The Clare Local Community Development Committee’s (LCDC) Healthy Clare team, based in the Rural and Community Development Directorate at Clare County Council, have created a Healthy Clare 2023 Calendar.
The theme of ‘health and wellbeing’ flows through each month by highlighting:
National and international health awareness dates;
Tips on ways of ‘keeping active’, ‘switching off and being creative’, ‘minding your body’, ‘minding your mood’ and ‘eating well’ in 2023; and
Signposting to health and wellbeing supports and services.
The calendar was created in partnership with Clare Sports Partnership and Clare County Council’s Visit Clare, Creative Ireland and Clare Libraries teams.
Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, Cllr Tony O’Brien, said: “A healthy population is a major asset for society, and improving health and wellbeing in Clare is a priority.” The Cathaoirleach expressed his appreciation at the “potential impact the first Healthy Clare Calendar initiative has across the county, acting as a nudge to adopting healthier habits”.
Pat Dowling, Chief Executive, Clare County Council, explained that the LCDC’s Healthy Clare initiative is “a collective response to the risks that threaten Clare’s future health and wellbeing”. Mr Dowling acknowledged “the Department of Health’s Healthy Ireland funding stream in Clare as an important resource, facilitating and supporting community health and wellbeing projects across the county”.
“We are all striving for a healthier place to grow, live, work and play and with that I am encouraging everyone to pick up a healthy habit and a Healthy Clare Calendar this year,” added Mr Dowling.
Bernadette Haugh, Chief Officer of the LCDC, said: “The LCDC members fully support the health and wellbeing agenda of Healthy Ireland. The LCDC’s continued support of the Healthy Clare initiative since its launch in 2019 demonstrates their commitment to the importance of positive health and wellbeing in Clare.” Ms Haugh described how “the beautiful pictures captured each month in this calendar prompt us to get healthy, get outside and get exploring Clare’s offerings in nature, the Burren, Clare beaches, tourism sites and Clare libraries”.
Dena McGrath, Healthy Clare Coordinator, explained that the Healthy Clare 2023 Calendar is “a practical monthly health and wellbeing guide that includes signposting to available supports and services that can help with challenges that may arise during the year”. Dena added that “having a list of supports and services readily available at the back of the calendar, if and when needed, is important”.
Dena and the Healthy Clare team would like to wish everyone a happy and healthy 2023. Keep up to date with Healthy Clare by following their social media channels.
To view the Healthy Clare Calendar online please visit Clare County Council’s dedicated webpage or email healthyclare@clarecoco.ie for a hard copy.
