Sports and Culture Minister and Lord Sebastian Coe have launched ‘All Our Saturdays’, a new exhibition created by Libraries NI to celebrate sporting excellence in Northern Ireland.

The new “All Our Saturdays” exhibition is currently on display in Grove Library, part of Grove Wellbeing Centre located on the York Road.  The exhibition is inspired by London 2012 and features a range of home-grown sporting talent as seen through the eyes of Ireland’s Saturday Night; Northern Ireland’s best-selling sports newspaper, which ceased publication in July 2008.

Welcoming the exhibition Sports and Culture Minister and Chair of the NI 2012 Leadership Group, Nelson McCausland said: “All Our Saturdays is an exciting new project developed by Libraries NI and I want to congratulate them on achieving the prestigious London2012 inspire mark brand that recognises excellence and brings association with the Olympics. The Project will help sports enthusiasts to relive some of NI’s greatest sporting moments and inspire a new generation of young people whilst they learn about NI’s sporting history and tradition and celebrating those unique sporting achievements.  With less than 3 years to go to the London2012 Games, All Our Saturdays will make a significant contribution to how NI engages with the Olympics and Paralympics and the delivery of a NI 2012 Games Legacy in the lead up to and beyond Games time.
 
Libraries NI Chairperson Dr David Elliot, said:

“All Our Saturdays is one of the outstanding projects granted the London 2012 Inspire mark, the badge of the London 2012 Inspire programme, which recognises exceptional and innovative projects inspired by the 2012 Games.

The exhibition offers a rare opportunity to see how sport in Northern Ireland has evolved throughout the last 12 decades.  It will also bring a touch of nostalgia to those who queued every Saturday evening to secure a copy of the paper.”

Lord Sebastian Coe, added:  “I am delighted to lend my support to the “All Our Saturdays” project and congratulate it for being awarded our London 2012 Inspire mark. One of many innovative London 2012 Cultural Olympiad projects, it is a clear demonstration of the creativity of people in Northern Ireland and deserves to be recognised for its excellence.”

Malcolm Brodie, Former Sports Editor of the Belfast Telegraph, added his support, he said:  “Libraries NI has not only managed to create a showcase of local sporting talent but this exhibition also illustrates how the paper itself evolved throughout its existence.  The bible for sports lovers, it possessed something for every member of the household.  Purchasing it each Saturday became a tradition passed down from family to family.  The exhibition and its associated events and activities will help ensure that the memory of one of Europe’s finest sporting newspapers will never die.”

“All Our Saturdays” will tour round selected libraries in Northern Ireland during 2010.  The exhibition will be used to stimulate a range of activities.  Much of this will tie into schools and the development of sports journalism and sports writing, education packs, inter-generational learning and reminiscence work. 

For a full listing of locations and events being held to support this project, visit www.librariesni.org.uk