Michelle O'Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly say 'no gesture politics'

Michelle O'Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly visited Paul's GAC in west Belfast

First Minister Michelle O'Neill has said she and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly are not engaged in "gesture politics" for the sake of it.

She was speaking during a visit to a Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) club in west Belfast.

Mrs Little-Pengelly told BBC News NI that it was her first time visiting a GAA club.

Ms O'Neill said it was about stepping out of their comfort zones and "leading from the front".

Last week, she attended a Northern Ireland football game at Windsor Park for the first time.

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 medium primary school for the first time.

Michelle O'Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly took part in some sport while on their visit

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

Mrs 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."

On his visit, the education minister said the Irish language belonged "to all of us".

Paul Givan took part in a céilí during the visit

Mr Givan was addressing pupils at an Irish medium primary school Gaelscoil Aodha Rua, in Dungannon.

He said controversy over him once axing an Irish language bursary scheme "was in the past" adding "this is today".

The minister said "good morning" in Irish - Maidin mhaith - saying languages were "never his forte at school".

He was greeted by the principal, Mona Uí Dhochartaigh, who said she hoped his visit would give him a good impression of the entire Irish medium sector.

MrGivan said it was Presbyterians from Scotland who kept the Irish language alive.

"I think it's important that we remember the language isn't unique to one particular community in Northern Ireland. It does have value right across our community in Northern Ireland," he said.

"It's important that, politically, we say the Irish language should not be politicised. That it is something I believe can be a shared language for everybody in Northern Ireland "

Eight years ago as communities minister, Mr Givan caused controversy when he axed a £50,000 Irish language bursary scheme called Líofa.

On Wednesday, he said that was "something that was unrelated to politics at the time which became political".

"What I'm sending out clearly is a message that I will be minister of education for all our sectors," he added.

When the scheme was up and running it had enabled at least 100 people a year to attend summer Irish language classes in the Donegal gaeltacht.

The then Sinn Féin Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said it was one of the factors which lead to his resignation.

Mr Givan later had identified the necessary funding to advance the Líofa scheme, saying he was not prepared to allow Sinn Féin to use it as a "political weapon".

Gaelscoil Aodha Rua opened in 2011 with just 12 children and now educates 135 pupils, plus an additional 24 in nursery.

Ahead of the visit , the school principal told BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme that it was an "historic" day.

"The education system, in general, is facing many challenges and our sector faces additional challenges," she told the programme.

"The word for minister in Irish is aire - and that always means taking care of someone.

"I have been very impressed with the minister's initial few weeks in position and I think he has demonstrated that he is reaching out to a number of different sectors and the request to visit our school bears testament to that," she added.

She said she was hopeful he would "cater for the needs of our sector."