By Dan Walsh
County Wexford farming communities are joining Healthy Wexford and Sports Active Wexford to participate in a Summer Walking Series of three one hour walks over three weeks lead by trained leaders from Sports Active Wexford during June and July.
Annette Dupuy, Healthy County Coordinator is encouraging people to join for a variety of reasons; “We see this Summer Walking Series having a range of benefits from trying something new, getting out and meeting new people, increasing your physical activity and perhaps even just giving you an hour for yourself.”
Wexford IFA are encouraging farming communities across Co. Wexford to get involved. Alice Doyle, Chairperson of IFA Farm Family & Social Affairs, sees this as an opportunity for the farming community to connect after a period of isolation. “Many of the social opportunities we have to meet as a farming community have been limited and so this walking series will give us all a chance to reconnect,” she said.
Jer O’Mahony, Wexford IFA Chairman added; “This will be an opportunity to get back out in a supportive and fun way, regardless of your fitness level. We want to stress this is for everyone.”
The Summer Walking Series was launched today at Carrigfoyle Lake on Forth Mountain today by Cllr Garry Laffan, Leas-Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council and Chair of Sports Active Wexford. “We are delighted to be involved in this initiative for the farming community and that now, with reduced restrictions, we can facilitate a group of walkers.” Cllr John Hegarty, Chair of the Healthy County Committee added; “This initiative highlights the benefit of collaboration and will provide health and wellbeing benefits, both physical and mental, for a very important sector in our community.”
There are two Summer Walking Series planned – one in North Wexford and one in South Wexford, with the timing of the activity scheduled to fit with the busy farming calendar.
Dates and locations as follows: NORTH WEXFORD; June 29th, Kilanerin; July 6th, Courtown Woods, and July 13th, Cahore. SOUTH WEXFORD; July 1st, Tintern Woods, July 8th, Rocks, Maudlintown, and July 15th, Forth Mountain.
Walks will be held 8-9pm each evening. Numbers attending are limited, in line with current COVID restrictions, and attendance must be pre-booked with Sports Active Wexford – Phone 053-9196557 or email sports.active@wexfordcoco.ie
This initiative is supported by Healthy Ireland. The Healthy Ireland Fund, supported by the Department of Health and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration & Youth.
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