Mayo Men’s Health Week - 'Shoulder-to-Shoulder: Connecting for Health'

THIS week (June 9 to 15) communities and organisations across Mayo will come together to mark International Men’s Health Week 2025.

This year’s theme 'Shoulder-to-Shoulder: Connecting for Health' highlights the importance of community and connection in supporting men’s wellbeing. Across Mayo, a diverse programme of events will offer men of all ages the chance to engage, learn and to take proactive steps towards better health.

Laurence Gaughan, regional HSE project lead for Men’s Health Week, commented: “Men’s Health Week provides an important opportunity to raise awareness of preventable health problems, support men and boys to live healthier lives and encourage them to seek help or treatment at an early stage.

“In Mayo a very strong partnership has been established across statutory, community and voluntary organisations, all working together to continue to raise awareness of men’s health generally and promote this annual coordinated focus.”

To kick start the week, a health fair took place at Balla Mart last Saturday with free health checks by Croí, information stands, lifestyle advice, etc., with a health seminar taking place in Ballina last night.

At a similar event to Balla Mart, Ballina Mart/Homeland store is offering free health checks by Croí, information stands with many agencies available for advice today (Tuesday, June 10) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Like all of the mart events, this event run in tandem with the ‘Taking Stock’ campaign which is designed to help farmers make informed decisions that will benefit both themselves and their families.

On Wednesday (11th) the first of two regional events is a free online webinar hosted by Mayo County Council at 7 p.m. entitled 'Shoulder-to-Shoulder: A Conversation on Men’s Health' featuring Shane Pearson, coach, farmer and men’s health advocate, Austin O’Malley, high performance coach and wellbeing practitioner, Dr. Alan Gallogly, forensic and consultation liaison psychiatrist, and Iggy Clark, former Galway hurler, counsellor and therapist.

The second regional event is both in-person and streamed online live at the Porter Shed, Market Street, Galway, on Thursday (12th) at 7 p.m. entitled ‘Retirement Reimagined’ featuring Professor Brian Hughes, Professor of Psychology at the University of Galway, Keith Finnegan, former Galway Bay FM chief executive officer and broadcaster, and Pat McMahon, former Galway county and city librarian.

Elmer Pieterse, Healthy Mayo co-ordinator, added: “Mayo County Council is delighted to work in partnership with the HSE and the many other organisations who have contributed to the calendar of events. The focus this year is on bringing initiatives and services to men at community locations such as marts, workplaces and builders providers and online.

“We hope that as many men as possible will engage with us during the week.”

For further information on all public events taking place in Mayo, see poster below or www.mhfi.org.