MEN ENCOURAGED TO KEEP IT HEALTHY AT SPECIAL EVENT

MEN’S shed participants from all over the county were joined by members of the general public for a special Men’s Health Initiative at the Astro Active Centre in Ennsicorthy recently.

Because us men can be stubborn when it comes to getting check-ups and looking after ourselves, the goal of the event was to promote a positive attitude towards health among men and to heighten the awareness of common, but preventable health problems.

The event took place in conjunction with National Men’s Health Week and was said to have received a great reaction in Wexford. Over 70 men from all over the county passed through the doors on the day and heard a variety of talks as well as getting the chance to try their hand at games like walking soccer and scooch - a new game based on curling, but without the ice.

‘It was a great day,’ said Donnacha Murphy of Wexford Mens Sheds. ‘We had people from all over the county and basically the goal was to get them to talk about health and make them aware of various health issues.

‘The event was run in conjunction with Wexford Sports Active and then we also had the Irish Heart Foundation there on the day to check people’s blood pressure and that kind of thing.’

Also present on the day were Diabetes Ireland, Get Ireland Walking and Haven Pharmacy, all of whom provided useful information. The event was said to have been a great success and hopefully succeeded in its goal of changing the attitudes of just a few when it comes to their health.

Frank Fahy, Mick Kennedy, Ruairi Clarke and Liam Roberts demonstrating new game ‘Scooch’.

New Ross group Haytham, Aiman, Najati, Faccz, Mohmmad, and Ibrahim Albakkour with Nick Murphy of Sports Active Wexford.

Philip Hogan, Irish Heart Foundation, Martin Kavanagh, Enniscorthy Men’s Shed, Mary Flynn, Sports Active Wexford, Seamus Corrigan, Enniscorthy Men’s Shed, John Walsh, Padraig McManus, Gorey Men’s Shed, and Brendan Tormey, Wexford Men’s Shed.

Emer O’Leary (Get Ireland Walking) with Mary Flynn and Nick Murphy of Sports Active Wexford.

Richard Healy (Enniscorthy Mens Shed), Tony Casey (EMS), Donnacha Murphy (Shed Support Volunteer Wexford), Edel Byrne (Health and Wellness manager) and Matty Butler (EMS).

Martin Haughton of Wexford Working Men’s Shed has his blood preasure checked by Carol Pye of the Irish Heart Foundation.

Declan O’Neill of Wexford Working Men’s Shed has his blood preasure checked by Janice Stephenson, Irish Heart Foundation.