Loughnavalley GAA Healthy Club

Description

Our Healthy Club has been in operation since 2019. We set up Walking Gaelic Football targeting older men (50+) within our community. The game has specific rules that prevents players from picking up an injury e.g. no running, no shouldering, limited physical contact, score points only. The game is played every Sunday at 12 noon, and we have players up to the age of 75 playing each week.

In 2022, we applied for a grant to build a walking track and a French Boules court. We recently completed both of these projects and have started a French Boules friendly competition on Wednesday Evenings at 7.30pm. We are targeting older men and women in the community specifically those living alone and those who are not as mobile as those playing walking gaelic football.

Our next aim is to host a weekly sunday morning senior activity sessions. This will include a walking group on the walking track, french boules games and walking gaelic football. Close the session with tea/ coffee and refreshments as this will encourage people to attend and reduce social isolation of people in our rural (an Clar) area

Aim of Initiative

The aims of the Health Club’s activities is to open our GAA facilities to all members of the community and encourage non members to use the facilities to suit their ability
The second aim is to reduce social isolation within our rural (an clar) area especially for older people and those living alone.

Who is it aimed at

The initiative is aimed at people over the age of 50 years and especially those living alone.

3 Steps critical to success

1. Advertise the Sunday senior activities sessions on our social media and local communication avenues, e.g. local newspaper and the church notice board and pamphlet.
2. Purchase more equipment such as :
   – Additional French Boules to play with more players.
   – We also need bibs, cones and footballs for garlic football.
   – We need to design and purchase signage to explain the rules of French Boules and the walking track.
   – Purchase tea/ coffee and refreshments
   – If possible purchase some club merchandise such as keep cups and club hoodies.
3. Reflect on each session weekly to ensure players are happy with the activities and aim to improve each week

3 Challenges in Planning / Delivery

1. Costs- we are a very small community and our healthy club has note received funding from the GAA or any other body in 2024
2. Attracting older members to attend. We will try to reduce the impact of this challenge by creating a core group of promoters – who are older members who are already engaged and will actively approach and encourage new people to attend.
3. Organisation – ensuring the initiative stays running and is sustainable in the long term

3 Outcomes / Benefits

1. Increase social membership of our club and increase the use of our facilities
2. Engage and build relationships with our local community especially the older members and those living alone which will reduce social isolation
3. Create a sense of belonging within our healthy club and, improve physical and mental health of older members of our community