Donegal farmers are men on the move

Nestled in the coastline between Ballina and Tawny, Rossnakill in Co Donegal is largely designated as a Gaeltacht area. Known for its beautiful landscape, it is home to many farming families. There has been little in the way of organised social network and physical activity for the men in the region.

But that has all changed – and now the men are on the move.

Noelle Blaney, secretary of Rossnakill Community Hub, takes up the story: “A lot of our community is comprised of farming families and many of our population is ageing. We believe we have an opportunity and a responsibility to continue providing services to improve the quality of lives of those in our community,” she says.

The rural area in north Donegal sees its beloved hub come to life for an hour twice a week with the Men on the Move initiative, aimed at getting locals exercising.

With a large cohort of sheep and suckler farmers, the committee wanted to bring people together and improve the health of those living in the area.

In January last year, the hub committee, with the help of Donegal Sports Partnership, kicked off the programme with funding from the Sláintecare Healthy Communities scheme which supports the setting-up costs and initial running fees.

The physical activity programme has been in operation since 2009, run by the national Men on the Move network, in conjunction with the HSE. It has been rolled out in different rural areas across Ireland since then.

Community drive

After advertising in January 2024 with a poster ‘calling all farmers’, 19 registered on the first night in Rossnakill, with a consistent 13 showing up every week for the first 12-week programme.

The group are now just finishing their third round of the programme with 41 dedicated men attending each week. Participants range in age from 21 to 70, with some men travelling over 20 miles to attend. The first two programmes were fully funded; now the men pay €30 a month, which ensures it can continue without funding.

At the heart of it all is the support and spirit driven by Seamus Carr, coordinator of the programme who has been instrumental in its success. As a suckler farmer himself and an occupational therapist living in the area, his personal touch and ongoing support for the men has kept the programme alive. With daily check-ins, he has created a sense of belonging in the group.

Enhanced social networks and physical activity has resulted in lifestyle changes for those who participate in the programme.

At 8pm, attendees take part in a 30-minute circuit before hitting the road and running or walking for half an hour. Rain, hail or snow, they put on their high-visibility jackets and headlights before they get moving outside.

Over the weeks their fitness levels improved, which resulted in them travelling further, with distances marked out with traffic cones. One of the exercises during the circuit consists of a farmer’s lift, where they bring weights around a dedicated area like lifting bags of meal.

Other exercises include push-ups, rowing, cycling, jumping jacks, arm raises and tyre lifts.

“The classes have helped the men to be more confident with exercise but more importantly, it has provided a safe space for them to blow off steam,” says Seamus.

“It wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for the hub, bringing it here and dotting all the lines together. It’s great for places like this to have a purpose and keep the community involved. It is run by volunteers who really open the doors to people in the community,” adds Seamus.

Even when you have a stressful day, a cow calving or ewe lambing, you can come in here and just forget about it for a while

They introduced a cup of tea after the class to heat participants up after running and walking in the cold for 30 minutes during the winter. This has turned into an important social aspect of the programme.

“There was one evening out here last year and it was absolutely hammering rain. I was collecting the equipment and didn’t go out with them that evening. I was listening to the heavy rain, and I told them to come in and have a cup of tea.

“Now we have a cup of tea and chat every evening, and they come in here joking and laughing and could stay until 9.30pm. There are men in the group that would say that aspect is an important part of it for them,” says Seamus.

The house joke is that Seamus doesn’t give them biscuits every night and he gets a bit of grief about that.

“In terms of farmers, we’re not good at talking among ourselves. There are lads in the class that don’t see other people at all. It’s very isolating and the hours are long and you’re against yourself and the weather. To hear men coming in here to blow off a bit of steam, especially at the busy periods of the year is what it’s all about,” says Seamus.

In December, just before the programme finished last year, Seamus held a talk on mental health for an hour before the class. He was amazed that 23 people came through the door, which he found “absolutely powerful”.

“They openly talked about their struggles, what helped them and what to look out for regarding your mental health. That conversation could have gone on for hours and hours,” says Seamus, who adds that he is delighted that people are now starting to talk about their mental health.

“It’s admitting that there are days where you can just be off form – it can be family worries, financial or farming. I tell the men to take 60 seconds on the clock to check in with themselves. What is going on with me? Why I am feeling that way? Am I feeling good or feeling bad?” explains Seamus.

Irish Country Living visited one of the exercise classes and spoke to two participants about the impact of the programme.

Liam Doherty

“I am farming in the local area Kerrykeel. I have a mixed suckler cows and sheep farm. I decided to get involved in Men on the Move as I needed something to keep me going physically.

“The social outing is a big thing; you meet someone different every night or someone you haven’t seen in years. I was in school with this man here (Patrick), and I used to only wave at him on the road but now every week we have a catch up.

“I was a wee bit nervous the first night as I wouldn’t be into exercising. I had a hip replacement four years ago, and I am trying to keep the weight down.

“Seamus does a great job at keeping you focused and warming you up. It’s something different and I know people are busy but at the end of the day, it’s not much time. I do a bit of farming, but my work on a fish farm is an office job, so this keeps me moving and is good for the head.

“There aren’t many social things to do at night time, only this here and football.”

Patrick Heraghty

“I am an AI technician with Progressive Genetics and a suckler and sheep farmer. I decided to join the group to get fitter and to get out at night.

“I have seen an improvement in my fitness since starting the programme. When the days get longer it’s harder to fit in exercise. If you had to do it on your own you wouldn’t do it at all, but when you must come here, you do it for an hour and come back the following week.

“I was glad to see it come to Rossnakill.You see the crowd of people here from young people to pensioners, they are from all different walks of life.

“I would encourage farmers to try and put two hours aside every week as it has a big benefit.

“Even when you have a stressful day, a cow calving or ewe lambing, you can come in here and just forget about it for a while.”

See sportireland.ie/YPB/MOM