The Role of Sport in Reconciliation

The Role of Sport in Reconciliation was held on Wednesday the 24th of June 2026 in the Millers 2 Suite of the Canal Court Hotel, Newry. We were joined by the President of the GAA, Jarlath Burns and Ciara Mageean, Portaferry middle distance runner and European Athletics Championship gold medallist.

This was followed by a panel conversation with speakers and representatives from Peace Players and Limestone United Cross Community

• Jarlath Burns is a former senior inter-county footballer for Armagh and a former principal of St Paul’s High School Bessbrook. He was elected as the 41st President of the Gaelic Athletic Association (Uachtarán Cumann Lúthchleas Gael) in February 2023.
• Ciara Mageean has carved out a unique place in Irish sport as one of the country’s most decorated and relatable middle-distance runners. A European 1500m Champion, two-time Olympian, and multiple Irish record holder across the 800m, 1000m, 1500m, and Mile, Ciara has consistently raised the bar for Irish athletics on the world stage.
• Aoife Redmond started her journey with Peace Players Northern Ireland in 2017 as part of her university placement, where she was challenged to explore youth work in a new and dynamic context. She holds a BA (Hons) in Youth and Community Work and has worked in various youth work settings across Northern Ireland since 2013. With a long-standing passion for team sports, Aoife became the first junior member of her school’s Sports Committee and has continued to champion the role of team sports in bringing people together. Originally from Dublin, she brings a unique perspective as someone outside the Northern Ireland conflict, using this position to foster open dialogue and shared learning with participants. As a PeacePlayer, Aoife is dedicated to supporting young people on their journeys of growth through sport, informal education, team building, and leadership development.
• Adam Doak plays for Brantwood FC. He has been involved with Limestone United, a cross community project providing sport across the interface in North Belfast. He continues to help other lads in peace building by encouraging them to take part in cross community groups.

#PeacebuildingWeek Peacebuilding@20 The UN Peacebuilding Week provides a dedicated platform to advance dialogue, share experiences and strengthen partnerships across the peacebuilding community.

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