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 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.”

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