HSE Cork Kerry Community Healthcare and Killarney Cycling Club have joined together on an exciting new initiative for residents of Killarney Community Hospital and St Columbanus Home.

HSE Cork Kerry Community Healthcare and Killarney Cycling Club join residents of Killarney Community Hospital and St Columbanus Home in welcoming the exciting new initiative ‘Killarney Cycling Without Age’. Photo: Domnick Walsh Photography

HSE Cork Kerry Community Healthcare and Killarney Cycling Club join residents of Killarney Community Hospital and St Columbanus Home in welcoming the exciting new initiative ‘Killarney Cycling Without Age’. Photo: Domnick Walsh Photography

‘Killarney Cycling Without Age’ started in May 2023 following postponement of the initiative during the pandemic.

This new initiative is aimed at helping older persons and those with mobility issues to regain the experience of being out and about on a bike and to gain better access to explore their local community.

Over the last four months, hospital and care home residents have been enjoying trips through Killarney town and around the jewel in Killarney’s crown - Killarney National Park.

The electric-assisted trishaw was purchased by Killarney Cycling Club with the help of Cork Kerry Community Healthcare and Kerry County Council, it was then donated to Killarney Community Hospitals to ensure residents of the community hospital and care homes could regain the experience of being out on a bike in their local community.

The Trishaw ‘pilots’ are experienced volunteer cyclists largely from Killarney Cycling Club, who take hospital and care-home residents (usually two passengers at a time) on trips when the weather conditions are suitable.

“Our residents here are really enjoying this new initiative – you can see their delighted smiles as they get to experience being out and about with the wind in their hair. ‘Killarney Cycling Without Age’ has greatly benefitted our residents, playing a pivotal role in keeping them active and socially engaged. We have received very positive feedback from both our residents and their families and look forward to further developing the initiative in the future,” said Breda Delves, Acting Director of Nursing at Killarney Community Hospitals, Cork Kerry Community Healthcare.

Project co-ordinator, Noel O’Connell commented on the success of the initiative, and added:
“The residents love being out on the bike and meeting people. The model of Trishaw we use is called a CHAT and it certainly encourages conversations whenever we are out in the National Park or around the town. Weather can be an issue at times, but the bike has a waterproof blanket cover and canopy to help along the way. Since beginning at end of May, the initiative has been in use each week and will increase with a number of new volunteer ‘pilots’ who have been trained to cycle around Killarney town and the National Park. The hospital and care-home staff are very supportive of the scheme and residents are always encouraged to give it a try and for the most part, they can’t wait to go again.”

The trishaw runs from Killarney Community Hospital and St. Columbanus Home, and plans to develop the scheme for other care homes are being researched.

This initiative is supported by the HSE Cork Kerry Community Healthcare and Killarney Cycling Club