Gala Retail Celebrates Team Ireland’s Take off to the Winter Games

This March, Team Ireland will compete on the world stage at the Special Olympics World Winter Games 2025, proudly supported by Gala Retail.

From 8^th – 15^th March, Turin, Italy, will host over 1,500 athletes from 103 countries, competing in eight winter sports. Among them are the incredible athletes of Team Ireland, ready to represent their country in Skiing and Floorball. With months of training and preparation behind them, they are set to showcase their skill and sportsmanship on the world stage.

For over a decade, Gala Retail has been a platinum sponsor of Special Olympics Ireland, championing athletes and their families across Ireland. The long-standing partnership is built on shared values, and over the years, Gala has played an integral role in ensuring athletes have the resources, encouragement, and support they need to reach their full potential, both on and off the field.

Speaking ahead of the team’s departure, Tony Cluskey said:
“At Gala Retail, we are incredibly proud to support Team Ireland as they set off to compete at the World Winter Games. Just like Special Olympics, Gala is at the heart of communities across Ireland, and we’ve seen firsthand the positive impact this organisation has on athletes, their families, and supporters nationwide. We are thrilled to be part of their journey and wish them the very best of luck in Turin – we know they will do Ireland proud.”

Pictured at Dublin Airport, Tony Cluskey, Marketing & Ambient Trading Manager at Gala Retail, joins Team Ireland athletes along with Matt English, CEO of Special Olympics Ireland and staff from Aer Lingus as they prepare to depart for Turin, Italy to compete in the Special Olympics World Winter Games 2025.

Pulling Together For A Great Cause

As proud supporters of Special Olympics Ireland, we were thrilled to be involved in their inaugural Plane Pull fundraiser in Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel.

Members of the Gala team took on the ultimate test of strength and team work successfully pulling a 10,450lb plane!

All funds raised from the Plane Pull Challenge will go directly to Special Olympics Ireland, aiding in the provision of essential resources for athletes across Ireland.

14 June 2024; Team Gala during the Special Olympics Ireland Plane Pull at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnell, Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Gala Retail Marks 10-Year Milestone with Special Olympics Ireland

Leading Irish convenience retailer, Gala Retail, is celebrating a decade of partnership with Special Olympics Ireland. As a platinum sponsor, over the past ten years, Gala Retail has supported thousands of Special Olympics athletes, providing resources and helping to foster inclusion and celebration within its stores, local sports clubs and communities.

This milestone celebration comes ahead of Special Olympics Ireland’s annual Bucket Collection, taking place nationwide on Friday, April 19th. Volunteers will be stationed at participating Gala stores across the country, rallying support and raising funds for Special Olympics Ireland to help them reach more people with an intellectual disability and offer them life changing opportunities through the power of sport.

Reflecting on a decade of partnership, Chief Executive of Gala Retail, Gary Desmond, comments: “Special Olympics Ireland is a truly special organisation that does incredible work on behalf of its athletes. With clubs in locations all across Ireland, Special Olympics has a place in the heart of many communities and with almost 230 group stores in towns and villages throughout Ireland, there’s a real synergy with this partnership.

“As we celebrate our 10-year milestone, we are immensely proud of the impact we have made together in supporting athletes and their families across the country. From Ireland Games to three World Games, Polar Plunge and our Gala Gifts For Clubs Initiative, it has been great to look back on the remarkable achievements across the years, and we look forward to creating even more meaningful impact in the years ahead.”

CEO of Special Olympics Ireland, Matt English, adds: “For 10 years now, Gala Retail has remained a steadfast and superb partner to Special Olympics. Their community values go hand in hand with the grassroots nature of Special Olympics. Both organisations play a huge part in communities across the country. This partnership especially comes to life during the World Games, seeing thousands of family members decked out in the Team Ireland green thanks to Gala Retail as they cheer on their loved ones is an incredible spectacle.  

“But it’s not just about the big events, Gala’s Gifts for Clubs gives regular cash prizes to clubs so they can invest in their members and make plans to grow the club in their local areas. We look forward to building on this partnership and bringing more value to our special athletes and their clubs across the country.”

 Since the partnership began, Gala Retail has helped transform athletes lives through sport in countless ways. Among the highlights of the partnership include Gala’s provision of essential support to families traveling with Team Ireland athletes to three World Games – over 900 family members have attended World Games in this time to support Team Ireland. The launch of the ‘Gala Gifts For Clubs Initiative’ has seen clubs across Ireland receive funding, enabling them to thrive both on and off the field, and in 2021, Gala became the main sponsor of Special Olympics Polar Plunge, which calls on supporters to ‘Get Freezin for a Reason’ and has raised over €65,000 since Gala Retail became the title sponsor.

Supporting almost 8,000 athletes across Ireland, Special Olympics Ireland Bucket Collection will take place Nationwide on Friday 19^th April, with collections in Dublin City Centre and Belfast City Centre on Thursday 18^th April.  Supporters can donate online at www.specialolympics.ie/ or on revolut.

Gala Retail Skis Off In Support Of Special Olympics Ireland