The Shane O'Neill's club, Armagh, has taken the unprecedented move of promoting the message of the GAA's Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) programme on its senior team jerseys.

This season, each time the club's senior football team takes to the field of play, their jerseys will be flying the ASAP logo instead of that of a traditional sponsor. The ASAP programme was set up by the GAA in 2006 with the aim of addressing and minimising the harm caused by the misuse of alcohol and other substances. To this end, each club in the Association has been mandated with appointing an ASAP officer and adopting a club Drug and Alcohol Policy. However, this year the Shane O'Neill's club decided to go a step further.

Club Chairman John McLoughlin explains: "The local area has seen significant social and economic deprivation throughout the years, with many GAA clubs in the area serving as a focal point in promoting a healthy lifestyle among players and members alike. With alcohol and substance abuse a major issue prevalent in many communities throughout Ireland, the club committee decided to take the lead in tackling this problem."

To this end, senior ladies footballer Yasmin Mackin was appointed club ASAP Officer at the start of the year, and the committee went about devising a way to promote healthier lifestyles amongst its members and the wider community. In conjunction with Colin Regan, National Coordinator of the ASAP programme, it was decided to promote this initiative's positive message around drink and drugs by placing the logo on the senior team jersey.

"The Dublin County Board and their sponsors rightly received national media coverage for their decision to replace the Vodafone logo with that of the Suicide or Survive (SOS) charity for their opening National Football and Hurling league matches. Here we have a club foregoing any jersey sponsorship for an entire season to spread a positive health message to its members and the wider community. It's extremely encouraging to see," he concluded.

The club's decision was also noted and applauded by Uachtaráin Cumann Lúthchleas Gael, Liam Ó Néill, who said: "This decision by the Shane O'Neill's club is not only innovative and constructive in terms of health promotion, but in the current economic climate it is also brave and bold. Younger members of our communities look to their senior team players for leadership and inspiration and they couldn't get a better message from their role models in the Shane O'Neill's jersey."

Based in Camloch Co. Armagh, the Shane O'Neill's club caters for adult and juvenile men and ladies football and through their camogie club Meabh O'Neills fields teams at for age groups. The club was founded in 1905, however as a result of economic troubles it was disbanded in the '60s. Having reformed in 1984, it has gone from strength to strength both on and off the field since.

"The club is continuing to attract more underage members and plans are underway for an ambitious development plan to cater for these growing numbers," explains McLoughlin. "Many members feel now is the right time to set a precedent for future generations in this area and to really make a statement that the Shane O'Neill's Club has the health and well-being of the entire community at the heart of its intentions. This jersey launch is just the first step in the club's new strategy to promote the ASAP programme and other health-related initiatives for all our members and beyond."

The Shane O'Neill's club continues to look for a main sponsor and would encourage any businesses interested to contact a committee member to discuss the packages available. Tweet

Most Read Stories