Stella making waves with sponsorship

ONE of the Northside’s most celebrated schoolboy football clubs has announced details of an exciting new sponsorship deal. 

Stella Maris Football Club’s home ground has been renamed, ‘Dublin Port Stadium – The home of Stella Maris FC’. 

Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure & Reform, Paschal Donohoe, officially announced the partnership. 

The sponsorship deal will run for five years with Dublin Port Company providing financial support to the Drumcondra-based club as it looks to modernise its facilities.

Stella Maris, at the heart of Dublin’s north inner city community, is recognised as having one of Ireland’s leading football academy set-ups.

Players associated with the club have gone on to play professionally for the Irish national team and in the English and Scottish leagues. 

The club has produced the likes of Stella Maris club president John Giles as well as Keith Andrews who joined Dublin Port Company chief executive Eamonn O’Reilly and FAI chief executive John Delaney at the official renaming of the club’s new home.

Stella Maris (translated as Star of the Sea) is now in its 75th year and has ambitious plans to develop the ‘Dublin Port Stadium’ to include a stand to hold 300 spectators, a club shop, gymnasium, and video analysis room.

Speaking about the partnership, former Leeds United star John Giles said: “This is a new chapter in the history of Stella Maris and we welcome our partnership with Dublin Port Company. 

“We have exciting plans to improve the facilities at our club which will only enhance the opportunity for more girls and boys to take part in the game but also produce the next generation of Ireland football stars. We thank Dublin Port for its contribution and we look forward to working together as we progress in the future.”

Mr O’Reilly said they were delighted to enter into the sponsorship. 

“We’re proud to have the Port name associated with a football club which has played an essential role in Irish soccer,” he said.

“We continue our mission to strengthen port to city community links and our partnership with Stella Maris is just another example of our investment into the Drumcondra and East Wall communities.”

Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe also welcomed news of the deal. 

“For 75 years the football club has been an asset to the people in the area and it is a platform for hundreds of boys and girls to play the sport they love while developing their talents,” said Minister Donohoe. 

“This partnership will help ensure that Stella Maris will be here for many more decades and with Dublin Port’s support, the club will have new facilities to be proud of.”