Laois Partnership Company, in partnership with Laois SPCA, organised a heartwarming coffee morning at the Clochar Centre in Rathdowney. The event was filled with smiles, cuddles, and lively chats about animal welfare, bringing together a community of people who share a passion for caring for animals. Laois SPCA is dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming abandoned and neglected animals …
Women’s groups across Laois got involved in a variety of activities to celebrate International Women’s Day (March 8th), with flower arranging events taking place in Portlaoise, Abbeyleix, Portarlington, Mountrath and Rathdowney. One group in Mountrath enjoyed a tasty breakfast before designing some beautiful floral arrangements with children from the local schools, in a project organised in conjunction with the Home …
The benefits of social enterprise were highlighted to an enthusiastic group of participants at the recent Social Enterprise Training Programme, which took place in both an in-person and online capacity throughout February and March. The initiative was run by Laois Partnership Company through the Rural Development (LEADER) Programme 2023-2027 and was the first of its nature for the county of Laois. The …
“When I was made redundant, I was on uncharted waters, I didn’t know how to navigate the social welfare system at all. By going onto the Tús scheme, it wasn’t as daunting, because somebody was there to guide you through it, and that’s what made it easy.” Portlaoise native Mary Hanrahan had worked for 25 years with an international supermarket …
Members of the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) in Laois enjoyed a taste of life on the farm when they visited the Slate Lodge Stud in Co. Kildare, as part of Laois Partnership Company’s Social Farming programme. The four participants experienced the joys of getting close to nature, as they fed the animals during their tour of the Social Farm …
For parents and carers of those with Down Syndrome, one of the essential needs in securing a fulfilling life for their loved ones is ensuring they can make connections within their community and build relationships. Even a few hours getting in touch with nature through gardening in the company of others, or taking part in an arts and craft class, can …
The power of connecting over a fresh brew and a friendly chat crosses all cultural divides, whether it’s the ritual of a Japanese tea ceremony, the perennial Irish pick-me-up of a pot of tae on the stove, or the six Friends sipping from coffee cups the size of goldfish bowls on the comfy sofa in Central Perk. So beneficial to …
“Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food,” said Greek physician and celebrated ‘Father of Medicine’ Hippocrates, which is as true today as it was when first uttered almost 2,500 years ago. For food is what brings people together, the breaking of bread as a communal act serving to feed the spirit as much as the body. In …
There was seasonal spice and a cultural splice this December between the local community and more recent residents in the county, when the sights, scents and sounds of Ukrainian Christmas festivities filled the Portlaoise Parish Centre. Laois Partnership Company had the pleasure of supporting what was the third annual event of this nature, which showcased ‘Vechornytsi’, a traditional performance of how Ukrainians celebrate …
Nestled close to the highest peak in the Slieve Bloom mountains, the village of Camross is in many ways a postcard example of rural simplicity. Long comprised of just the basic ingredients of Irish life – namely, a church, a school, a community centre and, of course a pub – even the local shop closed years ago, leaving the residents …