Operation Transformation walks a huge success again in Fingal

The Operation Transformation walks were a huge success again in Fingal with enthusiastic walkers and runners taking part in five locations in Fingal on Saturday January 18th.  Organised by Fingal Sports Office in co-operation with Sport Ireland these were part of the Nationwide Walks campaign that saw 17,000 people take part in 143 locations.  There was a location to suit everyone with walks taking place in Balbriggan, Porterstown Park, Rivervalley Swords, Tyrrelstown Park and St. Catherine’s Park.  With distances of 3km or 5km the walks were a positive way to promote a healthy and active start to the new year in an inclusive and fun way that caters for all ages and abilities.

 This was the first year for the walk in Tyrrelstown Park and Chief Executive of Fingal AnnMarie Farrelly and Acting Mayor Cllr Freddie Cooper joined the enthusiastic locals there. Mayor of Fingal Cllr. Eoghan O’Brien lead the way on the coastal walk in Balbriggan along the beach to Bremore Castle. We partnered with Kildare sports Partnership for the first walk to take place in St. Catherine’s Park, while Porterstown Park and Rivervalley saw enthusiastic walkers mingle with the runners at the parkrun. Our Councillors were happy to lend their support with Cllr Grainne Maguire, Cllr Paul Donnelly, Cllr Mary McCamley and Cllr Darragh Butler among those taking park.  

Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Eoghan O’Brien said “I was delighted to support and take part in the Operation Transportation walk in Balbriggan on Saturday. These walks promote a healthy active lifestyle and are also great inclusive community events providing an opportunity for people to get together in a enjoyable outdoor setting.”

Marion Brown, Principal Sports Officer commented “It’s wonderful to see so many people taking part in the walks.  Walking is not only good for your physical health, it is also good for your emotional health.  Id like to thank the team for organising the different walks and to the Scouts in Balbriggan for their help in stewarding the Balbriggan walk.   A big thank you goes also to parkrun in Swords and Porterstown Park for their assistance in staging those walks as well as running their usual parkrun.”

Chief Executive of Fingal AnnMarie Farrelly said “I really enjoyed taking part in the Operation Transformation walk in Tyrrelstown Park, and meeting the enthusiastic participating residents from one of our newer communities. These walks are another example of the many programmes and initiatives of our Sports Office which help promote and facilitate a healthy and active lifestyle for all the Fingal Community.”

If you want to continue the healthy lifestyle in to 2020 there are many organised walks in your local area and Fingal’s many parks and 88km of coastline provide great locations to enjoy the outdoor lifestyle. There are also parkruns in many Fingal parks at 9.30 every Saturday morning and they are currently hosting the Parkwalk initiative to encourage walkers to join the parkruns.