A community-based initiative hosted on Galway’s offshore communities has been named a winner at the National Age Friendly Awards 2023.
The National Age Friendly Awards 2023 took place on Thursday evening at the Clayton Whites Hotel in Co. Wexford.
The ‘Healthy Islands’ project picked up the Age Friendly Active & Healthy Ageing Award in recognition of its efforts to promote health and well-being, improve communication and enhance knowledge of available services amongst residents of The Aran Islands and Inisbofin.
The project featured free activities and resources for more than 200 participating residents to promote health and wellbeing across all the islands.
These have included pulse and blood pressure checks, healthy cooking demonstration workshops, a community fun run, yoga, relationship and sexual health education, citizen information advice, and exercise and fitness tips.
Cllr Liam Carroll, Cathaoirleach of Galway County Council said, “This wonderful initiative is worthy of the national recognition it has received. It successfully broke through the barriers to services and information that islanders can face due to their remote location.”
“The collaborative approach to delivering the project is a template for future similar projects that seek to ensure everyone can enjoy good physical and mental health, and where wellbeing is valued and supported at every level of society.”
The initiative, which rolled out in April, was coordinated by Healthy Galway County under Galway Rural Development’s Social Inclusion Community Activation Programme (SICAP).
It was supported by a wide range of organisations including Galway Rural Development, Galway Sports Partnership, Comharchumann Forbartha Arann Teo Inis Mór, Comhlacht Forbartha Inis Meáin, Inishbofin Development Company CL and Comhar Caomhán Teoranta Inis Oírr.
Liam Conneally, Chief Executive of Galway County Council praised the various community and economic development groups on the islands for playing a vital role in the success of the project which, he said, presented a suitable template for similar initiatives in the future.
“Galway County Council is delighted to have supported Healthy Islands and congratulates everyone involved in achieving this award success,” he added.
Mary Cronin of Galway County Older People’s Council praised the project’s community-centred focus.
“Healthy Islands was predominantly aimed at the older population, but it also proved beneficial to other age groups, particularly those looking after a parent or relation, as it has helped them to better cater for the people they are linking in with and sharing the services and information.”
