Growing up Aoibheann struggled to find a sports club to join.

Now, she plays boccia, a game designed for those with disabilities, and is beating several of her classmates.

Dad Ethan said the "opportunity for Aoibheann to have something of her own to do, that's just for her" makes such a difference.

The pair were taking part in a Junior Paralympic fun day aimed at showcasing several sports for those with a physical disability.

It allows young people to try out different sports such as powerchair football, wheelchair tennis, wheelchair cycling, golf and boccia.

Ethan says that out of the sports available boccia is "probably her favourite", adding it gives Aoibheann confidence.

In boccia, the aim is for each team or individual to throw their ball closest to the white ball. It is similar to pétanque.

"There isn't a lot of clubs and social gatherings that Aoibheann has an opportunity to take part in," he says.

But boccia also allows her to play with her sisters, as they can use manual wheelchairs to take part in the game.

"They all play together so it's a level playing field and it's just lovely to see them playing together where Aoibheann is fully involved in the game and it's not kind of segregated in anyway."

Aoibheann says taking part in the Junior Paralympic fun day makes her happy: "I like meeting new people and doing the sports."

Macie has cerebral palsy and uses a walker and then a powerchair for whenever she gets tired.

She had "a lot of fun" trying Boccia and curling, but says boccia was her favourite "just because I like throwing things".

Her mum Laura says opportunities like these are so important, adding that since Macie goes to a mainstream school, she can "feel that wee bit of a difference", especially when it comes to sport.

"It's so good to find somewhere to bring Macie to where she's included and she doesn't feel different.

"You can tell by her wee face she absolutely loves it, and it's so good because every hour it changes to something different, so she gets to use the equipment.

"The volunteers here are just lovely. They're so kind and make sure everybody gets involved and everybody feels comfortable."

Gemma was at the fun day for the first time with her daughter.

Naoise has Cerebral Palsy, left hemiplegia which affects the left side of her body - meaning "she just has to work a little bit harder whenever she's doing things with coordination".

"It's really good to introduce Naoise to sports for all abilities and see what she can achieve," Gemma says.

"We do try and do sports in school and try and do a little bit outside of school, so it's good for friendships and communication and fun most of all."

After trying out tennis, archery, basketball and boccia, Naoise says: "I'm a sports girl."

Her favourite was archery "because my mummy loves it".

Eight-year-old Thomas had a go at power-chair football.

"It was a wee bit tricky," he says about pushing the ball with the powerchair.

Would he do it again? "Definitely yes."

Dad Barry says it is very good to see Thomas, and his other children, getting to see try the different sports available.

"It's brilliant...he can't do obviously all fully abled sports, so all this kind of craic is great."

He says it has built his son's confidence.

Ellie Kirk represents Ireland and Ulster in wheelchair tennis competitions and says it's important to introduce young people to sports.

"I think definitely when you're not as able bodied as well, it's really hard to get into sport."

At the event the 17-year-old showed young children how to play wheelchair tennis.

"I would never have been able to play tennis myself with my condition and to know that I am able to play tennis because of the equal playing field wheelchair tennis brings is really important.

"I think when you find a sport that kind of levels out the playing field for everyone, it's really important and it's really good and it develops people's own confidence in themselves."

She says it's important to have an outlet of sports for every child, no matter what their ability is.

Around 15 young people - along with their family members - attended the Junior Paralympic fun day at Antrim Forum this month, organised by Disability Sport NI.

Niall Irwin, the regional development officer for Disability Sport NI, says it introduces people to different sports they might not have seen before.

"It's really good for these kids, who maybe do have a physical disability, to do lots of different activities with their siblings."

He adds, that since covid, participation in these kinds of sports has dropped.

"We're just trying to get that up again, the participation levels. That's our job to try and get more people participating in sport at recreational and elite level.

"So there is those pathways there, but it's just up to us to try and show that there is that possibility for people."