An emblematic significance
‘Learning from Each Other’ – since 1994
Sport will always have an emblematic significance in an Integrated school, and while the pitch will always be the crucial facility for delivering the field sports traditionally associated with the two communities within Northern Ireland, the Sports Hall is the spot for the sports which have always been open to everyone. Shimna’s sports curriculum has always included rugby, hockey, soccer, gaelic, hurling, camogie and cricket, and also athletics, netball and basketball.
Of course we were very proud of our school hall which in the early days had tripled as assembly hall, dining hall and gym. Early generations of students will remember the welcome sight of Careen and Joan bringing the dinner. As soon as PE ended, the hatch rolled up, the bain marie was fired up and we rolled out the dinner tables ready for service. Once we had eaten, the rolling tables went away, the hatches closed and after a swift brush up, PE could resume.
The Department of Education was of the view that only a much larger school could have a sports hall. But, one good turn deserves another, as it turned out. We had always aimed to share our facilities with the local community, and when Shimna Stars Special Olympics Club was seeking a hall for basketball sessions, we were happy to oblige. Then Shimna Stars got a visitor. Minister of Education, Caitríona Ruane, had a particular interest in sport, and came to check out the club.
Our students were of course mostly still wee, but Shimna Stars had plenty of adult athletes and they banged about against the walls in our gym. Caitríona snuck into Kevin’s office, changed into her gear and played a game or two and realised a growing school needs an actual sports hall. That summer, one just grew in the horseshoe playground. Kevin and Caitríona always communicated in Spanish, so the rest of the story is lost in Hispanic mist.
Change is always an upheaval, and we did miss the horseshoe playground, but again, we were able to watch the process as the building grew. The day the tarmac was torn up was bleak, but then the steel went in and the walls grew, the roof went on, the cedar cladding and finally the Shimna Integrated College sign. The height, the light, the space and just having an additional sports space made a huge difference to the PE department.
Having a Sports hall also opened up more opportunities to share with community partners and before long Newcastle Junior Athletics Club, Murlough Junior Athletics Club; Newcastle Football Club U6s and U8s had booked sessions. First Mourne Rainbows, Brownies and Guides all benefited too. Then parent and governor Catherine Greene started up Shimna Shooters, a community netball club, including mother and daughter sessions. Years later, when Catherine’s knees retired, Shimna parent Charlotte Elliott took over and the rest is history. Charlotte instigated junior, senior and social netball sessions and training, and before long the Mourne Observer had a regular column on the club’s exploits. This particular collaboration also led to the inclusion of a full Sports hall in the plans for Shimna’s new building, so that league matches could be played in Shimna. Good turns all round!
