Educate yourself on at the National Dairy Council's 2021 Virtual HealthFest

Healthfest, the health and wellbeing event for secondary school students aims to provide attendees with credible advice from experts in physical activity, nutrition and mental wellbeing.

Irene Bermingham

18 January 2021

Educate yourself on at the National Dairy Council's 2021 Virtual HealthFest

Students at a previous Healthfest event organised by the National Dairy Council and Safefood. / Barry Cronin

Now in its fourth year, the National Dairy Council's (NDC) HealthFest will take place online on Wednesday 27 January from 2pm to 4pm. With over 11,000 students and teachers already registered to attend this year’s event, HealthFest has become one of the most highly anticipated events on the secondary school calendar.

Now in its fourth year, the National Dairy Council's (NDC) HealthFest will take place online on Wednesday 27 January from 2pm to 4pm.

With over 11,000 students and teachers already registered to attend this year’s event, HealthFest has become one of the most highly anticipated events on the secondary school calendar.

With an open invite to secondary school students and teachers nationwide, HealthFest 2021 couldn’t come at a better time, as many are feeling the implications of the current restrictions and may be struggling to come up with new and healthy ways of staying active and focused.

Roisín Mahony from St Brigids's College, Kilkenny, enjoying a previous Healthfest event. / Barry Cronin.

The free event, tailored to teenagers, is the only of its kind in Ireland.

The interactive online sessions aim to deliver credible information from reliable sources, providing trustworthy and professional advice on topics such as physical activity, nutrition and mental wellbeing.

Win prizes

Students get the chance to win fantastic prizes and even take place in a virtual scavenger hunt.

As always, HealthFest will have a number of exciting speakers on the day, including MC and broadcaster Doireann Garrihy, who will keep participants engaged and entertained for the afternoon; professional rugby 7s player Greg O’Shea; Professor Niall Moyna, head of health and human performance at DCU; broadcaster and meditation expert Dermot Whelan; dietician Caoileann Murphy; and Paul Gilligan, chief executive of St Patrick’s Mental Health Services.

The virtual event will focus on three different aspects of your overall health - healthy body, healthy diet and healthy mind.

Students from Banagher College Colaiste Na Sionna, Banagher, C Offaly, try their hands at tug of war at the NDC's Healthfest event, designed to promote health and wellbeing among teenagers. / Barry Cronin.

Greg O’Shea will kick off the event with a 10-minute workout, demonstrating some simple physical activities that students can practice anywhere, even during a lockdown.

Following this, Professor Niall Moyna will continue the discussion, explaining the importance of staying active throughout the teenage years and beyond.

Dietician Caoileann Murphy will give advice on following a healthy and balanced diet, providing students with a selection of delicious and healthy food options, including Irish dairy produce.

Paul Gilligan will discuss key tips for teenagers to mind their mental health, while Dermot Whelan will lead participants through a meditation demonstration, which will help students through moments of heightened stress throughout their school year and further on in life.

There will also be a virtual exhibition hall on the day, with booths from Walk in my Shoes, of St Patrick’s Mental Health Services, as well as Bodywhys, SpunOut, Sport Ireland Institute and Careers Portal.

Places are limited and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Teachers can pre-register their students and find out more at www.healthfest.ie.

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