Cross Border Peace III Project

Speedwell’s Cross Border Diversity in Sport Programme

Speedwell has received funding from the South West Peace III Cluster and SEUPB to deliver a cross-border, cross-community sporting diversity project to 12 primary schools in North Monaghan and South Tyron

The schools have agreed to participate in this new and innovative project which allows children and their teachers to explore cultural identity in Northern Ireland and the Border Counties through sport.  Sport, like many other facets of life in Northern Ireland, is largely segregated along religious lines.  This project aims to give children the opportunity to learn about each other’s sporting traditions, understand and respect their differences and recognise and value what they hold in common. It also encourages them to see sports played by members of an opposing tradition as a positive influence rather than something which is distant and viewed with suspicion and allows them to become familiar with sports and a sporting culture which is not normally celebrated within their community. The sports which are explored in this project are rugby, gaelic football, hockey, hurling, camogie and soccer.

The schools that are taking part are St Mary’s PS, Aughnacloy PS and Knockconan NS;

St Joseph’s PS, Caledon PS and St Mary’s NS, Glaslough; Lisfearty PS and Deravey NS; St Jarlath’s PS and Clontibret NS; St Mary’s PS, Cabragh and Model NS, Monaghan.