Laois hosts first Repair Café in Portlaoise

Local people made their way to Portlaoise for the first Repair Café in Laois at The CUBE last weekend.

Laois County Council in collaboration with the Eastern-Midlands Waste Region and with the support of the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, hosted the first Repair Café in Laois at The CUBE Low Carbon Centre of Excellence on Tower Hill, on Saturday and Sunday, June 28-29.

A statement to the Leinster Express / Laois Live said 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.

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 organisers said 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. MORE BELOW PHOTO.

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,” she said. MORE BELOW PHOTO.

 Managing Director of The CUBE Low Carbon Centre of Excellence, Caroline Hofman, spoke after the Repair Café.

“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,” she said.

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.

READ ALSO: Laois Council to set up EV charging team

“We are delighted to have brought the Repair Café to Laois, and excited to show the community what can be repaired. 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,” he said.

Admission to the Portlaoise event was free, with attendees booking their time slots in advance.