GAA STARS RALLY IN CROKE PARK FOR THIS YEAR’S LAUNCH OF SUPERVALU’S #COMMUNITYINCLUDESEVERYONE CAMPAIGN

· 80% believe if the local GAA club is more diverse and inclusive, it will also improve diversity and inclusion within their community, up 17% since 2023 (63%).

· 78% of people believe their club promotes diversity and inclusion. This has increased by 7% since 2023 (71%).

· 81% of people feel they can bring their whole self to their club including all parts of their background, increasing by 7% since 2023 (74%).

· 78% of people state that it is important that those of diverse backgrounds are supported by allies and advocates within the GAA, increasing by 4% since 2023 (74%).

· Almost two-thirds (63%) believe the GAA will see significant growth in participation from more diverse backgrounds in the coming years.

· The above statistics outline the positive strides that are being made with Diversity and Inclusion within the Gaelic Games, but there is always more to do.

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Tuesday, April 23rd 2024: Today, Gaelic Games stars and ambassadors for diversity and inclusion gathered at Croke Park as SuperValu launched their sponsorship of this year’s GAA All-Ireland Senior Football Championship and the fourth year of their #CommunityIncludesEveryone campaign. Proud supporters of the GAA All-Ireland Senior Football Championship for a fifteenth consecutive year, SuperValu is thrilled to champion once more the powers of the GAA and its role models in driving diversity and inclusion in Ireland.

At today’s launch, a host of Gaelic Games stars were on hand to support SuperValu’s call out to GAA clubs and counties around Ireland to continue to do what they can to make their communities and clubs more diverse and inclusive. 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.

Prior to the launch of #CommunityIncludesEveryone in Croke Park today and for the third year running, SuperValu commissioned 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 on the last wave of research carried out in March 2023.

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.

With research figures around role models and allies, and their visibility within GAA communities coming in below 50%, there has never been a more important time for role models in the GAA to stand up and with that, SuperValu were delighted to be joined by five of these stars today at Croke Park. SuperValu is looking forward to continuing to drive the diversity and inclusion standards across the GAA and continues to aspire to be recognised as the leading grocery retailer advocating for diversity and inclusion in Ireland by 2025.

This summer, SuperValu are excited to continue to build on their celebration of Pride alongside LGBTQ+ advocates within Gaelic Games. SuperValu’s #WearWithPride campaign will once again see pride laces available for purchase at SuperValu stores nationwide, with all proceeds going to Belong To. Laces will be available in stores to purchase from 23rd April.

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

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

For more information on the #CommunityIncludesEveryone campaign and to keep up to date with the GAA All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, follow SuperValu across Facebook, Instagram, Tik-Tok and Twitter. · Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SuperValuIreland/ · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/supervalu_irl/?hl=en · Tik-Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@supervaluirelandofficial · Twitter: https://twitter.com/SuperValuIRL