South Kerry Rural Men

Description

The South Kerry men’s group held its first gathering in 2009 in the Red Fox in Glenbeigh. The group meets five to six times a year for a day long social gathering and information exchange. It helps to get men more active in their communities. Its help them to form networks with other men is similar situation. The gatherings help to reduce rural isolation and feelings of exclusion. Local link Kerry provides buses to collect all the men and transport them to and from the planed social gathering event within the county. South Kerry Development Partnership through its SICAP provides officer support to organise and co-ordinate the events. The Garda, Fire Service, retired GAA players, and others have addressed the men at various gatherings.
Outings were arranged to the following locations, West Cork, Ploughing Championships, Dublin, Belfast, Dingle & West Kerry, Listowel races, Cliffs of Moore, Willie Clancy Festival, Bunratty Castle, Crag Caves, Bonane Heitage Park, Muckross House, Valentia, South Kerry, Cork, Cobh, Ballinkelligs and five football games in Croke Park.
Currently there are over 250 men on the rural men’s data base with over 200 of them active in attending the gatherings. On average up to 100 men attend each event.
The aim of the project
The aim of the rural men’s group is to provide social gathering for rural men in South Kerry. The gatherings provide a social outlet for these men who due to the changes in community life do not have the same opportunities to meet and talk as they did in the past.

While Kerry is known for its beautiful landscape, farming and tourism, much of that beauty arises from countryside that is remote and actually quite difficult to live in. With over half the population living in rural settings outside the urban centres (Cahersiveen, Kenmare, Killarney and Killorglin) there are challenges for many in being or feeling disconnected.
Following research into this subject-area (which revealed that men in Kerry are particularly susceptible to social isolation) SKDP initiated the ‘Rural Men’s Group’ in 2009; a group dedicated to expanding social outlets for men whose opportunities to meet and talk have reduced over recent decades.
Ireland and Kerry particularly have changed a lot over recent generations; the fabric of community is different to when we were growing up. The creamery is gone and the post-office is no longer nearby.
Social Isolation can arise when someone has an absence of social interactions, social support structures and less engagement with community activities.
Rural Isolation has much the same meaning, but in a countryside setting where the community may be physically more spread out.

Aim of Initiative

The aim of the South Kerry rural men’s project is to reach out to rural men and provide social gatherings in conjunction with the men, combat rural isolation and loneliness, eliminate chances of mental health issues and encourage social inclusion and exercise, encourage men to socialize with other men in outings, day trips & social activities.

Who is it aimed at

The initiative is aimed at rural men living in isolated areas along across South West Kerry.

3 Steps critical to success

1. Reach out to the rural men through word of mouth referrals, referrals from community groups and sport clubs.
2. Arrange meetings with the men and plan outings in conjunction with the men. Book the event including transport, bus routes, the activity, guest speakers and meals.
3. Makes sure the outing runs smoothly from the time the men are picked up to when they are dropped home again, that every man attending feels welcome and safe in the surroundings.

3 Challenges in Planning / Delivery

1. Out reach work is always challenging and every effort is made to reach out to the most difficult rural men.
2. Making the gathering affordable so that all men can participate, Cost of transport activities and eating out are all increasing.
3. Trying to keep it a men only event

3 Outcomes / Benefits

1. Rural Men are engaged in a group activity and meeting up with other rural men.
2. The Rural men participate in Social gatherings outside their normal rural community life.
3. Reduces isolation and building linkages with the loacl partnership staff and other state agencies and organisations.