Offaly men embrace Men’s Health Week 2026 activities with gusto

The local Men’s Health Week Working Group would like to thank the men of County Offaly for embracing Men’s Health Week 2026 and helping to make this year’s initiative a great success.

Men’s Health Week is celebrated internationally and aims to raise awareness of preventable health issues affecting men, encourage healthier lifestyle choices, and support the early detection of health difficulties. In Ireland, the initiative is coordinated by the Men’s Health Forum in Ireland.

This year’s theme, “One Step at a Time,” encouraged men and boys to focus on small, practical actions that can make a meaningful difference to their physical and mental wellbeing. The campaign highlighted that improving health does not require major changes; rather, it is about making steady progress, not striving for perfection.

READ NEXT: 'It's having a huge impact': Offaly leading the way at a digital level

The week was coordinated locally by a Working Group comprising of representatives from the HSE, Offaly Local Development Company, Accessible Counselling, Mental Health Ireland, Offaly County Council, Offaly Sports Partnership, Offaly Library Services, CYPSC, Offaly Volunteer Centre, An Garda Síochána, and Midlands LGBTQI+.

Mental Health Ireland and Accessible Counselling were the charity partners for Men’s Health Week in Offaly. Members of the public who wish to support these valuable organisations can do so through the iDonate platform.

The programme commenced with Mental Health Ireland’s Dips for Health event at Banagher Pool, which promoted the benefits of cold-water swimming, social connection, and spending time in nature. A wide range of activities took place throughout the week, including Connect Cafés, social walks, Five Ways to Wellbeing workshops, fitness classes, a cookery demonstration, a resilience workshop with Irish Rugby Sevens international Jordan Conroy, a film night, and a Farmers’ Breakfast.

The organisers would like to thank everyone who participated and used the week as an opportunity to take positive steps towards improving their health and wellbeing.

While Men’s Health Week has now concluded for 2026, men are encouraged to continue prioritising their physical, emotional, and mental health throughout the year. Seeking support when needed is an important step, and there are many excellent services available locally to support the wellbeing of boys and men across County Offaly. Reaching out and engaging with support services can be the first step towards better wellbeing.

For more information about Men’s Health Week and the supports available, visit mhfi.org and yourmentalhealth.ie

READ NEXT: Ninety-year-old Offaly woman donates vintage Eire jersey to Clara Town FC