Irish Life has agreed to invest €1million in the GAA's Healthy Club Project.

The commitment will greatly enhance the project's positive influence on the health and wellbeing of GAA clubs, their members, and the communities they serve.

The investment has been made as part of Irish Life's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme to celebrate the company's 75th anniversary of business in Ireland.

The Healthy Club Project is one of the GAA's flagship community initiatives and is being rolled out in partnership with the Irish health sector, including Healthy Ireland, the HSE, and the National Office for Suicide Prevention.

The initial commitment by Irish Life is for a three year period which will see the scheme move from its current pilot stage to a phased national roll-out making it available to clubs across the 32 counties.

Details of the Irish Life investment were announced at a briefing held in Croke Park earlier today.

The Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar, TD, was guest of honour at the announcement along with GAA President, Liam O'Neill, and Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer at the Department of Health.

"The GAA is a phenomenal organisation present in every parish in Ireland with a reach into all sectors of society," Minister Varadkar said.

"It already makes an enormous contribution to the nation's health and wellbeing. I am delighted that they are willing now to do even more. These days we all know how important it is to look after our and mental and physical fitness, so it's great to see the Healthy Clubs project going nationwide.

"The pilot stage involving 18 clubs has already been a big success. It's encouraging to see the GAA, with its long tradition of games and exercise, acknowledging the need to look after the mind as well as the body. I would urge communities across Ireland to get involved and see how they can benefit.

"It also fits in really well with the Government's own Healthy Ireland initiative, which wants people to stay well and to feel well. I particularly want to pay tribute to the volunteers who are making this project work."

GAA President Liam O'Neill said: "The health and wellbeing of our members is core GAA business.

"Irish Life's commitment to the Healthy Club project will help us grow that work at a much greater pace and scope than would otherwise have been possible while our on-going partnership with the HSE and the National Office for Suicide Prevention allows us access to resources, knowledge and expertise, with both supplying professionals, who are also GAA members, to our new National health & Wellbeing Committee.

"I couldn't be more enthused by today's announcement and we look forward to developing a long and lasting partnership with Irish Life that will greatly benefit GAA members and Irish communities everywhere.

"Finally I would like to commend the clubs that were involved in Phase 1 for the incredible work they have put into this project to date."

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