THE DUBLIN Airport Authority (DAA) has hit on a novel way to raise funds for its charity of the year by launching its very own brand of bottled water.

DAA has launched the appropriately named 'Plane Water' - its first ever own brand water product - in The Loop airside retail shops at Dublin, Shannon and Cork Airports. The 500ml bottle of Plane Water retails at €1 with 10 cent from every bottle sold being donated to the DAA Charity of The Year, which this year is Barretstown. ' This is an exciting and new opportunity for us to develop our own branded product and offer fantastic value to our customers,' said Paul Neeson, Director Retail at DAA'S ARI Ireland business. He added: ' We are aiming to capture a significant share of the market at our three airports, which also means a sizeable contribution to our Charity of the Year.' Barretstown Chief Executive Dee Ahearn said the children's charity was delighted to be benefitting from the launch of Plane Water. He said: ' The funds raised through the sale of this product, not to mention the profile we will receive internationally as people transport their bottles of Plane Water on their journey out of Ireland, is hugely important to us and we are very grateful to DAA for its support.' Barretstown was recently selected as DAA Charity of the Year for 2012 and Mr Ahearn said this represented a huge endorsement of the vital work that the charity performs. He said: 'We are absolutely thrilled to have been chosen by DAA staff as the company's Charity of the Year for 2012. The children that we support will benefit from a wide range of fundraising activities by DAA staff and we'll also receive funds from every 500ml bottle of Plane Water sold at Dublin, Cork and Shannon Airports. 'It's hard to believe that in Ireland, five children every week are diagnosed with cancer, and the support of the DAA is absolutely invaluable in enabling Barretstown to welcome as many of these children as possible to Barretstown, and ultimately giving these children their childhood back.' Plane Water, is sourced from Irish company Sliabh Bhreandáin, which is based in Ballyferriter, Co Kerry and also bottles Kerry Spring Water. 'We're delighted to be working with DAA on the launch of Plane Water and we look forward to a long and successful partnership quenching the thirst of Irish and international air travellers,' said Sliabh Bhreandáin Managing Director Michael Walsh. Plane Water is now on sale at Dublin, Cork and Shannon Airports. It is initially available as a still water in a 500ml sports cap bottle, and a sparkling version and other pack sizes are planned.