The first ever Repair Café at The CUBE Low Carbon Centre of Excellence, Portlaoise, was held recently.
The event was hosted by Laois County Council in collaboration with the Eastern-Midlands Waste Region and with the support of the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment.
Repairs were conducted by volunteers from Tog Hackerspace, bringing together the community to tackle waste while sharing skills and knowledge.
From small appliances and electronics to clothing, textiles, and small furniture, The CUBE was a hive of activity across the weekend as Laois residents arrived with broken toasters, torn jackets, wobbly chairs, toys, and other household items, determined to keep them in use and out of landfill.
Kim O’Meara, Waste Enforcement Officer with Laois County Council, highlighted the Repair Café’s role in local climate action and waste reduction:
“Waste prevention is a key priority for Laois County Council, and the Repair Café is a practical way to support our communities to reduce waste and extend the life of everyday items.
“We were delighted to see such strong participation and interest from the people of Laois. Initiatives like this demonstrate the power of community-driven climate action and show how local efforts can contribute meaningfully to waste prevention.
“We look forward to supporting more initiatives like this to encourage reuse, repair, and environmental responsibility in Laois.”
Across the two days, dozens of items were successfully repaired, saving them from disposal and preventing unnecessary purchases, while attendees gained hands-on skills to continue repairs at home.
The event also provided a space for community conversation around sustainability, reuse, and how everyone can play a role in reducing Ireland’s carbon footprint.
Speaking after the Repair Café, Managing Director of The CUBE Low Carbon Centre of Excellence, Caroline Hofman, said: “We were delighted to be the venue for the first Repair Café of its kind to be held in Laois.
“It has been fantastic to meet so many people coming through the doors of The CUBE over the course of the two days, bringing their household items, toys and clothing to be repaired and given a new lease of life.
“Numerous Laois residents have had their items repaired and they have also picked up a new set of skills. Embracing the circular economy and reducing our waste are vital steps towards sustainability, and we look forward to collaborating with Laois County Council on future events like this.”
Jeffrey Roe, Founder of Tog Hackerspace, had a team of volunteers on hand to help members of the public to repair their items and to teach them about the repair process and how to avoid future issues.
“We are delighted to have brought the Repair Café to Laois, and excited to show the community what can be repaired,” Mr Roe said.
“It’s not just a Repair Café, but it’s a community-based initiative where we give people repair skills as well. This encourages people to think about what they are buying and to try and repair more things.
“We are proud to support makers, artists and communities to do more repairs and to create more.”
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