EY Ireland and Hockey Ireland Announce Three Year Sponsorship of National Hockey Teams at Underage and Senior Levels

Three year partnership builds on existing sponsorship of EY Hockey League

Dublin, 7 June 2023: EY Ireland and Hockey Ireland announce today that they have agreed a new three-year partnership that will see EY Ireland become an official sponsor of the Hockey Ireland male and female National Teams at underage level, including U16s, U18s and U21s, and Senior level for the next three years.

This agreement builds on the existing strong partnership between EY and Hockey Ireland, which sees EY Ireland currently sponsor the male and female Division 1 and Division 2 Irish Hockey Leagues. This new deal will make EY the only consolidated sponsor across underage categories and senior teams in the international hockey squads.

Frank O’Keeffe, Managing Partner, EY Ireland commented: “The EY Hockey League continues to be a source of great pride for all of us at EY Ireland and today we are strengthening our partnership with Hockey Ireland as we support the game from grassroots through to international level. In EY we are delighted to have this fantastic opportunity to continue to support the many incredibly talented players and coaches as well as the ever-growing number of wonderful hockey fans throughout this island."

"Here in EY Ireland, we are also very committed to supporting these elite athletes to reach their full potential on and off the hockey field. EY Ireland is committed to helping to support and enable hockey players to thrive during and after their careers and intends to work closely with Hockey Ireland on identifying the best ways to support these elite athletes. Given our reputation in EY for high-performing teams we think this new sponsorship with Hockey Ireland is a perfect fit.”

Graham Reid, Partner and Head of Markets, EY Ireland commented: “EY Ireland takes great pride in our sponsorship of the EY Hockey League and we are really excited that our partnership will expand in the coming years. By investing in grassroots and national teams, we aim to empower talented players on and off the field, supporting a thriving hockey community across the island, and fostering a sense of pride among our employees.”

Lisa Jacob, High Performance Director, Hockey Ireland commented: “Hockey Ireland has seen the benefit of our strong partnership with EY for a number of years across our All-Ireland domestic league, not least for the 2022/23 season, with new initiatives introduced and competitive levels within the EY Hockey League higher than ever. The extension of the partnership to now include all eight of our international squads, including our Senior Women’s and Senior Men’s teams as they look to qualify for Paris Olympics 2024, will bring significant impact."

"Having one sponsor that goes right through the system adds huge value, allowing us to have an impact over a number of years in a strategic but also a very tangible way. This commitment gives us capacity we haven’t had before, and brings EY with us on the journey to Paris and beyond.”

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Notes to Editor

About EY

EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities.

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About Hockey Ireland

Hockey Ireland is the National Governing Body for the sport of field hockey in Ireland. Governing the 32 counties of Ireland, the Association is responsible for the management and overall development of all areas of the sport.

The Association was formed in 2000, as a result of the merger of the two pre-existing Unions which governed men’s and women’s hockey separately. Both pre-existing Unions’ origins date back to the late 19th Century, when they were formed within a year of each other. At the 2013 AGM a motion was passed to become a Limited Company.

Hockey Ireland has a number of affiliated Branches that govern the sport at regional level. The sport’s approximate 168 clubs and 280 schools are affiliated to Hockey Ireland through its Branch network. The Irish Hockey Umpires Association, which manages the sport’s umpire base, and the Irish Universities Hockey Association, which governs the sport in Ireland’s university system, are also affiliated to Hockey Ireland.

Hockey Ireland is funded through grants from Sport Ireland, Sport Northern Ireland and the Olympic Council of Ireland adding to the membership fees and sponsorship. For more information, visit: www.hockey.ie.