New sponsor on way as Toyota drive off

THE GAA will announce a new sponsor for the All-Ireland football championship on Monday to replace Toyota Ireland, which has ended its involvement a year early.

The motor distributors have been a football sponsor since 2008, along with Ulster Bank and Vodafone, but they are now withdrawing their sponsorship a year early. The original deal was for three seasons – having informed the GAA late last year that they would be willing to “stand aside” if a suitable replacement could be found.

GAA President Christy Cooney said yesterday: “I would sincerely like to thank Toyota Ireland for their long-term support of the GAA and in particular their support towards the Football Championship.”

David Shannon, Managing Director Toyota Ireland, said: “We agreed with the GAA in the autumn that should a suitable replacement for Toyota be found as a sponsor of the football championships that we would be prepared to stand aside for the 2010 championships. This replacement has now been secured. We enjoyed our long standing with the GAA and look forward to working with them on new projects in the future.”

Toyota are maintaining their sponsorship presence in Irish sport through Munster Rugby, which they have sponsored since 2004. The continued partnership between the Irish province and the motor distributors amounts to a €5 million investment by Toyota between 2007 and this year.