Ireland West Airport are delighted to announce the launch of a major new initiative titled ‘Kits4Kids’ which will see the airport sponsor local kids clubs teams from across our region with new sports kit and equipment.
The initiative was launched at the airport by local kids and local sports stars and campaign ambassadors, Roscommon’s Jack Carty, Connacht Rugby and Ireland player and 2016 Marathon Olympian, Leitrim local, Breege Connolly. This new initiative will see the airport sponsor a full set of sports kit for underage club teams from all types of sports in counties throughout the airports catchment region.
Clubs who want to get involved will be asked to upload a short video showing why their kids club team deserves to win a set of new sports kit and/or training equipment. For details on how your kids club team can get involved with a chance to win visit www.irelandwestairport.com/community
This campaign is part of a new strategic initiative by the airport aimed at further strengthening the airport’s links with the community. As the West and North West of Irelands main international airport the support from across the region for the airport has been fantastic over the past number of years, helping it to grow to an expected record high of 800,000 passengers in 2019. This campaign is the latest community based initiative to be rolled out to thank the region for their continued support.
Commenting on the launch, Donal Healy, Head of Marketing, Ireland West Airport said ‘The airport recognise the important role sport plays in the development of young kids and also the significant costs involved in providing sports kit and equipment for kids teams, particularly in rural Ireland. As an airport for the region, it’s one of our core values to ‘support local communities’ and in the coming months we are looking forward to seeing kids from clubs across the region enjoying their sports in new kit sponsored by the airport. Furthermore we are really pleased to launch this initiative with two local sports stars from our own region who have demonstrated all the core values and determination you need to succeed at the highest level in their chosen sports. We hope in the coming years to build on this campaign further and extend it to local schools and other worthwhile local recipients also.’
Commenting on the new initiative, campaign ambassador, Jack Carty, Connacht and Ireland Rugby star said "Commenting on the new initiative, campaign ambassador, Jack Carty, said "It’s an honour for me to be involved with this campaign. It’s really great to see a campaign supporting sport in clubs at youth level. All types of sports play a massive role in young kids lives, keeping them fit and healthy and creating values that will benefit them throughout their careers. I know first-hand the impact campaigns like this can have for kids playing sport and I’m delighted to be working on this campaign with the airport, rewarding local clubs and local communities across the West, North West and Midlands regions’.
Speaking at the launch of the new initiative, campaign ambassador and Irish Olympian, Breege Connolly said ‘I’m proud to be an ambassador for this fantastic community based campaign with Ireland West Airport. As someone who has been so heavily supported by my own community I know how important support like this can be. Getting kids involved in sport of any kind is great for creating healthy habits and most importantly lifelong friendships and initiatives such as this are a great way to encourage kids to participate, particularly in local clubs in rural Ireland. It’s a pleasure to be involved with this campaign and I encourage clubs across the region to get involved and have great fun along the way’.
ABOUT IRELAND WEST AIRPORT
Ireland West Airport is the fourth largest airport in the country and serves 24 international destinations across the UK and Europe. The airport is served by major European airlines, Aer Lingus, Flybe and Ryanair.
2018 has proven to be the busiest year on record with passenger numbers climbing to over 770,000 for the first time in the airport’s history, surpassing the previous record of 750,000 passengers achieved in 2017. The passenger figures represent the third consecutive year of record passenger growth at the airport. 2019 is forecasted to exceed the 2018 performance with passenger numbers set to reach a new milestone of 800,000 for the year.
2019 will sees the start of a new twice-weekly service to Cologne with Ryanair. This new service is a major boost for tourism in the West and North West regions of Ireland as it provides the only direct access to the West Coast from the North Rhine-Westphalia region.
In addition Ryanair will increase capacity by 33% on its twice weekly service to Barcelona which starts in April. Further good news is the extension of their Bristol and Tenerife services to now operate twice-weekly all year round.