Attention has turned to Cavan GAA and Ballyconnell golfer, Leona Maguire, following the end of Kingspan's sponsorship deal with Shane Lowry. The Offaly golfer issued a statement yesterday saying that he and Kingspan had "mutually agreed to discontinue our sponsorship relationship" which they both agreed is "the best decision for all concerned".
The announcement comes in the wake of a report into the Grenfell Tower fire of 2017 in which 72 people died. The report accused Kingspan of "dishonest strategies" when it supplied insulation products used on the high-rise residential building. Kingspan acknowledged what it calls the "wholly unacceptable failings" of its UK operation. Last week, Northern Sound contacted the Cavan GAA County Board over its sponsorship arrangements with the local firm including the Senior Men's team and the home grounds, Kingspan Breffni Park. A spokesperson for Cavan GAA said the County Board wished to make "no comment" on the issue.
Sports journalist with 42.ie, Declan Bogue, told the Joe Finnegan Show the GAA does not respond well to negative publicity because the national organisation is not used to it. When it comes to crisis management they're [GAA] not used to it, they feel maybe that they're being put on the spot," Mr Bogue said, "There's a defensiveness that may creep in very quickly and they're just not used to it, they don't recognise this is how the real world works. I don't want to be frivolous," the commentator continued, "There are people who have raised families and been lifelong employees of the company but Cavan GAA have to decide: for the money we're getting here is it worthy having this association and can that be sourced in other areas."
