Rio reveals family ties to Fermanagh
FAMILY connections to Enniskillen inspired football legend, Rio Ferdinand, to get involved in community outreach.
The former Manchester United and England International revealed his family links to Fermanagh at a special match day experience hosted at Sligo Rovers, The Showgrounds, held in partnership with the Rio Ferdinand Foundation (RFF) and the International Fund for Ireland (IFI).
The partnership is working across counties North and South, including Fermanagh, Tyrone, Leitrim and Sligo, to connect young people from cross-community backgrounds through sport.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Ferdinand revealed that not only was his grandmother from Enniskillen, but his wife Kate’s grandmother also hailed from the town.
He also said that his Irish mother’s influence led him to get involved in community work.
“My mum was very much about working in the community and helping other people, and being part of that conversation to make sure people feel valued and a part of things,” he told the Irish Daily Star.
“So this is definitely an extension of what my mum was doing when I was a kid.”
Mr. Ferdinand continued: “Kate’s nan, she’s 80, and she is here with Kate as well, and she is from here, she is from Enniskillen as well, so there is a connection.
“I would say that my nan being from here played a part in me wanting to get involved in Ireland.
“I would say there is definitely an added value of having a connection here. But also, the work that potentially could be done here was so compelling, I just thought, ‘Why not come here and help?’
“We tackle a lot of forms of discrimination and lack of opportunities, racism and inequality.
“The cross-border politics here, it’s very different to what I’ve ever known. So I’ve been educating myself on that.
“I’ve been able to use football as a vessel to help with that, to help people from different sides talk and communicate, and show that there may be a way forward to have communication.”
Organised by the Rio
Ferdinand Foundation, the ‘Beyond the Ball’ match day brought together young people aged between 16 and 18 from community projects across the Southern Border counties and Northern Ireland.
It is part of a major partnership approach to peace building and cross-community reconciliation funded through the IFI’S Communities in Partnership Programme.
Speaking on the successful event, Mr. Ferdinand said: “I look forward to seeing the Beyond
The Ball project develop in the coming months and to seeing what we can achieve working together to enable these young people to reach their potential by sharing experiences and learning with young people in England.”