Press Release
February 20, 2025 • 2 min read
GOAL sends out gratitude across the country to thousands of GOAL Milers for their support and highlights the campaign’s humanitarian aid impact.
GOAL is delighted to announce that the thousands who participated in GOAL Mile 2024 across Ireland and overseas helped to raise over €750,000 for the aid agency’s lifesaving humanitarian work around the globe. GOAL Mile is the agency’s flagship fundraiser, which is proudly supported by AIB and led by local organisers in 200+ locations in every county across the north and south of Ireland and in the US and Africa, during the 2024 Christmas season and extending into New Year.
GOAL as an Irish humanitarian agency has a proud history over the last 48 years of delivering life-saving aid and development programmes in some of the world’s most fragile countries and to some of the world most vulnerable communities. Today GOAL continues to work in these countries delivering food, shelter and water and other programmes relating to nutrition, protection, sanitation and hygiene. GOAL delivers these programmes in countries like Sudan, Ethiopia, Chad, Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, and Haiti where conflict is so prevalent and where the suffering and humanitarian crises and needs are so immense and prolonged.
GOAL Mile supporters lining out in Maynooth, County Kildare
Speaking about the success of GOAL Mile 2024, Siobhan Walsh, GOAL CEO said:
“GOAL Miles have been running across Ireland every Christmas since 1982 but the 2024 GOAL Mile was a truly exceptional one for so many reasons, and not only because we broke our fundraising record. We were of course delighted to welcome AIB back for their fourth year as our GOAL Mile partner.”
“And we benefitted greatly from the kind support of campaign champions including Olympic Athlete, Ciara Mageean; Bernard Jackman, International Rugby Commentator and Analyst; and the entire Shamrock Rovers, Men’s First Team. Their well-known voices and faces raised our GOAL Mile voice. They encouraged even more people to find their local GOAL Mile and head out to connect with family and friends, enjoy a unique experience, support GOAL and stand in solidarity with the millions caught in conflict and climate emergencies. But most of all, we send thanks to the wonderful 200+ GOAL Mile organisers across the country for their time, and commitment in organising their Mile so expertly. They are the essence of this hugely successful campaign. ’ continued Siobhan Walsh.
Speaking about the AIB – GOAL Mile partnership and the campaign’s success, AIB Group CEO, Colin Hunt, said:
“Supporting the GOAL Mile is something that the AIB network across the country is incredibly proud of. GOAL Mile brings communities together to have fun and show their support to GOAL and the most vulnerable communities across the world that face extreme poverty and crisis and where GOAL works. We look forward to continuing the GOAL Mile journey and helping to grow this highly anticipated and much-loved Christmas tradition, encouraging even more people to step up and participate.”
