A celebration was held recently at St Mary’s University College for primary schools throughout county Antrim participating in a pilot project for the GAA’s new 5 Star Centre initiative. The celebration was organised by Gaelfast, a new catalyst for change in promoting physical activity through gaelic games.

Since January 2019, more than 5,000 children have been involved in the GAA's 5 Star Centre initiative which aims to provide at least sixty minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week to schoolchildren. In a partnership with St Mary’s University College Belfast, Gaelfast has upskilled 170 qualified and student teachers in coaching gaelic games to schoolchildren. At the event Gaelfast ambassador, Anto Finnegan, presented the teachers with 5 Star Centre flags for their schools.

Dr Paul Donnelly (Gaelfast Regeneration Director) announced that one measure of the early success of the GAA’s 5 Star Centre is that eighty-seven schools have enrolled for Phase 2 of the project due to start in September. The event was also addressed by Antrim GAA County Chairperson, Ciaran McCavana, who confirmed the relocation of Gaelfast and Antrim GAA staff to new offices on campus at “The Ranch”. The offices to be opened in September are part of a new strategic partnership between Gaelfast and St Marys. Meanwhile, Gaelfast is preparing for a packed programme of summer activities including Go Games and GAA Cúl Camps, as well as a host of club development activities, marking the resurgence in gaelic games throughout Belfast and across county Antrim.