Croí, the Heart & Stroke Charity, successfully hosted Croí HeartFest 2025 in Queen Maeve’s Square, Sligo, on Wednesday 24th and Thursday 25th September, drawing hundreds of attendees for two impactful days of free heart health checks and education in the lead-up to World Heart Day on Monday, September 29th.
Sligo Welcomes Croí HeartFest 2025: Hundreds Attend Free Heart Health Checks Ahead of World Heart Day
The event was delivered in partnership with Sligo County Council and generously supported by Benecol.
Members of the public had the opportunity to receive health checks in the Croí Mobile Health Hub, Ireland’s first and largest mobile unit dedicated to stroke prevention and heart health. Visitors availed of free cholesterol, blood pressure, pulse, and stethoscope checks, participated in CPR demonstrations, and received expert guidance from Croí’s multidisciplinary health team on cardiovascular wellbeing and prevention.
The Mobile Health Hub – a custom-built, 13.6-metre-long facility – featured six private assessment cubicles, two consultation rooms, and a flexible educational space for up to 40 people. It brings vital health services directly into the community, promoting early detection and awareness of cardiovascular risk factors.
The event coincided with FH (Familial Hypercholesterolemia) Awareness Day on September 24th, further highlighting the importance of proactive heart health measures. Attendees were encouraged to take small steps toward prevention, with Croí and Sligo County Council advocating for stronger national policies to address cardiovascular disease – the world’s leading cause of death, responsible for over 20.5 million deaths annually.
Speaking at the event, Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council, Cllr. Dónal Gilroy, said:
“Croí HeartFest was a fantastic success and a testament to what can be achieved when health promotion organisations and local authorities work together. We were proud to welcome the Mobile Health Hub to Sligo and to see so many people engaging with their heart health in such a positive way.”
Brían Flynn, Director of Services at Sligo County Council, added:
“This initiative brought real value to our community. The turnout and public engagement over the two days showed a strong appetite for accessible health education and prevention. We look forward to supporting similar events in the future.”
Croí expressed its gratitude to Sligo County Council for their collaboration in making Croí HeartFest 2025 a meaningful and memorable event.
For more information, visit: www.croi.ie/events
