Calling all GAA clubs

This initiative supports local GAA clubs by offering them the chance to win support packages to refurbish and upgrade their facilities.

Over 400 clubs across the island of Ireland entered the inaugural programme last year and Ulster Bank, Official Sponsor of the GAA Football All-Ireland Championship, is now calling on clubs to register for this year’s competition on www.ulsterbank.com/gaa.

Last year over 400 GAA clubs entered, with 105 receiving funding and hundreds of volunteers taking part in the designated Ulster GAA Force Winning Weekends. St. Joseph’s G.F.C. Ederney in Fermanagh scooped the national award which included a support package worth £22,000, to help upgrade the club’s existing facilities, convert their changing rooms to accommodate their female members more and also convert one of their stores to a gallery style kitchen connected to the main clubhouse.

Once again, one lucky GAA club will receive the top prize of a support package worth £22,000 and four runners-up (one from each province) will receive a support package worth £4,400 each. The winning clubs will then carry out the improvements to their GAA facilities during the planned 2012 Ulster Bank GAA Force Winning Weekends.

Ulster Bank GAA Force Ambassador, Seán Óg Ó hAilpín, commented: “It is great to see Ulster Bank GAA Force return after the success of last year. It is a unique initiative that offers clubs the opportunity to improve their facilities while also bringing the community together. I would encourage all clubs to enter to be in with a chance to win one of the support packages.”

Ulster Bank GAA Force is open to GAA clubs across the island of Ireland. Clubs can register until October 5th on www.ulsterbank.com/gaa. The first 100 clubs to register for the initiative will also receive a support package worth £ 100.

As part of the Ulster Bank GAA Force initiative, Ulster Bank has introduced the ‘Ulster Bank GAA Force Roadshow’. Travelling to 11 GAA clubs across the island of Ireland throughout the summer, including St Gall’s Antrim on August 22 and Killyclogher Tyrone on August 30, the roadshow will feature a panel discussion and questions and answers session with a host of Ulster Bank’s GAA county players along with Kerry and RTE legend, Pat Spillane.

GAA fans with a ufirst or ufirstgold current account can get 25% cash-back on up to four GAA tickets per match, an average saving of £16 for a family of four* per match . The monthly membership fee for Ufirst is £9 and for ufirstgold is £13. Existing ufirst and ufirstgold customers should contact ufirst membership services to book their GAA tickets on 0870 600 0427 (ufirst) or 0870 600 0661 (ufirstgold) . New customers should ask about opening a ufirst or ufirstgold current account in their local branch or online at ulsterbank.co.uk.

For more information and to access behind the scenes footage and analysis throughout the 2012 GAA Football All-Ireland Championship, go to www.ulsterbank.com/gaa or find Ulster Bank GAA on Facebook and Twitter. Ulster Bank is also introducing a downloadable ‘GAA club cover image’ tool to create a new cover image for Facebook, Twitter, your computer homepage or anywhere else you would like to use the photo. The user will have a selection of choices – including colours and style to create their personalised image. Everyone who creates their new ‘cover photo’ will be entered into a draw for GAA merchandise.