Comfort Keepers Named Official Community Impact Partner of GAA and GPA
Comfort Keepers has been announced as the Official Community Impact Partner of the Gaelic Athletic Association and the Gaelic Players Association as part of a new three-year partnership aimed at strengthening social connection across Ireland.
The agreement brings together three organisations focused on the role of sport, community and care in supporting wellbeing and maintaining strong local networks. As part of the partnership, inter-county players and ambassadors will take part in visits to homes and community settings across the country.
Among those involved will be John McGrath, the PwC GAA/GPA Hurler of the Year, Dublin All Ireland Winner Carla Rowe and former Kerry footballer Pat Spillane, who will engage with Gaelic games supporters of all ages and abilities in their local communities.
The announcement coincided with the release of initial findings from the new Comfort Keepers Connection Index, an annual research project examining social connection and community strength in Ireland. The nationally representative study of 1,000 adults found that the single biggest driver of social connection is the ability to remain living in one’s own home and community.
The research also highlighted the continuing role of the GAA in Irish social life. Two-thirds of adults surveyed said the organisation plays an important role in keeping their community connected. The figure was higher among people aged over 55 and those living in rural areas, where local clubs often act as central community hubs.
More broadly, 68 per cent of adults said the GAA and other community spaces are important to everyday social interaction, providing places where people can gather, maintain relationships and feel a sense of belonging. The study also found that people living in rural Ireland are almost twice as likely to identify the GAA as a key source of social connection compared to those in urban areas.
Family, friends, neighbours and local businesses were identified as the strongest contributors to social connection, followed by sports clubs such as the GAA. The research also indicated that more than half of adults would prefer to receive care at home if their health deteriorated rather than leave their local community.
“For so many of us, home and community are more than just a place. They provide a sense of safety, identity and purpose,” said Collette Gleeson, CEO of Comfort Keepers Homecare Ireland.
“Through our work we see every day the difference that staying connected to community makes to someone’s quality of life.”
“By partnering with the GAA and GPA, we want to align community care with community sport because participation and belonging are fundamental to physical and mental health,” added Tom Parsons, Chief Executive of the Gaelic Players Association. “Sport, care and connection are not separate systems – they are interdependent.”
“The Gaelic Players Association has caring as one of our core values, which is why this partnership is such an authentic fit from a players’ perspective. Inter-county players care deeply about the people and communities they come from.”
“This partnership goes beyond a traditional sponsorship. It recognises that connection, whether through sport, family, local community or the helping hand of a carer, is central to wellbeing.”
Peter McKenna, Commercial Director of the GAA, said the partnership reflects the role Gaelic games play in Irish society.
“Community is the foundation of Gaelic games. Across Ireland our clubs are places of identity, belonging and shared experience that bind generations together,” he said. “We are proud to welcome Comfort Keepers as the Official Community Impact Partner of the GAA/GPA. Their commitment to helping people remain connected to their homes and communities aligns perfectly with the values that underpin our games.”
Comfort Keepers ambassador Pat Spillane said the initiative highlights the social value of sport beyond the playing field.
“The GAA has always been about more than sport – it’s about community, belonging and the people who make our games part of everyday life,” he said. “Strong communities don’t just happen; they’re built by the people in them and the support they give to each other, on and off the field.”
Full findings from the Comfort Keepers Connection Index will be published in the coming weeks.
Image Credit: GAA and Sportsfile
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