Winter Initiative

– Minister Byrne launches Winter Initiative 2023 –

• Over 700 events and activities to help keep people active and fit over the Winter Months
• Series of events and activities are planned by National Governing Bodies, Locals Sports Partnerships and clubs all over Ireland
• Minister of State for Sport and Physical Education, Thomas Byrne TD, urges people of all ages and backgrounds to take up a new sport or to become involved again

The third year of the Winter Initiative has been launched by Minister of State for Sport and Physical Education, Thomas Byrne TD, with the aim of getting as many people as possible exercising and participating in physical activity over the coming winter months. With over 700 events and activities planned across the country there is a specific focus on encouraging people to try their hand at a new sport they may not have experienced before.

Speaking as he launched the Winter Initiative in Laytown, Co. Meath, the Minister of State for Sport and Physical Education, Thomas Byrne TD, commented: “With less daylight and harsher weather, this is a time of the year when we all need to dig a little deeper to find the motivation to exercise and to be physically active. For many of us at this time of the year, our bodies and minds do not get enough light and endorphins. Research suggests that winter exercise has many health and wellbeing benefits and The Winter Initiative is designed to provide both the motivation and the opportunity to get out get out exercising with family, friends, neighbours or work colleagues. With a large programme of events and activities planned right across the country, I urge everyone to get active over the coming months, to generate those all-important feel-good hormones which help keep the winter blues at bay”.

Getting involved in sport, exercise and physical activity have huge benefits to individuals and communities and the Winter Initiative is designed to ensure that these can be felt by as many people as possible. Local clubs and groups are also encouraged to post and advertise their events and activities online to spread the word about the Winter Initiative and encourage new people to try out different sports which they may have felt were outside their comfort zone before now.

Sport Ireland CEO Una May added: “Sport Ireland welcomes the launch of the latest Winter Initiative and we would really encourage people to try to make sport and physical activity a part of their daily routine. NGBs and our network of LSPs will be hosting events all over the country and these afford everyone the opportunity to try something new or engage again with a sport that they might have drifted away from and to get healthy and get active this winter.”

Locally here in Cork, Cork Sports Partnership has over 50 different project offerings scheduled at locations all across Cork during the campaign. Speaking about what’s on offer, Maurice O’ Sullivan, Sport and Marketing Manager with Cork Sports Partnership said “We are delighted to able to support this national campaign again this year. We have opportunities to get active for people of all ages and abilities during this winter period and would encourage everyone to get involved in whatever way they can’. He added ‘Our team have been working closely with our project partners to ensure a wide variety of opportunities suitable to all. Special thanks to all our partners for their continued commitment to community sport and physical activity here in Cork”. 

For details on what’s happening in Cork in conjunction with Cork Sports Partnership, click link CSP Winter Initiative Projects 2023 (final)

A full list of all the events and activities planned all around the country that people can get involved in is available on the Sport Ireland website at https://www.sportireland.ie/winter-initiative