Pupils attending an Irish language primary school located in the shadow of Ulster University could soon be able to use the state-of-the-art sports facilities at the Belfast campus.
Discussions are being held about allowing children attending Bunscoil Mhic Reachtain to avail of the sports provision at the multi-million pound site on York Street.
The pupils could also potentially receive guidance from athletes and students attending the university.
School principal Séamas O’Donnghaile and children from the school, which has just under 50 pupils, visited the university on Wednesday and were able to sample the facilities on offer.
Around 15,000 students and staff are based at UU’s Belfast campus, which opened in September 2022.
The university campus boasts a dedicated sports facility, which includes an 80-metre running track, gym and large outdoor workout area.
Mr O’Donnghaile said for pupils at Bunscoil Mhic Reachtain on nearby Lancaster Street, the partnership could prove “invaluable” and UU were demonstrating it is “a university in the community for the community”.
“Their understanding is, how can we help these young kids grow and develop using our resources and I think this has been a very easy conversation to have because they want to be a part of the community,” he said.
“I hope this is also the start of a conversation that will allow other people to join in, they are keen to help, they know that what they have can be shared very easily.”
Mr O’Donnghaile also said: “Just to walk across the street and be part of that and use those indoor facilities, which will be brilliant especially during the winter months as we have nothing.
“They’re opening that up to the children and then the practical side of it will be that some of their coaches, some of their sports athlete students – there are people coming from everywhere, there are Americans coming over who have won Olympic medals.
“They are reaching out to us and showing they want to have that relationship for the benefit of the children.
“The biggest things they are giving our children are the role models and the space to follow them.”
He added: “We live and work in a deprived area, we have our own challenges – an inner city school with inner city issues.
“And one of the biggest things we want to do this year is focus on children’s mental health.
“You connect mental health and sport and sport and mental health and you have got a winner, so that will be a big driver for us.”
Nigel Dobson, head of sports services at Ulster University said: “It was a lovely to welcome the children from Bunscoil Mhic Reachtain and their teachers to have a look around the new Ulster University Belfast Sports Centre and chat about how we might collaborate.
“We’re always open to school or community group visitors, particularly our neighbours, so if you’d like to arrange a visit please get in touch via sport@ulster.ac.uk.”