Clare County Council Relaunches Breastfeeding Friendly Campaign
In partnership with the HSE Mid-West, Clare County Council’s Healthy Clare initiative is re-launching the ‘We’re Breastfeeding Friendly Clare’ campaign on Friday, October 3, 2025, during National Breastfeeding Week (1–7 October).
Supported by Healthy Ireland, the campaign promotes the creation of dedicated welcoming environments and spaces for breastfeeding families across County Clare.
Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, Cllr Paul Murphy, said, “This campaign is a collaborative effort across private, community, and statutory sectors. Displaying a ‘We’re Breastfeeding Friendly Clare’ sticker or poster shows your commitment to supporting families in a meaningful and important way. Local campaigns like this bring the Healthy Ireland Framework to life by creating supportive environments for families who choose to breastfeed.”
The initiative encourages businesses, organisations, and community spaces to adopt simple, no-cost actions that help mothers and families feel comfortable while breastfeeding in public. Research shows that a positive attitude from staff and acceptance from other service users are key to helping mothers feel at ease.
Healthy Clare Coordinator at Clare County Council, Samantha McCarthy, said, “‘We’re Breastfeeding Friendly Clare’ is part of a broader vision for inclusive, family-friendly spaces. We thank the many local businesses, organisations and communities already involved and encourage others to sign up. Participants receive a campaign booklet written in plain English, along with a window sticker or poster. The updated document has been literacy-proofed to ensure that it uses plain, clear and accessible language that is easy to understand and implement.”
This year’s National Breastfeeding Week theme is: ‘Hold me close: The power of skin-to-skin contact’. The HSE reports that 65.2% of babies began breastfeeding in hospital in 2024, up from 63.8% in 2019.
National Breastfeeding Coordinator at the HSE, Laura McHugh, said, “I congratulate all who continue to be involved in the ‘We’re Breastfeeding Friendly Clare’ campaign in creating welcoming and supportive public places and spaces for new breastfeeding parents. Hospital and community-based breastfeeding supports are provided by the HSE and volunteers from La Leche League, Cuidiú and Friends of Breastfeeding, which all make a difference in supporting mothers to breastfeed for as long as they wish.”
Public Health Nurse and Lactation Consultant, HSE Mid-West, Gobnait Murphy, said, “The relaunch of the ‘We’re breastfeeding friendly Clare’ booklet is great news, especially as it coincides with National Breastfeeding Week 2025. It is important for families to know that they have the support of local businesses within communities, and this booklet demonstrates that. We know that breastfeeding contributes to the overall well-being and strength of our community. We already have successful existing breastfeeding support groups around County Clare where mothers come to meet and support one another, for details see: https://mychild.ie/breastfeedingsupports”
To get involved, visit: https://yoursay.clarecoco.ie/breastfeedingfriendlyclare
Page last reviewed: 26/09/25
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