We knew this day was coming. Ever since Tomás Ó Sé showed up on The Sunday Game in a tuxedo, we knew this day was coming.
The GAA has embraced a new, stylish era with Tuesday morning’s announcement of a top tier partnership with Littlewoods Ireland.
Littlewoods, Ireland’s leading online department store, has signed a three-year deal that sees them become a sponsor of both the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship and National Camogie League until 2019.
Its first act as a sponsor was to unveil two GAA legends and ‘keen fashionistas’ Anna Geary [Cork] and Jackie Tyrrell [Kilkenny].
The pair have already taken part in a ‘V by Very’ Winter GAA Shoot at Lough Dan in County Wicklow, which was unveiled at the launch in Croke Park. The shoot, produced by Ireland’s leading stylist Courtney Smith and shot by fashion photographer Alex Hutchinson, was a new experience for the Gaelic Games pin-ups and the images along with a behind the scenes video and blogs from the shoot can be seen here.
Waterford hurling star Austin Gleeson was also on hand at the launch. The 2016 Hurler of the Year and Young Hurler of the Year was unveiled as part of the Littlewoods Ireland GAA team for 2017. Littlewoods Ireland managing director, Geoff Scully says:
“We feel it is an opportune time to begin a partnership with the GAA. This is a new space for us and will allow us to engage with communities throughout the country through the hurling championship, Camogie National League and also the GO Games children’s events in Croke Park which we will be sponsoring.
“We plan on bringing our love of style and innovation to this partnership and believe it is a great fit for all involved.”
GAA president Aogán Ó Fearghail comments: “This partnership will help us reach into new areas as we continually look at new ways of bringing our games to new audiences and supporters.
“I laud the fact that the arrangement also covers the activities and games of the Camogie Association, which strikes me as a particularly good fit covering the wide spectrum of the GAA family given the area of expertise of Littlewoods Ireland. I look forward to a long and mutually beneficially partnership.”
President of the Camogie Association, Catherine Neary believes her sport being associated with Ireland’s leading online department store, and one that is synonymous with ‘innovation, fashion and style’, will be a significant profile boost.
Visit the Littlewoods Ireland website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and their blog.
