GAA names first official charity

THE GAA's link with Irish-based charity Self Help Development International could help up to a million people in Africa gain self-sufficiency in food production, it was pointed out at a press briefing in Croke Park yesterday.

The charity is the first to be designated by the

Association as their "official" charity and Mr Kelly pointed out that they had set a target of €100,000 to be raised by their clubs.

Explaining that while Self Help would be the designated charity for this year, Mr Kelly said he expected the link to be maintained for a longer period because of the nature of their work in Africa. What appealed to them was that they put projects in place to help people help themselves.

"When we met them, we felt it would be a good group to be involved with,'' he said.

Self Help supporters at local level are drawn from among the GAA community, and these links were extended recently with the visit to Malawi last autumn of well-known players like Eoin Liston, Jack O'Shea, Barney Rock, Robbie O'Malley, Henry Shefflin, Joe Cooney and Brian Whelahan. That visit was made in conjunction with broadcaster Tracy Piggott's 'Playing for Life' fund-raising initiative.