Northern Ireland’s deputy minister Emma Little-Pengelly visits GAA club for the first time and plays hurling

Ms Little-Pengelly, who was pictured playing hurling and handball, told the BBC that it was her first time at a GAA club.

Their attendance at St Paul's GAC in west Belfast together came on the same day Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) Education Minister Paul Givan visited an Irish primary school for the first time.

Last week, Ms O’Neill attended a Northern Ireland football game at Windsor Park for the first time.

"Leadership means leading from the front and that means that you also step outside your own comfort zone," I think that's crucially important," the Sinn Féin deputy leader told the BBC.

Ms Little-Pengelly of the DUP added: "I think it's a great thing to get out there have some new experiences and learn from each other and that is the way forward."

The Deputy Minister got stuck in and was pictured with a hurl and sliotar as she tried her hand at the sport for the first time.

Meanwhile, on his arrival to Gaelscoil Aodha Rua in Dungannon, Co Tyrone, Mr Givan wished the school community a good morning, he said: “Maidin mhaith”.

He also said Irish should be a shared language for everybody in Northern Ireland.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - March 6

Mr Givan was led by pupils and principal Mona Ui Dhochartaigh in a traditional céilí dance, the likes of which the school playground has probably never seen before.

Gaelscoil Aodha Rua was only established 13 years ago.

At one point he joined in marching in line with the pupils.

“Ah, this bit I can do, the marching,” he said.

“As Education Minister, I said from day one that I would be a Minister of Education for everybody in Northern Ireland, across all of our sectors.

“And that includes the Irish medium. It’s important for me to be here today to send out that message to all of the various sectors within education and I will advocate on behalf of the Irish medium sector.”

He also had a word for those who still believe the Irish language is being used as ‘a political weapon’.

“I think it’s important that, politically, we say that the Irish language should not be something that is politicised, that it is something that I believe can be a shared language for everybody in Northern Ireland,” he said.