Irish Sports Diplomacy Progamme launched in Lagos

Minister Jack Chambers visited St Finbarr’s College in Lagos during his St Patrick’s Day visit to Nigeria, where he was welcomed by staff, students and alumni, including Patrick Doyle.

Founded by the late Father Dennis Slattery in the 1950s, the College has been at the heart of Ireland - Nigeria relations and has an exemplary record of achievement in sport. Indeed Father Slattery himself served as President of the Nigerian Football Federation in 1957.

So St Finbarr’s College was the perfect place for Minister Chambers to launch the Embassy of Ireland’s very first Sports Diplomacy Programme bringing together staff and students from across Lagos. The Programme will provide sports teachers with practical best practice from Ireland and will give the students an opportunity to try Gaelic Sports as well as a range of other sporting activities.

In his remarks before he lined out to play soccer with the students, the Minister thanked Aduke Gomez of the FoIN and Remi Desalu for working with Team Ireland to realise the Sports Diplomacy Programme.