They’re hidden under our masks for most of the day.

But the organisers of an upcoming Cork wellness event are inviting members of the public to reveal their smiles en masse as part of a virtual event.

West Cork Development Partnership and Clonakilty Wellness Committee are hosting two 10-minute Smile a While events on May 17th, one at 8am and another at 8pm.

The idea is simple; they want as many people as possible to join in and flash a big smile to everyone in attendance using their webcam.

Studies show that slapping on a smile can trick your brain into feeling happy, even if you’re not in a good mood. It’s also been shown to lower blood pressure and boost the immune system, two benefits that could even help you live longer – not bad, right?

You can join the Smile A While event on Zoom (Meeting ID: 229 267 5642, Passcode: 445405) or find out more here.