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GAA

12th May 2015

Everything you wanted to know about the GAA Cúl Heroes trading cards

'I'll swap your Bernard Brogan for a Gooch'

Kevin McGillicuddy

Just one more packet

That is likely to be the soundtrack to every Irish parent’s summer, with children likely to be anxious to try and collect all 468 GAA players in the Cúl Heroes collection.

The trading cards, launched in association with the GAA and GPA, are a unique way of allowing younger GAA fans get to know and analyse the skills and features of our best known hurlers and footballers.

The cards are available nationwide from next week and a packet  of six costs €1.50.

We’re pretty sure that there may even be a few adults that might even be after a full Kerry or Dublin set, so here is all you need to know about what is sure to be the latest craze among the GAA world.

Cúl Heroes Trading Card Launch, Croke Park, Dublin 12/5/2015 Dublin's James McCarthy and Cork's Anthony Nash  Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/James Crombie

Over two million cards have been printed with 4,000 of every player produced

Cúl Heroes Trading Card Launch, Croke Park, Dublin 12/5/2015 Dublin's James McCarthy and Cork's Anthony Nash  Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/James Crombie

The cards are manufactured by an Irish company based in Tullamore.

Cúl Heroes Trading Card Launch, Croke Park, Dublin 12/5/2015 Dublin's James McCarthy and Cork's Anthony Nash  Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/James Crombie

The Cúl Heroes jersey was designed by Dylan Dunning from Ballyshannon National School in Kildare

Cúl Heroes Trading Card Launch, Croke Park, Dublin 12/5/2015 Cork's Anthony Nash signs autographs Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/James Crombie

The product was initially pitched to the GAA in February 2013

Cœl Heroes Trading Card Launch, Croke Park, Dublin 12/5/2015 Dublin's James McCarthy   Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/James Crombie

There are 27 players from last year’s All-Ireland champions Kerry and Kilkenny

Cúl Heroes Trading Card Launch, Croke Park, Dublin 12/5/2015 Cork's Anthony Nash  Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/James Crombie

There are 36 hurling skills and 39 football skills among the collection

Cœl Heroes Trading Card Launch, Croke Park, Dublin 12/5/2015 Dublin's James McCarthy and Cork's Anthony Nash  Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/James Crombie

This year is the first of a three-year agreement with the GAA/GPA

Cúl Heroes Trading Card Launch, Croke Park, Dublin 12/5/2015 Dublin's James McCarthy Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/James Crombie

Each card contains one of 18 positive messages such as ‘A real winner always gives their best’

12 May 2015; Cúl Heroes is the official trading card of the GAA/GPA which provides an innovative way of promoting Gaelic Games, the players and the unique skills of our national games. For the first year the collection will include 486 footballers and hurlers from around the country and a collection book for storing each player. In today's environment, with issues like obesity and mental health effecting our youth, Cúl Heroes, along with the GAA and GPA, saw an opportunity to communicate directly with our young members using the cards to portray positive messages around diet and emotional well-being. In attendance at the launch is Cúl Heroes ambassador and Cork hurling goalkeeper Anthony Nash. Croke Park, Dublin. Picture credit: Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE

Patrick Horgan is the highest rated Cork player

12 May 2015; Cúl Heroes is the official trading card of the GAA/GPA which provides an innovative way of promoting Gaelic Games, the players and the unique skills of our national games. For the first year the collection will include 486 footballers and hurlers from around the country and a collection book for storing each player. In today's environment, with issues like obesity and mental health effecting our youth, Cúl Heroes, along with the GAA and GPA, saw an opportunity to communicate directly with our young members using the cards to portray positive messages around diet and emotional well-being. In attendance at the launch are Cúl Heroes ambassadors Cork hurling goalkeeper Anthony Nash, left of centre, and Dublin footballer James McCarthy. Croke Park, Dublin. Picture credit: Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE

The Cards were trialled for a year in Offaly 2013

12 May 2015; Cúl Heroes is the official trading card of the GAA/GPA which provides an innovative way of promoting Gaelic Games, the players and the unique skills of our national games. For the first year the collection will include 486 footballers and hurlers from around the country and a collection book for storing each player. In today's environment, with issues like obesity and mental health effecting our youth, Cúl Heroes, along with the GAA and GPA, saw an opportunity to communicate directly with our young members using the cards to portray positive messages around diet and emotional well-being. In attendance at the launch are Cúl Heroes ambassadors Cork hurling goalkeeper Anthony Nash and Dublin footballer James McCarthy, with the 3rd and 4th class pupils from Ballyshannon National School, Kilcullen, Co. Kildare, winners of the "Design A Jersey" competition. Croke Park, Dublin. Picture credit: Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE

Every card contains a player, county, club skill and positive message

12 May 2015; Cúl Heroes is the official trading card of the GAA/GPA which provides an innovative way of promoting Gaelic Games, the players and the unique skills of our national games. For the first year the collection will include 486 footballers and hurlers from around the country and a collection book for storing each player. In today's environment, with issues like obesity and mental health effecting our youth, Cúl Heroes, along with the GAA and GPA, saw an opportunity to communicate directly with our young members using the cards to portray positive messages around diet and emotional well-being. In attendance at the launch is Cúl Heroes ambassador and Dublin footballer James McCarthy. Croke Park, Dublin. Picture credit: Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE

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Topics:

GPA