Irish TV and London GAA agree naming rights deal

London GAA and Irish TV have agreed a five-year naming rights sponsorship for London's Ruislip grounds that will place Ireland's first international TV channel at the centre of all GAA affairs in the UK capital.

Ruislip will now be known as the Irish TV Grounds and is a timely boost for the exiles who are preparing to develop a new EUR5 million stadium that will bring the London GAA facility up to the level of county standards in Ireland.

The redevelopment works at the Irish TV Grounds will see the construction of a new 2,400 all-seater stand, four new dressing rooms, new administration offices, car parking, media facilities, a small floodlit training area and terracing.

Welcoming the sponsorship GAA President Aogán Ó Fearghail said "The new redeveloped Ruislip will be a beacon and it will be something that people of Irish heritage and of no Irish heritage will be happy to come too. It is going to be very special because Irish TV are a part of it.

"Irish TV are new and they are fresh and exciting. They also know that wherever the Irish go, we go there too. I have travelled a lot of the world and no matter where I go I meet Irish TV.

"They are always with you - in the small places, for the small man, for the big man, for the little people, for the 'cois muintir na tire' and I congratulate Irish TV for their acknowledgement of the 'plain people', as Seán Ó Riordain the poet said - 'cois muintir na tire seo' - the ordinary plain people of Ireland. Thank you Irish TV for standing side-by-side with me and the GAA. We are delighted to have you as partners," he said

Irish TV, who broadcast on Sky channel 191, Freesat 400, eVision 191 and online at www.irishtv.ie are now set to play a central role in the promotion of Gaelic Games overseas. There are 33 clubs affiliated to the London County Board with over 50 teams at adult level.

Commenting on the sponsorship London GAA Chairperson Noel O'Sullivan said "Irish TV has its finger on the pulse of community and sporting life in London and in the UK and they are the perfect title sponsor for our new grounds. The Irish TV Grounds will be a better place to play and to watch Gaelic Games in London and can only help reinforce the strong sense of community which is so evident amongst the many generations of Irish people living in the UK.

"We have worked very closely with Irish TV over the past two years and their commitment to club, county and country is exemplary," commented O'Sullivan at the announcement of the sponsorship.

Irish TV CEO Pierce O'Reilly said he was looking forward to working with the GAA on this project.

"Over the past two years we have developed an excellent relationship with Croke Park and the GAA and we see this partnership with London GAA as a key milestone in cementing that relationship going forward," said Mr O'Reilly.

"These historic grounds have provided a safe first port of call for thousands of emigrants over the past century and we hope that legacy continues into the future. Our sponsorship recognises the central role of the GAA in the Irish emigrant community in London and in the UK. Irish TV connects Irish communities across the globe with home and the GAA plays a pivotal role in reaching out to the diaspora," commented O'Reilly

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