The Irish division of German financial services company Allianz has agreed a five-year extension to its sponsorship deal with the Gaelic Athletic Association.
Spanning 28 years and encompassing the 2020 season, Allianz Ireland’s renewed commitment to the GAA’s football and hurling leagues makes the insurance provider one of the longest standing supporters of Gaelic games.
In addition to its sponsorship of the leagues since 1993, Allianz has facilitated and enabled school children across all 32 counties to play Gaelic games through its patronage of Allianz Cumann na mBunscol, the largest primary education sporting organisation in Ireland.
Brendan Murphy, chief executive of Allianz Ireland, said: “Allianz now employs over 1,500 people in Ireland and after 126 years, it is almost as old as the GAA. Heritage is as important to us as it is to the GAA and it’s one of the many reasons why the fit between Allianz and the GAA is so natural.”
GAA president Aogán Ó Fearghail added: “It is difficult to over estimate the importance of our Allianz Leagues and the support of Allianz in bringing them to the widest audience possible. The months of February, March and April represent the busiest period in the GAA inter-county calendar and the competitions provide all of our counties with something real and tangible to aspire to.”