Healthy messages promoted in Irish language schools

A few months ago the Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland (HPA), the Food Standards Agency Northern Ireland (FSANI) and J&J Haslett Ltd (Mace) launched The Maceys: Annual school trip, a book designed to communicate the importance of healthy eating and being active. The book, which was aimed at primary school children and written by local author Declan Carville, was developed as an innovative way to reach younger children.

Since then, the book has proved to be a very popular publication and as a result has been translated into Irish for the Irish-speaking primary schools here. Na Maceys: Turas Scoile Bliaintiúil, launched today at Irish-speaking primary school An Droichead, can now be used in the language in which the children are learning all their other subjects.

During the launch Dr Brian Gaffney, Chief Executive of the HPA, said: "Children's eating patterns and their attitudes to physical activity can be shaped and influenced by their peers, parents and teachers. In Northern Ireland one in four girls and one in five boys are either overweight or obese and research carried out by the HPA revealed that one in six children aged 5-11 years do not eat any fruit or vegetables on a typical day. Encouraging good eating habits is an essential message for the early years.¹,² Teachers have already found this book a valuable device for introducing messages about healthy eating and active living. It also complements work undertaken by schools to encourage children to eat well and be active. The fact that this book is now available in the Irish language will hopefully encourage more discussion about the healthy messages in the book among the pupils."

Speaking about the initiative, Tom Uprichard, Delivered Business Director, J&J Haslett Ltd, said: "We are delighted to have been able to work so closely with the HPA and FSANI to produce this educational resource. The focus of the book is health promotion and, through our Macey characters, features clear healthy eating and physical activity messages. There will also be a dedicated programme of in-store promotional activity during the year to reinforce the book's healthy eating and physical activity messages. This has the potential to improve public health for generations to come."

Alison McLaughlin, Senior Policy Officer for Diet and Nutrition with FSANI, said: "As every parent knows getting little ones to eat well can be difficult, so we were delighted when asked to be a partner in this project and help deliver healthy eating messages for children in English and now in Irish. The Macey's book marks a positive step towards improving children's diets, which is a key issue for FSANI. We are particularly encouraged that one of Northern Ireland's most prominent retailers has worked closely with partners in government to produce this valuable school resource."

Scoil an Droichead is the only Irish medium school in south Belfast. The school is growing rapidly and has a broad and eclectic mix of children and parents who feel passionately that as well as giving their children an excellent education to meet their needs in the 21st century it will ensure they become bilingual in both Irish and English by the time they finish their schooling.

Chairperson of the school governors Alden Henderson said 'Is fearr an sláinte ná na táinte'. The Irish proverb tells us that health is better than wealth and it is up to us as educators to show the truth of this to our children. I would like to welcome the Minister Caitríona Ruane to Scoil an Droichead today and her presence shows practically that she values diversity in the educational system. Cuireann muid fáilte is fiche romhat, a Aire.'

Key stage 1 children heard the story of Na Maceys: Turas Scoile Bliaintiúil read by their primary school teacher during the event. The translated book will be distributed to all Irish-speaking primary schools.

END

Notes to the editor:
The launch will take place at An Droichead, Cooke Street, Ormeau Road, Belfast at 10.00am. Key spokespeople will be available for interview from 10.45am. The Education Minister, Caitríona Ruane, will be attending this event.

¹Analysis of data from the Northern Ireland child health system on the height and weight of children in Primary One. Unpublished. Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety.

²Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland. Eating for health? A survey of eating habits among children and young people in Northern Ireland. Belfast: The Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland, 2001.

For further information contact:
Jenny Dougan, HPA, on 028 9031 1611