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events from televised games from Ireland, to Irish dance classes
and an Irish Senior Citizens group. The functions rooms are used
for wedding receptions, with 75% of the total bookings coming
from people with Irish ethnicity.
Over the past twenty five years Ruislip has become synonymous
with London GAA. As an organisation London GAA is very
proud of Ruislip. However the ancillary facilities around Ruislip
do not allow for London GAA to host our fellow Gaels in a
manner which London receives in every county during visits in
Ireland. In addition to our fellow Gaels, London GAA wishes
to be in a position to invite dignitaries to Ruislip and proudly
showcase the positive aspects of London GAA. The annual
Connacht Senior Football Championship game in Ruislip is of
huge significance to all London Gaels.
Ruislip in its current condition does not
accommodate the needs of the modern GAA
spectators. The redevelopment of Ruislip aims to
provide for the following:
- a fit for purpose county ground that will ensure
the continued growth of London GAA, benefitting
all stakeholders of the GAA in London.
- a playing surface capable of matching the needed
playing hours.
- facilities for spectators comparable with county
grounds in Ireland.
Over the coming years we aim to increase the
numbers playing and staying in the game in
London and to attract more people to attend our
games. It will be important to maintain Ruislip as
a primary centre for culture and heritage. We want
to leave a legacy for future generations of the GAA
in London to enjoy and to be proud of.
Irish TV secures naming rights for London
GAA headquarters
London GAA and Irish TV have agreed a fiveyear 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 the deal, worth six figures, comes
as London GAA prepare to develop a new €5
million stadium at Ruislip in the coming months.
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.
The redevelopment at the Irish TV Grounds
will bring the London GAA facility up to the
level of county standards across Ireland.
22 Issue 09
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.
“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,” said London GAA
Chairperson Noel O’Sullivan.
“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.”
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,” said Mr O’Reilly.
“These \