Inside the Cork club providing a new social outlet for women

When Edel Marples began to battle isolation in her own life, she was inspired to start a walking club that would benefit not just herself, but the women of Cork.

“I have a lot of friends who emigrated to Australia and everywhere else”, says the Cork city-based tutor/translator and events organiser. “And I also work for myself, so I felt like I didn’t have the opportunity to make friends at work. I was looking for a community to be a part of.”

In seeking such a community out, Edel found that there weren’t many that fitted her interests.

“I’d seen a lot of run clubs and I felt, oh, they’re having all this fun. But I’m not much of a runner myself.”

It was around this time – February of last year – that Edel came across a call for community organisers from a wellness brand, which specialises in women’s wellness and health. The brand was looking for people to volunteer to host walks in their local area. The timing was just right for Edel. “I said, right, I’ll set up the Bestie Cork City Walking Club!”

Edel’s first step was to set up an Instagram page to try and get the word out, and a WhatsApp group to which she added all the women on her contacts list.

The Bestie Cork City Walking Club held its first walk in February, 2025, leaving from the Marina Market and continuing along the Marina Promenade.

A handful of women came to the first walk, but it didn’t take long for numbers to grow.

Edel soon found that word was spreading about the new club.

“It’s funny because it’s actually very few people that I know myself. (The membership grows) mainly just through word of mouth, Instagram, and through people bringing their friends”.

To begin with, the club focused on city walks – the Marina, the Lee Fields, Fitzgerald’s Park and the like. Soon, members began indicating to Edel that they would like to branch out from the city.

The club has therefore rebranded to the Bestie Walking Club: Cork.

Their first county walk was held in January this year, in Crosshaven. Nearly a year after the first small group walk along the Marina, the Crosshaven walk attracted over 30 women.

Each Bestie Club walk is between five and six kilometres in length, generally taking about an hour or an hour and a half. There’s no pressure, however, for any attendee to keep to a specific pace.

“The goal would be to do six kilometres at a six-kilometre (per hour) pace to increase your fitness,” says Edel, “but honestly, any pace is fine and you can build up to a six-kilometre pace”.

The walks have attracted women across Cork from all ages (early twenties to late sixties at present) and backgrounds, and with various reasons for joining.

“We definitely have a lot of women who have just moved here for college or work for whatever reason. They’re looking to join a community and make some friends. And then you have people who are looking for something to do on a Sunday afternoon, and people come with their friends”.

Livia Cosmai is originally from Italy and now lives in Ballincollig. She came across the Bestie Walking Club via Instagram last summer. She has quickly become a regular.

“I have tried to participate in as many (walks) as I could,” she says. “I would say I have done around ten walks in different areas of the city so far.”

Livia was originally attracted to the club as walking is her favourite type of exercise.

“It is very accessible and you can train at low impact while being out in the fresh air. It also helps clear my thoughts. Since I sit at my desk about eight hours a day due to my job and I work from home, I think walking is essential for my daily routine to keep healthy, both physically and mentally.”

Initially interested in the club due to her love for walking, Livia enjoys the social side, too, saying that it’s not only a good way to keep fit but to “meet new people at the same time”.

“It is a very fun group of people,” she continues, “and there is no pressure. Most walks are suitable for every level of fitness and sometimes we go for coffee afterwards.”

Members of the club are under no obligation to join every walk. However, like Livia, many do become regulars.

Edel has been pleased to witness the social side of the club flourish, as she had hoped it would when she led the first walks last year.

“The biggest – and nicest – feedback is that people have been making friends.

“They’re meeting each other socially, which is really nice.”

The club has given Edel a personal boost too.

“It’s been so nice and it’s really motivating. You know, it gets me out of the house on mornings where I wouldn’t particularly want to!”

The walks take place on average once a month – always on a Sunday – with details posted on the Instagram page and the club’s WhatsApp group.

Anyone interested in coming along on a walk is encouraged to join the WhatsApp group, which can be accessed via the Instagram page.

The next walk will take place this Sunday, February 15 at Tracton Woods. Full details of the meeting point for this, and every, walk are shared via the WhatsApp group.

The walks are free of charge, but the club also runs a number of ticketed events throughout the year.

The next event will be a ‘Steps and Sweat’ outing on April 5 in conjunction with the Hoco Sauna in the Black Market in Cork city.

Edel looks forward to what 2026 will bring for the Bestie Walking Club, as it continues to grow in popularity.

One thing she’s certain of is that the female bonds created by the group will keep it going.

“The walks create a nice space for women in Cork to be vulnerable and to be together,” she reflects, adding that it’s the women walking who make the club so special.

“Something I always say is that when women come together, something kind of beautiful happens.”

• The Bestie Walking Club: Cork can be found at https://www.instagram.com/bestie.cork/.
• The link to join the WhatsApp group can be accessed via the Instagram page or at https://chat.whatsapp.com/IVB6DV9TgZ6GW2HCYXx7l0