Gaelic Games stars and ambassadors for diversity and inclusion gathered at Croke Park this afternoon as SuperValu launched their sponsorship of this year’s GAA All-Ireland Senior Football Championship and the fourth year of their
#CommunityIncludesEveryone campaign.

This is the 15th year of SuperValu’s sponsorship of the Football Championship.

The line-up of D&I advocates and ambassadors include five-time All-Star and All-Ireland winning Kerry footballer David Clifford, three-time All-Star and All-Ireland winning Dublin footballer Paul Mannion, Cork Footballer Emma Cleary,
Clare footballer Ikem Ugwueru, Mayo Footballer Padraig O’Hora and GAA referee Maggie Farrelly.

All were engaging and had fascinating stories to tell about what their community means to them, and we will be hearing those stories over the coming days and weeks.

SuperValu have commissioned a third year of research carried out by Amárach to assess the progress of and attitudes towards diversity and inclusion in Gaelic Games communities.

The vast majority of GAA members continue to believe their clubs demonstrate a real commitment to diversity and inclusion through ensuring equal opportunities for participation to everyone (77%), welcoming people of all backgrounds (81%) and diverse talents (78%).

Levels of agreement have increased by an average of seven percentage points on last year’s figures.

The importance of promoting this message is further highlighted by the rates of agreement reported when asking about the representation of diverse backgrounds within the GAA.

Eight in ten believe it is important that people with disabilities see themselves represented in the GAA community, while three-quarters believe it is important that people of different ethnicities and people of different sexual orientations see themselves represented.

Across the three rounds of yearly research, the visibility of role models, advocates and allies within the Gaelic Games community continues to grow and be a positive force for change.

Although the research proved that positive steps have been taken, it is evident that there is always work to be done across diversity and inclusion in the GAA.

Just over half (54%) of respondents either completely or somewhat associate the GAA with diversity and inclusion. This has grown from 48% in 2021.

61% of people believe SuperValu’s involvement with the GAA helps to show that Gaelic Games is a sport open to everyone. SuperValu are committed to continuing this journey with the GAA in the hopes of growing this impact across Ireland.

“SuperValu are proud to sponsor the GAA All-Ireland Senior Football Championship for the fifteenth season,” said Marketing Director Ray Kelly.

“This is a long-term partnership that along with the support of the GAA we have grown and developed to make significant impact on communities around Ireland.”

“We are proud to be using this platform to encourage GAA communities across Ireland to do what they can to make their clubs and counties more diverse and inclusive. Here at SuperValu as well as in the GAA, community is at the core of everything we do.”

“The research this year has shown that the #CommunityIncludesEveryone campaign is being seen and heard across Ireland. We will continue to build on this to make this sport and our communities an open door for all with the help of our ambassadors and role models supporting us here today.”

“The importance of this campaign and the promotion of Diversity and Inclusion is something that we feel very strongly about in the GAA,” added Diversity and Inclusion Officer Ger McTavish.

“Once again, the research released today by SuperValu and Amárach has shown that communities and clubs across Ireland have made great strides so far but there is always more that can be done in this space. I would like to thank SuperValu and the team of allies, advocates and diversity and inclusion champions for using their platforms to promote their thoughts, insights and stories that will lead to driving positive change within communities.”

 

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