Science skills and Shamrock Rovers
SHAMROCK Rovers have teamed up with Sphero to bring the science of football home to Tallaght and Clondalkin by providing an educational STEM resource to the community.
As part of its sponsorship of the Unite the Union Champions Cup, Unite has partnered with Shamrock Rovers and Sphero to provide a groundbreaking resource that introduced students to football and STEM education through hands-on, football-themed coding and mathematics activities.
Commenting on the initiative, Unite’s Community Coordinator Rhona McCord said: “Unite is delighted to launch this initiative with Shamrock Rovers and Sphero Sports as part of our sponsorship of the Unite Champions Cup.
“The programme will provide educational STEM resource to the Tallaght/Clondalkin community and builds on the Champions Cup theme of ‘Diversity, Equality, Community,’ which started in 2019 when Unite gave supports to children in Direct Provision engaged in football.”
SUPPORT: Councillors Charlie O’Connor and Francis Timmons with Rovers CEO Denis Donohoe at the launch
This educational resource, which is the first of its kind in Ireland, comprises six floormats designed as football pitches, together with 15 interactive robots programmed by the participants to perform tasks, such as playing football.
This develops skills in sport, maths, computer programming and coding. Five local teachers have been trained up to roll out this STEM education in the local community.
Shamrock Rovers F.C. Community Officer Tony O’Neill said that he is proud to be working with Unite as he looks forward to working alongside the team of volunteers implementing this
Aidomo Emalcho (Past Pupil), Regina Halpin (Divine Mercy SNS) and Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley
“engaging and inclusive project” for children.
He added: “Community is at the heart of Shamrock Rovers Football Club and the club is continuously engaged in supporting and building relationships with the local community.
Our schools’ programme has enabled hundreds of children from schools in the area to engage in physical wellbeing workshops, delivered by our community and academy coaches.”
Shamrock Rovers Tony O’Neill with Rhona McCord from UNITE
The programme will begin this month in schools across Tallaght and Clondalkin and was formally launched on Tuesday, September 14 at 10.30 in Tallaght Stadium.
At the launch was Shamrock Rovers head coach Stephen Bradley from Jobstown, and midfielder Aidomo Emakhu from Clondalkin as well as Shamrock Rovers Academy Director Shane Robinson.
