Dublin Airport unveils signed Jersey collection
March 20, 2015
Dublin's Paul Flynn and Tipperary's Pádraic Maher at Dublin Airport Terminal 2 ©Sportsfile
Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) last week unveiled a unique exhibition of 34 signed inter-county GAA jerseys in Terminal 2 of Dublin Airport in order to increase peoples' awareness of suicide prevention and raise funds for the charity Pieta House.
The collection features the signatures of players from all of the 34 counties that compete in the annual GAA All-Ireland Senior Football and Hurling Championships.
The initiative came about following the work of Ian and Gary Kinsella from Coolock in Dublin who lost their brother Jonathan to suicide in 2011. In an attempt to raise money and awareness for Pieta House, the brothers arranged for each GAA jersey to be signed by the counties footballers or hurlers. The jersey collection was purchased by Dublin Airport at a fundraising event, and now features across Dublin Airport's Terminal 2.
Two previous All-Ireland winners in Dublin's four time GAA/GPA All Star footballer Paul Flynn and Tipperary's three time GAA/GPA All Star hurler Pádraic Maher were in attendance to help launch the initiative.
Speaking about the involvement of the GAA with DAA to promote the work of Pieta House, GAA President Aogán Ó Fearghail commented: "I had the good fortune to arrive back in Dublin Airport last week and was thrilled to view the jerseys for myself. Lots of people were having their photo taken beside their county colours. It gives real meaning to visitors arriving and receiving a Céad Míle Fáilte."
Pieta House originally opened as a centre for the prevention of self-harm or suicide opened in Lucan, Dublin over nine years ago. However since then, the organisation has helped 17,000 people and opened seven subsequent centres, three in the greater Dublin area and four further centres to cater for the rest of the country.
The GAA along with DAA is encouraging all passengers travelling through Dublin Airport to have their photo taken beside their county jersey on display in Terminal 2 and tweet their pictures to @officialgaa and @DublinAirport using the hashtag #DUB32.
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