Irwins HockeyThe Irish Hockey Association has agreed a partnership with Portadown based Irwin’s Bakery, securing financial support and the provision of match programmes for all 2014 Irish Hockey League fixtures.
The Irish Hockey League, which is the premier event of the domestic hockey calendar will see the top 12 men’s and top 12 women’s teams from across Ireland pitted against each other every weekend in March, culminating in a Finals weekend in April.
Commenting on the new sponsorship, Chief Executive of Irish Hockey, Mike Heskin, said, “Irish Hockey is delighted to have Irwin’s Bakery as our programme sponsor for the Irish Hockey League. Once again the Finals of this wonderful competition return to Ulster and it is fitting that Irwin’s Bakery, who have a long and distinguished association with grassroots sports development in Ulster is the brand supporting Ireland’s premier hockey club competition. Irwin’s is a partner we are proud to have.”
Michael Murphy, Commercial Director, Irwin’s Bakery added, “We have a long history of supporting sport and are actively involved in local rugby through our Nutty Krust Floodlit Rugby Tournament and grassroots football development with our sponsorship of the Nutty Krust Holiday Camps in partnership with the Irish FA.”
“As a family-owned business, baking bread for local communities for over 100 years, we are keen to encourage local sporting talent and at the same time raise awareness of the important role a balanced diet plays in maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle. We look forward to an exciting league and working in partnership with the Irish Hockey Association.”
Irwin’s is a great example of a business rooted in the community that uses sport as an effective way to maintain it’s local and regional identity.  By focusing across a range of under age and now more senior sporting investments it is providing multiple touch points with which consumers can associate with it.