A FERMANAGH GAA club has held a health awareness evening aimed at its playing members.

The event was organised by Belcoo O’Rahilly’s GFC healthy club committee, with the full support of the club executive.

It took place in the Lakeland Community Care building in Belcoo and was well-attended by club members.  During the evening, they had the opportunity to get up to date advice on nutrition, alcohol and drugs, mental health awareness, with a particular reference to sport and activity, as well as concussion awareness.

The talks on nutrition and concussion awareness were by Western Health Trust professionals, dietician Siobhan McCaffrey and surgical consultant, Dr. Mark Grannell.

The mental health awareness talk was given by Rosie Maguire, of Action Mental Health, while an alcohol and drugs awareness session was delivered by Ursula Coll and Peter McLoughlin, from ASCERT, a charity providing services that address the impact of alcohol and drugs related issues that affect people’s lives.

The evening was well-received by all who attended and feedback was excellent with participants all getting at least one take home message.

Damien McHugh, the health and well-being officer at Belcoo O’Rahilly’s, said: “As a club we recognise the importance of health and well-being in our members and, not just the physical health, but the social, emotional and psychological well-being of our members as well.

“We are planning further activities throughout the year to promote health and well-being, including work around the social initiative and promotion and encouragement of smoking cessation culminating in the club adopting a smoke free policy for its grounds.

“We recognise that as a sporting and community organisation routed in our community that we have a duty and responsibility to do our best to ensure the health and well-being of our members, with the full support of the county health and well-being committee.”

Mr. McHugh added: “We are grateful for the support of O’Neills Sportswear, Belcoo Pharmacy, Fermanagh GAA and Belcoo GAA, who provided donations for a prize draw on the night for all those attending.”