DOE Minister helps Ulster GAA launch their Live To Play Campaign
The Tyrone GAA Centre at Garvaghey was the ideal back-drop for the launch of Ulster GAA’s Live To Play campaign on Thursday 20th March. The launch ran alongside a DOE Road Safety Showcase Event hosted by the Community Transport Association; administrators of the road safety grant which funds projects such as Live To Play.
In its third year of successfully being chosen as a funded project, Live To Play has become an identifiable brand in communities as Ulster GAA’s road safety campaign. The campaign aims to raise awareness of the causative factors which result in death and serious injury on our roads, and to reduce dangerous driving behaviour.
Live To Play uses a range of events, and formats in which to achieve its objectives. The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS), the PSNI, and An Garda Siochana are partners in rolling-out educational events whereby target audiences experience first-hand the devastation of a car wreckage. The Live To Play Social Media Campaign uses the influence of high-profile players, managers and personalities to promote safer driving behaviours, reinforcing the shattering effects of death and serious injury to members of our families, GAA clubs, and communities.
This year’s programme has seen the development of an online interactive learning tool aimed at primary school children. The tool features on a newly developed Kids Zone on the Live To Play website https://ulster.gaa.ie/livetoplay/kids-zone/
Children can navigate their journey home by playing interactive games which educate children on how to cross the road safely; how to be safe while cycling; and how to behave safely in the car. The nature of online learning allows children to access the site in their own time, as well as in schools, and the fun games encourage children to visit the site more than once, reinforcing the learning. It is hoped that by raising awareness among children they are empowered to become a positive ‘voice in the car’ repeating road safety messages to adult drivers. As with other years the Primary School Colouring Competition proved very popular, and as a result over 500 lucky classmates will receive reflective Live To Play backpacks. At the launch two winning primary schools from County Tyrone, St Patricks P.S. Aughadarragh, Augher, and St Patricks P.S. Dungannon, were presented with their backpacks by Ulster GAA President Martin McAviney.
The Road safety Showcase Event featured five of the twelve projects which have been funded this year. Minister Mark H. Durkan congratulated all projects for their innovative and effective ways in which they were contributing to the DOE’s objective of reaching zero road deaths. More information on the DOE’s campaign can be found at the ‘Share the Road to Zero’ website https://www.sharetheroadtozero.com/
Photo Captions:
Photo 1: DOE Minister Mark H. Durkan and Ulster GAA President Martin McAviney launch Ulster GAA’s Live To Play campaign at a recent DOE Road Safety Showcase Event hosted by Community Transport Association in the Tyrone GAA Centre at Garvaghey. Also pictured are Ulster GAA staff Fionntan O’Dowd and Maura McMenamin.
Photo 2: A pupil from St Patrick’s PS Augher presents Ulster GAA President Martin McAviney with her road safety picture.
