New ‘Keep Well’ Walking Challenge launched to encourage people to walk for 30 minutes every day for three weeks

The Keep Well campaign is aimed at showing people of all ages how we can mind our own physical and mental health and wellbeing by adding healthy and helpful habits to our daily and weekly routine

Sport Ireland, Get Ireland Walking and Healthy Ireland are encouraging people of all ages to walk into 2021 by taking part in the Keep Well Walking Challenge.

Walking is the most accessible form of physical activity with no special equipment or locations required. Sport Ireland, Get Ireland Walking and Healthy Ireland are looking to get as many people as possible out and active for at least 30 minutes a day for the remaining 21 days of December, bringing a healthy habit forward to the New Year.

To support this, Get Ireland Walking has produced a new app that will allow users to keep a record of their walking and help all participants to stay motivated. The handy app will provide useful tips on advice on how to build walking into every day routines. It can be downloaded at getirelandwalking.ie/app.

As part of the 21-day campaign, well-known people from across Ireland will share their favourite walk of 2020, whether it is a socially distanced walk with a loved-one or simply a lunchtime escape from the bedroom office.

Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD said: “The benefits of physical activity are undisputed and walking is the most accessible form of physical activity available. I am delighted to say that I will be taking part in the Keep Well Walking Challenge and have already downloaded the app to help keep me motivated and track my progress through the month of December.”

Minister for State for Gaeltacht Affairs and Sport Jack Chambers TD added: “Walking is a brilliant form of physical activity that is accessible to all and despite everything that has happened it 2020 it was wonderful to see the numbers of people that have become involved in recreational walking – it’s a great sign for the health of the nation. The Keep Well Walking Challenge will help keep people active right up to the end of the year and we are delighted to be able to launch it today.”

Frank Feighan TD, Minister of State for Public Health and Wellbeing added: “I’m absolutely delighted to support this great initiative as part of the Healthy Ireland Keep Well campaign. I firmly believe that the ‘Get Ireland Walking App’, launched today, will be a very helpful tool in helping people to remember to get out and about and to do some physical activity every day. I encourage everyone to take on this challenge for the last 21 days of the year and make sure that they are starting the new year off on a good footing. So let’s all try and contact our friends and family members to help with the challenge, lace up those shoes, pull on that coat and get out walking”.

John Treacy, Chief Executive Sport Ireland commented: “It is hugely encouraging to see that the levels of recreational walking in Ireland are higher than ever. Physical activity is vital for the health of the nation, mental as well as physical, and one of the positives to come out of 2020 is that people now recognise the importance of physical activity as part of their daily lives. The Keep Well Walking Challenge and the new app will further help walking become part of people’s habits.”

Jason King, National Programme Manager Get Ireland Walking commented: “The benefits of walking cannot be underestimated both for individuals and the country as a whole. We really think that the Get Ireland Walking app will help keep people motivated through December, a time when people can become a little less active, and help them approach 2021 in a positive frame of mind and in good health – mental and physical.”

The Keep Well Walking Challenge is part of Keep Well. The Keep Well campaign is aimed at showing people of all ages how we can mind our own physical and mental health and wellbeing by adding healthy and helpful habits to our daily and weekly routines. It provides guidelines, information, and tips on how we can make a plan to do things that will help us keep well through the coming months. 

Getting Started

For more information on walking opportunities please Liz McEnaney
on 087 739 6050 or email lmcenaney@waterfordsportspartnership.ie

The Tramore Slí is a 4.9km route, which starts on Church Road and follows the coastline along the Doneraile Walk. On your immediate left you will see Tramore Strand, which stretches for almost 3 miles. In the distance you will notice the sand dunes, which are some of the highest dunes in Ireland. You will also see Tramore Promenade and Amusement Park. The Doneraile Walk is home to many historical features, which reflect the maritime nature of Tramore. An ancient canon gun lies on top of the cliff overlooking the entrance to the bay. On your right a Memorial Stone has been erected to commemorate the military victims of the Sea Horse Tragedy (1816) in Tramore Bay, when 363 people were drowned.At the end of the Doneraile Walk you will be greeted by a series of steps, which lead onto The Cove. A Haunted Well is located at the foot of the steps, so beware the spirits that are occasionally seen at midnight! Turning left towards Lady Elizabeth’s Cove you will notice the meandering ramps on the right. Proceed up the ramps, which will terminate at the Cliff Road. The Cliff Road runs parallel to the cliff face until it reaches the Guillameen, which formerly used to be a ‘male preserve’ but has since become a mixed bathing area. From the Guillameen you can see three 18 metre high pillars. The Metal Man (1824), perched on the pillar centre, warns mariners of the dangers of Tramore Bay. On leaving the Guillameen, turn left off the main road and down towards Newtown Glen. In the Glen, underneath the canopy of the trees and alongside the gently flowing stream, you will see some beautiful native flora and fauna. Continue along the woodland path and turn left once you reach the Cliff Road again. Turn right at next T-junction. Along this road you will encounter some of the many leisure facilities that Tramore boasts, namely Newtown Camping and Caravan Park, Newtown Golf Practice Range and Tramore Golf Club. On passing the golf club you will descend down Newtown Hill and back again onto Church Road where you will see the Anglican Christ Church (1850) on your left. The adjacent graveyard contains a Cenotaph to those who perished in the Sea Horse Tragedy.

The Slí begins at the Barrack Cross in Stradbally Village. On reading the mapsign, follow the directional signs up the hill where the Tramore coastline comes into view. On a clear day it is possible to see the Hook Head lighthouse from this point. Descend the hill to Ballyvooney Cove with views of Gull Island to your right. The route continues past the cove uphill, where you will be able to see the majestic Comeragh Mountains to your left. Keep going along this route to the junction of the coast road to Bonmahon, past the Littlewood Gardens where the route turns left. At the next junction take another left turn and you will pass Tobber Cill Eilbe and two Ogham Stones. Traditionally this Holy Well was thought to have curative properties on the Cunningham Farm. Continuing past the GAA centre and playing field you are now in view of the village once more. Descend the hill to bring you back to your start point where you can feel proud having completed the 4.6km.

The Kilmacthomas Slí na Sláinte is a 5.5km route starting at the old post office in the centre of the village and continuing uphill towards the soccer field, where you will pass the first Km mark. Continue downhill, noticing the picturesque Comeragh Mountains to the right, towards Dooceys Bohereen and on to the cross.

Turn left onto the main road and pass the Stradbally junction (where a recent archaeological dig revealed a bronze-age settlement) and continue for over two km passing Bonmahon Cross and turning left at the next t-junction. Walking back towards Kilmacthomas village (the birthplace of Hollywood legend Tyrone Power!), notice the old woollen mill on the left, started by Lady Waterford. Turn left at the junction and cross the historic bridge over the River Mahon, this will take you back to your starting point at the old post office.

We are hosting a series of four accessible walks for over 50’s and people with a disability. The aim of the series is to give people the opportunity to create links with others in their locality and experience some of the wonderful Waterford Walks.

Walk for Life is back for Summer 2018
Waterford Sports Partnership is hosting a series of four accessible walks for over 50’s and people with a disability.

The aim of the series is to give people the opportunity to create links with others in their locality and experience some of the wonderful Waterford Walks

So, lace up your walking shoes and come along to a walk near you!

€3 per walk to include tea/coffee/scone

Booking essential.
Please contact Peter on 076 110 2191
or email pjones@waterfordsportspartnership.ie

The Slí starts in Grattan Square – Exit the square by the Bank of Ireland into Bridge Street and proceed over the Portland Stone Bridge across the River. Walk along the causeway towards the traffic lights with the Harbour on your right and a view of Helvick Head across the Bay. Ahead is Cruachan, the Hill that overlooks the Town. Go through the traffic lights and after passing the petrol station turn left at Crotty’s Corner, the junction with the Coast Road.

On arriving at the By-Pass Road turn left. You will see Country Life on the left and on your right the Park Hotel. Cross the river and go straight through the roundabout passing McDonalds on the left and the Fire Station on your right. Go straight though the traffic lights and continue to next roundabout. On your right is the old Dungarvan Plant of Waterford Crystal. The Road on your left takes you back to town. Ahead you should see Helvick Head across the bay. At the final roundabout on the sea front, turn left to go back into town. After a short distance you will pass Dungarvan Nissan on your left and further along the Garda Station on your left. At the next junction, bear right by the school wall and at the Parish Church turn left down the hill of Mary Street to bring you back to Grattan Square