DANSKE BANK ULSTER COLLEGES GAA

Ulster Colleges’ GAA Council secures Danske Bank as title sponsor

September 1, 2012

Ulster Colleges’ GAA Council secures Danske Bank as title sponsor

 Tuesday morning 14th August 2012

Ulster Colleges’ GAA has unveiled Danske Bank as their new title sponsor, in a three year deal announced yesterday (Monday).

Danske Bank is the parent company of Northern Bank that will re-brand as Danske Bank in November.

The sponsorship deal covers all 38 of the organisation’s competitions, including the high profile MacRory, MacLarnon and Mageean Cups, and the prestigious annual Football and Hurling All Stars awards.

The Mageean Cup, the senior hurling competition in Ulster Colleges, will celebrate its half-century this year and is the first of the main competitions to hit the starting line – with the first match throwing-in within the first fortnight of September.

Holders St Mary’s CBGS Belfast, who went on to collect their first All-Ireland title since 1974, have quite a few of last year’s side back, while strong challenges are expected to be mounted by Cross & Passion Ballycastle, St Patrick’s Maghera and last April’s Foresters’ Cup winners St Killian’s Garron.

Down GAA secretary Sean óg McAteer confirmed that a combined Down Sixth Form team has been entered.

“On the face of it the team did not appear to achieve a lot in its first foray into the Mageean last year, but it is now acknowledged by the County Minor management that it provided the springboard for the county collecting its first Ulster title since 1994 last month.”

Ulster Colleges’ GAA is very strong at the moment with the Mageean Cup winners collecting 5 of the last 6 All-Ireland titles, St Paul’s Bessbrook adding a national title to their initial MacLarnon title and the MacRory winners regularly appearing in Hogan Cup finals and this certainly attracted the new sponsor – the organisation’s second Bank sponsorship deal and third sponsor in all.  That as well as the range and depth of competition right across the province.

Northern Bank Chief Executive Gerry Mallon said:

“Local banking is about local relationships so our contribution to the local community is very important to us.  Over many years we have developed youth sponsorships and programmes like our financial capability programmes for schools and this new partnership is a natural extension of this.  We are very proud that our new brand name will be associated with such a highly regarded and well run portfolio of football and hurling competitions, and look forward to the start of the new season.”

The partnership was welcomed by Ulster Colleges’ GAA Secretary Seamus Woods : “In seeking a new principal sponsor for Ulster Colleges’ GAA we were looking for an organisation that was closely aligned with our mission to enrich and inspire the education of young people, and we have found this in Danske Bank.

“We want Ulster Colleges’ GAA to continue to develop and expand, and Danske Bank’s support will have an important part to play in helping us to achieve that ambition. I am confident that our new partnership with such a leading brand will put Ulster Colleges GAA on a very firm footing for the future, as we continue to bring the best in Gaelic Games to thousands of 11-18 year olds in Ulster every year.”

As part of the sponsorship Danske Bank is developing a new website for Ulster Colleges which will launch in time for the start of the new season in September.

More information from:

Jonathan Ireland, MCE Public Relations

T: 028 9026 7099

E: jonathan@mcepublicrelations.com