Suzuki Ladies National League launched in Croke Park

 

The Ladies Gaelic Football Association, Press Release
Monday, February 2nd, 2004

Taoiseach officially launches the 2004 Suzuki Ladies National
Football League in Croke Park

An Taoiseach Mr Bertie Ahern, T.D officially launched
the 2004 Suzuki Ladies National Football League in Croke
Park today. Speaking at the launch today, Mr Ahern said,
“we look forward to another year of excitement and sporting
skill on display from the very best players in the country.
Ladies Gaelic has found it difficult in the past to get
due recognition for their efforts. This situation has thankfully
changed for the better, with the game now enjoying a very
high profile on the national stage.”

Welcoming the start of a brand new season and Suzuki’s sponsorship
of the league for the second year running, Mrs Geraldine
Giles, President of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association
said, “A new year, a new season and a rejuvenated League
structure sets the scene for an interesting campaign in
the months ahead. We look forward to some pulsating games
between now and April as teams set down their marker for
the year ahead.” Suzuki Ireland expressed their pride to
be once again associated with the Ladies Gaelic Football
Association and to be sponsoring this year’s Suzuki Ladies
National Football League.

Speaking at the launch of the league today was Mr Niall
O’Gorman, General Manager of Suzuki Ireland. “Our decision
to renew our sponsorship was a very easy one for us to make
based on the successful manner in which the league was promoted
and managed in 2003 by the President and Chief Executive
of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association. We look forward
to an even more successful competition in 2004 in the four
divisions and wish all participants every success”, he said.
Suzuki has been operating in Ireland for nearly twenty years
and sponsored the Ladies National Football League last year.

Ms Helen O’Rourke, the Chief Executive of the Ladies Gaelic
Football Association warmly welcomed the sponsorship by
Suzuki of the National League in 2004. “We are delighted
to have Suzuki on board again in 2004. The League competition
is extremely competitive in Ladies Gaelic Football and this
year promises to be just as exciting as the last. Suzuki
Ireland have been extremely supportive and we look forward
to a mutually beneficial relationship once again in 2004
and the continued development of our games”, she said.

This year’s Suzuki Ladies National Football League competition
will see the holders Laois attempting to become the first
team since Waterford in 1998 to retain the title. Mayo,
who have dominated Ladies Gaelic Football for the last five
seasons, will be going all out to win their first League
title since 2000 and are amongst the favourites this year.
Last years All-Ireland runners up Dublin under the stewardship
of Dublin legend John O’Leary will also be one of the teams
to be reckoned with.

Once again, 2004 looks like being another great year for
the Suzuki Ladies National Football League and for Ladies
Gaelic Games as a whole. The Division 1 final of the league
will be shown live on TG4 on April 18th while the Division
2, 3 and 4 finals will take place in May.

Ladies Gaelic Football is one of the fastest growing sports
in the country, with numbers participating up 300% in the
last five years. There are now 90,000 members registered
in 950 clubs in all 32 counties. Evidence of the great strides
made by the Ladies Gaelic Football Association could be
seen most vividly at last year’s All-Ireland final between
Mayo and Dublin in Croke Park which attracted a crowd of
over 35,000 and was watched live on TG4 by nearly 200,000
viewers-the highest ever rating for a programme on the station.

2003 also saw the first All-Stars awards ceremony that honoured
the stars of the Ladies game for their performances in the
League and Championship in the same way as their male counterparts.

For more information please visit the Ladies Gaelic Football
Association website at www.ladiesgaelic.ie

Contact: Helen O’Rourke, Chief Executive, The Ladies Gaelic
Football Association Phone: 01-8363156

Contact: Fr. Liam Kelleher, PRO, The Ladies Gaelic Football
Association Mobile: 087-8516984 Email: liamkelleher44@hotmail.com

Web: www.ladiesgaelic.ie

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