Lidl Ireland has announced the 26 schools, one from every county in the Republic of Ireland, selected to participate in its #SeriousSupport Schools Programme for the 2024-2025 school year. Now in its seventh year, this programme continues to make a significant impact, with this year’s programme representing an investment of €120,000 in local schools across the country. In Meath, Dunshaughlin Community College will participate in the Lidl #SeriousSupport programme this year.
Supported by the Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA) and delivered by Youth Sport Trust and their specially trained athlete mentors, all of whom are current or former inter county ladies Gaelic football players, the programme is designed to educate teenage girls about the positive mental and physical health benefits of playing sport.
The programme, which is delivered through workshops and team-building sessions, aims to increase participation and reduce drop-out rates for teenagers in the sport. Twenty-six schools across Ireland will have the opportunity to benefit from the programme along with receiving a brand-new set of jerseys for their school team.
This year’s programme is delivered by a stellar lineup of LGFA intercounty players: Anne Marie Donan (Kildare), Deirdre O’Reilly (Cork), Eilish Ward (Donegal), Laurie Ryan (Clare), Leah Caffrey (Dublin), Lucy Hannon (Galway), Méabh De Búrca (Galway), Niamh McEvoy (Dublin), Samantha Lambert (Tipperary) and Therese McNally (Monaghan).
President of the LGFA, Mícheál Naughton, commented:
“We are once again honoured to announce the schools participating in Lidl’s #SeriousSupport Schools Programme for 2025, along with the list of athlete mentors who offer invaluable support and expertise year on year. These athlete mentors are inter-county stars, serving as role models within their communities and counties, and they will share their invaluable insights with the students involved in the programme.”
Youth Sport Trust Chief Executive Ali Oliver MBE said:
“The Youth Sport Trust is proud to be working with Lidl Ireland and the Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LFGA) to deliver the #SeriousSupport Schools Programme. Far too many children in the Republic of Ireland are not achieving the recommended levels of physical activity, and we know from our research teenage girls in particular face a number of barriers which can affect their participation.”
Eimear O’Sullivan, Corporate Affairs Director for Lidl Ireland and Northern Ireland said;
“The driving force behind our longstanding sponsorship of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association has always been the impact we can make at the grassroots level in communities across the country. We are thrilled to launch our #SeriousSupport Schools Programme for the seventh year, representing an investment of €120,000 in local schools across the country.”
”I would like to congratulate the 26 schools selected to take part in this year’s programme and extend my gratitude to all our loyal shoppers who took the time to nominate their local schools.”
Running until 16th March, Lidl customers can register through the Lidl Plus app and sign up to be part of the rewards scheme to earn rewards for their local club – from Lidl sponsored jerseys to €5,000 in cash funding – with the top-performing club in the country scoring a cash prize of €50,000, and three runners-up earning up to €10,000 in funding.
