Video: AIG Heroes With The Dubs/All-Blacks

Friday, 16th November 2018: Running out through the Cusack tunnel onto the pitch in Croke Park is a dream few will ever experience, and to do so side-by-side with your hero is almost unimaginable. But for 160 children from schools across Dublin city including the inner city area around Croke park this dream became a reality on Friday the 16th of November when they took to the hallowed turf of Croke Park shoulder to shoulder with members of the New Zealand Rugby Team and Dublin GAA Teams as part of AIG Ireland’s CSR initiative; AIG Heroes!

Watch the full video below!

AIG Heroes is a youth community engagement programme that promotes the benefits of sport through positive role models. The children aged between 8 – 12, including children from AIG Ireland’s charity partner Aoibheann’s Pink Tie, took part in rugby, GAA and circus skills drills as well as mindfulness and yoga exercises with Dublin footballer and yoga guru Michael Darragh Macauley.

On the pitch, supported by Dublin GAA Development Officers and the Dublin Circus School, XX players imparted some of their sporting prowess and training tips to Ireland’s future sporting heroes before taking part in a very special Q&A session. Despite some best efforts from the children, the All Blacks remained tight lipped about their tactics ahead of the clash against the Irish Rugby Team tomorrow.

AIG Heroes was launched in November 2016 to coincide with the All Black’s last visit to Ireland. The programme introduces children to GAA, rugby, soccer, basketball and many other sports through role models from the Dublin GAA football, hurling, ladies football and camogie inter-county teams.

Speaking at the event, John Gillick, Sponsorship Manager for AIG Ireland commented: “It has been an unbelievable experience to bring some of the All Blacks to Croke Park today, two years on from the original launch of the AIG Heroes programme. To be able to see so many kids actively playing and interacting with these sporting heroes is extremely rewarding. To be able then to leave a legacy with all the participating schools by donating the sports equipment is also extremely important to us. This will enable the schools to continue the work here today which is a big part of why we do this programme and we are extremely lucky to have such incredible ambassadors from Dublin GAA and New Zealand Rugby”.