O’Neills reports 200% rise in sale of GAA jerseys down under

THE largest manufacturer of sportswear in Ireland yesterday reported a boom in the sale of GAA jerseys — in Australia.

Boosted by the growing numbers of young Irish men emigrating to Australia, O’Neills confirmed yesterday that the sale of their GAA jerseys there is up by 200% in the past two years.

O’Neills director Paul Towell said yesterday, “we’re chasing the emigrant dollar” by aiming to increase revenues in overseas markets.

O’Neills employs 500 people here and Mr Towell said O’Neills is selling direct to GAA clubs in Australia.

“The expansion of the company’s export markets is necessary to maintain jobs at the firm... The 200% increase in sales in Australia in two years is from a small base, but it’s a significant increase,” he said.

Mr Towell said O’Neills is also expanding in the Far East, the US and Britain.

The firm’s export sales account for 15% of overall sales and Mr Towell said the company plans to raise that to 25% in the next year.

As part of the expansion into Britain, O’Neills is the club sponsor of rugby union club side, Harlequins.

O’Neills has manufacturing plants in Dublin and Strabane, Co Tyrone. Mr Towell admitted the domestic market for O’Neills “is quite depressed”.

“People are not spending. The sales of replica tops last year fell by 25%. People haven’t got the money.”

Mr Towell was commenting on results showing that pre-tax profits at its main company, Balbriggan Textiles Ltd last year dropped by 16% to €341,756.

The company’s profits dropped after the firm’s gross profit decreased from €8.8 million to €8.6m. The company had accumulated profits of €13.5m.

The abridged accounts do not provide a turnover figure, but Mr Towell said that overall revenues last year dropped by 10% and this followed a 10% drop recorded in 2009.

Mr Towell said: “The market is back by 20% in two years and it is not getting any better.”

The anticipated uplift from Dublin’s senior footballers’ success did not materialise, he said.