Thousands of people took part in the biggest ever RTÉ Operation Transformation Nationwide Walks last weekend in more than 70 venues across 26 counties.
This year's event was organised in conjunction with Sport Ireland and the Local Sports Partnerships and was the biggest in the show's ten-year history.
Carlow
Virginia and Kilnaleck who will join Carlow's existing Cootehill Community Transformation this year. Local walks will take place in these 3 areas on Saturday 7th January at 9.30am and from Monday 9th January these communities will kick start a 6-week physical activity programme for the whole community.
Contact the local sports partnership office for further details. Phone 059 9136205/207 or e-mail mjduggan@carlowcoco.ie
Clare
Take part in the National Operation Transformation walk in the beautiful surroundings of the Cascades in Lissycasey on Saturday 7th January at 9.30am. All ages & abilities are welcome. Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult. Dogs are not permitted. Following this, as part of 'Operation Get Clare Active', we will host a weekly walk/run programme in Kilrush and Ennis.
Click here for further details and to register for the Nationwide walk and more.
Cork
This year the Cork Sports Partnership and the Health Promotion and Improvement, Health and well-being Division are organising two walks for Cork City and County. These walks will take place in the following locations: Bishopstown meeting point: Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) Athletics Track and Doneraile Park meeting point: Doneraile Park Playground by Main Entrance. Both walks will commence at 9.30am sharp but participants are asked to arrive before this for the warm up and safety briefing.
Click here for more information on both the Bishopstown and Doneraile Park walk.
Donegal
Operation Transformation National Walks Day in Lifford, Rosnakill, Killybegs & Maghery. Donegal Sports Partnership will host 4 Community Walks in conjunction with Operation Transformations 2017 National Walks Day on Saturday 7th January. Registration will start at 9.15am in each of the following areas;
- Lifford Clonleigh Resource Centre, Townparks, Lifford
- Maghery Community Centre, Maghery, Dungloe
- Niall Mor Centre, Killybegs, 1 Church Rd, Drumbeagh, Killybegs
- Rosnakill Resource Centre, Rosnakill, Fanad
For more information, contact the local community centres in each of the four areas mentioned, or phone Donegal Sports Partnership on 0749116078.
Dublin City
The 5km Dublin City Walk will start from The Helix DCU with a warm up session starting at 9:15am. The route will go through Albert College Park and Griffith Avenue and finish back at The Helix DCU. Refreshments will be served following the walk.
For more information please contact Dublin City Sport and Wellbeing Partnership at sports@dublincity.ie or call 01 2227852.
Dublin South
The 5km walk will start from Lucan Sarsfield's GAA at 10:00am with OT leader Séan Daly and Dr. Ciara Kelly. Registration from 9:30am.
To pre-register e-mail info@sdcsp.ie
Dun-Laoghaire-Rathdown
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Sports Partnership's walk that will be held on the 7th January starting in the People’s Park at 9.30am. Registration from 9am beside the bandstand in the Peoples Park, the 4km route will bring participants down the beautiful East Pier and back. The walk is based on pathways and suitable for all walkers.
Register your interest with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Sports Partnership on 01 2719502 or sportspartnershop@dlrcoco.ie
Fingal
Join the Operation Transformation 3k or 5k walk or run on Saturday 7th at 9:30am in Porterstown Park, Dublin 15 or Ward Rivervalley Park, Swords starting from the all- weather pitch. The event is open to all ages and all are welcome.
Click here for more information for both the Porterstown Park and Ward Rivervalley Park events.
Galway
The Operation Transformation National Walks will take part Saturday 7th of January at 9:30am in Salthill, Loughrea, Portumna, Doughiska, Claregalway, Ballinasloe.
Contact Jason for more information e-mail Jason.Craughwell@galwaycity.ie
Kerry
The Kerry Recreation & Sports Partnership have teamed up with local groups to take part in the Operation Transformation walk on Saturday 7th at 9:30am.
- Killarney: For walking in the event contact Arthritis Ireland Nordic Walking Group or Sliabh Luachra Hillwalking Club. For running in the event contact Farranfore Maine Valley A.C.
- South and West: For walking in the event contact Cumann Sleibhteoireachta Chorca Dhuibhne, the Kenmare Walking Club, the Caramblers or the Camp Women Walking Group.
- Listowel: To walk in the event call Glow on 087-7459869 or North Kerry Walks.
- Tralee: To walk in the event call Arthritis Ireland Kerry and the Well Walk Group.
Kildare
The Kildare Sports Partnership is taking part in the Operation Transformation walk in Naas GAA on Saturday 7th of January at 9:30am. Registration for the 5km walk will be from 8:45am.
Click here for more information from the Kildare Sports Partnership.
Kilkenny
The Kilkenny Recreation and Sports Partnership is taking part in the Operation Transformation walk on Saturday 7th of January in Castle Park, Kilkenny City at 10:30am, Castlecomer Discovery Park at 11:00am and Ferrybank AFC at 11am.
For more information please visit the krsp website.
Laois
The Operation Transformation walk in Laois will start from the Heywood Gardens in Ballinakill at 9:30am on Saturday 7th of January. There will be a Zumba warm up at 9:00am.
For more information call 0576871248
Leitrim
The Operation Transformation walk in Leitrim will start from Ballinamore Community Sports Complex on Saturday 7th of January at 11:00am.
For more information e-mail cmulligan@leitrimcoco.ie
Limerick
Join Operation Transformation leader Marie Grace and OT expert Karl Henry on the walk Limerickick! The event will start from the City Hall, Merchants Quay on Saturday 7th of January at 9:30am. The walk is suitable for buggies. For health and safety reasons, no dogs are allowed.
For more information and to register online go to www.limericksports.ie
Longford
The Operation Transformation walk in Longford will start from The Wall, Longford on Saturday 7th of January at 9:30am.
For more information e-mail info@longfordsports.ie or go to the website on www.longfordsports.ie
Louth
Yvonne Keenan-Ross and Kathryn Thomas will be walking in Louth! Late last summer, a pilot programme began in Drogheda, which saw eight walks taking place, starting at the Red Cross base each week. To promote the service, the Drogheda group has organised Irish Red Cross minibuses to transport people from Drogheda to the Operation Transformation walk in Carlingford on Saturday, 7th January. The cost to attend will be €10 with all proceeds being put back into the local community of Drogheda to support vulnerable people and tackle social isolation.
Places will be limited and to book a place contact communitysupport.dublinne@irishredcross.com or phone 087 3693163.
Mayo
The Mayo Sports Partnership have organised numerous areas of Mayo to take part in the 3k or 5k Operation Transformation walk on Saturday 7th at 9:30am. This event is open to all ages but no dogs allowed. Light refreshments will be served afterwards.
- Ballina: Meet at the Ballina Town Soccer Club at 9:15am.
- Ballyhaunis: Meet at Friary Field at 9:15am.
- Castlebar: Meet at the Castlebar Tennis Club at 9:15am.
- Claremorris: Meet at the entrance to Clare Lark at 9:15am.
- Erris: Meet at Cross Loop at 9:15am.
- Kiltimagh: Meet at Market Square at 9:15am
- Westport: Meet at Mill St / High St Car Park at 9:15am
To register contact Mayo Sports Partnership 094-9047025.
Meath
The Operation Transformation walk will take place across Meath at 9:30am (unless stated differently below) on Saturday, 7th of January.
- Dunshaughlin: Join local man & OT leader Chris McElligott plus Dr. Eddie Murphy at 9.15am from Dunshaughlin Community Centre.
- Trim: distance 3.7km (along the Sli na Slainte route), meet in front of the castle.
- Navan: distance 5km (in Blackwater Park), meet at car park in Blackwater Park.
- Kells: distance 5km, meet at Fairgreen car park.
- Cormeen: distance 5km, meet at Sports Complex.
- Ballivor: distance 5km, meet at GAA grounds (walking track).
- Cortown: distance 5km, meet at Cortown GAA.
- Castletown: distance 5km, meet at Community Centre at 10am.
- Carnaross: distance 5km, meet at Hall & GAA Pitch at 2pm.
All of the above events are organised by Meath Local Sports Partnership. For details of other events please see www.meathsports.ie or call 046-9067337 or email mlsp@meathcoco.ie
Monaghan
Monaghan Sports Partnership is the local organiser for the Monaghan walk taking place in Monaghan Town and using the Greenway. People of all ages and abilities are welcome and families can bring pushchairs / buggies but please ensure that your child’s transportation is suitable to travel along the gravel paths. For safety reason, dogs are not permitted (with the exception of guide dogs). Meet up at Monaghan Harps GAA grounds, (off the Old Cross Square roundabout) with registration at 9.00am. Organisers are hoping for an even bigger turn-out this year. The walk will take approximately 45mins to 1 hour.
Click here for more information from the Monaghan Sports Parternship.
Offaly
Join the Offaly Sports Partnership in the Operation Transformation walk on Saturday 7th from 9:00am (walk will begin 9:30am sharp) at Birr Civic Offices, Wilmar Road, Birr, Offally.
For more information contact sports@offaly.ie
Roscommon
Join the Roscommon Sports Partnership in coordination with Sport Ireland in taking part in the Operation Transformation walk on Saturday, 7th January 2017 in Mote Park, Roscommon leaving from the Girl Guide Centre, the distance will be 3 Km, starting at 9.30am.
Click here for more information from the Roscommon Partnership.
Sligo
Join the Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership in conjunction with Sport Ireland and Local Sports Partnerships in the Operation Transformation walk on Saturday 7th of January at 9:30am. The 4km walk will go along Doorly Park Sli na Slainte Route. The meeting point will be JKF Parade, Riverside with the warm up beginning at 9:20am. Note: Video footage and photography will be taken and used in the promotion of this event.
For more information contact Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership at www.sligosportandrecreation.ie
Tipperary
The Tipperary Sports Partnership are holding fun family walks in numerous locations on Saturday 7th at 9:30am. Registration at 8:30am (Templemore will start at 9:00am).
- Clonmel: Clonmel Park Hotel, 5km
- Cahir: Duneske Sports Centre, 5k
- Templemore: Templemore Athletic Club, 4.1k
- Tipperary Town: Canon Hayes Sports Centre, 5k
For more information contact the Tipperary Sports Partnership here.
Waterford
Waterford has both 3k and 5k walks taking part along the Waterford Greenway starting on Saturday 7th at 9:30am. Registration starts at 9:00am at the Workhouse Car Park in Kilmacthomas.
For more information contact Pauline Cunningham on 0761102682 or pcunningham@waterfordsportspartnership.ie
Westmeath
Join Westmeath Sports Partnership for the Operation Transformation walk in Athlone and Belvedere House Gardens and Park on Saturday 7th of January at 9:30am. Registration will take place from 8:30am to 9:15am.
- Athlone: The walk will start from Athlone Parkrun and will be led by a walk leader. Registration will take place in the Arena AIT.
- Belvedere: The walk and registration will start at Belvedere House Gardens and Park.
Click here for more information on the Athlone walk. and click here for more information on the Belvedere walk.
Wexford
Join Operation Transformation leader Mairead Redmond and Aoife Hearne in the Wexford walk on Saturday 7th of January at 9:30am in the New Ross Town Park. Registration will be at 9:00am followed by a welcome and introduction. The walk is 3 laps of the whole park.
For more information contact www.sportsactivewexford.ie or call 0539196557
Wicklow
Join the Operation Transformation walk in Blessington, Bray and Wicklow town on Saturday 7th of January at 9:30am.
- Blessington: McGreals Primary Care Centre, Blessington
- Bray: The Bandstand, Bray
- Wicklow Town: Leitrim Place, Wicklow Town
For more information go to the Wicklow Local Sports Partnership website.
