Date: 29 Aug 2025
Donegal Sports Partnership Launches “Play and Connect” – A PEACEPLUS-Funded Initiative to Promote Peace and Inclusion Through Sport
Donegal Sports Partnership is proud to announce the launch of “Play and Connect”, an exciting new peacebuilding programme supported through PEACEPLUS, a European Union programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).
Funded under the Donegal County Council PEACEPLUS Local Co-Design Action Plan, which is delivering €7,635,395 in support of 32 cross-community projects from 2025 to 2027, the €200,000 “Play and Connect” project aims to bring together local and cross-border National Schools through the power of play.
Over the next two years, this inclusive and community-focused initiative will engage up to 300 Participants across each municipal district in Donegal, alongside three participating schools from Northern Ireland. Through fun and structured physical activity, the programme seeks to foster connection, wellbeing, and mutual understanding among children and their communities.
Speaking at the launch, Paul Canning of Donegal County Council said:
“This initiative is supported by a €200,000 investment under Theme 2: Thriving and Peaceful Communities – Peace Building Through Sport. It marks the beginning of a shared journey—bringing together people across Donegal and the border regions to build a more inclusive, healthier, and better-connected County.”
Inspired by the United Nations 2030 Agenda, which recognises sport as a powerful tool for sustainable development, the “Play and Connect” programme will place play and recreation at the heart of community peacebuilding.
Programme Highlights:
Training for Play Leaders: School staff, parents, local volunteers, and coaches will receive training to lead inclusive and engaging play sessions.
Cross-Border Engagement: Schools will participate in inter-community activities to build relationships and promote reconciliation.
Community Empowerment: By establishing links with community groups and clubs, the programme will embed long-term play initiatives at the local level.
Inclusive Design: A needs-based approach ensures equal access regardless of age, gender, ability, ethnicity, or religious background.
Each participant will be involved in at least 20 hours of sustained contact, enabling meaningful interactions and long-lasting connections.
The programme aims to:
Break down barriers and promote peace through shared play
Enhance both physical and mental wellbeing
Foster leadership, teamwork, and interpersonal skills
Encourage integration and social mobility
Create welcoming, accessible spaces for all
Declan Boyle, CEO of Donegal Sports Partnership, stated that “Donegal Sports Partnership is delighted to be leading the Play and Connect Project, which represents an exciting opportunity to strengthen cross-community and cross-border connections through the simple yet powerful medium of play. By linking primary schools on both sides of the border, and by providing training and capacity building for teachers, school staff, parents and community leaders, the project will create lasting opportunities for collaboration, learning, and shared experiences. This initiative will not only support children’s physical, social, and emotional development but also help build stronger relationships between communities. As with all of our programmes, our aim is to leave a meaningful legacy, and we are confident that the Play and Connect project will inspire new opportunities for cooperation, understanding, and growth long after the project has concluded”.
Project Coordinator Danny Gillespie expressed his enthusiasm for the programme, pointing to the positive impact that play initiatives have already had through previous and current Donegal Sports Partnership programmes. “By using play as a medium, we have been able to reduce barriers to physical activity, from improving fitness levels and exercise opportunities to even overcoming language barriers. We have also seen children develop problem-solving, teamworking, and social interaction skills. Play allows children to build physical fitness naturally, as they move, exercise, and engage their muscles and energy systems without feeling like they are taking part in standardised exercise.”
Through active collaboration with local sporting organisations, schools, and public agencies, the programme will be rolled out across multiple Donegal municipal districts, with a strong cross-border component.
“By the end of this journey,” Mr. Canning concluded, “we hope to see real and lasting change in attitudes, behaviours, and relationships. We aim to build a culture of wellbeing, strengthen community ties, and empower individuals to become champions of peace and inclusion.”
