Tag Archives: Trevor Ringland

by | September 26, 2012 · 2:34 pm

You don’t Need to be on the Court to be in the Game!

Behind the scenes and away from the classrooms, the court, and the kids, but very much inspired by all three, the Board of PPI-NI have been busying themselves over the past few months in thinking about the future. Consideration of two really important questions have been top of the agenda:

1. How can PPI-NI best build upon the strong foundation of work and experience that has been developed in expanding and scaling up its impact and reach?

2. Which business model/s would best support the further growth and expansion of our work and impact in Northern Ireland?

PeacePlayers has no doubt matured over the years and we are currently in a strong position.   PPI-NI has under its belt over 10 years experience in using the game of basketball to unite young people from the Catholic/Nationalist/Republican and Protestant/Unionist/Loyalist communities.  Championed by PeacePlayers, the potential of sport for community relations work is increasingly being recognized. Realizing this potential is what has been and is currently occupying the minds of local Board members in Northern Ireland.

PPI-NI Chairman Trevor Ringland, along with fellow Board member Jim Fitzpatrick, who acted as MC at the Belfast Interface Games.

The Board has not been alone in its deliberations and has welcomed support when offered.  At the end of August PPI Global Board member Keith Horn was in Belfast lending his international experience to a strategy conversation kindly facilitated by Jonathon McAlpin from the Ulster Community Investment Trust.  Furthermore, back in June PPI-NI learned of the Business Support Package that came with its shortlisting for the Beyond Sport P&G UK Impact Award, essentially a consultancy and advice service amounting to 50 days of pro-bono support to be provided by Award partners PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC).

At PPI-NI, we are confident about where we want to go and what we want to achieve.  In addition, there exists now a fantastic opportunity to be supported in gathering the information that will assist us in making strategic planning and investment decisions that will pay dividends in the future in terms of our ability to continue to deliver on our mission:

“To develop young leaders to promote respect and mutual understanding between different communities in Northern Ireland, through sport, using the game of basketball as a model.”

PPI-NI Vice-chair James Magowan with his son Robert at the Belfast Interface games.

As friends and followers of PeacePlayers we would love for you to get involved in thinking about the journey.  So from wherever you are, why not get in the game by responding to this blog and sharing with us what you think are the questions we should be asking and of whom should we be asking them in informing how best we might get there?

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by | September 5, 2012 · 2:58 pm

Megan Lynch on her First Month with PeacePlayers International – Northern Ireland

Megan Lynch, from Albany, New York, joined PeacePlayers International – Northern Ireland (PPI-NI) at the beginning of August. Here, she reflects about her first month on site.

Megan Lynch stands next to a taller guest, Alex Lopez, at the Belfast Interface Games.

This week marks my first month here at PPI-NI. Already it has begun to feel natural to wake up to the morning bustle in Belfast. Rain or (hopefully) shine, it is always great to get into the office to start off the day. Since arriving, I’ve been plenty busy with the Belfast Interface Games (BIG) in early August, a weekend training residential, and scattered classroom visits to set up twinnings in schools.

A view of the Irish Sea, across from a recent PPI-NI residential location.

Apart from learning to drive on the left side of the road and learning how to navigate Belfast, getting the lingo down was right up there on my “to-do” list. One of my prized possessions in the office is a handy “PPI-NI Dictionary” given to me by local Project Coordinator, Joanne Fitzpatrick. I have taken to quizzing people on entries such as “Sit Down Clown,” “Sectarianism” and “Not On My Team.” Designed as a tool for coaches, the dictionary breaks down key local terms.

The week before last, Darryl Petticrew, Chris Schumerth, and I coached at a Game of Three Halves (rugby, soccer, and Gaelic football) camp where we rounded out the group by delivering basketball and community relations sessions. PPI global board member Keith Horn and his two sons, Mike and Brian, jumped right into the action on their visit. The kids absolutely adored the Horns and peppered them with questions such as “Are you on Team USA?” or “What’s it like in America?”

In one game, Brian joined in so the kids could play a game of 5-on-5. After a few minutes, one of the kids asked Brian, “How can you be so good?” Brian then jokingly replied: “I’m American.” Having attended a community relations station earlier, the boy retorted: “Hey, that’s discrimination!” We all laughed, pleased to see that they were taking our discussions to heart. Throughout the week we discussed diversity, prejudice and stereotypes, which gave the kids an opportunity to see how sport can either reinforce or mitigate prejudice and stereotypes.

On the last day, PPI-NI board Chairperson Trevor Ringland congratulated the campers on a great week. Speaking an Olympic torch in hand, he told the campers that what matters most is being a good teammate and doing your best. It was a great way to end the summer and transition into the twinning season.

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by | January 4, 2012 · 2:36 pm

Game of Three Halves at Belfast’s Hydebank Young Offenders Centre


Last semester, PPI-NI hosted the Game of Three Halves with 23 youth offenders at the Hydebank Wood correctional facility in south Belfast. Teaming up with the Irish Football Association, Ulster Rugby, and the Ulster Gaelic Athletic Association, PeacePlayers spent the day facilitating community relations discussions while two teams of teenaged boys played soccer, rugby, and gaelic football. When asked for feedback about the event, one of the participants said:

“Making contacts with outside clubs may help people stay out of trouble. Overall, it was a thoroughly enjoyable day and I would love to do it again.”

The partnership between PPI-NI and Hydebank was forged with the help of PPI-NI Board Chairman Trevor Ringland. The Game of Three Halves at the correctional facility was a great opportunity for PPI-NI to speak about how to maintain peace in the sectarian neighborhoods from which many of the boys come. PPI-NI continues to expand its peacebuilding efforts in Northern Ireland and the Game of Three Halves at Hydebank exemplifies this initiative.

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by | June 29, 2011 · 12:46 pm

PPI-NI Hosts Three Cross-Community Basketball Tournaments

Victoria Park and Our Lady's students (orange) competed against Holy Cross Girls' and Wheatfield (purple) on Monday, June 20th.

Last week was an action-packed one for the team at PPI-NI! We hosted a series of three “Super Twinning” cross-community basketball tournaments over the course of four days, incorporating both basketball skills and games during each day. The Super Twinnings represented a celebratory conclusion to PPI-NI’s primary school Twinning Programme, a cross-community intervention that typically pairs one Controlled school and one Maintained school for sport and community relations activities during the school day over the course of the academic year.

Glengormley Integrated and Holy Cross Boys' (green) competed against St. Clare's and Carr's Glen (yellow) on Thursday, June 23.

The Super Twinnings were designed to bring two Primary 6 (fourth grade) Twinning Programmes together, four schools in total, to create a sense of unity and pride among twinning partners, as well as to provide the early foundation for future integrated basketball clubs in interface communities. Over the course of three days, the three Super Twinnings engaged approximately 240 children from 12 primary schools from North, West and East Belfast to play together. Funding for the Super Twinnings was provided by Comic Relief.

Trevor Ringland, chair of PPI-NI’s board, said:

“The Super Twinnings fully embody the basic premise on which PeacePlayers was founded – that children who play together can learn to live together. These types of events provide a real opportunity for the young participants to bond further as teammates in a fun, safe and competitive environment.”

Special thanks to Our Lady’s and Victoria Park; Holy Cross Girls and Wheatfield; St. Matthew’s and Avoniel; Edenbrooke and Bunscoil Bheann Mhadagain; Holy Cross Boys and Glengormley Integrated; and St. Clare’s and Carr’s Glen. These twelve schools from across Belfast brought major enthusiasm and spirit to the PPI-NI program—what a great way to end the school year!

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by | March 30, 2011 · 1:03 pm

PPI – Northern Ireland’s Documentary “Two Steps at a Time” is a Smash Hit!

(Front Row, Left to Right) Ronny McAuley, Denis Rooney CBE, Aoife Doherty, Trevor Ringland (Back Row, Left to Right) William Winchester, Darryl Petticrew, Will Maloney.

Last week, PeacePlayers International – Northern Ireland (PPI-NI) was proud to debut “Two Steps At A Time,” a film documenting the work of PPI-NI through the eyes of four of its participants – Aoife Doherty, Ronny McAuley, William Winchester and PPI-NI Leadership Development Program Coordinator Darryl Petticrew. Produced and directed by filmmaker and former PPI-NI Fellow Will Maloney, the film showed the participants crossing barriers, challenging stereotypes, and improving their jump shot.

The Trailer of “Two Steps at a Time”


The film’s premiere, held at Strand Cinema in Belfast, was hosted by PPI-NI Board Member and host of BBC Northern Ireland’s Politics Show and Stormont Today, Jim Fitzpatrick. As emcee, Fitzpatrick introduced speakers and kept everyone entertained for the duration of the evening. Trevor Ringland, chairman of the PPI-NI board, provided opening remarks and addressed the benefits of using sport as a tool for promoting good relations. PPI-NI also welcomed Denis Rooney CBE, chairman of the International Fund for Ireland (IFI) – the sponsor of the event.

Ronny McAuley, a participant in the PPI-NI twinning program, with Aoife Doherty, a fellow participant, at the premiere of their film "Two Steps At A Time" at the Strand Cinema. Also pictured is (back row, L-R) Trevor Ringland, Denis Rooney CBE, William Winchester, Will Maloney and Darryl Petticrew.

Rooney specifically spoke of the cross-community work PeacePlayers has undertaken in various communities in Belfast and the surrounding area, stating, “Programmes like this that work at the grass roots level with the young people in our society are vital to achieving sustainable peace within our communities. We are committed to supporting and facilitating projects that provide opportunities for young people from different community backgrounds to come together to explore common issues and experiences.” PPI-NI has worked in partnership with IFI for the past three years to develop and deliver its Leadership Development Programme (LDP) through IFI’s Community Bridges Program.

The abridged screening of the film highlighted the PeacePlayers experience of Aoife and Ronny, two P6 students from different neighborhoods in Belfast. Both attended the premiere with their families and were excited to be included in the night’s presentations. William and Darryl were also acknowledged for their involvement in the documentary and guests were encouraged to watch the film in its entirety, as all in attendance were given a copy of the full-length film.

Ronny and Aoife: Two Steps at a Time, Part I



Watch the full film here!

Following the film, Fitzpatrick introduced the stars of the video, as well as the PPI-NI staff and local Board Members in attendance. To end the evening, guests, which included funders of PPI-NI, teachers and principals from participating schools, community leaders, local media, PPI-NI coaches, and friends of the organization, were encouraged to mingle over coffee and dessert. As always, the PPI-NI team would like to thank all of the attendees for their ongoing support of PeacePlayers International – Northern Ireland!

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by | March 31, 2010 · 12:55 pm

PeacePlayers International – Northern Ireland Leads Sport For Change

Actress Nuala McKeever was one of several notable Northern Ireland personalities who took part in Platform for Change's kickoff event this Feburary. (Copyright Keevin Cooper)

This Thursday, PPI – NI will host “Sport For Change,” a civil society event in Belfast. In conjunction with Platform for Change, Sport for Change will include a panel discussion on the impact of sport on community relations work in Northern Ireland and begin the process of outlining the steps needed to optimize the work of both. The panel will be led by former Ireland rugby star and PeacePlayers International – Northern Ireland Board Member Trevor Ringland, who won the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the 2007 ESPN ESPY Awards along with Dave Cullen for his work bringing together children from Holy Cross and Wheatfield Primary Schools with PeacePlayers.

Platform for Change is a recent initiative to promote a new Northern Ireland, as a society without “peace walls,” where there is equality of life-chances and the economy is on a path of sustainable development. It supports a new politics based on the public interest and the common good. It is not a new political party but a network of supporters, including senior figures from the sporting world, and it wants to support efforts in every walk of life to bring about positive change.

PPI - NI Board Member Trevor Ringland will lead Sport for Change's panel discussion.

Sport for Change panel members will feature representatives from both sport and community relations bodies engaging in healthy debate about how sport can be used as a progressive tool in Northern Ireland in the foreseeable future. Representatives will not only have the opportunity to speak on the work being done in their sector, but also gain insight from other organisations doing similar work.

We invite you and anyone who may be interested to join Sport For Change on the evening of Thursday, April 1st from 7-9pm in the Belfast Harbour Commissioner’s Office.

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by | January 6, 2010 · 2:41 pm

The American Ireland Fund

For most children, sport conjures images of fun-filled pep-rallies, friendly school rivalries and team spirit—an experience that typically unifies children from diverse backgrounds. But, historically, for children in Northern Ireland this has not been the case.

The website even has a system set up to allow you to send PPI - NI photos like this one as e-cards.

While that may sound like the beginning of our next PSA, it wasn’t written by PeacePlayers International (We promise). Instead, that’s the beginning of a wonderful look at our work put together by The American Ireland Fund, one of PPI – Northern Ireland’s oldest and most generous funders. If you’d like a quick immersion in all that we do in Northern Ireland, there might not be any better place than the home they’ve set up for our work on their website.

A PPI-NI Fellow watching the kids at work.

It includes thoughts on PPI – NI from Matt Quinn, a young PPI Fellow at the time, as well as Dave Cullen, a former coach and Board Member who won an ESPY in 2007 with current PPI – NI Board Member Trevor Ringland for their work bridging divides in Belfast. Writes Cullen:

I can remember saying to myself, “What the hell do these Americans know about the troubles in NI! How dare they think they can use our problems and turn it into a romantic fundraiser in New York and D.C.!”

Five years later, he was working for PPI – NI.

The site also contains a live link to a short documentary produced by ESPN on Trevor and Dave’s journey, and a note from Page Tucker, a PPI – NI supporter based in Dallas, who visited our program in Febuary 2007.

The American Ireland Fund is the American branch of the Ireland Funds, “an international charitable organisation operating in 12 countries [that] has raised over $300 million for worthy causes in Ireland.” The organization aims to be the largest network of individuals of Irish ancestry and friends of Ireland in the world dedicated to raising funds to support programs of peace and reconciliation, arts and culture, education and community development throughout the island of Ireland. The Ireland Funds have supported over 1,200 organizations in Ireland. PPI is extremely grateful for the generosity and support of the American Ireland Fund and its donors.

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