The platinum sponsor of Special Olympics Ireland, Gala Retail, has announced the launch of a range of limited-edition reusable shopping bags that will help to raise funds for Special Olympics Ireland.
The convenience retail group has teamed up with Dublin-based artist, illustrator and muralist Claire Prouvost, who created a bespoke illustration for the bag that incorporates the spirit and sports of Special Olympics Ireland and its athletes.
Gary Desmond, CEO of Gala Retail, was joined by Matt English, CEO of Special Olympics Ireland; Special Olympics athletes Ayoub Deboub and Una Coates, who is also an online leader on RTÉ’s Operation Transformation this year; and artist and designer Prouvost for the launch of the reusable shoppers.
Speaking at the launch, Gala CEO Desmond said, “By creating this exclusive range of reusable shopping bags that celebrate the spirit of Special Olympics Ireland, we aim to raise additional funds to support the great initiatives Special Olympics provides throughout Ireland, and get athletes back to the sports and competitions they love.
“The bold and colourful style that designer Claire [Prouvost] has created for the bags perfectly encapsulates the essence of what Special Olympics Ireland is all about – community, sport, and the joy this brings Special Olympics athletes across the country.”
About Claire Prouvost
Artist and designer Claire Prouvost is a rising star on the Irish art scene and has delivered work ranging from large-scale murals across the country to designing for big-name brands like Gucci and Brown Thomas.
Speaking about creating the print for the bags, Prouvost said, “I was honoured that Gala Retail approached me to create a design for this campaign. Learning about Special Olympics Ireland and its commitment to its athletes – promoting joy, friendship and community through sport – was really inspiring, and I wanted to capture that connection and joy in my design.
“These limited-edition bags are a fantastic way for people to support Special Olympics Ireland and the great work it does while promoting the use of reusable bags and adding a splash of colour to their everyday lives.”
Special Olympics Ireland Sponsorship
Gala Retail has been a sponsor of Special Olympics Ireland since 2015, supporting the organisation through its World Games, Winter Games and Ireland Games events.
In recent years, due to challenges presented by the pandemic, this competition cycle has all but ceased, and Special Olympics Ireland hopes that 2022 will see a return to sports and competitions for the organisation and its athletes, the company noted.
Funds raised from sales of the limited-edition reusable shopper bags from Gala Retail will offer further support to the organisation, aiding it in the delivery of the upcoming advancement games, which will give athletes the opportunity to qualify for a much sought-after spot in the delegation travelling to the 2023 Special Olympics World Games in Berlin.
“Bright, vibrant, and representative of what Special Olympics Ireland stands for, we can’t wait to see people across the country using this bag with pride, showing their support for Special Olympics Ireland and its athletes, and raising awareness of the work that we do,” added Matt English, CEO of Special Olympics Ireland.
The limited-edition range of reusable shoppers has been available to purchase online since 1 March at Gala.ie for €15, with all profits being donated to Special Olympics Ireland, to support the delivery of services and events for athletes across Ireland.
© 2022 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Donna Ahern. For more retail news, click here. Click sign up to subscribe to Checkout.
