Let’s Keep Our Young People In Cork Active
It was Active School Week across the country between 23rd April and April 27th. With 21% of our schools in County Cork currently carrying the Active School Flag status, we thought that it’s the ideal time to reflect on the importance of keeping our young people in Cork active. We’ve also put together some info on some of the amenities and opportunities in our area, for young people to get involved and stay active all year round.
Active School Week
The Active School Flag is awarded to schools that strive to provide a physically educated and physically active school community throughout the year. There are around 90 schools in Cork who have been awarded an Active School Flag.
The week encourages schools and students to work together with parents, community and sporting and health organisations on a broad variety of physical activities.
At the launch of Active School Week 2018, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar commented on the aims of the initiative, saying: “We’re aiming to get everyone moving, and that’s particularly important for children. We want to encourage and support children to have the best possible physical fitness and mental well-being”. Reflecting on the importance of keeping our children active, the Taoiseach added “Being active is hugely important for our children’s health and will have a positive impact on them later in life too. And most important of all, it’s great fun”.
Why Staying Active Is So Important
Commenting on the launch of the week, Minister for Health Simon Harris reiterated how important regular physical activity is for health and wellbeing, saying: “We all need to work together to get children active from an early age and support parents and the education sector in building a culture of physical activity”.
He added: “Children and young people need to be active for at least 60 minutes every day. This week has many benefits for their physical and mental health well-being. Children who are active are more likely to live happy and healthy lives and society as a whole will benefit.”
Activities For Young People In Cork
Active School Week is all about encouraging our young people to take part in regular physical activity, the challenge to staff and pupils is to complete at least 60 minutes of physical activity every week. To support that goal, there are a wide range of local community physical amenities and sporting clubs for our young people to take advantage of in our area.
Some of the great facilities and clubs for young people in Cork include:
Sports Clubs
From weightlifting, basketball and handball to mountain orienteering and ladies Gaelic football, there’s a local sports club in our County where you can participate in your favourite sports. There are over 36 Cork sports clubs listed on the Cork Sports Partnership website, offering a wide range of different sports and providing a fun way to stay active and social.
Sports And Physical Opportunities In Schools
The Cork Sport Partnership have partnered up with local schools to run a range of exciting sport and physical opportunities in our local schools over the coming months. From badminton and tennis to cycling and triathlon, you can find out what’s happening in the schools section of their website – http://www.corksports.ie/schools – or in the Cork Sports eZine
Sport For All Ability
From wheelchair rugby with the Rebel Wheelers to tennis for all in Midleton Co. Cork, there are a number of SportAbility clubs in Cork that run a timetable of activities to make sure participating in sport is open to all, regardless of physical ability.
For more information on the Cork SportsAbility Forum contact Padraig Healy at Cork Sports Partnership on 021 4347096 or email phealy@corksports.ie.
Ballyhaas Lakes
For those who love the outdoors, Ballyhass Lakes is the ideal place to have some active fun. The activity centre takes full advantage of the natural environment with instructor led activities to suit all groups including families and schools. With activities include kayaking, raft building, trout fishing, rock climbing, abseiling and archery, there’s something for everyone who loves the great outdoors.
Fitzgerald’s Park
Secluded away right in the heart of the city, Fitzgerald’s Park is the first playground for lots of our children in Cork. The park is the ideal spot for our young people to gather with friends for a game of Frisbee, footie or just to have a good natter over a picnic. Skateboarders have their own area in the park, where they can bring their own board.
Cork’s Beaches
County Cork’s coastline continues for a surprisingly long 1,100km. Nestled between the natural harbours and rugged cliffs are dozens of amazing sandy beaches. From Garretstown beach to Garryvoe Beach at Youghal in East Cork or Garrylucas Beach in the Kinsale area, we’ve got a range of beaches close by, to have a fun day out whilst being active outdoors.