The Sligo Champion

New weekly walks offer us chance to enjoy Autumn air

- BY MICHEAL O’DOMHNAILL

Thanks to all of you who have been in touch since last week to give us your walking news.

This article is a weekly one, promoting various aspects of walking in Sligo, so it’s a great way to get the word out about the activities of your group or organizati­on.

In the past few weeks, Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnershi­p (SSRP) have been working with several new walking groups that have been set up recently.

These include groups of parents who, having dropped the kids off at school, are staying on once a week to join with others for a short leisure walk lasting no more than an hour.

One of these is in Sligo Town, where tomorrow, Wednesday, the St Edward’s NS Family and Friends Walking group will set off on a local walk, starting at the school at 9.15am and taking in some of the surroundin­g areas before returning to the school by 10:15am.

The walk will be leisurely and will be followed by a cup of tea back in the school afterwards. Like other community walks of this type, there is no cost and all are welcome, whether you are associated with the school or not.

Elsewhere, in west Sligo, two new groups have come into being. Today, Tuesday October 17 th, a group will gather at Dromore West Community Centre at 10am and at Coláiste Iascaigh, a group will come together across the road from the school outside of the courthouse to do a short walk - that one every Monday at 10am.

All are welcome, and as the walks are done at a leisurely pace, even someone with a basic level of fitness should be able to participat­e. As the weeks go on, you’ ll see your fitness levels improve , enabling you to take on more challengin­g walks.

A member of the SSRP will be present to give you some guidance beforehand on any of these new walks.

By contacting the SSRP beforehand on 071-9161511, they will give you advice on how to start up a group, and will provide you with a qualified walking leader for up to 8 walks. By then the group should be able to appoint its own leaders and continue the walks themselves.

The East City Walking Club in Sligo and the North Sligo Community Walking Group are two successful examples of groups who received support from the SSRP and who now have weekly walks which can be attended by up to 60 people.

For general informatio­n on getting involved with a local walking group in your area visit getireland­walking.ie.

Keep the news coming in to us about anything you want to promote relating to walking in Sligo. Walking in Autumn can be a wonderful experience and it will help us get through the shorter days as we head towards Winter.

For all of the news you need on walking in Sligo check out SligoWalks.ie and to submit items for inclusion here, email news@sligowalks.ie.

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 ?? Pic: ?? East City Walking Group in Sligo. Donal Hackett.
Pic: East City Walking Group in Sligo. Donal Hackett.

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