Wicklow GAA nets new sponsors

With Mick O'Dwyer staying on as manager, there was further good news for the Wicklow footballers with the confirmation that Brennan Hotels will sponsor Wicklow GAA for the new season.

Hotelier Barry Brennan has secured a three-year deal with the Wicklow County Board, after Ballymore Properties ended ther sponsorship involvement with the Garden County sides.

Brennan, who owns a number of hotels including the Arklow Bay Hotel, hails from Wexford but has sponsored the Wicklow minors and Under-21s in the past and he even operated as the minors' water carrier last season.

Brennan's sponsorship will span Wicklow's senior, junior, Under-21 and minor panels, with some additional packages that will assist in developing football throughout the county.

A new jersey is expected to be launched next month, ahead of the first match of the 2010 campaign for O'Dwyer's charges - an O'Byrne Cup clash with Louth on January 10.

Confirming the new deal, Wicklow County Secretary Michael Murphy told the Irish Examiner: "Barry is well into the GAA and has been sponsoring teams at county level for almost 10 years. We're very pleased to get him on board for three years, especially in these harsh economic times. We're very grateful.

"We got a great run in the Championship this year but there's another effect on that as costs increase. We were delighted with that run of course and are hoping it will continue.

"It certainly did help us to sell our sponsorship. Also the fact that Mick (O'Dwyer) is staying on helped too. Now we have a strong package that can hopefully help Wicklow to go even further next year."