Careers Week Guest Speaker – Piaras McShane, Nutritionist for the Belfast Giants

Today, our P7 pupils had the fantastic opportunity to meet  Piarais McShane, the lead Nutritionist for the Belfast Giants Ice Hockey team, as part of our Careers Week. Piaras gave an engaging and insightful talk about his role in professional sport and the important work he does to help athletes perform at their very best.

He explained how nutrition plays a key part in an athlete’s performance, recovery, and overall health, and how he works closely with the Giants players to ensure they are eating the right foods at the right times. Piaras also discussed the importance of hydration, sleep, and tailored meal plans, giving the children a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to stay at the top in professional sport.

One of the highlights of the session was when Piarais brought in a real oxygen mask and ventilation unit, which he uses as part of fitness and endurance testing. A few lucky pupils even got the chance to try it out for themselves, giving them a hands-on experience of how science and sport go hand-in-hand.

It was an inspiring and educational session, and we’re very grateful to Piarais for taking the time to share his expertise with us!