GAA to reassess its Guinness sponsorship in two years' time

The GAA is to look again at the sponsorship of the All-Ireland hurling championship by Guinness in two years' time, the president of the organisation, Seán Kelly, said yesterday.

Mr Kelly was speaking at the launch of a new initiative on alcohol and substance abuse, which is being introduced by the GAA with the support of the Department of Health.

Under the initiative, GAA clubs around the country are to put in place new educational programmes on alcohol and substance abuse.

Asked whether there was a contradiction between the new initiative and the sponsorship of the hurling championship by a drinks company, Mr Kelly said the task force had recommended that the arrangement should continue for two years and that the organisation should then take stock.

Mr Kelly said that in some of the advertisements, "you would need a microscope to see it was sponsored by Guinness".