Minister for Tourism and Sport Patrick O’Donovan TD was on hand to launch to Ireland’s First National Fitness Day which will be held on Friday 16th September. Anna Geary, Cork Camogie legend and host of Ireland’s Fittest Family, joined the Minister. Fitness Day is a celebration of the role physical activity plays in Ireland and the positive impact fitness has on people’s live. The initiative is being led by Ireland Active, the representative body for Ireland’s leisure and fitness industry and is supported by both Healthy Ireland and Sport Ireland.
Ireland Active’s members comprised of leisure facilities, gyms as well as other fitness professionals and providers shall on the day hold taster and “come and try” sessions free of charge across their facilities but also in public spaces nationwide promoting the wide range of physical fitness opportunities available in Ireland as well as offering encouragement for people to get involved. Get Ireland Walking, the CARA Centre for Inclusive Physical Activity and Swim Ireland have also committed to providing opportunities for the public to get active on the day.
Photo ©INPHO/James Crombie
Speaking at the launch Minister for Tourism & Sport, Patrick O’Donovan TD said:
“Increasing physical activity levels was the driver behind the development of the National Physical Activity Plan by the Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport in partnership with the Department of Health last year. Achievement of the physical activity targets set out in that plan will require co-operation from all involved in the provision of physical activity in our community from National Governing Bodies of Sport, Local Sports Partnerships, Leisure Facilities, Sports Clubs as well as general recreational facility owners and providers nationwide. National Fitness Day provides an ideal platform for all the stakeholders to come together and make a concerted effort to convince people that there really is something for everyone to get involved with.”
Minister for Health Promotion, Marcella Corcoran Kennedy said:
“Since the adoption of the cross-governmental Healthy Ireland Framework, the promotion of health and wellbeing is and will continue to be a key Government priority. Being physically active has many benefits for physical and mental health. I hope that National Fitness Day will provide an opportunity and incentive for people currently not engaging in physical activity to become aware of the opportunities for being active in their local community and try something new which, hopefully might provide the platform for continued participation. I encourage everybody to get involved and to enjoy this exciting event.”
Anna Geary said:
“Fitness and physical activity has played a key role in my life playing sport growing up, my involvement with Cork Camogie in particular and has remained a huge passion following my retirement from inter-county sport. I have seen first-hand the positive impact of regular physical activity on the health & wellbeing of people no matter their age. We see this in Ireland’s fittest family where every member of the family contributes. I am delighted to support the National Fitness Day which, will hopefully highlight the many different ways in which people can get physically active. There really is something for everyone.”
John Treacy, CEO, Sport Ireland said:
“Sport Ireland has made increasing participation in sport and physical activity a key strategic priority. We are delighted to support National Fitness Day and I would encourage everyone to get involved. The value of participating in sport and physical activity cannot be underestimated; even small improvements in participation levels will confer health, social and economic benefits both for the individual and for society as a whole.”
Information on the opportunities to be provided and made available to the public can be found on www.nationalfitnessday.ie which, will be continuously updated in the lead up to September 16th. Information will also be made available across Ireland’ Active’s social media channels (@fitnessdayIRL, https://www.facebook.com/NationalFitnessDayIreland, @irelandactive, www.facebook.com/IrelandActive). Fitness providers, facility and gym owners interested in getting involved in National Fitness Day are being asked to get in touch with Ireland Active directly at (info@irelandactive.ie) or (01-6251192)