St Colmcille’s GAA club in Swords teamed up with Fórsa trade union to celebrate Trade Union Week (28th April-2nd May) with new jerseys sponsored by the union. 

Chris Crowley, a Fórsa member and union rep in Fórsa’s Dublin Garda Civilian branch, came up with the idea: “As Trade Union Week approached our branch decided to sponsor jerseys for the kids and ‘Mothers and Others’ groups at St Colmcille’s. 

“I was active last year in the Better in a Trade Union campaign and I was inspired by the success of the special jersey produced for Bohemians FC. We felt this was a lovely way to bring it into the community and to younger people,” he said. 

Fórsa deputy general secretary Éamonn Donnelly, who has played himself with some of St Colmcille’s north Dublin rivals, said trade unions and GAA clubs have a lot in common: “There’s a community bond to begin with. Both the GAA and trade unions rely on an army of volunteers who are trying to create a better society, and better outcomes, for people in their communities. Working together, even on a small scale like this with St Colmcille’s, makes a lot of sense to us. 

“Unions work to secure conditions for workers, while at the same time trying to advocate for fair and better outcomes for everyone, that's what we're about. Collaborating with a club like Colmcille’s is wonderful, and dear to my heart. It’s great to see that synergy between ourselves and a voluntary organisation like the GAA,” he said. 

The new jerseys were presented to the club on Saturday 26th April as the kids wrapped up their Saturday training at the club.  

St Colmcille’s club secretary Marion O’Neill is an SNA and also a member of Fórsa. She has a long family association with the club: “A fresh set of jerseys is huge. It’s a significant amount of money to fork out every year, they’ll get plenty of wear and tear, so there’s a financial benefit, but also the recognition is brilliant as well,” she said. 

Marion is involved in the club’s 'Mothers and Others' team, established as a fundraiser in 2016, which has since gone from strength to strength, hosting a blitz event every year and welcoming women of all ages to train on Monday nights at 7.30pm.  

Join a union that wins. Join Fórsa.