The St Patrick’s Day parades of County Laois enjoyed international support this year, as members of some new local communities joined in the festival of green alongside more established groups from other countries.
Among those participating were members of the Ukrainian Laois Support Association (ULSA), who have been celebrating the Irish national holiday since Ukrainians first arrived in Ireland; a Moldovan group, who took part for the first time this year, despite members of the Moldovan community setting up home in the county some 20 years ago; and the Laois Baltic Association, which is a newly organised group representing Baltic communities.
Expressing their appreciation for the warm welcome they have received since arriving in Laois, the different groups got into the spirit of the holiday with displays of green, white and orange, while also honouring their countries of origins with cultural demonstrations and traditional dress.
Check out this short video showing the community spirit that was on show, which is testament to the vibrant relationship that has been built between new arrivals and their adopted home.
The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) is co-funded by the Irish Government, through the Department of Rural and Community Development, and the European Union, through the European Social Fund Plus under the Employment, Inclusion, Skills and Training (EIST) Programme 2021 -2027.