Media Coverage Report

‘Club Welcome Awards Ceremony’

Show Racism the Red Card

Wednesday, January 24th 2018

  • IrishTimes.com: ‘Clubs recognized for their work with refugees and asylum seekers’ (

Tuesday, January 23rd2018

  • Activelink.ie: ‘GAA and Football clubs awarded for promoting integration of refugees’ (

Thursday, January 25th 2018

  • Sligo Today: ‘Sligo Rovers recognised for refugees integration’ (

Thursday, January 25th 2018

  • Limerick Leader: ‘Limerick GAA club awarded for promoting integration of refugees’ (

Thursday, January 25th 2018

  • Oceanfm.ie: ‘Rovers presented with award for work with refugees’ (

Wednesday, January 24th 2018

  • Laoistoday.ie: ‘Laois Soccer club awarded for promoting integration of refugees’ (

Wednesday, January 24th 2018

  • LeinsterExpress.ie: ‘Laois Soccer club awarded for promoting integration of refugees’ (

Wednesday, January 24th 2018

  • ConnaughtTelegraph.ie: ‘Ballaghaderreen GAA Club awarded for promoting integration of refugees’ (

Thursday, January 25th 2018

  • LimerickPost.ie: ‘Limerick GAA club shows racism the red card’ (

Thursday, January 25th 2017

  • Brian Lally piece on RTE Radio 1 - Drivetime at 5.40 p.m.

( Begins at 1:09:33)

Wednesday, January 24th 2018

  • Longford Leader: ‘GAA Club awarded for promoting integration of refugees’ (

Clubs recognised for their work with refugees and asylum seekers

Sligo Rovers among five clubs to see benefits of scheme set up by Show Racism the Red Card

Emmet Malone

Sligo Rovers was one of five sports clubs to be recognised at an event in Dublin on Tuesday for its work over the past year on the Club Welcome project, an initiative that aimed to helped get more refugees and asylum seekers involved in grassroots sport around Ireland.

Rovers were one of five clubs to work with the charity Show Racism the Red Card (SRTRC) on the scheme. The other clubs to be recognised were Booth Road Celtic from Clondalkin in Dublin, Emo Celtic from Laois, Ballinacurra Gaels in Limerick and Ballaghaderreen GAA club in Roscommon.

Minister of State for Equality, Immigration and Integration,David Stantonemphasised the central role that sport can play in bringing new arrivals into their local community as he presented representatives of each of the five clubs with plaques to mark their participation in the programme.

“Our country has changed and changed so much for the better,” said Stanton, who noted that the most recent census had shown that just under 12 per cent of the population now had a nationality other than Irish.

“All over Ireland today, in our towns and our rural areas, we have diverse communities and that bring colour and vitality to our communities,” he said. “We have a responsibility that people are made and feel welcome. Programmes like this are always welcome because of some of the people they are aimed at have come through some very difficult situations and travelled great distances to be here.”

Garrett Mullan, of SRTRC, cited examples of the work done by Ballaghaderreen GAA club, where a number of Syrian refugees now train regularly with the under-18 team and Emo Celtic in Laois, who have free memberships to children of asylum seekers and made all-weather facilities available as examples of the way the scheme had worked so successfully.

“It’s worked out really, really well,” agreedShane Crossan, marketing and PR officer at Sligo Rovers. “It’s work that, in the north west, we had never really done but we were delighted to do it and I’m delighted to say it was a terrific success.

“Initially there were some problems, a lot of meetings and phone calls and all of that but I mean it was really, really well worth it in the end. The first thing was to build a relationship with Globe House in Sligo and it was a challenge at the start to build trust with the residents there.

“It came as a bit of a shock to us that they didn’t really know about Sligo Rovers; they didn’t know where the stadium was, didn’t know the facilities that we had on offer but the project changed that. We have 25 adults coming to our stadium every week playing football with fully qualified coaches. Some of our underage coaches came in to coach them.

“But it wasn’t just about people coming in and playing football for an hour a week then going home. It has grown way beyond that and the hope is that some of the people are going to get involved in voluntary work with the club over the coming season.”

Rovers are keen to continue their involvement with the scheme which was originally supported by the Community Foundation and The Ireland Fund but is now expanding thanks to backing from the St Stephen’s Green Trust. Details are available attheredcard.ie.

“We’d have no hesitation whatsoever about wanting to be involved in year two of this project,” said Crossan. “I can’t speak highly enough of Garrett and the project itself.”

GAA and Football clubs awarded for promoting integration of refugees

– Minister David Stanton presents five clubs with awards –

– Show Racism the Red Card announces call for applications for 2018 Club Welcome programme –

Five sports clubs were recognised for their commitment to promoting the integration of refugees and asylum-seekers.

Two GAA clubs and three football clubs received awards, having successfully completed the ‘Club Welcome’ programme developed by the anti-racism charityShow Racism the Red Card.

Through ‘Club Welcome’, Show Racism the Red Card supports activities aimed at increasing the participation of refugees and asylum-seekers in grassroots sports. The five clubs that participated in the programme’s pilot phase were:

  • Booth Road Celtic FC, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, which invited residents of the Towers Accommodation Centre to an open coaching evening with the FAI and facilitated the participation of children from the Centre in under-age teams;
  • Emo Celtic, Co. Laois, which provided free access to the club’s all-weather facilities for residents of Montague House and gave free membership to the children of asylum-seekers;
  • Sligo Rovers, which delivered free weekly coaching sessions for residents of Globe House, and organised friendly games between the residents and local clubs;
  • Ballinacurra Gaels GAA Club, Limerick, which hosted a number of ‘Have A Go’ days targeted at the children of refugees and asylum-seekers; and
  • Ballaghaderreen GAA Club, Co. Roscommon, which organised a blitz and a trip to Croke Park for last year’s Roscommon v. Mayo fixture for Syrian refugees living locally. The club now has Syrian refugees training with its Under-18s football team on a regular basis.

Representatives from each of the clubs were presented with awards by David Stanton TD, Minister of State for Equality, Immigration and Integration, at a special event in Dublin today. At the event, Show Racism the Red Card announced that ‘Club Welcome’ will be expanded this year, and called on sports clubs nationwide to register their interest in participating.

Sport: A Powerful Tool for Integration

Speaking at the event, Garrett Mullan, Director of Show Racism the Red Card, said: “Sport is a powerful tool for social integration and inclusion. It can be an accessible and enjoyable way for migrants to connect with their new communities and begin to forge friendships and bonds.

“Sometimes, however, people who have just arrived in a new place need a little encouragement and support to join a local club. They may feel there are cultural, financial or language barriers. The Club Welcome programme is aimed at breaking down these barriers and making it as easy as possible for refugees and asylum-seekers to experience what their local clubs have to offer.

“At the moment, refugees and asylum-seekers are under-represented in Irish sport – but this is changing. As an organisation that has long championed the power of sport to break down barriers, we are heartened to see policymakers recognising the role sport can play in integration. Both at national government level and within the EU, there is growing recognition of the important links between sport and integration.

“We developed our Club Welcome programme in 2016 on a pilot basis, and we are delighted to be announcing its expansion today.”

Also speaking at the event, Minister David Stanton said: “I commend Show Racism the Red Card and these five clubs on the excellent work they did last year in bringing refugees and asylum-seekers together with local sports communities to help promote the integration of migrants within our society.

“Undoubtedly, sport has the potential to break down barriers between people from different cultures and to build strong links within communities and this is acknowledged thorough the inclusion of specific actions relating to sport and the funding of local community initiatives in the Government’s Migrant Integration Strategy. I wish Show Racism the Red Card every success as they seek to expand the Club Welcome programme further over the coming year.”

Call for Applications for 2018 Programme

Sports clubs interested in participating in Club Welcome are being invited to apply now through the Show Racism the Red Card website,

Ten clubs will be selected to participate in the programme this year, receiving a package of support, including:

  • A grant of €400 to support local activities aimed at promoting integration;
  • Anti-racism education resources; and
  • Ongoing support, information, advice and useful contacts from Show Racism the Red Card.

The pilot phase of the Club Welcome programme was supported by the Community Foundation and The Ireland Funds, while the 2018 expansion of the programme is supported by the St. Stephen’s Green Trust.

Sligo Rovers recognised for refugees integration

Sligo Rovers was recognised this week for their commitment to promoting the integration of refugees and asylum-seekers.
The Sligo club was one of five GAA and football clubs to receive an award, having successfully completed the‘Club Welcome’programme developed by the anti-racism charityShow Racism the Red Card.
Through‘Club Welcome’,Show Racism the Red Card supports activities aimed at increasing the participation of refugees and asylum-seekers in grassroots sports.
As part of the programme, Sligo Rovers delivered free weekly coaching sessions for residents of Globe House, and organised friendly games between the residents and local clubs.
Shane Crossan from Sligo Rovers was presented with the award by David Stanton TD, Minister of State for Equality, Immigration and Integration,pictured. At the event, Show Racism the Red Card announced that ‘Club Welcome’ will be expanded this year, and called on sports clubs nationwide to register their interest in participating.
Speaking at the event, Garrett Mullan, Director of Show Racism the Red Card, said: “Sport is a powerful tool for social integration and inclusion. It can be an accessible and enjoyable way for migrants to connect with their new communities and begin to forge friendships and bonds.
"I would like to commend Sligo Rovers and all the other clubs here today for the encouragement and support they have shown to refugees and asylum-seekers, and for making it as easy as possible for them to experience what their local clubs have to offer."
Call for Applications for 2018 Programme
Sports clubs interested in participating in Club Welcome are being invited to apply now through the Show Racism the Red Card website,
Ten clubs will be selected to participate in the programme this year, receiving a package of support, including:
A grant of €400 to support local activities aimed at promoting integration; Anti-racism education resources;and Ongoing support, information, advice and useful contacts from Show Racism the Red Card.
The pilot phase of the Club Welcome programme was supported by the Community Foundation and The Ireland Funds, while the 2018 expansion of the programme is supported by the St. Stephen’s Green Trust.

Limerick GAA club awarded for promoting integration of refugees

By Leader Reporter

BALLINACURRAGaels GAA Clubhas been recognised for their commitment to promoting the integration of refugees and asylum-seekers.

The Limerick city club was one of five GAA and football clubs to receive an award, having successfully completed the ‘Club Welcome’ programme developed by the anti-racism charityShow Racism the Red Card.

‘Club Welcome’ - Show Racism the Red Card, supports activities aimed at increasing the participation of refugees and asylum-seekers in grassroots sports. As part of the programme, Ballinacurra Gaels GAA Club hosted a number of ‘Have A Go’ days targeted at the children of refugees and asylum-seekers.

Shane Curtin from Ballinacurra Gaels was presented with the award by David Stanton TD, Minister of State for Equality, Immigration and Integration.

Shane Curtin, Ballinacurra Gaels GAA Club and David Stanton TD, Minister of State for Equality. Integration & Immigration

At the event, Show Racism the Red Card announced that ‘Club Welcome’ will be expanded this year, and called on sports clubs nationwide to register their interest in participating.

Speaking at the event, Garrett Mullan, Director of Show Racism the Red Card, said: “Sport is a powerful tool for social integration and inclusion.

"It can be an accessible and enjoyable way for migrants to connect with their new communities and begin to forge friendships and bonds. I would like to commend Ballinacurra Gaels GAA Club and all the other clubs here today for the encouragement and support they have shown to refugees and asylum-seekers, and for making it as easy as possible for them to experience what their local clubs have to offer.

Sports clubs interested in participating in Club Welcome are being invited to apply now through the Show Racism the Red Card website,

Rovers presented with award for work with refugees

Minister of State for Equality, Immigration and Integration David Stanton presented an award to Sligo Rovers in recognition of work carried out with refugees and asylum seekers in the north-west region through football.

The club began working with in particular the residents of Globe House over 12 months ago, with the ambition of integrating the residents into the Sligo community while also making them more aware of the brand of Sligo Rovers and the facilities on offer.

In conjunction with Show Racism The Red Card, weekly training sessions were set up on the club’s astro pitch with up to 30 refugees and asylum seekers taking part each week. The result of the project was an unprecedented success, with asylum seekers and refugees in Sligo becoming more active in the community by means of football while also becoming more familiar with Sligo Rovers as a whole.

Minister Stanton presented the club with an award in recognition of the great work done and the progress made in the previous 12 months.

Sligo Rovers thanked everybody at Show Racism The Red Card for inviting and nominating them for the award and a special thank you to Minister David Stanton who presented the award to club employee Shane Crossan in Dublin.

Sligo Rovers were the only League Of Ireland club awarded for their work.

The club are very much looking forward to taking part in year two of the project later in the year.

Laois Soccer club awarded for promoting integration of refugees

By Alan Hartnett

Emo Celtic has been recognised for their commitment to promoting the integration of refugees and asylum-seekers.

The Laois club was one of five GAA and soccer clubs to receive an award, having successfully completed the ‘Club Welcome’ programme developed by the anti-racism charityShow Racism the Red Card.

Through ‘Club Welcome’, Show Racism the Red Card supports activities aimed at increasing the participation of refugees and asylum-seekers in grassroots sports.

As part of the programme, Emo Celtic provided free access to the club’s all-weather facilities for residents of Montague House and gave free membership to the children of asylum-seekers.

Pat Maher from Emo Celtic was presented with the award by David Stanton TD, Minister of State for Equality, Immigration and Integration.

At the event, Show Racism the Red Card announced that ‘Club Welcome’ will be expanded this year, and called on sports clubs nationwide to register their interest in participating.

Speaking at the event, Garrett Mullan, Director of Show Racism the Red Card, said: “Sport is a powerful tool for social integration and inclusion.

“It can be an accessible and enjoyable way for migrants to connect with their new communities and begin to forge friendships and bonds.

“I would like to commend Emo Celtic and all the other clubs here today for the encouragement and support they have shown to refugees and asylum-seekers, and for making it as easy as possible for them to experience what their local clubs have to offer.

Call for Applications for 2018 Programme