Report on Tallaght launch

Another successful launch of Show Racism the Red Card occurred on Wednesday 28th June at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght, Dublin. In attendance were the Mayor of South County Dublin, Chief Executive of the FAI John Delaney on the panel were Hoops Manager Pat Scully and fellow tv pundit Paul Osam manager of the St Patrick's Athletic under 21s.









Pictured: Baba, Paul Osam, Fran Gavin and Pat Scully with local school children










Pictured: Aidan Price signs some autographs

Also on the panel representing the Gaelic Players Association was Dublin's Hurling Captain David Curtin who plays with local club Ballyboden St Endas, Irish Women's International Sharon Boyle, Hoops Captain Aidan Price and Goalkeeper Barry Murphy.











Pictured: David Curtin answering a question

Over 100 local school children were there with their teachers from Scoil Rose, St Josephes St Aidans and Scoil Aonghus. Officials from South Dublin County Council, County Dublin VEC, Tallaght Volunteer Centre, Tallaght Partnership, Tallaght Youth Service and Tallaght Intercultural Action were in attendance also.











Pictured: Mayor of South County Dublin Therese Ridge speaking at the launch

A lively Questions & Answers Session followed the DVD, after which children received prizes and goodie bags including a magazine, posters, wristbands, keyrings and soft drinks.











Pictured: Our panel are scratching all over for answers to the questions from the youngsters













Pictured: A section of the audience

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Red Card launch in Tallaght

Mayor Therese Ridge on behalf of South Dublin County Council and in association with Shamrock Rovers F.C, Tallaght Partnership and Co. Dublin VEC will officially launch the Show Racism the Red Card Campaign on Wednesday the 28 th June 2006 at 11.00am in the Basketball Arena Tallaght.

It will be assisted by the distribution of 5,000 posters of the Shamrock Rovers team bearing the Show Racism the Red Card slogan and coincides with the FIFA initiatives against racism at the world cup. At the start of each of the quarter final games, the team captains will read a personal statement on the issue of racism.

South Dublin County Council has teamed up with Show Racism the Red Card Ireland and Shamrock Rovers to launch the Show Racism the Red Card campaign in Tallaght. Shamrock Rovers just like many new residents will find Tallaght as its' new home next year, and we are very proud to launch this new initiative.

Show Racism the Red Card Ireland is an anti-racism education project, which harnesses the profile of sport, for anti-racism education. Originally founded in the UK in 1995 by West Ham United and Trinidad- Tobago goalkeeper Shaka Hislop, it has since produced three videos and a wide range of education resources for use in schools and other education and training arenas.

Through supporting the Show Racism the Red Card Initiative, South Dublin County Council and Shamrock Rovers in association with Tallaght Partnership and Co.Dublin VEC will aim to make a positive local impact on intercultural and anti-racism activity. Participation in sport provides great opportunities to interact with people from all cultures and through playing working and living together we can promote integration and understanding.

In Attendance will be: Pat Scully (Manager Shamrock Rovers), David Curtin (Captain Dublin Hurling team), and Barry Murphy (Goalkeeper Shamrock Rovers), Paul Osam(TV3 pundit), Alfred Nii-Mawuli (Captain of the Ghana team which won the Sari World Cup) and others with an audience of young people from schools and clubs.

Following a presentation of the Show Racism the Red Card DVD and Website, young people present on the day will have the opportunity to interact with the sports stars in a questions and answers session. There will be a range of prizes for best questions including shirts and match tickets.

Speaking ahead of the launch Shamrock Rovers boss Pat Scully said: 'Football is great for bringing people of all nationalities together. We need to encourage this in our everyday lives. We also need to recognise that talent comes from within regardless of race, colour or creed'.

Mayor of South Dublin County Council Teresa Ridge added: 'South Dublin is now home to many nationalities and we must learn to value all they have to offer to our community. As a local authority we have a responsibility to promote such initiatives because by opposing racism we can encourage integration in our everyday dealings with each other leading to a better quality of life for all'

For more information please contact: Garrett Mullen the Irish Co-ordinator for Show Racism the Red Card Mobile: 086 392 7650 Or Sports Development Officer with South Dublin Council, Jennifer Hill at 01 414 9000 ext 3361

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Eircom League player predictions for World Cup

As World Cup mania reaches fever pitch, Show Racism the Red Card Chairman and PFAI Secretary Fran Gavin asked some of the top players in the Eircom League who they think will win the world cup.












Stephen McGuinness (PFAI Chairman)
Germany – “Well, Germany or Brazil, but I’ll go with Germany as they are the host nation, and there has only been one world cup final since world war (1978) which hasn’t featured either Germany or Brazil.”












Alan Cawley (UCD)
Argentina – “Argentina - or England, but Argentina as the have two of the most exciting players in the world in Riquelme and Messi. Also they are value for money!”









Kevin Doherty (LongfordTown)
Brazil – “Brazil for me because of their attacking players Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Adriano. If the team click - as we know they can - I can’t see past them. I’d like to see England do well though – I’d love a Brazil v England final.”








Owen Heary (Shelbourne)
Argentina – “Argentina - or England. Argentina have excellent players, a very talented squad and I think it could be their turn to win it again. England’s only











Danny Murphy (CorkCity)
Portugal – “No one’s thinking about them, they are my bet .”









Aidan Price (Shamrock Rovers)
Germany – “Germany because of their tradition in the world cup and the home support.”

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Paul Elliot optimistic about challenging racism in World Cup

Paul Elliott expressed here his optimism about activities against racism during World Cup Friday. "I believe the football against racism, which takes a positive message from the top of the FIFA and German World Cup Organising Committee," said the ex English player.



The 42-year-old Elliott, whose origin is from Jamaica, said he had suffered bitter experience of discrimination when he was a player. "People said insulting words and threw bananas towards me," Elliott said, who had played in leagues of Italy, England and Scotland. FIFA announed today the football against racism during and beyond the World Cup, opened here with the first match between Germany and Costa Rica, together with German World Cup Organising Committee and Non Government Organizations.

According to FIFA press spokesman Alain Leblang, at each of the 64 games, a banner covering the entire centre circle will be displayed from the stadium`s opening until the end of the official pre-match protocol, bearing the slogan "A time to make friends" combined with the anti-racism message "Say no to racism". In addition, anti-racism video spots will be aired at all FIFA World Cup stadiums.

All TV rights holders have received five-second mini-spots at no cost for integration in their programmes related to the event. FIFA will also dedicate all quarter-finals on 30 June and 1 July to a special activity on the pitch to give the participating teams the chance to raise their voices against this blight on society in a message to be aired around the globe. The World Cup, with more than 30 billion accumulated spectators worldwide, is the ideal platform to send a clear rejection of any form of discrimination and to contribute to preventing racist incidents during the tournament.

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