The launch took place at the Newforge Sports Complex in Belfast, marking the beginning of a cross-border programme that will engage thousands of young people through sustained participation in sport, education and community activity.
Supported by the PEACEPLUS Programme, Sport 4 Peace is led by Ulster GAA in partnership with Ulster Rugby, the Irish Football Association (IFA) and the Football Association of Ireland (FAI). The project will be delivered across Ulster’s nine counties and border regions, focusing on communities where long-term engagement can make the greatest impact.
The event was attended by a number of high-profile sporting figures, including Northern Ireland senior men’s manager Michael O’Neill, Ulster Rugby General Manager Rory Best, and Armagh GAA All-Ireland winning manager Kieran McGeeney. The launch also featured a panel discussion exploring the role sport can play in building trust, understanding and positive community relations.
Over the lifetime of the project, more than 6,000 participants will be engaged through 96 schools and 80 sports clubs, with activity delivered across 14 council areas on both a cross-community and cross-border basis. A key focus of Sport 4 Peace is long-term participation, combining sport with education, leadership development, volunteering and community engagement.
A highlight of the launch was a Game of Three Halves activity, where pupils from four Belfast primary schools took part in a shared session of rugby, Gaelic football and football. The activity provided a practical demonstration of the project’s aims, bringing children from different backgrounds together through shared sporting experience.
Delivery of the programme will be supported by 10 Community Sport Development Officers (CSDOs) from Ulster GAA, Ulster Rugby, the IFA and the FAI, who will work collaboratively across communities to ensure a consistent and inclusive approach.
Paul Hart, President Ulster Rugby said this on the programme:
“Sport has a unique ability to bring people together in ways that are meaningful, natural and lasting, and that is exactly what Sport 4 Peace is designed to do. By working in partnership across codes, communities and borders, this project moves beyond one-off initiatives and instead creates sustained opportunities for young people to build relationships, develop leadership skills and learn from one another.
Ulster Rugby is proud to be part of a programme that recognises the real power of regular participation and shared experience. Through Sport 4 Peace, we can help create safe, inclusive spaces where differences are respected, connections are formed and communities are strengthened for the long term.”
Sport 4 Peace is supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) and co-funded by the European Union, the Government of the United Kingdom, the Government of Ireland and the Northern Ireland Executive.