Maintaining a healthy lifestyle
KILCORNEY SEMINAR ADDRESSES RURAL ISOLATION AND VARIOUS COMMUNITY CHALLENGES
SUPPORTING communities and ensuring a quality of life was behind a successful Kilcorney seminar that focused on the challenges of rural living.
Rural Ireland can be beautiful and relaxing but it can also provide major issues, as highlighted under the banner ‘Managing the challenges of rural living and maintaining a healthy life’, which was organised by the Kilcorney Community Development Association.
Presiding Chairman Donie Howard indicated Kilcorney was proving the perfect example of a rural community in Ireland with services diminished on the close of the creamery, post office and the village’s only shop.
“We met all of these challenges head-on, a key ingredient called community spirit developed the village, and created many fine amenities, such as a river walks, an astroturf play area and social housing,” he said.
Local farmers are facing major challenges from Brexit, inadequate prices and the next round of CAP and Mr Howard spoke of the importance of addressing the issues and how to start planning for these challenges and sustain health maintenance.
“Farmers think that they are healthy, because they are out in the fresh air doing active work, but the data on premature mortality does not support this belief. Stress is a normal symptom of modern living but, if not managed properly, can lead to a serious mental health crisis,” he said.
Noreen O’Rahilly, Teagasc, addressed the meeting and her colleague, Dr John McNamara, Teagasc health and safety specialist said that farmers are less aware of health maintenance than other social groups and spoke on the importance of a problem that requires immediate attention.
Garda representatives in attendance included Sergeant Paul Lynch, Garda Kevin O’Dwyer and PSV Inspector Tom Brennan who explained the new regulations on drink driving, road management, home /farmyard security and safety.