Etihad Airways, sponsor of the GAA Hurling All Ireland Senior Championship, is looking to send one club to Australia to play the challenge match of a lifetime. Etihad is asking clubs around the country to tell them what their greatest achievement is. Log on to www.etihadgaa.ie to nominate your club.
Achievement comes in many forms, not just silverware. Etihad wants to reward one special club for their greatest achievement, whether that is being the focal point of their community, or managing to keep the club going against the odds or even growing their club in recent times.
The winning club will get its first team flown down to Australia, where they will train with GAA legend Nicky English ahead of the challenge game of a lifetime.
On 28th October the ‘Best Club Down Under’ will play an Australian select team as the curtain raiser for the International Rules match between Ireland and Australia in the Etihad Stadium, Melbourne.
Justin Warby, Etihad Airways Country Manager Ireland, said: “The GAA and hurling has spread far and wide across the globe and is particularly strong in Australia. We as an airline are about connecting people around the world and the Best Club Down Under competition marries both these elements perfectly. We hope to see clubs from every corner of the country entering The Best Club Down Under.”
As part of Etihad’s sponsorship of the GAA All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2011, every club in the country is invited to nominate itself to become ‘The Best Club Down Under’ and the public will then be asked to vote for the club they feel deserves to win.
Wow
Looks like a serious prize. Interestingly I was reading an article recently on emigration from Ireland and the role the GAA has traditionally played in integrating expats into society. Allegedly there are 250 Irish men and women joining GAA clubs in Australia every week. That is a scary statistic, a harsh truth, but does show the importance of our national games, not just here in Ireland, but also in far flung places such as Australia. Makes this competition all the more appropriate in these times. Well done
Yes, a serious prize indeed! Full points (and a goal) to Etihad Airways. Also, a relative in Australia recently asked me to find the cheapest fare for one adult and one child from Perth and it turned out to be with Etihad via Abu Dhabi.