This group of walkers is providing a much-needed social outlet and workout for women living in Dublin city.
'Girls who walk Dublin' is a group that meets up every second Sunday at 11am to walk together as a group, and go for coffee or brunch afterwards. The group was set up by Dublin woman Emma who wanted "something wholesome and predictable that people can come to to make new connections and do something social". Emma took inspiration from similar groups around the world.
She told Dublin Live: "The page is actually part of a brand, and the original 'Girls who walk' page is based in New York, where 200 girls meet to walk together every second Sunday in Central Park. I contacted them first and then I set up the page.
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"I had met up with the 'Girls who walk' group in Barcelona before. There are a few all across Europe now and it inspired me to start one in Dublin.
"The page was only set up a few weeks ago, and there was so much enthusiasm for it. The response has been really positive so far.
"We had our first meet up already and eight people turned up which I was delighted with. I'm hoping for more people at our next one which is this Sunday."
Emma said one of the main reasons she set up the group was for people to have a place to make new friends. She said: "At the heart of it is just connection. We are all so plugged into our phones and I think there are a lot of people who are feeling very lonely and everyone would love a new best friend.
"The group is for people whose friends have moved away, they're new to Dublin, or maybe they're always living in Dublin years and they just find that their friend groups have changed."
She also said some other positives of the group meet-ups are getting out in fresh air and doing something wholesome over the weekend that is low cost and doesn't involve alcohol, and meeting new people from different countries all over the world.
She said: "I've just come back from six months travelling and I love meeting people with different nationalities, so it's great for that as well. I have been doing things like this myself for the past 10 years. I love my walks and going for hikes so it's nice to connect with like minded people."
She also said that in the future there are endless possibilities as to what the group could grow into. She said "I'd love to do hikes and sea swims in the future maybe, but for now I'd like to keep it really simple, to just get the word out."
The group will follow a similar route each time and support local by getting a coffee afterwards and a treat. The groups next meeting is this Sunday at 11am at St Stephens Green.
Anyone can show up on the day and you can find the group at the girlswhowalkdublin Instagram account.
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