Get ready Galway! Croí, the heart and stroke charity, is thrilled to announce that the Croí Mobile Health Hub will be arriving at Eyre Square for the much-anticipated Heartfest—a three-day festival dedicated to cardiovascular health and wellness. This event, now in its third year, will take place at the plaza at the top of Eyre Square from Wednesday 25th – Friday 27th September and is set to be a vibrant celebration of heart health. The event runs from 10 am to 4 pm on the Wednesday and Thursday and 10 am to 1 pm on the Friday.
Heartfest is a free, holistic, event designed to empower individuals and communities to take control of their cardiovascular health. Visitors can expect an array of interesting activities and resources, all aimed at making heart health accessible, engaging, and meaningful. Free blood pressure and pulse checks will be available, with cholesterol and stethoscope checks offered to those who meet specific criteria. The Croí Health Team will be on hand to answer questions and discuss heart health with the public at this special event.
The Croí Mobile Health Hub is a first-of-its-kind in Ireland – a custom-built, 13.6-metre-long, multi-purpose, mobile health unit that stands as the largest mobile stroke and heart disease detection unit in the country. This innovative vehicle can be converted from a facility with six private assessment cubicles and two consultation rooms into an open-plan educational space capable of hosting up to forty visitors. Its primary mission is to bring stroke and heart disease prevention into communities across Ireland through mobile early detection and risk assessment programmes. It is designed to serve as a mobile community education and training facility visiting towns, villages, schools, universities, workplaces, and sports clubs.
The state-of-the-art Croí Mobile Health Hub is the latest addition to Croí’s expanding fleet of community vehicles. Funded by the Joe & Helen O’Toole Charitable Trust, this hub will serve as the festival’s centrepiece, offering visitors a chance to learn from Croí’s multidisciplinary health team about the risk factors for heart disease and stroke, healthy eating, physical activity, and even CPR.
Over the three days, visitors can speak with Croí’s experts about the comprehensive support services and programmes available at the Croí Heart and Stroke Centre as well as the vital community resources offered by Croí’s mobile health units. Whether you are looking to check your blood pressure, get a stethoscope check, learn about bystander CPR, or set new health goals, Heartfest is the place to be!
The Hub will also allow members of the public to contribute to Heart & Stroke prevention research through a Croí partnership with the National Institute of Prevention and Cardiovascular Health (NIPC) and the University of Galway. At Heartfest, Croí and NIPC will launch the “Irish Hearts” research project, a national population study to gather important information about heart health in Ireland. This important project starts in Galway by randomly screening the population. At Heartfest, descendants of any of the 14 Galway Tribes are invited to gather at the flag of their family crest in Eyre Square on Thursday 26th September. A dedicated research team will be at each family crest to help you gain access to your family tree history and to also arrange a full cardiovascular screening. If you are a member of any of the following families: Athy, Blake, Bodkin, Browne, Darcy/D’Arcy, Deane, Font, French, Joyce, Kirwan, Lynch, Martin, Morris or Skerritt – please gather at the flagpole of your family crest in Eyre Square on Thursday 26th September anytime between 2 – 6 pm!
This year, Heartfest aligns with World Heart Day on September 29th, and Croí is proud to also support the global Heart Valve Disease Awareness campaign. Cardiovascular disease remains the world’s biggest killer, responsible for over 20.5 million deaths each year. Despite this, heart health often does not receive the priority it deserves. Croí is calling on the public to join in advocating for stronger national policies to protect heart health and save lives and sign the World Heart Federation petition for a Global Heart Action Plan.
Mark your calendars and bring your family and friends to Eyre Square for Heartfest! Let’s come together to celebrate heart health, raise awareness, and take proactive steps to a healthier future. Croí would like to acknowledge the support of Galway City Council in hosting this event.
Visit the Croí Mobile Health Hub on The Plaza, Eyre Square:
Wednesday 25th September 10 am – 4 pm
Thursday 26th September 10 am – 4 pm
Friday 27th September 10 am – 1 pm
For more information visit: www.croi.ie/events