Suburban Picnic festival attracted over 400 people

A WELLNESS festival called Suburban Picnic, which was all about connecting and promoting mental health, attracted over 400 people to McGee Park.

Run as part of the #OneGoodClub mental health awareness initiative, St Mark’s GAA club successfully organised Suburban Picnic, a festival which consisted of free events for all the family.

Participants had the opportunity to take notice and learn about their mind and body through different activities while connecting and giving to their community at different stalls.

“Suburban Picnic did exactly what we had hoped it would, connect everybody all in the spirit of mental health and well-being promotion,” says Denise Paisley, One Good Club project team leader at St Mark’s.

“People were able to learn and connect with each other through the collaborative exercise, yoga and dance classes run by Infinity Movement, Zen Movement and Tallaght Leisure Centre.

“But at the same time, we had a more spiritual experience for people to take notice of their surroundings through Susan Carroll’s holistic therapy sessions or the Sounds of Serenity sound bath.

“It was a really upbeat day, with South Dublin Mobile Libraries bringing their musical tots and Good Vibes Ukelele group finishing off the day with their inviting singsong.

“There was plenty of opportunities for people to give back to each other, whether it be through the fundraising events, partner-themed activities or at the stalls.

“Everything was free and overall, it was a really wholesome, fun day. It couldn’t have gone any better.

“Our participation in the One Good Club initiative wouldn’t have been possible without the support of everyone in the Tallaght community – we can’t thank them enough.”

St Mark’s GAA club was picked as the Dublin representatives for the One Good Club initiative, a nationwide programme which aims to build and encourage positive mental health promotion.

This 10-week programme has seen the club putting their innovation caps on to engage their community in a heap of different events every week.

Each event related back to Jigsaw’s ‘five-a-day for your mental health’, which includes connect, get active, give, keep learning, and take notice.

After going through the 10-weeks working to organise events to promote youth mental health, St Mark’s GAA Club is set to be recognised at Croke Park on Sunday.

At half-time of the All-Ireland Ladies Football Championship Final, St Mark’s and the other 25 clubs from around the country will be presented with a special #OneGoodClub plaque by the LGFA, Lidl and Jigsaw.