Our Partnerships
Published on: 11/10/2024 by Jasmin Bodman
We're all about championing the legend in everyone and wanted to share the partnerships we hold with organisations within the GAA, gaelic football and golf!
The GAA is incredibly important to us here at Sports Direct and we want to delve into each of our partnerships and showcase our portfolio, which proves our huge committment to the Irish sports and communities across Ireland.
So let's dive into our partnerships!
We are:
- Title sponsors to Cork GAA Men's Senior and U20s & Minors in Hurling and Football
- Title sponsors of the Sports Direct LGFA Gaelic4Mothers&Others programme
- Official partners to the Louth GAA Men's Senior, U20s & Minors in Hurling and Football
- Title sponsors of the Sports Direct Men's and Women's FAI Cups
- Title sponsors to the Northern Ireland Football League (NIFL) Sports Direct Premierships for men and women
- Premium partners in the KPMG Women's Irish Open
Cork GAA
Official sponsors of Cork GAA, we support the men's senior football and hurling teams, as well as the U20s and minor teams. Knowing that a range of age groups can enjoy the thrills of GAA sports is rewarding, making this partnership worthwhile on and off the pitch.
Cork has an extensive history within the GAA and The People's Republic of Cork is well-known for its undying support for football and hurling.
This is an exciting eight-year partnership, which began in February of 2021.
Sports Direct Men's and Women's FAI Cups
The Sports Direct financial commitment works next to the collaboration on campaigns and projects which are made to enhance both the men's and women's FAI Cup profiles.
Working closely on a variety of campaigns, the aim is to engage larger audiences for the Sports Direct men's and women's FAI Cups, from the first round, all the way to the finals.
Sports Direct is the principal partner for the men's and women's FAI Cups for three seasons, starting in 2023.
Sports Direct NIFL Men's and Women's Premiership (Northern Ireland Football League)
Founded in 2013, the NIFL represents top-level football clubs in Northern Ireland. There's over 350,000 fans cheering on games during each season in stadiums and a whopping 2.5 million watching from their TVs, thanks to Sky Sports and BBC Sport NI.
This partnership, which is for three years and began in 2023, is a milestone moment for the NIFL, becoming the biggest commercial deal in the league's history.
The partnership will see not only rewards for both club and fan, but promotions that aim to raise awareness and take the leagues to new heights.
Louth GAA
Sports Direct are an official partner of Louth GAA Men's and Hurling teams, combining men's football and hurling senior, U20s and U17 teams.
This exciting partnership will support the growth and development of Louth GAA panels in a variety of age ranges in both football and hurling.
Louth GAA want to make progress both on and off the playing field, building on recent results and maintaining a presence in Division 2. They want to return to the All-Ireland Championship stages, compete and continue their journey to getting their own home in the form of a stadium in Dundalk.
Grassroots Supporter Programme
Sports Direct are proud to be official supporters of numerous grassroots GAA clubs nationwide, providing support to women's, men's, minors and children's Gaelic football, hurling and camogie.
Understanding that power and positivity play a large part in sport, Sports Direct see that it's also essential to recognise the need for equal play, too.
In the past eight years, our commitment has played a huge part:
- 1,000,000+ Euros of funding
- 18 clubs
- 13,000 footballs, 13,000 bags, 12,000 mouthguards and 14,000 sliotars
- Unattainable rewards
- Caught a whole host of #BornToPlay moments!
Clubs included in this programme include:
- Ballygunner GAA, Co. Waterford
- Bellaghy GAC, Co. Derry
- Blessington GAA, Co. Wicklow
- Cavan Gaels GAC, Co. Cavan
- Clane GAA, Co. Kildare
- Dunderry GFC, Co. Meath
- Faythe Harriers, Co. Wexford
- Geraldines GAA, Co. Louth
- Glen Rovers GAA, Co. Cork
- Heath GAA, Co. Laois
- Listry GAA, Co. Kerry
- Parke Keelogues GAA, Co. Mayo
- Rhode GAA, Co. Offaly
- St. Dominic's GAA, Co. Roscommon
- St. James GAA. Co. Galway
- Tyrrelstown GAA, Co. Dublin
- Thomastown GAA, Co. Kilkenny
- St. Marys – Kiltoghert, Co. Leitrim
LGFA Gaelic4Mothers&Others
Sports Direct are also proud official sponsors of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association, Gaelic4Mothers&Others programme.
An innovative way for mothers and other women to get involved with Gaelic football, the programme offers a non-competitive and social vibe, while helping women to enjoy the sport.
Thanks to a survey conducted by Sports Direct and the LGFA in 2024 (with 1,200 Gaelic4Mothers&Others participants), it was found that 97% believe the programme helped to relieve stress, 60% had never played before joining the club and 91% play for themselves. The survey was a part of the #MyReasonWhy campaign.
There are 520 clubs a part of the initiative, with hopes of growing bigger.
PFA Ireland (Players Football Association of Ireland)
With a new partnership for 2024, Sports Direct became an official partner and football boots provider of PFA Ireland members in the League of Ireland.
Aligning with PFA Ireland, the view is that athletes are at the forefront of football. The partnership will provide a gift card for boots, which can be used in stores and online with Sports Direct.
