Connacht GAA teams up with Oxfam Ireland
L-R: Kurt Reinhardt, Facilities Manager at Connacht GAA, Trevor Anderson, Trading Director at Oxfam Ireland; Mark Sweeney, Donated Goods Strategy Manager at Oxfam Ireland and John Prenty, CEO of Connacht GAA launch the partnership at the Connacht GAA Air Dome.
Oxfam Ireland is thrilled to announce a new initiative in partnership with Connacht GAA, aimed at making sure uncollected lost and found property finds a new home in the local community.
As a first step in the partnership, the University of Galway GAA Air Dome will harness the power of the sport’s local communities in a bid to reduce landfill by donating lost property items. Oxfam donation boxes will hopefully be present in future. The initiative comes as part of Oxfam’s fifth Second Hand September campaign this year. This aims to promote sustainable fashion by encouraging people to shop second hand and donate their pre-loved items.
Lost property often contains a treasure trove of high-quality items, rarely worn gems and pre-loved vintage jerseys that come back into fashion. Rather than ending their life cycle in a lost and found locker, Oxfam Ireland and Connacht GAA will revive what has been left behind. Pushing the circular fashion model will continue the journey of these belongings. With a story behind every piece donated, a GAA star’s first jersey could find its way into your wardrobe!
Oxfam Ireland aims to grow the partnership throughout the wider GAA as part of a national pilot scheme, following the adrenaline-fuelled All Ireland Finals. No matter if it’s at club or country level, Oxfam Ireland and Connacht GAA are a winning formula.
Fighting poverty and climate goes hand in hand, and can be as easy as giving a forgotten pair of boots an entirely new lease of life. Charity stores play an important role in tackling the climate impacts of the fashion industry. With 103,150 tonnes of carbon equivalent emissions avoided through items donated and sold through charity retailers in Ireland last year. This is the equivalent of 3.8 billion trees absorbing carbon in one day. Oxfam Ireland are thrilled that the GAA is showing its support for a circular economy through The Dome’s donation drive.
Trevor Anderson, Trading Director at Oxfam Ireland, welcomed the new partnership:
“Oxfam Ireland is proud and excited to be working with Connacht GAA, providing a sustainable solution for their ‘uncollected lost & found’ campaign. We’re looking forward to developing a long-term partnership that will promote and highlight the benefits of ‘reuse’ delivering real impact for the communities where Oxfam and the GAA operate.” John Prenty, CEO of Connacht GAA, added:
"We are delighted to collaborate with Oxfam Ireland and look forward to having their Donation Stations on site here at the University of Galway GAA Air Dome. The GAA is a place where we all belong. This aligns perfectly with Oxfam’s values of fighting poverty, inequality and injustice. Hopefully through the partnership we can help raise awareness of the great work being done by Oxfam Ireland and raise some funds for those most in need."
