Irish Heart Month

Tags:: Awareness Educational Irish
Where:: Ireland
Date change rule:: Every September
Holiday emoji:: ❤️

Irish Heart Month dedicates every September to raising awareness about cardiovascular health across Ireland. An initiative of the Irish Heart Foundation, this month highlights the critical importance of preventing heart disease and stroke. Take action by learning about risk factors, adopting healthier habits, and supporting vital research.

Deals
Platforms
Social
Brands
Hero
History
Timeline
Businesses
FAQs
Importance
Observe

Expected Irish Heart Month Deals

Irish Heart Month focuses on public health campaigns and fundraising rather than commercial deals. The Irish Heart Foundation (IHF) partners with various organizations and businesses to promote awareness and collect donations. Look for local pharmacies like Boots Ireland and grocery chains such as Tesco Ireland or SuperValu to host in-store awareness events, blood pressure checks, or ’round up at checkout’ donation drives. Many workplaces may also organize sponsored walks or healthy eating challenges. We will update this page with confirmed campaigns and fundraising events as September approaches, encouraging direct support for the IHF’s life-saving work.

Platform Guide for Irish Heart Month

Facebook

Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #IrishHeartMonth. Share personal stories or educational infographics on heart health.

X/Twitter

Mention @NatlToday and use #IrishHeartMonth. Engage in conversations about cardiovascular disease prevention and advocacy.

Tag National Today (linkedin.com/company/nationaltoday) and use #IrishHeartMonth. Share workplace wellness initiatives or corporate social responsibility efforts related to heart health.

Irish Heart Month Hero

Dr. Austin Darragh

Dr. Austin Darragh (1923-2015) was a distinguished Irish cardiologist and a key figure in the establishment of the Irish Heart Foundation in 1966. His pioneering work in cardiovascular medicine and public health advocacy laid the groundwork for national efforts to combat heart disease and stroke in Ireland. He served as the IHF's first Medical Director, dedicating his career to improving cardiac care and raising awareness across the country.

History of Irish Heart Month

Heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular diseases claim over 9,000 Irish lives every year. Eight out of every 10 deaths due to a stroke are preventable. Irish Heart Month raises awareness about the alarming need for public health education regarding our heart health. The observation is the initiative of the Irish Heart Foundation (I.H.F.), a Dublin-based charity that runs support for heart patients and raises awareness about strokes and other heart diseases. Ever since its start in 1966, the charity has been instrumental in connecting heart patients with doctors, treatments, and support groups of people sailing in the same boat.

The Irish Heart Foundation raises awareness about the nature of these diseases and the ways to prevent them from becoming fatal. I.H.F. connects volunteers throughout the country and runs the largest preventive training network in Ireland, equipping over 95000 people in a single year with C.P.R. Stroke prevention, exercise, moving your body, and running have been some of the central themes of Irish Heart Month in the past. Navigating tense adulthood with unprecedented challenges has resulted in many heart-related fatalities amongst the Irish youth. The I.H.F. shares stories of victims and survivors of heart diseases.

Irish Heart Month is championed by many national and local health organizations, including Men’s Health Forum and the Irish Cardiac Society. In a month-long observation, the Irish Heart Foundation urges the general public to reboot their hearts. September is the best time to take charge of your heart, as it is closed by World Heart Day, celebrated on September 29.

Irish Heart Month timeline

1946

Irish Hospitals' Sweepstake

A national lottery to finance hospitals is established, introducing the concept of public health in Ireland.

1953

Voluntary Health Insurance

The government of Ireland launches public health insurance to provide subsidized hospital care to Irish citizens.

1966

Irish Health Foundation

The Irish Health Foundation charity, focused on raising awareness about heart health, is founded in Dublin, Ireland.

2010

The Death of Gerry Ryan

Beloved Irish broadcaster’s sudden death due to a heart attack sends shock waves throughout the country and reignites the conversation of heart health among the public.

How Businesses Can Celebrate Irish Heart Month

Local businesses in Ireland can actively participate in Irish Heart Month by promoting heart health among their employees and customers. Offer free blood pressure checks, host a ‘healthy lunch’ series, or organize a charity walk or run to benefit the Irish Heart Foundation. Retailers can highlight heart-healthy products, while gyms and wellness centers can offer special promotions on fitness classes or health assessments. Consider a donation matching program for employee contributions to heart health charities throughout September.

Irish Heart Month FAQs

When is Irish Heart Month?

Irish Heart Month runs throughout September 2026, dedicating the entire month to raising awareness about cardiovascular health across Ireland. This annual observance encourages everyone to focus on heart disease prevention.

How prevalent is heart disease in Ireland?

Heart disease and stroke remain major health challenges in Ireland. According to the Irish Heart Foundation, approximately 10,000 people in Ireland die each year from cardiovascular disease, making it one of the leading causes of death.

What are the main risk factors for heart disease?

Key risk factors for heart disease include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, obesity, physical inactivity, and unhealthy diet. Many of these are modifiable through lifestyle changes.

What is the Irish Heart Foundation?

The Irish Heart Foundation (IHF) is Ireland’s national charity dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. Established in 1966, it provides support for patients and families, funds research, and advocates for better health policies.

How to Observe Irish Heart Month

Book a heart check-up
Heart diseases are measurable and treatable only if we have an early diagnosis. This September, give yourself the gift of a long, meaningful life by committing to regular heart checkups. Bonus point: book an appointment for your friends and family as well.
Move your body
Irish Heart Month serves as a swinging reminder to get active. Thousands of lives are cut short every year due to reckless health habits and ignored red signs. Why wait for the new year to join a gym when September is just around the corner?
Take C.P.R. classes
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (C.P.R.) is a lifesaving emergency procedure performed on people who cease breathing on their own. By learning this skill, you can become a proactive member of your squad, ready to save lives!

5 Stats About Heart Health That’ll Make You Join The Gym

It is a leading cause of death
More than 17 million people in the world die of cardiovascular diseases each year.
It is fatal out here
One in every 10 heart attacks is fatal.
Young and done
20% of heart attack deaths are occurring in people younger than 40, a figure that has been on the rise since the 1970s.
Tense lives and funeral homes
More than 700 million people in the world live with hypertension, a prominent cause of strokes and other cardiovascular diseases.
The belly of the beast
Stress and hypertension damage nerves, causing leak and rupture, which ultimately leads to a stroke.

Why Irish Heart Month is Important

It is a silent killer
Heart attacks are silent killers and the symptoms often go unnoticed until it is too late. Irish Heart Month raises awareness about the causes of heart diseases and equips people with tools to prevent them. As we head towards the snug season, September is a great month to take a breather and look after the very source of your life.
It gives our hearts a fighting chance
The Irish Heart Foundation runs annual campaigns which encourage people to get active in their lives. Taking inspiration from our peers and adopting a couple of these activities is the best way to prevent you and your loved ones from becoming a statistic.
It connects people
Survivors and caregivers need a community to tread through the tumultuous waters of cardiovascular recovery. Irish Heart Month connects the patients and their families with the I.H.F. community, which contributes to their speedy recovery.