Gallagher Group announced as new sponsors of Leitrim Senior Football team (UPDATED)

Leitrim GAA have announced that the Kent based construction group, the Gallagher Group headed by Aughnasheelin native Pat Gallagher, will be the new sponor of the County Senior Football team for the next three years.

The news was announced at lunchtime today (Friday October 20) with the Gallagher Group succeeding Seamus & Caitriona Clarke of JP Clarke's Bar in Yonkers, New York, the second time that the Leitrim Senior team will be sponsored by a business outside the country.

Pat Gallagher was named as the Leitrim Guardian Person of the Year for 2022 and also received an outstanding contribution to business in Kent award in 2015. He is also known for his sponsorship of events at Ballinamore Golf Club down through the years.

The new sponsorship and the unveiling of the new Leitrim Senior team jersey for 2024 will be officially launched on Friday, October 27, with clubs invited to send representatives to the event which will be held at 7pm in the Lough Rynn Castle Estate & Gardens.

Pat Gallagher announced as Leitrim Guardian Person of the Year for 2022

Responding to the announcement, the Gallagher Group posted the following: "The Gallagher Group based in Kent England are delighted to partner with the Leitrim GAA Senior football team as the main sponsors from October 2023. The sponsorship is for the next three years. We wish Andy, the players and the whole backroom staff our very best wishes for the season ahead, and are sure they will build on their progress over the last few years.

"As a proud Leitrim native Pat Gallagher is excited for the future getting behind the team. The Gallagher Group is celebrating 50 years in business during 2023, a leading groundworks, civil engineering and aggregates business based in Kent England with family and community always at the heart of our business. The GAA has a unique way of bringing their communities together in rural Ireland and that is why we are so enthusiastic to get on board and help to drive the Leitrim team forward."

Leitrim GAA issued a statement announcing the news: "Leitrim GAA is delighted to announce its new Senior Football Team Main Sponsor for 2024 with the news that Aughnasheelin native Pat Gallagher of the Gallagher Group, a construction company based in Kent, England, has agreed to come on board as the main team sponsor for the next three years. 

"Pat Gallagher was born and raised in Aughnacullion, Aughnasheelin, Country Leitrim where his family had earned their living by running a country shop and small family farm. In 1966 the family made the huge decision to emigrate to England. At that stage, Pat had completed his secondary education. From his father and grandfather, he would have gained valuable experience, especially with construction and machinery, and also a great work ethic, which would stand him well in later years. Pat was ambitious and it was his singular ambition to eventually own his own business.

"Through hard work and an enterprising nature commencing with the purchase of a second-hand digger in 1973, he eventually got small contracts in construction, and from this humble beginning a business was born.  The enterprise has gone from strength to strength over the decades and Pat is currently Chairman of the Gallagher Group which is one of the largest and most recognisable family-run businesses in Kent, employing over 500 local people. Starting out, Pat’s ambition was to offer an unrivalled service to his clients, which still holds true to this day, but it wouldn’t be possible without the incredible people that make the group what it is.

Aughnasheelin native Pat Gallagher celebrates 70th birthday

"Leitrim GAA is most fortunate to have the backing of Pat Gallagher and the Gallagher Group, and looks forward to a successful partnership over the next three years. In conclusion, we wish to also thank our outgoing main senior football team sponsors Seamus and Caitríona Clarke of JP Clarke, New York, for their generosity and loyalty to Leitrim GAA over the past five years.

"The official launch of the Gallagher Group sponsorship will take place on Friday evening, October 27th in Lough Rynn Castle at 7pm and all clubs are invited to send representatives."