Speech by the Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern, T.D., at the Launch of the Allianz League for Football 2007 in Burlington House, Burlington Road, on Monday, 29 January 2007 at 2.00pm
A dhaoine uaisle.
Tá an-áthas orm a bheith in bhur measc ar ócáid thosaigh Seach Chomórtas Allianz dhá mhíle is a seacht.
I am delighted to be with you today at the launch of the Allianz Football League for 2007.
This is a wonderful occasion in the GAA Calendar. Players all over the country are getting in top gear for what promises to be another exciting football season. It is always hard to motivate oneself after the winter but when it comes down to it, motivation and commitment are the cornerstone on which our vibrant Gaelic games tradition is built. Add to that the changeover to commencing leagues in the calendar year and you have the perfect recipe for a wonderful season of skill and excitement for players and audience alike.
The Allianz Leagues have been immensely influential in promoting an ever increasing love of Gaelic games as well as the rise in interest and media coverage we have seen in recent years. That skill and excitement is of course down to the many players, coaches and managers who train hard and put their all into the Leagues year after year. They are our heroes without whom the Leagues themselves and the entire GAA season would diminish greatly in status. The significance becomes more apparent when you consider that All Ireland victories have followed in quick succession for the last six League winners. Think only of Kerry in Football and Kilkenny in hurling and how they fared in the league and their subsequent performance in the Final. That makes some statement and one that does not need elaboration. And with all that in mind, we set our sights on 2007 and with justified optimism. The opening weekend of the football in particular will no doubt leave GAA fans salivating.
In Division 1, Cork and Donegal will meet under lights in Cork. Elsewhere, there will be a big local rivalry in Division 2 where Meath play Cavan in Navan in that venue’s first major game under the lights. The place of the leagues in GAA has been greatly enhanced by the introduction of floodlit games, which give far greater flexibility for the teams, for live transmission and for family life too. Needless to say, my interest will be focussed on Croke Park next Saturday when Dublin entertain Tyrone. I am really looking forward to this match. For one, it will be an historic occasion as the stadium hosts its first night time game.
And to mark the occasion, the ever popular Galway band, the Saw Doctors and the Dublin Gospel Choir will be on site to get the celebration off to a fine start and get people in form for what we hope will be a great Dublin versus Tyrone match. It is an important development in the history of the GAA and it augurs well for the future of our games.
On the following day, defending football league champions Kerry travel to Mayo in a repeat of last year’s All Ireland final where the Westerners will be hoping to set the record straight under their new Manager John O ’Mahony. And this is where the advent of floodlights will be seen to have come into its own and where it will really add a new dimension to the football league. With Dublin, Kerry, Cork, Meath, Laois, Armagh, Cavan, Antrim and Tyrone all in a position to host games under lights, it also provides a great option for the GAA itself in terms of dealing with the problem of fixture congestion.
While the launch of the hurling league is still a little way off, I am sure when it begins on February 18th, it will prove equally intriguing. It is fitting that Brian Cody will launch it given that Kilkenny are reigning champions once again. And yes, they will be the team to beat given their enviable record. No doubt, the Rebels will have something to say on that score. But one way or another, there is nothing better to get the adrenalin pumping than a good bout of friendly rivalry!
In the early months of the hurling competition, I have no doubt that much focus will be on Ger Loughnane’s Galway and with teams like Offaly, Clare, Tipperary and Waterford all enjoying encouraging seasons last year, I anticipate a keenly contested race for this year’s hurling league title too.
Of course, none of it would come about if it were not for Allianz itself. Allianz has been supporting the Leagues for 15 years - one of the longest sports sponsorships in this country. They have built up a unique partnership with the GAA. I pay tribute to Brendan Murphy and Donal Bollard and his staff for such unwavering support. This is only one strand of their work for the community. The very successful and popular Cumann na mBunscoil has also come a long way thanks to their commitment. Such support testifies to Allianz’s overall commitment to community life.
Their record in that regard is very impressive reaching far beyond the playing fields into areas such as golf, sailing and the arts. Allianz can also pride itself in lending support to the staging of the Ryder Cup, the Irish Optimist National Team Sailing Championships, and to the arts through their Business2Arts Awards. I am also pleased to hear that they are continuing to support Irish Ballerina, Monica Loughman and as a result she has fulfilled her dream of joining the Tchaikovsky Perm State Ballet and now takes leading roles in many Russian Ballets. In sport, Paul McGinley is also a benefactor. His success as part of Team Europe was a source of great pride to Ireland when they won the Ryder Cup by a remarkable score of 18½ to 9½.
Indeed, Allianz's commitment points to many positive ways in which we can enrich Irish life and improve morale through participation in a range of diverse activities. It is encouraging to see it continue.
Back to the Leagues themselves however, and as I look ahead, I am hoping that this year will bring the best hurling and football leagues ever.
I wish everyone involved the very best of luck for 2007.
Go raibh maith agaibh go léir.
ENDS.