Home News In Pictures: Laois Sports Partnership celebrates its 21st Birthday in style

In Pictures: Laois Sports Partnership celebrates its 21st Birthday in style

Board members and public representatives at the Laois Sports Partnership 21st Birthday Celebrations at Portlaoise Leisure Centre. Picture: Alf Harvey.

Yesterday Laois Sports Partnership celebrated its 21st birthday at Laois Leisure Portlaoise.

Over the past 21 years, Laois Sports Partnership proudly positioned themselves as the leaders in Promoting, Supporting and Facilitating sport and physical activity in County Laois.

To mark this special occasion, Laois Sports Partnership teamed up with Laois Leisure Portlaoise to host the 21st birthday celebrations. As part of our celebrations, we arranged a number of free activities delivered by Laois Leisure staff throughout the premises.

We held 4 archery taster sessions, an aqua aerobics session, 2 free hours of swimming, an outdoor bootcamp and a spin class. In addition to this, Seamus Dooley delivered a basketball session for the National Learning Network, Portlaoise and Moez Toumi hosted a sit fit session for older adults and the IWA, Laois.

In total, there were over 300 participants engaging in physical activity at Laois Leisure Portlaoise yesterday morning. In the lead up to our celebration we held a number of competitions across our social media for the people of Laois.

Thanks to all the sponsors who donated some amazing prizes over our 10-day campaign; Laois Leisure, Contrast Rooms, JMC Elite, EduFIT, Mindful Us, Heath Golf Club, SEVA Strength, Owen Feeney Athletic Therapy, Fun Fly Aero Sports, Colgans Sports, Jeremiah Grant Bar & Eatery and Paddleworks were the sponsors for all our prizes.

We were honoured to have had some local heroes in attendance, we were joined by members of the Laois Ladies Football Team and Laois U16 Camogie Team who both recently earned silverware at national level.

The LGFA brought their 2022 trophy from winning the All- Ireland Intermediate Football Final which was displayed alongside the U16 Camogie All Ireland trophy for members of the public to take photos with.

Both teams were presented with a gift as a token of appreciation towards their success. Laois LGFA also kindly presented Laois Sports Partnership with a signed number 21 jersey from their All-Ireland Final to mark our 21st birthday.

Laois Sports Partnership would like to thank everyone who attended today’s event and to those who have continued to support the work of the LSP over the past 21 years.
Caroline Myers, Chief Operating Officer “We are thrilled to celebrate the success of the past 21 years. We have delivered 4 successful strategic plans and launched a 5th .

We have made many amazing memories and built many great relationships and have proudly positioned ourselves as leaders for sport and physical activity with the support of volunteers, clubs, communities, partner agencies, stakeholders, funders, and the people of Laois.

We have seen huge growth and developments over the years in terms of funding but also massive growth in our output in participation, with just under 20,000 in 2021. I wish to thank the board past and present, LSP Team, Sport Ireland and all the people of Laois for their continued support which has been instrumental in our success.

It is now more important then ever that we continue to invest and develop opportunities for participation for an active and healthy Laois for all abilities. We look forward to continuing our work in creating an environment that improves activity, health, and wellbeing.

With a growing population, it is key that Laos Sports Partnership continues to grow its strategic capacity and it is supported as the lead agency for sports participation in county Laois. We are excited for what is to come and look forward to working with you all in delivering our 5th strategy ‘Everybody Active in County Laois’.

Best of luck to Portlaoise A.F.C U14 Girls at their awards ceremony this evening and congratulations on your fantastic achievement, unfortunately they were unable to attend yesterday’s celebrations.

Board members and public representatives at the Laois Sports Partnership 21st Birthday Celebrations at Portlaoise Leisure Centre.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
LSP chairman Ciaran Reilly makes a presentation to Laois LGFA to mark their All Ireland winning achievement at the Laois Sports Partnership 21st Birthday Celebrations at Portlaoise Leisure Centre.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
LSP chairman Ciaran Reilly makes a presentation to Laois Camogie to mark their All Ireland winning achievement at the Laois Sports Partnership 21st Birthday Celebrations at Portlaoise Leisure Centre.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Cutting the cake at the Laois Sports Partnership 21st Birthday Celebrations at Portlaoise Leisure Centre.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Staff, management and tutors at the Laois Sports Partnership 21st Birthday Celebrations at Portlaoise Leisure Centre.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Catriona Slattery, Pat Critchley and Caroline Myers at the Laois Sports Partnership 21st Birthday Celebrations at Portlaoise Leisure Centre.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Members of Portlaoise Active Retirement Group enjoying the day at the Laois Sports Partnership 21st Birthday Celebrations at Portlaoise Leisure Centre.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Mary and Joe Kerr, Cllr Thomasina Connell, Cathaoirleach of LCC and Catriona Slattery at the Laois Sports Partnership 21st Birthday Celebrations at Portlaoise Leisure Centre.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Mary and Catherine Meade; Judith Ratcliffe, Ursula O’Malley and Lee Mullen at the Laois Sports Partnership 21st Birthday Celebrations at Portlaoise Leisure Centre.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Melissa, Ailbhe and Auryn Ryan at the Laois Sports Partnership 21st Birthday Celebrations at Portlaoise Leisure Centre.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Caroline Myers from the Laois Sports Partnership with some of the All Ireland winning Laois Ladies and manager Donie Brennan at the Laois Sports Partnership 21st Birthday Celebrations at Portlaoise Leisure Centre.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Caroline Myers from the Laois Sports Partnership with All Ireland U-16 winning camogie players Kaylee O’Keeffe and Eva Carroll and camogie secretary Ciara Carroll at the Laois Sports Partnership 21st Birthday Celebrations at Portlaoise Leisure Centre.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Sponsors, from left: Dr Diane Cooper, Dr Kiera Ward and Ruth Kavanagh from EduFIT; Owen Feeney from Owen Feeney AT and Sean Crawford and Stephen Shiels from Seva Strength at the Laois Sports Partnership 21st Birthday Celebrations at Portlaoise Leisure Centre.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Aqua Aerobics at Laois Sports Partnership 21st Birthday Celebrations at Portlaoise Leisure Centre.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Basketball at Laois Sports Partnership 21st Birthday Celebrations at Portlaoise Leisure Centre.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Archery with Aoife McEvoy instructing Aoibhín Kirwan at the Laois Sports Partnership 21st Birthday Celebrations at Portlaoise Leisure Centre.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Sit Fit at the Laois Sports Partnership 21st Birthday Celebrations at Portlaoise Leisure Centre.
Picture: Alf Harvey.

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