The farming communities of County Wexford are being invited to join Healthy Wexford as they partner with Sports Active Wexford to provide walking taster sessions this June & July. 

Participants sign up to take part in a series of three one-hour walks over three weeks, which will be lead by Sports Active Wexford trained walking leaders.  Whether you are a beginner or a regular walker this Summer Walking Series has something for everyone.  

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’

Healthy Wexford & Sports Active Wexford collaborate with Farming Groups to encourage summer walking for social, mental and physical wellbeing.

Wexford IFA are encouraging farming communities across County 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. She said,

‘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’  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’. 

Launching the Summer Walking Series at Carrigfoyle Lake on Tuesday 1^st June provided the opportunity for some of the organising partners to also reconnect in person. 

Cllr Garry Laffan, Chair of Sports Active Wexford said,

‘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 said,

‘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 – 29^th June Kilanerin, 6^th July Courtown Woods, 13^th July Cahore

·   South Wexford – 1^st July Tintern Woods, 8^th July Rocks, Maudlintown, 15^th July 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.