Laois Live Well Expo wins national award
Laois Older People's Council (LOPC) and Laois Co Council representatives at the national awards ceremony. Photo: Laois Co Council
A REMARKABLE event that attracted more than 2,000 people to Portlaoise has won a national award.
Laois Co Council's Live Well Expo received the ‘Active and Healthy Ageing’ award, at the National Age Friendly Awards ceremony on 23 October.
Held in Portlaoise College last April, the 2025 Expo featured more than 100 exhibition stands, health screenings, creative zones, sports activities, expert panels and lots more, all aiming to help older people to stay well and active throughout their lives.
Members of the Laois Older People’s Council (LOPC) and representatives of Laois Co Council attended the awards ceremony at the Galmont Hotel in Galway, led by Cathaoirleach Cllr Barry Walsh and council chief executive Michael Rainey.
The county’s third annual Live Well Expo was officially opened by Laois Age Friendly Ambassador Anna May McHugh (90), managing director of the National Ploughing Association and a shining example of ageing gracefully, who also attended the awards ceremony in Galway.
Thanking everyone who contributed to the Expo’s success, Mr Rainey said: “I am both delighted and proud that the Live Well Expo has received national recognition through this prestigious award. Supporting our communities and making Laois a great place to live for people of all ages is central to our mission.”
Several new features were introduced at this year’s Expo, including a 'create and play area' spearheaded by local artists and an activity zone hosted by Laois Sports Partnership.
The event was delivered through Laois Co Council’s Age Friendly and Older People’s Council Executive, in partnership with Healthy Laois and the Healthy Laois LCDC subcommittee.
Over 114 exhibitors represented a variety of community groups, service providers, agencies and organisations, while nearly 400 free health screenings were provided by the HSE, Hidden Hearing, Vision Ireland and the Irish Heart Foundation.
LOPC chair Trudy Nealon described the Expo as ‘a community-driven movement to empower the elderly, create social bonds and encourage lifelong learning’.
Laois Age Friendly Coordinator Tom Curran said the initiative was born out of public consultations conducted by Healthy Laois and Age Friendly Laois, which identified access to information as a key barrier to ageing well and highlighted the merit of sharing expertise and resources.
