While many people look forward to each new year, it can be a challenging time for others.

The expense and excesses of the Christmas period can leave a physical hangover.

And Christmas can be a challenging time emotionally for many. Loneliness and loss are heightened at a time that is centered around family and celebration. The shortened days and long evenings take a toll on others.

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For all these reasons, a reboot is no harm at all at the start of the calendar year. And one rural community in north Wexford has organised a series of events to help people do just that.

'New year, new you' comprises four separate public events on the four Tuesday evenings of January.

The focus is strongly on mental wellbeing and on physical and emotional good health.

The series opens on 6 January, with the three TDs in the local constituency forming a panel.

However, Brian Brennan, Malcolm Byrne and Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin will be focusing on the personal rather than the political, discussing the life of a politician, the toll it can take and the nature of political discourse in 2026.

Then Dr Susan Brannick, the clinical director of Aware, will take the stage to speak on 'Healthy living, new year'.

Double bill

The following week, 13 January, is also a double bill. The first session carries the theme 'Local insights' and sees Nancy Moore, Mary O'Rourke and friends of Local MS take the stage. They are followed by camogie star and Sunday Game analyst Ursula Jacob, who will speak on cyber bullying and resilience.

Night three is 20 January, which focuses on addictions. Legendary Limerick hurler Ciaran Carey, an addiction counsellor, will be joined by Linda Daly and George Henderson.

Finally, on 27 January, as the evenings start to stretch a little, there is one last double-header. Local GP Darragh O'Doherty will speak on healthy living tips for the new year, followed by Rev Canon Mark Hayden, the Church of Ireland rector in Gorey.

All the events take place in Askamore Community Centre and all begin at 7.30pm. Admission is €10/night or €25 for all four nights, with tea served each night.

Community support

"In January 2021, we started with a health protection course - from first aid to diet and mental health," says local farmer Sean Byrne, who is the driving force behind the programme.

"It was organised between ourselves in Askamore Community Centre and with Alice Doyle, then-IFA family farm national chair."

Those events took place in the wake of COVID and lockdowns, and were well received and well attended.

So Sean decided to make it an annual event, with the support of the community centre's committee, where Helen Kearney is chair.

"January is a dull time of the year and the idea is to get people up from the couch and out among their neighbours and the broader community," he explains. "We break for a cup of tea, a biscuit and a chat in the middle of the proceedings each night, so there is a strong social aspect."

There is a particularly strong community spirit in this small area located near Carnew, right on the border with Wicklow.

"It's a beautiful area, with the Wicklow hills away to the north," Sean says.

"Our village is in the shadow of Sliabh Bhuí and we have a number of looped walks in the area, so we try to promote physical, mental and emotional well-being."

There is also a community park and playground in Askamore - Le Cheile Park.

Contact 085-215 6848 for more details.