Community partnership brews as Barista Bar supports local rugby club
Barista Bar has announced an all-new sponsorship with CIYMS Rugby Club Belfast.
Barista Bar, which marked its 10-year anniversary last year, will be an official CIYMS Rugby Club sponsor for 2026 supporting the club with the junior team’s kit sponsorship, alongside branded post-pads bringing high quality equipment to the pitch, plus an investment in pitch-side advertising.
The sponsorship, which kicked off at the start of January, is part of Barista Bar’s ongoing commitment to giving back to the local community.
Barista Bar coffee-to-go is widely available in over 460 SPAR, EUROSPAR, ViVO and ViVOXTRA stores across Northern Ireland, many of which are often the hub of local communities and Barista Bar aims to continue these relationships, being part of many local initiatives and providing sponsorships for a number of local events and clubs.
CIYMS has been part of the east Belfast community since 1974, after moving from its city-centre home of 50 years, and has grown to provide a hub for team sports and inspiring the future sports stars from Northern Ireland.
A number of CIYMS players have gone on to play for their country at international level, playing for Ulster and Ireland, with three going on to play for the British & Irish Lions. The most recent CIYMS star, Conor McKee began his rugby career at the Club and made his debut at Ulster just last year as a scrum half.
Keavy O’Mahony-Truesdale, National Brand and Business Development Manager at Barista Bar said the new 2026 sponsorship of CIYMS Rugby Club is an important next step in their community presence, “Being rooted in community stores, it is so important to us at Barista Bar to continue and develop those relationships with shoppers, local community groups, charities and clubs and give back to those who show us so much support.”
Mark Stewart Maunder, Commercial & Development Director at Henderson Foodservice, added, “It’s great to see Barista Bar supporting CIYMS Rugby Club, particularly at junior level, where investment can make a real difference in local communities.”
David Peden, president of CIYMS commented, “CI is an ambitious family club and Barista Bar is a strong, vibrant and community focussed brand that aligns well with our club. Sponsorship is the lifeblood of any club, and we believe our partnership is an exciting move that can really benefit both parties. We are hugely grateful for Barista Bar’s support, and we are looking forward to seeing what the partnership brings in the year ahead.”
Barista Bar’s community support has been growing rapidly in recent years. The brand is a partner of Walk NI and is committed to keeping Northern Ireland beautiful and free of litter. Many of the stores that Barista Bar is available in are central in communities that are residential, urban, by the sea and in areas of outstanding beauty, and Barista Bar is committed to keeping these areas clean for all to enjoy them.
The coffee to go brand has been an official partner of the Eco Rangers since 2021, fuelling their volunteers with Barista Bar beverages during their litter picks throughout Northern Ireland, organising and taking part in numerous litter picks across Northern Ireland to date, supporting broader efforts to reduce environmental waste and encourage more sustainable habits.
The Mallusk 5-Mile Road Race back in August saw the third year of sponsorship from Barista Bar, with the team fueling runners on the day with a complimentary drink and a Barista Bar sports bag, as well as an exciting Barista Bar Team Challenge with a hamper for the fastest team.
Last year, Barista Bar also sponsored NIPANC’s PedalThePeriphery for the third annual event, created by award-winning sisters Andrea Harrower and Cathy Booth. As well as a Barista Bar team taking part in the event, Barista Bar stations throughout NI were used to raise awareness and inspire donations, as well as ensuring the cyclists for the event had accessible pitstops to fuel up with some Barista Bar coffee.
Keavy added, “We are looking forward to seeing this partnership with CIYMS Rugby Club develop over the year and can’t wait to support the club from the sidelines.”
