Gaelic Gear, the Belfast based supplier of playing gear and equipment has concluded a deal to supply official playing gear and equipment to the GAA in Australia and New Zealand. The Board of the Australasia GAA agreed the deal at their meeting in Sydney this week. Gaelic Gear will now manufacture and supply the Australasia state teams and the gear will be available to individual clubs throughout Australia and New Zealand. Under the Gaelic Gear unique 'shared business partnership' model a fixed percentage of all kit sold in Australasia will go directly to the Association thereby contributing to the long term viability of the GAA in the region. Paul Campbell said the deal represented the internationalisation of Gaelic Gear's efforts to open up the GAA supply market. "In recent years the popularity of the GAA at home and abroad has exploded. There are huge numbers of ex pats and even more significantly first generation Australasians who are taking to the GAA playing field throughout Australia and New Zealand. We are proud that those players will now be wearing Gaelic Gear products. Along with our successful venture with the European Board we are internationalising the Gaelic Gear package. I am very pleased and I would like to pay tribute to the Australasian Board and Secretary Gerard Roe in particular for the professional way they have approached this deal. "Gaelic Gear is changing the way business is carried out in the GAA and we are pleased that our innovative approach is being well received in Ireland, Great Britain and across the globe. These are exciting times ahead for Gaelic Gear and we're looking forward to working alongside our Australasian Gaels and strengthening our position internationally. "I would also like to congratulate the Australasian Ladies GAA team for winning the recent World Cup Championships held in Dublin - we're delighting to be supporting Champion teams!" Gerard Roe, full time Secretary of the Australasia Board of the GAA welcomed the deal. "We are delighted to announce this deal. We have been involved in detailed discussions with Gaelic Gear for some time and have been impressed by the quality of their materials and their very real commitment to partnership with the Association here in Australasia. "This deal ensures that our representative players will be wearing and using the most modern and best quality equipment available to the GAA. The 'shared business proposal' also helps us ensure the long term financial viability of our Association and our games." Notes The earliest record of gaelic football being played in Australia was in the 1840's. In the 1960's official state associations were formed and in 1971 the GAA of Australia was formed and subsequently changed its name to the Australasian Association of the GAA. The Australasian women's football team were recently in Dublin defending their world title which they won in 2000 and 2002. Tweet

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