Well-attended farmer wellbeing day was a tremendous success
Teresa Roche from IFA farm family, Marian Dalton secretary of Carlow IFA, Michael Purcell chairman of Carlow IFA, with IFA members Jake Kelly and Daniel McNally at the Farmers' Wellbeing Day in Leinster Marts Carlow organised by Healthy Carlow and Carlow County Council Photos: michaelorourkephotography.ie
THE CARLOW Farmer Wellbeing Day, held last week at Leinster Marts in Carlow, was a tremendous success, drawing strong attendance and providing much-needed support to the local farming community.
This unique event, specifically designed to address the health and wellbeing challenges faced by farmers in the region, offered a range of services aimed at improving physical health, mental wellbeing and overall safety in the farming environment.
The event ran from 10am to 1pm and gave farmers and their families the chance to access a variety of resources in one central location. Attendees had the opportunity to receive free health checks from qualified healthcare professionals, offering an important opportunity for farmers to monitor their health and wellbeing.
Alongside the health checks, a number of organisations set up information stands, providing tailored advice and resources for farmers on topics such as sustainability, farm safety and business practices.
In addition, experts in agriculture were on hand to offer practical farming advice, helping attendees to navigate some of the key challenges facing the industry today. As an added touch of care, participants were also treated to free haircuts, a service aimed at encouraging self-care and promoting a healthy work-life balance. Each farmer received a free first-aid kit, an essential resource to ensure safety on the farm, and lunch was provided, offering a chance for everyone to relax, enjoy food and connect with other members of the farming community.
The event was notably well attended, with a strong turnout from local farmers eager to take advantage of the support and resources on offer. Organisers were thrilled with the response, which highlighted the significant demand for initiatives designed to address the wellbeing of farmers in Carlow.
The Carlow Farmer Wellbeing Day was a pilot programme and its success marks the beginning of what is hoped to be a repeat event, with future initiatives planned to continue providing vital support to the farming community.
The Carlow Farmer Wellbeing Initiative was organised by Healthy Carlow and Carlow County Council and supported by local organisations committed to supporting the region’s farming community, including Leinster Marts, County Carlow Development Partnership, Embrace Farm, Teagasc, IFA, Macra na Feirme and Kelly Agri Consultants. The programme is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine.
