The team behind Guinness is flying its colours for the 2019 Union Cup, as it unveiled Guinness Union Cup Gates today, according to a statement.
It revealed that this was done to support its partnership with Europe's biggest LGBT+ inclusive rugby tournament which takes place in Dublin for the first time.
The Guinness Gates at Rainsford Street have been completely transformed for the first time in their history to promote Union Cup which takes place 8 and 9 June at DCU Campus.
The Guinness Union Cup
The Guinness Union Cup gates took nine days to complete, it reported, and where revealed today by representatives of Ireland's Host team, the Emerald Warriors, including Richie Fagan; Emerald Warriors president and chair of Union Cup, Oran Sweeney; Emerald Warriors team captain and players John Noone and Megan Fogarty.
Guinness spokesperson, Rory Sheridan, head of partnerships Europe at Diageo also attended.
According to the statement, the Guinness gates are passed by two million tourists each year and the Guinness brand wants to use their popularity to help showcase the Union Cup and encourage people to attend the matches.
Prominent History
This is the first time the Guinness gates have ever been any colour other that black or blue, it reported.
In the early 20th century, the Guinness gates where a bright blue with gold Guinness lettering up until 1988, where the light blue was changed to black.
The Guinness brand has a prominent history with rugby across a range of provincial, national and tournament sponsorships, it revealed, some which span decades.
The Emerald Warriors RFC is inviting Ireland to stand in support of diversity and inclusion in rugby to come along to Union Cup matches over the weekend.
This year, it reveals, that for the first time there is also a dedicated women's tournament and cup, the Ann Louise Gilligan Cup.
Inclusivity And Diversity
"The team at Guinness have championed inclusivity and diversity in rugby, values that are integral to GUINNESS as a brand, through a number of rugby partnerships." said Rory Sheridan, head of partnerships Europe, Diageo.
"We collaborated with Gareth Thomas to tell his story in 2015, and we recently became the first commercial partner for the Women’s Six Nations." he continued.
"Union Cup Dublin will also spotlight inclusivity in the women's game by hosting the first dedicated women’s tournament in Dublin, and we are delighted to continue to support women’s rugby.” he said.
"It is so important for us that our partners like Guinness make this tournament possible, and we’re incredibly proud to showcase how Ireland does it to our 45 visiting teams. We invite Irish people, not just rugby fans, to do the same and come out to support and enjoy the Union Cup at DCU over the weekend,” said Richie Fagan, Emerald Warriors president and chair of Union Cup.
It revealed that the Guinness Union Cup gates will remain painted to support the Union Cup until 10 June 2019, after will be repaint black.
The Union Cup takes places over two days and will feature 45 teams from 15 countries. The tickets are available from www.unioncupdublin.ie and are priced at €10 for adult tickets.
© 2019 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Helen Galgey. Click sign-up to subscribe to Checkout.
