RTÉ's Nationwide to feature Moore community activities

The popular RTÉ Nationwide programme will feature the ‘Moore Movers’ community group in South Roscommon next week and showcase the recently refurbished Moore Community Hall as the hub of this rural community which borders counties.

The RTÉ Nationwide team were keen to revisit the ‘Moore Movers’ in an effort to inspire other people living in rural Ireland to prioritise their health and wellbeing in the new year.

The footage will air on Nationwide on Wednesday, January 4 at 7pm,

The group, which first featured on the programme back in 2019 was founded by local nurse, Laura Tully, in 2017. This is a community lifestyle intervention which aims to promote healthy and active living to all ages and abilities living locally.

Since 2017, people of Moore and surrounding areas between the ages of 8 and 88 have been coming together to ‘walk and talk’ with notable improvements in their health and wellbeing. The outcomes have been remarkable in terms of weight loss, increases in strength, positive mental and social health, improvements in blood pressure and markers of metabolic and cardiovascular health, improved nutrition and increased physical activity.

Several high-profile initiatives have delivered by Laura over the years including the widely acclaimed ‘Fit Farmers’ programme in 2019 which with the support of Roscommon Sports Partnership, has been upscaled right across the county of Roscommon with 111 farmers having gone on to complete the programme.

RTÉ were keen to revisit the ‘Moore Movers and ‘Fit Farmers’ in Roscommon to see how the restrictions imposed as a result of the pandemic over 2020-2021 impacted the group and how the recently refurbished hall at Moore now provides a central hub for the group to meet for walks, talks and an exciting new “Poles in the Parish” initiative.

Moore Community Centre, which operates as the focal point in this local rural community is currently used by 36 groups and organisations for meetings, events, and classes. These include Moore Active Retirement Group, the I.C.A, Irish Farmers Association, Moore Scouts, drama productions by Moore & Clonfad Drama Society, Pilates, Yoga and other physical activity classes as well as indoor sports. The hall is a focal point for social integration with all groups in the area and surrounds welcome e.g., a local group of Iranian families use the centre yearly for social celebrations. The programme will highlight the impact of the closure of Shannonbridge Power Station and change in policy and work of Bórd Na Mona on the parish and how the newly refurbished centre now facilitates education, training, upskilling and leisure activities to meet the needs of the community.

Wednesday's feature will inspire and motivate you to make healthier living your goal for 2023 so make sure you tune in. Registration for 'Fitsticks for Farmers' in Moore which commences on Monday January 11 is now open via Roscommon Sports Partnership (www.rosactive.org).