Laois kids to pull out all the stops on Pyjama day

Preschool children in Laois are among the best in the country at raising funds for children around Ireland with additional needs, according to the organisers of National Pyjama Day.

Last time around, over 1,370 children in Laois took part in the event, with Early Years and School Age Care settings across the county raising more than €4,800 in support of National Pyjama Day. Since 2003, the event has raised over €4.5 million to support young children’s development and wellbeing across Ireland.

After raising thousands of euros in 2025, pre-school children in Laois will once again take part in National Pyjama Day on Friday, 27 February, childcare facilities in communities across the county ae registered to participate in the fundraiser.

A spokesperson for the event told the Leinster Express / Laois Live that Laois was one of the top counties for fundraising last year, raising €4,800 out of the over €200,000 donated nationally.

Teresa Heeney, CEO of Early Childhood Ireland, said: “Early Childhood Ireland is proud to partner with LauraLynn for this year’s National Pyjama Day. We look forward to a day when children in Laois and across Ireland come together to enjoy a day of fun, kindness, and community, while this year supporting the delivery of personalised care to children with palliative and complex needs and vital supports for their families.”

Part of the funds raised during National Pyjama Day 2026 will contribute to LauraLynn’s vital work caring for children and providing essential support to families by building unique communities of care. The funds will specifically assist LauraLynn’s Family Support Services, ensuring families can access high-quality emotional, therapeutic, and practical care when and where they need it most.

Kerry McLaverty is the CEO of LauraLynn.

“We are delighted that Early Childhood Ireland has chosen LauraLynn as a beneficiary of National Pyjama Day 2026. This much-loved event brings together over 65,000 children across 1,300 Early Years settings each year. The spirit of children helping children aligns beautifully with our mission.

"The funds raised will help us continue providing specialised care and vital family supports to children with life-limiting conditions across Ireland.

"We are delighted to join Early Childhood Ireland, alongside the Eco‑Emotions project, in creating meaningful impact for children and families. We look forward to celebrating on Friday, 27 February 2026, and we extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone taking part,” she said.

This year’s fundraiser will also continue to support Early Childhood Ireland’s Eco-Emotions project, which helps educators and families guide young children to reconnect with nature and their emotions.

Through funding from National Pyjama Day 2024, Eco-Emotions has empowered educators and children throughout the country with nature-based wellbeing supports. Thanks to continued support from this year’s fundraiser, additional supports including immersive nature workshops and toolkits promoting emotional wellbeing will be developed.

Ms Heeney explained, “Funds raised through National Pyjama Day have played a key role in our delivery of first-of-its-kind eco-learning for educators and families. With continued support, we can ensure more children are empowered on their Eco-Emotions journey.”

“We are looking forward to another wonderful National Pyjama Day where fun, compassion and community come together in the spirit of children, helping children”, she concluded.

You can donate to this year’s National Pyjama Day here.

Where will the donated funds go? 

About Early Childhood Ireland

Early Childhood Ireland is the leading national children’s advocacy and membership organisation. We work in partnership with Early Years, School Age Care and Childminding settings to ensure that every child is thriving and learning. We advocate for an effective and inclusive system which values, supports and invests in childhood, children and services.

About National Pyjama Day

Early Childhood Ireland’s National Pyjama Day is the largest one-day fundraising event organised by the Early Years and School Age Care sector in Ireland. This year marks the 22nd anniversary of National Pyjama Day, and we are proud to have raised over €4.5 million to date for projects and charities that support children.

About Eco-Emotions

Eco-Emotions is a concept that combines emotional regulation for children with sustainability practices, encouraging children to develop emotional skills while also learning about the importance of caring for the environment. Early Childhood Ireland empowers educators with the knowledge, skills, and resources to support this approach. This in turn supports children to develop a strong sense of self and agency, along with a deep appreciation for the natural world and their role in protecting it.

About LauraLynn

LauraLynn's mission is to provide a Community of Care that delivers evidence-based, personalised services to children with palliative care needs, complex care needs and complex disabilities, while also providing family support services and a home to their residents where quality of life is paramount.

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