Galway Race Committee has declined to confirm reports that Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is to take two tables at this year's Galway Races in the tent formerly occupied by Fianna Fáil.

Padraig O' Ceidigh, Chairman of Aer Arann pictured with RTE's Tracey Piggot, John Joe O' Holleran, Chairman of the Galway County Football Board, Jockey Tommy O' Brien and Ray Rooney, Chairman of the Galway Racecourse Committee at the announcement that Aer Arann and the Galway Football Board will occupy the Ballybrit Tent at this year's race festival. Photo: Declan Monaghan.

According to media reports last week, Mr Ahern has put down €8,000 of his own money to help fund the development of underage GAA in Galway's primary schools and clubs.

However, spokesperson for the Race Committee, Ray Rooney said he could not confirm at this stage whether Mr Ahern had booked the table, as individual tables were not yet allocated.

The Galway Football Board and main sponsor Aer Arann are to take over the Ballybrit Hospitality Tent for the Galway Race Festival.

The political party, which had used the tent since 1994, provided for approximately 1,700 people to attend the historic race festival, but Aer Arann and the Galway Football Board hope to increase that to 2,000.

Pádraig Ó'Ceidigh, Chairman of Aer Arann said that the fund raising venture is important to promote the fantastic work being done already by the Galway Football Board and will support the development of the game in the country among our youth. "It is a privilege being associated with a fantastic voluntary organisation who do so much for the people of Ireland," Mr O'Ceidigh said.

John Joe Holleran, Chairman of the Galway Football Board said he is delighted with the relationship that has been created with Aer Arann. "They are a great company to be associated with Gaelic football in our county, and have a very strong interest in supporting us at all levels and not just our county teams. They are a local company who have a world-class regional airline and are very important to Galway both on and off the field of play," he stated.

The launch of 'Aer Arann and Galway Football going to the races 2008,' took place last Friday, with a wine and canapé reception at the Parade Ring of the Ballybrit Racecourse, where special guests included RTÉ Sport's Tracey Piggott.

The tent, which is now to be taken up by Aer Arann CEO Padraig O'Ceidigh is to donate all the money raised in the tent to go towards the training and development of Galway GAA's underage players in primary schools and clubs throughout the county.

A representative for a city GAA club said, "This tent fundraising is a novel and great way to raise much-needed funds for GAA across the city. It is great to see money being pumped back into the GAA in this way. It is also great to see something so positive and worthwhile coming out of this fundraiser at The Races."

With tables of ten for the Galway Races ranging in price from €3,750 on the Wednesday to €4,000 on Thursday's Galway Plate day, to €2,500 on the Friday, the county's GAA organisation stands to benefit to the tune of thousands in much-needed funding for its youngsters.

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