Know Your Neighbour in partnership with Calor aims to bring neighbours together to get to know each other informally. Those living in isolated parts of the country with limited access to services rely on their closest neighbours for support, security and friendship. But physically meeting people is proving more and more difficult in modern Ireland. The goal of Know Your Neighbour is to tackle this issue and provide communities with an outlet for neighbours to get to know each other and establish a strong support network. It’s never too late to host an event, it can happen any day of the week.

All you have to do is register your event on knowyourneighbour.ie and Macra will send you a pack with T-shirts, caps, posters and balloons to help you with your event. And why not tell us how you got on? We’re always looking for photos and tales from the evening, you can send an email to macranafeirme@gmail.com

Organising is easy

Whitechurch Macra in Seandun, Cork hosted a 5 kilometre fun run for Know Your Neighbour this year with all proceeds raised going to the local primary school. Here is an account of how they got on – maybe it might be some inspiration for you to organise or attend a Know Your Neighbour event near you!

“Our fun run for Know Your Neighbour was held in May under a scorching sun. Over 210 competitors, young and old, jogged and walked their way along the hilly and somewhat challenging course. Everybody received a medal at the finish line and all Whitechurch National School children received an Official Homework Voucher on completion, all agreed with the school in advance of course!

“Two keen club members had the difficult task of announcing to 300 children the prospect of getting homework off for a day. Let’s just say they got a bigger reaction than expected.

“We simply put a committee together two months in advance. Applying for Garda safety statement and organising a qualified first aid provider were first on the list, along with good advertising. Posters at T-junctions, contacting other local clubs and societies and a strong Facebook presence was our method of choice.

The point is, for Know Your Neighbour, no event is too big or too small - so get involved"

“No convincing was necessary to get the rest of our club involved. With the registration desk, high-vis stewards at every road junction, timers at the start and finish line and safety cars before and after the competitors, we had no shortage of help.

“Some well deserved refreshments provided by Whitechurch Macra members were available afterwards with plenty of tea, cake, sandwiches and chat in the Community Hall. This proved a great opportunity for a ‘Know Your Neighbour’ event.

“Organising a day like this is easy and we would recommend other Macra clubs to take the challenge and do something different. It is great to be seen getting involved locally in your own community, especially when in aid of a good cause, and of course it is a nice opportunity to attract new members too.”

Whitechurch Macra would like to thank everybody who helped make the day such a huge success.

All around the country

Of course you may have a much smaller event in mind for you community and that’s what is great about Know Your Neighbour, it can be as big as a fun run or as simple as a coffee morning for the area. Some clubs partner up with other major local events and that can work very well. For example, Muskerry Macra hold their Know Your Neighbour event at the local carnival every year which always ensures a strong attendance. Or you can kill two birds with one stone and hold an event that benefits community spirit and also the environment like they’re doing in Offaly with an estate clean up. The point is, for Know Your Neighbour, no event is too big or too small – so get involved! Organise your own or attend one near you! Visit knowyourneighbour.ie/events to see for a list of all the upcoming events around the country. You can also register your event there and we will send you a Know Your Neighbour pack.