Published: Wednesday, 13th August, 2008 12:00pm
Cut the carbon says Handball champion Brady
By Julie Anne Sheridan
Handball"s world number one and Cavan"s Paul Brady has urged GAA fans to log-on to the new ESB/GAA website www.cú;lgreen.ie to help make Croke Park carbon neutral. 'The GAA have got involved with the ESB on this campaign, and I think its a good thing for players and all associated with it, I just hope they reach their target,' says Paul Brady.
Cúl Green was launched in May this year and since then Croke Park has contracted its electricity supply from renewable source and environmental projects are ongoing at the stadium.
The website gives details fo the level of carbon that can be offset through simple everyday tasks and encourages fans to travel to Croke Park at minimum cost to the enviroment by using public transport, park and ride and car pooling. Speaking to the Anglo Celt on Friday Paul said, 'This weekend will see promotional events take place in Croke Park to promote this stategy, ladies will go around with laptops and ask people present to make a pledge to help the cause.' As they say every little bit helps.
Prize
There"s somehthing in this initiative for clubs and counties as fans will be in with the chance to win All-Ireland Final match tickets and a €20,000 investment opportunity. As part of the Cúl Green campaign, a grant of €20,000 will be made to the county that makes the most carbon-saving pleges per head of poplulation. This prize money will fund sports equipment for juvenille clubs in the winning county.
Further prizes will be made to individual fans who make a pledge on the Cúl Green website. ESB has already committed to planting an ash tree for each pledge made. Commenting at the launch of www.culgreen.ie the GAA president said 'The new website is an educational medium which can help to enlighten all of us on simple adjustments and initiatives that will reduce our carbon footprint while supporting our games'. Paul will play in the US open of Handball in October, and is behind this project all the way. 'Anything that helps players performance, amongst other things is good for me, we got to do our bit in it all,' says Paul.
From today, fans and the public can log onto www.culgreen.ie to acess details of how they can support the Cúl Green environmental initiative by making energy saving pledges. Prizes will be made to individual fans pledging on the website, including match tickets.
Return to: Homepage | Sport Index | This article