Primary school children saying that "Ireland is full" and that immigrants should "go back to where they came from" are among the comments that have been encountered by staff from Bohemian Football Club as they delivered a school programme aimed at combating anti-immigration sentiment in Dublin.
The League of Ireland club created the 'Belonging to a Fair City' programme for 5th and 6th class pupils and has delivered 54 workshops in more than 20 schools across north Dublin in recent months.
Bohemians said they are aiming to teach pupils about the Irish experience of immigration so that they have a better understanding of the situation immigrants here have, and that they are doing this through the topic of sport to make it more accessible to the children.
Head of Community at Bohemian Football Club Aibhínn Conway said while it is easy to talk about racism, it is more of a challenge to do something about it.
"Overall, the reception has been very good, and kids definitely are understanding the purpose behind it," she said.
"We have gotten some comments you know, that are very prevalent across social media, such as, 'Ireland is full', 'Go back to where you came from' and it's important to have children understand that what is being said about those people nowadays is what was said about Irish people for the last 200 years."
She added: "When you challenge the kids or go further on that, they can't actually say anything more, which tells you that they're hearing it at home. They're hearing it around the house or whatever, they don't really understand what it is and the impact of their words.
"Mo Salah is probably the best player in the world. So you have kids who adore him on a Saturday. But then when somebody who looks like Mo Salah, or has the same religion as Mo Salah comes to live in the area, these kids are being told to hate these people and to assume all the worst things about them.
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"Most people love playing football, it's the global game, so it's bringing people together on these issues through sport. Kids aren't born racist. They pick it up and so it's important that we get in at an early age and make them understand that.
"'Belonging to a Fair City came about when the club applied for funding from the community safety fund, which is supported by the Department of Justice. The idea is that the money that is seized from CAB goes back into the area to do some good. The club felt it was important to help tackle the rise of anti-immigration sentiment and rhetoric, and particularly in areas that we would be involved in and where we're based.
"Everybody has different opinions and just because they're a different skin colour does not mean you treat them different."
"So we came together with this idea with Junior Achievement Ireland. We designed it and the whole purpose of it is to discuss these topics around this bigger issue with the kids, but in the theme of sport and different types of sport and things that are relevant to them," Ms Conway said.
However, the racist rhetoric repeated by children has been in the minority, with most pupils expressing positive views about diversity, among them the 6th class students at Virgin Mary Boys school in Ballymun in north Dublin.
Bohemians footballer Dayle Rooney, who is from Ballymun, joined in for their lesson and afterwards students shared what they had taken away from the sessions.
Preston Walsh says he learned that: "Everybody has different opinions and just because they're a different skin colour does not mean you treat them different."
Blake Hammond said the course has taught him "to be kind to everyone, if they're from a different country or not."
"The biggest thing I learned was that spreading empathy and sympathy was a really big thing," said his classmate, Mason Heary.
Max Egan said: "People can come from all around the world and live in Ireland and it's fantastic because different cultures merging into ours will always be great because we can learn a lot about different people and how they live their lives."
Ridwan Obansere said: "It’s the best thing I ever did. I've learned loads and diversity is the best thing ever".
The programme was designed in collaboration with Junior Achievement Ireland.
Its Director of Business Development, Aoibheann Doyle-Mulhare said she would like to see the programme rolled out across Ireland.
"Students at this age 10 to 11 start to make decisions that affect their whole live so its important that they learn about diversity and inclusion now for their future."
