Local businesses and clubs urged to get involved in 'Offaly Goes Green' initiative

Clubs, businesses, schools, and community groups across Offaly are being encouraged to participate in the 'Offaly Goes Green' initiative this month by decorating their spaces with green ribbons, hosting green-themed events, and sharing their support online.

The 'Offaly Goes Green' initiative is being held in support of the National Green Ribbon Campaign which runs every September in a bid to end mental health stigma, and it has been organised to build on the legacy of the very successful 'Tullamore Goes Green' initiative, which was established in 2018 by the late James O’Connor, founder of Accessible Counselling Tullamore (ACT) and a passionate advocate for mental health.

Here are some ways to get involved:

1. Wear a FREE Green Ribbon for the month of September. Ribbons will be available in local businesses throughout the county or are available from ACT directly.

2. Green Decorations: Show your support by decorating your club, business, or school with green ribbons, lights, and other green-themed displays. Let’s paint the town green to raise awareness for mental health.

3. Organise a Green Event: Host a Green Day at your workplace, school or group.Encourage participants to wear green and engage in activities or discussions that promote mental health awareness.

4. Social Media Engagement: Spread the word online. Share photos of your green decorations or events using the hashtag #OffalyGoesGreen.Tell your story, share messages of hope, and help break the stigma surrounding mental health. There are prizes for Best Involvement and Engagement.

The 'Offaly Goes Green' initiative will conclude with a special event in memory of its founder, James O’Connor - The 2nd annual James O’Connor Memorial Walk, which will take place on Friday, October 4 at Tullamore Harriers from 5pm to 10pm.

This walk is a tribute to James’s dedication to mental health advocacy and his enduring impact on the community. It will be a family friendly event with live music, food vendors, face painting, pets welcome.

While there is no fee to take part in the walk, there will be donation buckets on the gate and all funds raised will go directly to ACT to enable them to continue providing professional, accessible, affordable and timely counselling to people over 16 yrs from all across the Midlands.

James O'Connor, along with his wife Lisa, set up ACT in January 2020 and since then the centre has seen almost 2,250 clients and has provided over 9,500 counselling sessions. Clients range in age from 16 to 88 and come to ACT from all walks of life and attend for a variety of issues. They also come from across the Midlands area - Offaly, Laois,Westmeath, Tipperary and Longford.

ACT is a vital service established by the late James O'Connor for the people of the Midlands, and the organisers of the 'Offaly Goes Green' initiative say it is up to the local community to ensure the continuation of the great legacy that he has left behind.

.For more information about the 'Offaly Goes Green' initiative or The James O’ Connor Memorial Walk or to learn how you can get involved, please contact Lisa on 086 3933378