News

President of Ireland visits Football 4 Peace

Published 28 March 2013

Football coaches from across the Irish divide had the chance to meet the President of the Republic of Ireland through a peace through sport initiative over the weekend.

As part of his state visit to Northern Ireland, Michael D Higgins, President of the Republic of Ireland, met members of the Football 4 Peace (F4P) team in Derry/Londonderry on Saturday to see how it is encouraging good relations and reconciliation between the conflicting communities of Derry/Londonderry.

The President met coaches taking part in the annual F4P International Training Camp at St. Columb's Park House and praised their work. He stated: "We need groups from all religious and cultural backgrounds to build vibrant societies based on the principles of equality, respect for diversity and an openness to work in solidarity with other communities."

Left to right: Jim Lowther (University of Ulster), Graham Spacey (University of Brighton), President Michael Higgins, Professor John Sugden (University of Brighton), Damien Mc Colgan (Inishowen Development Partnership).

Football 4 Peace Ireland is a cousin of a coaching programme developed by the University of Brighton to bring those involved in conflict in the Middle East closer together. The Irish programme, in partnership with the University of Ulster, promotes the development of cross border and cross community relations through sport. The main focus is to train coaches, teachers and youth workers from all regions of Northern Ireland and its Border Counties in the Republic. The programme is a joint venture between the Northern Irish FA. (IFA), Inishowen School Boys League, and Inishowen Development Partnership (IDP).

Twenty-two students from the University of Brighton are attending this year's training camp. All are enrolled on sport and physical education related courses and hope to gain the skills to develop and adapt what they have learnt during the programme to multiple sports in multiple contexts. Four staff members and two alumni are helping to deliver the programme to 116 participants from all over Ireland with guests from England, France, Germany, USA, Cyprus, Columbia and South Africa. This year's session focuses on passing on skills learnt from the way the programme is carried out and enhancing personal performance. The programme is primarily funded by the International Funds for Ireland (IFI) and the Department for Foreign Affairs.

For further information, please visit www.football4peace.eu.