Lufthansa Technik Turbine Shannon new title sponsor of Limerick and Clare post-primary schools GAA competitions:
Lufthansa Tehnik Turbine Shannon CEO Pat Foley with Coláiste Chíaráin, Croom students, Lucy Morrissey, Athlacca, and Conor Ó Lonsigh, Mungret
By Limerick Leader Reporter
LUFTHANSA Technik Turbine Shannon (LTTS), one of the Mid-West’s largest employers has announced its first-ever GAA sponsorship.
With 90% of the company’s more than 300 employees coming from Clare or Limerick, the Irish subsidiary of Germany’s Lufthansa Technik AG was today confirmed as title sponsor of both Clare and Limerick’s post primary schools Gaelic Games competitions.
The three-year sponsorship agreements covering all post primary boys and girls football, hurling, camogie & ladies Gaelic football will see LTTS supporting almost 40 secondary schools and thousands of students across Clare and Limerick. LTTS specialises in the repair of components for aircraft engine turbines and has been operating in the Shannon region for more than 30 years.
Pat Foley, LTTS CEO and Managing Director said: “We’re a global company but our loyalties are local and with so many of our people active in the GAA as players, supporters and volunteers, this sponsorship was a natural choice for us. However, our decision ran deeper than that, and the partnership had to align with our own values, purpose and future strategy to nurture and support next generations. We recognise the crucial role that sport plays in young people’s lives and the extended value it brings to communities and counties and we are proud to be able to play our part, in partnership with the GAA.”
More than half of LTTS’ employees have children in local schools many of whom are also participating in GAA activities, and the new sponsorships have the potential to positively impact more than 20,000 students, together with their famillies.
Deirdre Murphy, Chief Operating Officer, Clare GAA said: “Sponsorship of grassroots and schools GAA is fundamental to the development of our young people and the development of the senior players of tomorrow. We are proud to include all members of the Gaelic games’ family, male and female, and it is fantastic to have a company with a strong global reputation that places such emphasis on community values behind us. This sponsorship will assist in developing Gaelic games for all boys and girls in Clare secondary schools while also creating an awareness among our youth of the future opportunities LTTS can potentially provide.”
“By partnering with the GAA at schools level, LTTS is helping to lay down strong foundations for future players, future leaders and future team players, across every walk of life,” said Mike O’Riordain, Secretary of Limerick GAA. “There’s already a multitude of connections between LTTS and Limerick GAA and that is why we are particularly pleased to formalise our existing collaborations and friendships for the benefit of all those inolved in GAA in Limerick.”
Pat Foley went on to explain how young people are the lifeblood of companies, such as LTTS, which create excellent opportunities for those who want a rewarding career both from within and beyond the university system. “As part of this sponsorship we will invite both players and students onto the site in Shannon to understand the type of work that we do and offer them a chance to explore the opportunities that might be open to them in the future,” said Mr Foley. “In Ireland we are expanding year-on-year and hope we can encourage some of these fantastic young people to be the next generation of apprentices, mechanics, engineers, maintenance and HR professionals at LTTS.”