Scoil Chríost Rí Portlaoise was alive with celebration as it hosted a colourful and heartwarming cultural event to mark Refugee Week 2025. Organised by Laois Partnership Company, the event showcased the rich diversity of cultures within the local community through music, dance, food, and vibrant displays. Highlights included captivating performances by the Malva Ukrainian choir, who delighted audiences with traditional …
A banquet of multiculturalism was served up at Scoil Mhuire in Abbeyleix this June, when members of our SICAP team organised a Share Your Plate event as part of Refugee Week Ireland 2025. The sports hall of the school was transformed into a festival of culture and cuisine, as bunting spanned the walls festooned with an array of national flags …
From helping those who are only starting off on their career path to providing supports to those long settled into their retirement, Mick Malone’s time with Laois Partnership Company has brought him into contact with people from all walks of life. A former supervisor on the Tús scheme, which arranges work placements for people on social welfare, Mick is the new manager …
Laois has always been rich in heritage and history, but now local cultural celebrations are set to receive a boost as close to €90,000 in funding has been approved for festivals across the county as part of the LEADER Programme. At the end of 2024, Laois Partnership Company sought expressions of interest from interested community groups towards festivals and events taking …
Laois Partnership Company CEO Caroline Lydon was one of many local development company representatives who recently attended an event in Buswells Hotel to mark the launch of a pre-Budget submission aimed at building greater social and economic resilience. The Local Development Companies Network (LDCN), representing Ireland’s local development companies, launched its pre-Budget submission for 2026 titled “Building Local Resilience in …
As the sun blazed down on the village of Rathdowney, where local volunteers were soaking up some vitamin D while tending to the community allotment, the Laois Partnership Company team made the Clochar Centre their home for the morning for this year’s open day roadshow. Organised as part of Local Development Week, the roadshow was an opportunity to inform the …
“For a younger person, the Tús scheme is excellent. For anyone coming out of school, it shows them how to work with people and deal with the public, and they learn so much from the people that they work with.” Angela Reddin will have been a participant on the Tús scheme for one year this coming August, having an “absolutely …
In recognition of Ireland’s changing cultural landscape, Laois Partnership Company presented a Cultural Competency Training session to raise awareness of the importance for greater sensitivity towards other races. Facilitated by Dr Salome Mbugua and Prof Egide Dhala from Akidwa, the training took place on 10th April in Bloom HQ in Mountrath. Covering such topics as understanding the racial dynamics in cross …
“The Community Employment scheme is the best opportunity,” enthuses Saira Asif. “They give you the full training accordingly and on top of that is the work experience, so once you leave the scheme, everybody wants to hire you.” One of the dedicated staff members who run the busy childcare facilities operated by Laois Partnership Company in Portlaoise, Saira’s journey to …
Abbeyleix is now a place “where neighbours become friends and ideas become action” thanks to the dedication of local residents who have come together to transform their area into a community of vibrancy and can-do spirit. Residents of Gort Na Noir and Balladine have joined forces with the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) of Laois Partnership Company, to rejuvenate and …