Bank of Ireland announces ‘Sponsor for a Day’ competition winners

Bank of Ireland announces ‘Sponsor for a Day’ competition winners Gahan Meats to sponsor Leinster rugby team and Ryan Stoves to sponsor Munster rugby team at Heineken Cup Games on the weekend of 17th January 2014

Bank of Ireland today (Wednesday, 18th December, 2013) announced that Finglas based Gahan Meats and Tipperary based Ryan Stoves are the winners of its ‘Sponsor for a Day’ competition in association with its media partner, Independent News and Media. The competition was open to businesses across Ireland and the prize includes a sponsorship package, to include logos displayed on players’ jerseys at Leinster and Munster Heineken Cup games. Gahan Meats won a sponsorship package for the Leinster v Ospreys game at the RDS on Friday, 17th January and Ryan Stoves prize is for the Munster v Edinburgh game at Thomond Park on Sunday, 19th January.

Both winners will receive a prize valued at a minimum of €50,000 which includes their company logo on the Leinster and Munster players’ jerseys; pitch signage; corporate hospitality for ten guests; a match programme advert; photographs with the team; profiling support from Bank of Ireland, Munster/Leinster Rugby and Independent News and Media through press and media. Leinster winners Gahan Meats have been in existence for over 60 years and are a third generation family business run by Declan, Veronica, Nigel and James Gahan. The business supplies quality meats to a large number of the top hotels and caterers in Leinster and won the ‘Best Supplier’ award at the National Procurement Awards 2011 in conjunction with TIFCO Hotel Group. They also own two retail outlets, a factory shop off the North Road in Finglas and a traditional butcher shop on Collins Avenue Killester.

Commenting on the win Nigel said “We are thrilled to have won this fantastic prize. It is a true honour to have our family business associated with such a successful team like Leinster rugby and we thank Bank of Ireland for giving us this opportunity. The prize is the ideal way to build awareness for our company and we look forward to the positive exposure this whole experience will bring”. Munster winners Ryan Stoves are based in Co. Tipperary and Parkway Shopping Centre in Limerick are also a family run business supplying quality stoves at affordable prices. From a modest beginning over 20 years ago they are now one of the largest suppliers of stoves in Ireland, offering expert installation, they pride themselves on their after sales service and provide free delivery nationwide. They were awarded the Dealer of the Year Award from Charnwood Stoves for the last ten years.

Managing Director Larry Ryan said “Winning Bank of Ireland’s ‘Sponsor for a Day’ competition in Munster is a fantastic opportunity for us. As a proud Munster supporter and an ex rugby player I often dreamed of playing in a Munster jersey and the opportunity to see our company name on the team jersey is very exciting. It is a prefect outlet to help us build awareness for our company. We are really looking forward to attending the match”. Commenting on the competition, Gerry Prizeman, Head of Small Business and Agri, Bank of Ireland Business Banking said: “Congratulations to Gahan Meats and Ryan Stoves on winning our ‘Sponsor for a Day’ competition. We received very high entry levels from businesses across the country which highlights the level of entrepreneurship across the SME market and the support for both the Leinster and Munster rugby teams. The prize is a fantastic opportunity for both winners to showcase their brand on an international stage.

“We are delighted to support our business customers through initiatives such as our ‘Sponsor for a Day’ competition. Supporting the SME market is a key objective for us; our aim is to help SMEs reach their full business potential which in turn supports the continued recovery of the economy. I encourage both customers of the Bank and non- customers to visit us at www.Bankofireland.com/enterprise to see how we can help their business grow and develop” concluded Gerry Prizeman.