Wexford GAA has unveiled its new home jersey, in association with headline sponsor Zurich Insurance and featuring its partner, Tackle Your Feelings (TYF), a positive mental health and wellbeing campaign, just as the 2022 season kicks off.
The new home jersey, designed and manufactured in collaboration with O’Neills, will carry both the Zurich Insurance logo on the front and back of the jersey, and the Tackle Your Feelings (TYF) logo will be on the sleeves of the jersey for the first time. The jersey will be worn by the men’s teams in football and hurling, at senior and U20 levels, and features the iconic Wexford purple and gold design.
Mark Fanning
The jersey will go on general sale from the 11th of March and will be available from Wexford GAA’s Official Retail Partner, Hore’s Stores, and at www.oneills.com. Its first outing will be against All-Ireland champions Limerick in the Allianz Hurling League game, in Chadwicks Wexford Park this Sunday 6th of February. The match will be televised live on TG4. At the same time, it will also debut in Wexford’s clash with Cavan in the Allianz Football League in Kingspan Breffni Park. The county minor team jerseys, sponsored by Anthony Neville Group, will also feature the TYF logo.
The new home jersey will now carry the TYF logo on the sleeves, with Wexford GAA being the first to showcase a partnership with the positive mental health and wellbeing initiative since the unveiling of the team’s away jersey last year. The TYF campaign, which is funded by the Z Zurich Foundation in partnership with Zurich Ireland is run by Rugby Players Ireland and aims to reduce the stigma around mental health and provide people with the tools and resources to be more proactive in looking after their emotional wellbeing. The TYF partnership with Wexford GAA is the first step in a wider plan that will involve expansion of the initiative into the high-performing sports community in Ireland. The partnership with TYF will also see the Wexford ladies and men’s teams participate in wellbeing workshops and gain access to TYF’s elite athlete section within its mobile app.
Commenting on the launch of the new home jersey, Chairperson of Wexford GAA, Micheál Martin said:
“Wexford’s loyal supporters have been instrumental over the years as our “16th man” and we, in Wexford GAA, are sincerely indebted for this support as we look forward to the season ahead in the hope that they will once again be present to support our teams. We are hugely appreciative for the ongoing support of our title sponsor, Zurich Insurance, with whom we have an excellent partnership. We are proud to be a part of the Tackle Your Feelings programme which creates a perfect synergy with our strategic aim to focus on the holistic development of our players.”
Anthony Brennan, CEO of Zurich Ireland, commented:
“We are delighted with the strength of the relationship that we have built with the Wexford GAA community since establishing our partnership in 2019. We’re looking forward to seeing our brand and the TYF logo on this new home jersey in the upcoming 2022 season which we know will be worn with pride by the players and supporters alike.”
Hannah McCormack, Campaign Manager for Tackle Your Feelings, said:
“We’re excited to continue our work with Wexford GAA who understand and appreciate the power of spreading the message of positive mental wellbeing among their players and to the wider community. The mental health and wellbeing of many has been impacted by the pandemic and it has never been more important for people to take control of their emotions. Having our logo on the new Wexford home jersey will raise awareness of the Tackle Your Feelings campaign and encourage people to become part of our community. The TYF app is free to download and is packed with tools and exercises to help manage your mental wellbeing while Wexford GAA fans can also become part of our online community by following TYF on Instagram, where we are sharing motivational stories along with tips and exclusive competitions.”
About Zurich
Zurich employs over 1,000 people across its locations in Dublin and Wexford. Zurich in Ireland is part of Zurich Insurance Group, a leading multi-line insurer that serves its customers in global and local markets. With about 53,000 employees, the Group’s customers include individuals, small businesses, and mid-sized and large companies, including multinational corporations, in more than 170 countries. Zurich has operated in Wexford since 2008 and now employees over 230 people at its Centre of Excellence in Drinagh, Wexford. The Group is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, where it was founded in 1872. Zurich Insurance plc is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.
About Tackle Your Feelings
Tackle Your Feelings is an innovative and unique approach to breaking down stigma around emotional wellbeing. Built on a foundation of diversity and inclusion, the campaign encompasses the whole island of Ireland and features some of Ireland’s most loved rugby players leading from the front, opening up about their own mental wellbeing challenges and the strategies they used to overcome them, so that people of Ireland can follow their lead.
Since its launch in 2016, Tackle Your Feelings has impacted the lives of people all over the world, with campaign content being viewed more than 23 million times. TYF has motivated people to be more proactive when it comes to looking after their mental wellbeing and has increased awareness around the importance of taking care of your mental health. TYF has also reached international audiences and has inspired similar campaigns across the globe, including The English Rugby Players’ Association (RPA), ‘Lift the Weight’ campaign, New Zealand Rugby’s ‘HeadFirst’ campaign and Tackle Your Feelings Australia, a collaboration between Zurich Australia, the AFLPA and AFLCA.
For more information on Tackle Your Feelings follow the Instagram account @tyf or visit the website www.tackleyourfeelings.com which will share videos, updates on events and competitions.
