McKvr, suppliers of kit to the Olympic Federation of Ireland and a GAA equipment licensee, has secured a £300,000 funding package from HSBC UK to support increased stock purchasing, faster turnaround times and continued expansion across the UK and Ireland.

The Craigavon-based business will use the funding to strengthen its supply chain through enhanced trade finance facilities. This will allow the company to import larger volumes of stock, scale up existing contracts and fulfil bespoke teamwear orders within days rather than weeks.

The move is expected to benefit grassroots clubs and elite teams alike across Gaelic Games, football and rugby, at a time when demand for customisation, speed and sustainability in sports apparel continues to grow.

Founded in 2004 by Padraic McKeever, McKvr now employs 90 staff and produces up to 2,000 garments per week from its consolidated manufacturing and warehousing base in Craigavon.

“Access to this funding has made a significant difference to our business, allowing us to invest in the business’s key areas of focus such as stock and client experience through improving our turnaround times,” said McKeever.

“HSBC UK has supported us at a key stage of our growth and helped us plan confidently and securely for the year ahead.”

The funding package includes trade finance facilities, providing the working capital required to increase stockholding and underpin faster delivery cycles — a crucial competitive advantage in the highly seasonal teamwear market.

Read More: Padraic McKeever Interview

For clubs operating within tight championship windows and schools preparing for competitions, shortened production timelines can have a direct impact on participation and presentation standards.

The new facilities have also supported the launch of McKvr’s first-ever brand ambassador clothing range for Gaelic games, fronted by Kerry football star David Clifford.

The ambassador-led range represents a strategic step into direct-to-consumer brand building, complementing the company’s established B2B teamwear operations.

It also reflects the growing commercial appeal of Gaelic games athletes and the appetite for performance-led lifestyle apparel rooted in Irish sport.

Alongside the ambassador range, McKvr is continuing to invest in its core teamwear offering, which is produced using 100 per cent recycled polyester made from recycled plastic bottles — aligning performance apparel with sustainability goals increasingly demanded by clubs, governing bodies and sponsors.

, highlighted the broader economic and sporting impact of the partnership.

“We’re pleased to support Padraic and the team at McKvr as they continue to grow their operations and invest in sustainable manufacturing,” said. Jennifer Hood, Relationship Manager at HSBC UK.

“The business plays an important role in supporting Irish sport at all levels, and we look forward to working with them as they build on their success.”

The latest £300,000 package follows an £85,000 loan provided by HSBC UK in 2025 to support building works linked to the consolidation of McKvr’s manufacturing and warehousing operations into a single site. That move improved operational efficiencies and created the platform for the next phase of growth.

 

Image Credit: McKvr Sport

 

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