A new Irish Heart Foundation Slí na Sláinte walking route was launched today in Castleconnell, County Limerick.
Slí na Sláinte, meaning "Path to Health", is a unique initiative of the Irish Heart Foundation designed to encourage people to get active and get walking on routes marked out at 1 km intervals. It uses signage at kilometre intervals on established walking routes to help walkers identify the distance they walk.
Supported by County Limerick Sports Partnership, Limerick County Council and the Irish Sports Council, the Castleconnell Slí na Slainte route is 3.8km in length and suitable for all levels of walkers. Attending today’s launch were representatives of County Limerick Local Sports Partnership and the Irish Heart Foundation, as well as comedian and Castleconnell resident Pat Shortt.
Edel Byrne from the Irish Heart Foundation said: “We hope the community of Castleconnell will get great enjoyment and benefit from the new Slí na Sláinte route. Getting active makes such a big difference to your heart and overall health, helping to reduce stress, ease back pain and reduce the risk of heart disease. Adults need at least 30 minutes of physical activity, such as brisk walking, five days a week. By having a clearly marked and safe walking route, we aim to make it easier for people in Castleconnell to get active as part of their normal day.”
Speaking at the route launch, Cllr Richard Butler, Cathaoirleach of Limerick County Council said: “Slí na Sláinte is a simple innovative scheme developed to encourage people of all ages and abilities to walk for leisure and good health. It is vitally important that every effort is made to encourage people to participate in physical activity.”
Bernadette Cullen, Chairperson of the County Limerick Local Sports Partnership added: “We were delighted to work with the Irish Heart Foundation on this project, the new Slí na Sláinte route is a great addition to the town and a wonderful amenity for people in the area.”
Ms. Cullen added: “The County Limerick Local Sports Partnership is committed to implementing the action plans set out under the first Strategic Plan for the Development of Sport in County Limerick 2008-2011. One of the strategy’s many objectives is to increase physical activity throughout Co Limerick. The development of this Slí na Sláinte route shares this objective and will help in the continued development of physical activity opportunities for members of the local community in Castleconnell and surrounding areas”.
The launch of the new route coincides with the Irish Heart Foundation’s heart month this September which is a RED ALERT to all Irish women to know that as many women (5,000) as men die from cardiovascular diseases.
Anyone seeking further info on Slí na Sláinte can contact Edel Byrne, Slí na Sláinte National Co‐ordinator at the Irish Heart Foundation, 4 Clyde Road, Dublin 4, Tel: 01 668‐5001 or e‐mail: ebyrne@irishheart.ie
Slí na Sláinte, meaning "Path to Health", is a unique initiative of the Irish Heart Foundation designed to encourage people to get active and get walking on routes marked out at 1 km intervals. It uses signage at kilometre intervals on established walking routes to help walkers identify the distance they walk.
Supported by County Limerick Sports Partnership, Limerick County Council and the Irish Sports Council, the Castleconnell Slí na Slainte route is 3.8km in length and suitable for all levels of walkers. Attending today’s launch were representatives of County Limerick Local Sports Partnership and the Irish Heart Foundation, as well as comedian and Castleconnell resident Pat Shortt.
Edel Byrne from the Irish Heart Foundation said: “We hope the community of Castleconnell will get great enjoyment and benefit from the new Slí na Sláinte route. Getting active makes such a big difference to your heart and overall health, helping to reduce stress, ease back pain and reduce the risk of heart disease. Adults need at least 30 minutes of physical activity, such as brisk walking, five days a week. By having a clearly marked and safe walking route, we aim to make it easier for people in Castleconnell to get active as part of their normal day.”
Speaking at the route launch, Cllr Richard Butler, Cathaoirleach of Limerick County Council said: “Slí na Sláinte is a simple innovative scheme developed to encourage people of all ages and abilities to walk for leisure and good health. It is vitally important that every effort is made to encourage people to participate in physical activity.”
Bernadette Cullen, Chairperson of the County Limerick Local Sports Partnership added: “We were delighted to work with the Irish Heart Foundation on this project, the new Slí na Sláinte route is a great addition to the town and a wonderful amenity for people in the area.”
Ms. Cullen added: “The County Limerick Local Sports Partnership is committed to implementing the action plans set out under the first Strategic Plan for the Development of Sport in County Limerick 2008-2011. One of the strategy’s many objectives is to increase physical activity throughout Co Limerick. The development of this Slí na Sláinte route shares this objective and will help in the continued development of physical activity opportunities for members of the local community in Castleconnell and surrounding areas”.
The launch of the new route coincides with the Irish Heart Foundation’s heart month this September which is a RED ALERT to all Irish women to know that as many women (5,000) as men die from cardiovascular diseases.
Anyone seeking further info on Slí na Sláinte can contact Edel Byrne, Slí na Sláinte National Co‐ordinator at the Irish Heart Foundation, 4 Clyde Road, Dublin 4, Tel: 01 668‐5001 or e‐mail: ebyrne@irishheart.ie
