Who Engages in a National Sports Club-Based Community Walking Initiative? Reach and Participant Characteristics from the Ireland Lights Up Programme

Sports clubs are gaining recognition as valuable settings for population health promotion, extending impact beyond traditional sporting populations. Ireland Lights Up (ILU) is a nationwide community walking initiative in which Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) clubs provide floodlit walking opportunities during winter to engage communities in physical activity (PA). However, there is limited evidence on who such initiatives reach and whether they enage diverse population groups. To address this gap, a mixed methods approach was utilised. Quantitative data was obtained through cross-sectional questionnaires distributed to participants (n=1226) through club networks over a six-week period. Qualitative data was collected through snapshot interviews (n=30) with participants during site visits and triangulated to understand drivers of participation. Findings indicated that most participants were female (76.5%), white (99.5%) and lived in rural areas (80%). Participants had a mean age of 47 years (SD 11.01 with the majority (84%) as sports club members. Participants reported high levels of health and wellbeing, with a substantial proportion meeting PA guidelines (48.1%). Single and younger participants were more likely to feel lonely compared to married and older participants (0.05). Qualitative findings highlighted three main participation drivers: safety, social interaction and club walking tracks. ILU engages large numbers of participants in PA nationally and successfully engages its target population, including substantial numbers from traditionally underserved rural communities, by employing an innovative approach that addresses seasonal barriers to PA participation. To further maximise reach, community-based PA programmes require research that includes attention to implementation factors such as participant acceptability.