The GAA and the Gaelic Players Association are supporting a new initiative aimed at promoting inter county players in Football and Hurling to younger audiences and at the same time associating them with positive messages on eating and self image.
Cúl Heroes is a trading card initiative launched yesterday in Croke Park which will go head to head with products like Match Attax and Panini that have captured the imagination of generations of children around the Premier League.
They are sold in every news agent and swapped in every playground across the country and Cúl Heroes is setting up to take them on.
For the first year the collection will include 468 footballers and hurlers from around the country and a collection book for storing each player. Packs of six cards will coast €1.50.
“Cúl Heroes has the potential to increase the profile of GAA players throughout Ireland by offering children a new way of engaging with their idols,” said Cúl Heroes founder Matt McCormack.
The project will also serve as more than another revenue stream for the sport. It will engage kids with positive messages around diet and wellbeing in a non preachy format that will have a good chance of getting through in a way that will enhance what parents and teachers might say.
Brand ambassadors James McCarthy and Anthony Nash attended the launch yesterday and will be joined through the summer by All Ireland winners Michael Murphy and TJ Reid.
“This is a very important project for the GAA as it puts Gaelic stars in the hands of children all over the country and promotes the game further in a fun and healthy way,” said GAA Commercial and Stadium Director Peter McKenna.
“From our own personal experiences we all know the popularity of cards such as these with young people.”
“This collection will feature the best footballers and hurlers in our games underlining the positive influence they have on budding young players as excellent ambassadors for our games.”
“We’re delighted with the initiative.,” added Dessie Farrell, CEO of the Gaelic Players Association.
“It’s raising the profile of the players and our games in tandem with conveying important social messages for the youth of this country”.
