northern counties are now earning over 50% of the Ulster payout.

Mr Nickey Brennan, President of the GAA said, "Everyone within the GAA community is delighted with the success of our association with Gaelic Telecom and on behalf of the GAA , I would like to congratulate and thank all involved. This initiative from our official telecoms partner, Gaelic Telecom is allowing GAA supporters nationwide to help their local Clubs and schools at grassroots level. I would ask all GAA members and supporters to seriously consider signing up to this initiative."

Mr. Sean Bolger Chairman of Gaelic Telecom said "Everyone at Gaelic Telecom is very proud of our partnership with GAA communities around the country. The great thing about this association is that everyone wins. Ordinary people and local businesses can support their local clubs and schools in a a very practical and useful way. This commitment to ongoing funding allows clubs and schools to invest in the future, as well as the present and we are delighted to give our customers the benefit of savings on call costs and to help them help their local GAA communities at no cost to them."

Mr. John Prenty, Connacht GAA Provincial Secretary said "A large number of our members and supporters have switched over to Gaelic Telecom and i would like to thank them for the support our clubs receive from this,. These supporters have shown that by doing little else but pay their phone bill they are supporting their local GAA teams with the resources needed to perform. We would ask all our members and supporters to consider the opportunities that this great initiative can bring to their local clubs and schools at no cost to themselves."