Athy GAA's club ground officially renamed as Etex Geraldine Park
Anthony bracken, Paddy Kelly, Pat Kinahan, John Bradley, Brian Dooley, Sean Ronan and Ted Wynne at the announce that Athy GAA's will be known as Etex Geraldine Park Photo: James Lawlor
The long standing relationship between Etex Ireland and GAA in Kildare, and in particular with the Athy GAA club, were further strengthened with the announcement the club’s home ground, Geraldine Park, will now officially be known as Etex Geraldine Park.
This marks a significant milestone as Etex Ireland becomes the ground’s first ever naming sponsor, underscoring a longstanding partnership and shared dedication to the town and the Athy GAA club.
Etex Ireland, formerly known as Tegral Building Products, has been a vital part of Athy since 1936, supplying lightweight building materials nationwide. Known for its roof slates, corrugated sheeting, and metal products, they became part of the global Etex Group in 1988. In 2020 the company rebranded to Etex Ireland and introduced four major commercial brands; Cedral by Etex, Euronit by Etex, Equitone by Etex, and Viriform by Etex, each supporting key industry sectors and a sustainable future. In 2023, Cedral by Etex signed a naming rights sponsorship agreement with Kildare GAA for Cedral St. Conleth’s Park in Newbridge.
Community and place have always been at the heart of Etex Ireland. As a longstanding supporter of Athy GAA, Etex Ireland demonstrated its commitment last year by donating Euronit by Etex corrugated sheeting for the stand. This ongoing partnership underscores their unwavering dedication to local sports and the wider community. As a major employer in Athy, this collaboration also coincides with Etex Ireland’s 90th anniversary, celebrating its valued relationship with Athy GAA and reaffirming its long-established presence in the region.
The occasion was marked with a ceremony ahead of last Thursday evening’s Senior Football League Division 1 clash with Milltown. It turned out to be a memorable evening indeed for the club as they secured the result they needed to avoid relegation from the top flight and with their numerous county players back in the fold they can concentrate on preparing to defend the county title they won last year.
John Bradley (Country Manager, Etex Ireland) said:
"Athy GAA and Etex Ireland have a shared commitment to the community, to tradition, and to the future of Athy GAA. Many of our employees, both past and present, have been and still are members of Athy GAA. The renaming of the grounds to Etex Geraldine Park reflects the strength of our longstanding relationship and is an exciting development for both Athy GAA and Etex Ireland.
Brian Dooley, chairman of Athy, was also delighted with the link-up:
"Athy GFC welcomes the continued partnership with Etex Ireland, with both organisations firmly rooted in our communities providing sport, social development, and employment for our members. We look forward to building our future together with this first step Etex Geraldine Park.”
