Displaying a sign 'Ramblers welcome tonight' on gates around the countryside is one of the best suggestions that Leitrim's Just Rambling project has received.

That's according to Edwina Guckian, a dancer, choreographer, film-maker, farmer and community activist who is to the fore in the initiative.

It is run by Leitrim County Council in association with Creative Ireland and Leitrim Development Company from November and has been extended by a month to February.

The Just Rambling initiative has been bringing about a return of the tradition whereby people walked the roads of their locality in the dark months of winter, calling into their neighbours' homes.

Certain houses in a locality became known as 'rambling houses' where the community gathered to be entertained and informed of local events.

Ramblers dropped in, invitations were not needed and no-one was turned away.

"There were cups of tea and food, games of cards played. Sometimes there was even music, song or dance," Drumsna-based Guckian said.

However, things have changed in Ireland today, she said: "Our doors are locked, automatic gates keep spontaneous visits away; the TV and social media provide the news and stories and you have to ring a few days in advance if you plan on calling to the house.

"We have high speed fibre-optic broadband connecting us around the world in seconds, yet no human connection with the people who live all around us. As a result, loneliness is becoming a real problem," she added.

The Leitrim woman said that the rambling house project had thrown up many examples of people living close to one another who didn't know each other.

According to Guckian, the loss of social connection is having a huge impact: "We have to mind not only our physical health, but our social health too. It's so important to have that connection. It's a lovely feeling."

The Just Rambling project set out to reverse this lack of social connection and bring back the old ways of a community connecting with one another, empowering the generations of today to ramble once again.

Six homes in Leitrim have been welcoming their neighbours into their kitchens for nights of conversation, music, song, stories, food and good company as part of the pilot project.

While the rambling house tradition has been revived in other parts of the country, Guckian would like to see the initiative extended nationally.

Those who are isolated or are without transport could be approached with the offer of a lift to houses they visited in the past, Guckian suggested and also stressed that all ages can be ramblers, not just elderly people.

"It can be a big effort to go out on a winter's night but once you do it, you come home all the happier," she said.