1Centre for Health Behaviour Research, Department of Sport and Exercise Science, South East Technological University, Waterford, Ireland
2National Centre for Men’s Health, Department of Health and Sports Sciences, South East Technological University, Carlow, Ireland
Journal of Physical Activity Research.
2025,
Vol. 10 No. 1, 63-74
DOI: 10.12691/jpar-10-1-8
Copyright © 2025 Science and Education PublishingCite this paper: Nicola Briggs, Aisling McGrath, Barry Lambe, Niamh Murphy, Noel Richardson. Ireland Lights Up: Protocol for an Effectiveness-Implementation Evaluation of a Walking Initiative in Gaelic Games Sports Clubs.
Journal of Physical Activity Research. 2025; 10(1):63-74. doi: 10.12691/jpar-10-1-8.
Correspondence to: Nicola Briggs, Centre for Health Behaviour Research, Department of Sport and Exercise Science, South East Technological University, Waterford, Ireland. Email:
nicola.briggs@postgrad.wit.ieAbstract
Many physical activity (PA) for health interventions are small-scale and not designed to be reproducible or scalable. ‘Ireland Lights Up’ (ILU) is a large-scale, multi-level walking initiative delivered through approximately 1,000 Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) clubs across Ireland, with an estimated 40,000 weekly participants. ILU encompasses individual, community, and environmental levels, offering strong potential for scale-up, adaptation, and sustainability. This protocol outlines a detailed methodology for evaluating both the effectiveness and implementation of ILU using implementation science frameworks. A hybrid type-two effectiveness-implementation design will be employed, guided by the RE-AIM (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance) and PRISM (Practical, Robust Implementation and Sustainability Model) frameworks, alongside the Implementation Science Assessment Tool (ISAT). The study will assess outcomes across multiple levels (participant, club, organisational, and systems). Primary outcomes include PA participation levels, subjective wellbeing (e.g., life satisfaction), social capital, reach, adoption, cost-effectiveness, and maintenance. Data collection methods include cross-sectional surveys with participants and club leaders, semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders, and a one-year longitudinal study with participants. This protocol provides a replicable approach to evaluating real-world, community-based PA interventions at scale. Grounded in implementation science, the study aims to identify key determinants of effective, sustainable health promotion within sports clubs, with particular attention to ‘not yet reached’ groups. Findings may inform future integration of scalable, context-sensitive initiatives into sports clubs for health and other community-based settings. Trial registration: ISRCTN14693503
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