Most businesses get involved with local sponsorship, but not many can claim they do as much as Sheelin Meats, who aim to ensure that all local clubs benefit from their support. The owner of the company based in Carrick, Finea, Gerry Galligan spoke to the Cavan Yearbook about their involvement with GAA sponsorship, while he also gave an insight to the day-to-day running of the business. It is a common fact that sponsorship is needed to run clubs, especially these days when costs have escalated dramatically in recent years. However, it is not only clubs that need financing as county boards are in the same predicament. This is why Sheelin Meats are the current sponsors of the Cavan Ladies' football league and Gerry revealed the reasons for getting involved with this grade. "My wife Patricia, who is also a director of the company, is involved with Cavan ladies football, while my daughter Laura has also represented the county team," said Gerry. "We have always been involved in sponsorship as we feel it is important to give something back to the local community. We have tried to support every team in the area over the years, but it is not easy as we have only a limited budget for sponsorship." Like all Cavan people, the Galligan family are ardent followers of football, both with their local club Ballymachugh and the Cavan seniors. The appointment of Tommy Carr as the new Cavan manager has lifted the profile of the county team and there is a genuine belief in the county that the Breffni men can make a major impact on this year's Ulster championship. "We have been in the wilderness for some years now and it would be great to see them do well. There are plenty of good footballers in the county and Tommy Carr is sure to bring out the best in them. "Ulster is probably the hardest province to win as there are so many teams capable of lifting the title, even though Armagh and Tyrone have dominated it for the past ten years nearly." Gerry was also hopeful that his local club Ballymachugh could make the breakthrough and he feels that situation may not be too long away, given the underage structure in the club. "Ballymachugh are a small club, they have great workers there and they underage structure is very strong. In a few years, I expect them to be competing for honours again. There is a talented bunch of players there already and with a bit of luck, they could well win a championship," added Gerry, whose son Sean is a member of the under-12 squad. The club have produced many county players down through the years including Eugene Kiernan, Matt Reilly, Ciaran Halton, Brendan Sweeney, Gerard Gill, Brian Donohue, and Brian Fitzsimons who have all distinguished themselves at county level. Paddy Gill has served the county in many positions and from 1987 until 1993 Peter Brady was Co. Board Chairman. On the playing field, the club's most recent success was in winning the 1999 Intermediate Football Championship. "Football is a passion for the majority of people in the county and that is the way it has always been in Cavan. This is something I can't see changing anytime soon. That is why I'm confident that Ballymachugh will bounce back sooner rather than later. They have had a few lean years, but there is no reason why they can't compete this year." In 1997, Gerry and Patricia decided to establish their own business and Sheelin Meats was originated. Gerry had worked in the meat industry for the previous 15 years and he used the experience gained to establish the company. Like every business, they started from small means, but over the last 12 years, the company has become a major concern and they now supply cured meats to a huge customer base. Customer satisfaction is the key to their success and on that basis Sheelin Meats provides premium quality beef, lamb, bacon, turkey and chicken products, which are produced to the highest possible standards. The company specialises in processing meats for local hotels, restaurants and shops. Their client list now includes the North Eastern Health board, Nursing Homes, local supermarkets, while they also do contract work for local food factories including The Crumb Factory and Swift Fine Foods. Gerry and Patricia are always looking at ways of improving the business, which has earned them an award or two, including the Local Enterprise Award for local development in 2002. "The business has grown considerably over the years and we now employ a staff of 14, who are highly trained and very efficient in their jobs. We strive to ensure that the customer is happy with our products and so far we have managed to do that. "We also have a shop here at the premises in Finea where we sell our products to the local people. We only started this late last year and it has been going really well. A lot of people now come to buy their weekly meat." Gerry and Patricia's ethos of hard work has certainly paid off and their products are supplied all over the county and further afield. They have shown that they are winners and now the hope is that Ballymachugh and Cavan footballers follow suit. Tweet

Most Read Stories