Cork Walking Week 2023 | 18th-24th September

Cork Sports Partnership and Mountaineering Ireland will host two Hill Walks during Cork Walking Week: 

The Canon Sheehan Loop Hillwalk will take place on Thursday 21st from 10am

This 7kms will take approximately 2.5 hours to complete and will follow glorious forest tracks, woodland paths and the riverbank through Glenanaar Forest and along the banks of the Ogeen River. There will be beautiful views of the Blackwater Valley and the Nagle and Knockmealdown Mountains. The group will meeting at the trailhead car park but more details will be sent closer to the time. Hiking boots and rain gear will be very highly recommended.  

The Poc an Tairbh Loop will take place on Saturday 23rd from 10am

This is a 9.5kms loop and is described as ‘moderate’ difficult level. It is likely to take about 3 hours but for more information CLICK HERE. 

Registration is essential for both of these events and you can book using the events link at the end of this page.  

Cork Sports Partnership and the HSE will host a Walk Your Way Workshops throughout Cork Walking Week

1. Walk Your Way Workshop West Cork: 
   20th September from 11am till 1pm: Drimoleague Methodist Church

The aim of this workshop is to encourage you to walk more and more often and also enable you to get more health benefits from your walk. This is done through focusing on improving balance, strength, mobility & aerobic fitness and how these can be incorporated into your routine walk.

Who is this workshop suitable for?

This workshop is ideally suited to all adults with an interest in walking; both beginners and those already walking.

How is the workshop delivered?

This 2-hour workshop is delivered by HSE, Physical Activity Health Promotion Officers and has been adapted from an original workshop developed by the Irish Heart Foundation.  The workshop includes a mixture of information giving in a presentation style, group participation and some light physical activity. Participants may be members of community groups and/or individuals within the community not associated with any group.

Further information:

This workshop is FREE of charge. Registration is essential. 

Cork Sports Partnership and fitWalk Ireland will host an Activator Poles Gathering as part of Cork Walking Week 2023: CANCELLED

23rd of September: Tramore Valley Park: 3.30pm till 5.30pm 

This event will bring together experts, instructors and participants who have trained in or used Activator Poles to facilitate their walking in the past. However we also welcome anyone who is new to the activity and would like some guidance. This event will also introduce participants to the Tramore Valley Park as a great destination to use activator poles. 

IRD Duhallow will host an Activator Poles Taster Session 

When: Tuesday 19th of September from 2:30 PM 3:30 PM

Where: IRD Duhallow James O’Keeffe Institute, Demesne, Newmarket, Co. Cork, P51 C5YF.

Class limited to 12 spaces so registration is essential. 

Contact Denis Justice to book on: 
Tel: 029 60633
Email:denis.justice@irdduhallow.com

Activator Poles Courses

Cork Sports Partnership and their trained exercise professionals will roll out a number of 6 week Activator Poles Course around Cork city and county from the 25th of September. 

Ballinascarthy: Starting Tuesday the 26th of September at 11.30am in Ballinascarthy Community Hall  

Midleton: Starting Thursday the 28th of September at 11.30am in Midleton GAA 

Castlemagner: Starting Monday the 25th of September at 11.30am in Castlemagner Hall 

Ballinacarriga: Starting Monday 18th of September at 11am in Ballinacarriga Community Hall 

Millstreet: Starting 25th of September at 2.30pm in Millstreet Day Centre

Cork Sports Partnership and the Transport and Mobility Forum Cork will host a number of walks in Cork City. 

1. Street Art Walk 
   22nd September: 6pm till 9pm
   Meeting at the Cork City Library on the Grand Parade.
   Light refreshments will be provided at this event.
2. Gallery Walk
   21st September: 6pm till 8pm
   Meeting at the Cork City Library on the Grand Parade.
   Light refreshments will be provided at this event.
3. Otter Walk
   23rd September: 7pm till 10pm
   Meeting at the Cork City Library on the Grand Parade.
   Light refreshments will be provided at this event.
4. Cities History Walk
   18th September: 7pm till 10pm
   Meeting at the Cork City Library on the Grand Parade.
5. From Gratten to Victoria History Walk
   19th September: 7pm till 10pm
   Meeting at the Cork City Library on the Grand Parade.
6. Islands of Cork History Walk
   20th September: 7pm till 10pm
   Meeting at the Cork City Library on the Grand Parade.

These will be  lovely walks around Cork city guided by Darren from the Transport and Mobility Forum who has extensive knowledge of the City. Everyone is sure to learn  something new and to leave having looked at the City in a new way.  

Cork City Council will also lead a number of walks in Cork City during Cork Walking Week: 

Tuesday, 19th September: Shandon Mile Walk starts at 1pm at Daunt Square ( the concrete bench). It is a relatively short walk around Cork’s most historical & interesting parts of our city, which is packed with places of interest to enjoy and explore. (A slightly hilly walk!)

Wednesday, 20th September: Feminist Walk starts at 1pm at City Hall (Anglesea St. New Civic building). A walk which highlights and showcases the role that women have played in Cork City, and their contribution to culture and history of the City. (A fairly flat walk). 

Thursday, 21st September: Urban Wildlife in the City Walk at 1pm at City Hall (Anglesea St. New Civic building). The walk will follow the River Lee on both the North and South channels on the look out for peregrine falcons, sand martins, grey wagtails, gulls and maybe an otter feeding on a fish. Learn about some of the wildflowers along the River Lee and tales of the interesting marine mammals that have travelled up the River Lee over the years. (Walk will take about 1.5hours).

Friday, 22nd September: Bridges Walk starts at 1pm at City Hall (Anglesea St. New Civic building). A more challenging walk that takes you across the city to enjoy the river that runs through it and explore the bridges that connect us. (A long walk, 7km)

Friday, 22nd September: Old Cinemas of Cork Walk starts at 5pm at City Hall (Anglesea St. New Civic building). A look at the golden age of cinema through some of the various cinemas that once dotted across the City. 

BOOK ANY OF THESE WALKS USING THE LINK AT THE END OF THIS PAGE!

We are delighted to announce that the Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Kieran McCarthy will host his ‘Shandon Historical Walking Tour’ in Cork City as part of Cork Walking Week. The group will explore Cork’s most historic quarter. 

‘Tradition is one way to sum up the uniqueness of Shandon Street. Despite being a physical street, one can stroll down (or clamber up), the thoroughfare holds a special place in the hearts of many Corkonians.  The legacy of by-gone days is rich. The street was established by the Anglo-Normans as a thoroughfare to give access to North Gate Drawbridge and was originally known as Mallow Lane. Different architectural styles reflect not only the street’s long history but also Cork’s past.’

When?

September 24th: 5pm onwards 

Where?

The Group will meet at North Main Street/ Adelaide Street Square, opposite the Cork Volunteer Centre, Cork City 

For more information about the Lord Mayors’ expertise as a historian click here. You can book using the link at the end of this page but are also welcome on the day. 

IRD Duhallow will host a Get Cork Walking Week Event – Walking Mushera on Thursday the 21st of September 2023 at 6:30 pm

Location: St John’s Well, Millstreet

Walking along the base of Musheramore over to Mushera along the Duhallow Way.

Grade: Moderate-Strenuous, sections of the walk are on open mountainside with uneven ground. Tea & coffee after walk.

Walk is free but registration essential, to register please call Alannah on 029 60633.

For more information CLICK HERE. 

Following on from our hugely successful Step into Spring Schools Walking Challenge Cork Sports Partnership are delighted to launch the Autumn Schools Walking Challenge again in September. 

CLICK HERE for more information and to sign up!

Cork Sports Partnership in association with the Sister Hub in Aghada will roll out an Active Community Walking Programme. 

Please contact Alison at achambers@corksports.ie to express your interest. 

Cork Walking Week 2023 is running alongside the 4th annual National Walking Day which will take place on Sunday 24th September this year; as part of European Week of Sport. It is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the benefits of walking for both well-being and physical health and for everyone to celebrate the outdoors and #WalkHikeRunPushRoll. 

Get Ireland Walking is inviting communities to host an event on National Walking Day.

So why not organise a walking event, such as a group walk or a walking tour of a local neighbourhood or park or amenity? This is a great way to get friends, families, and neighbours involved and celebrate walking. To register an event, find out more information or download resources CLICK HERE. 

Clonakilty Community Resource Centre and Bandon Well-being Week, in conjunction with West Cork Development Partnership and Cork Sports Partnership, invite you to join them for a gentle morning walk with nature at Top of the Rock Walking Centre, Drimoleague which will be followed by refreshments.

Date: 20th September 2023 

Time: 11am to 1.30pm – including refreshments

Venue: Top of the Rock Walking Centre, Drimoleague

Spaces: 40 people max. Places are free but are limited and must be registered at sinead@wcdp.ie

SECAD will host a community walk on the Youghal BoardWalk | Friday the 22nd of September | 9am

You can book in for this event at the end of this page. 

SECAD has also launched an interactive online brochure that provides inspiration to get outdoors in 15 spectacular locations, across the East Cork and Cork Harbour region.

The brochure, which was created by SECAD, includes walkways, and cycleways to explore Coastal, River & Wood Trails in the Ring of Cork and provides inspiration to get outside and keep moving, in nature.

Located across the East Cork and Cork Harbour region, the locations have been handpicked so there is something to suit everyone. From morning hikes to Sunday strolls, family picnic spots to fishing areas, the list has been carefully curated.

To download the brochure and find out more information CLICK HERE!

If you are based in the Newmarket/Kanturk area and would like to get out walking in a safe and manageable social setting, Denis in IRD Duhallow has the perfect option for you. The Rural Community Health Walking Group meets every Monday and Wednesday and they would love to see you there. 

For more information please reach out to Denis at denis.justice@IRDDuhallow.com or on 029 60633

The Skibbereen walking festival will take place from the 22nd to the 24th of September. This festival is held annually on the last weekend of September and features guided walks through quiet country roads with some off-road sections – something for walkers of all abilities.

Please note that pre-registering is essential. 

For more information and to book please contact Helen on 086 869 6128 or CLICK HERE. 

With thanks to Skibbereen Walking Group and supported by Cork County Council, Failte Ireland, Pure Cork and Access Credit Union Skibbereen Branch.

Cork Walking Week runs alongside National Walking Day on the 24th of September. However it also links in with both European Mobility Week and European Week of Sport. 

Green-Schools Travel will present an ‘Introduction to starting a Walking Bus Webinar on Monday 26^th September 2023 at 5pm with guest speakers Susan Doorley, Safe Routes To School Infrastructure Officer and Walking Bus pioneer and Lucy Murphy, Green-schools Travel Officer, all welcome especially parents, teachers, principals, and community groups.

For more information and to book CLICK HERE.

Green Schools will also run Walk to School Week from the 2nd to the 6th of October. 

For more information contact Lisa at logrady@eeu.antaisce.org or  CLICK HERE

Two of Munster’s Higher Education institutions are set to become healthier places to study, work, and research the well-being of future generations, following commitments made at a gathering in Cork.

University College Cork (UCC) and Munster Technological University (MTU) have signed Healthy Campus charters for their respective institutions at a gathering at UCC.

The Healthy Campus initiative is a framework through which Higher Education Institutions can implement national policies and strategies in the keys areas of physical activity, obesity, tobacco, sexual health, mental health, and drugs and alcohol in a way that addresses local needs.

Having signed the charter, each institution has pledged to appoint Healthy Campus Co-ordinators and form steering groups who will consult with students and staff. This consultation will lead to the development and implementation of a holistic, whole-campus approach to promoting health.

As part of this initiative walking is being promoted and prioritised on Campus in both UCC and MTU. For more information about these initiatives take a look at the links below: 

MTU 

UCC

Can technology help you gaging the benefits of walking? University College Cork and Cork Sports Partnership will join forces to develop technologies to measure the benefits of walking, would you like to help us? When is walking most beneficial for you? If you would like to be involved email a.setti@ucc.ie.

A project funded by Science Foundation Ireland. https://www.ucc.ie/en/news/2023/technological-solution-to-track-walking-and-its-benefits-among-ucc-research-receiving-funding.html