Packed out Laois Live Well expo leads the way for age friendly living

Laois Live Well Expo turned three years old last Wednesday, April 23 and has grown into an example to other counties in how to best support communities to live long, healthy happy lives.

The free annual exhibition, based in Portlaoise College, was again launched by the dynamic 90 year old Laois icon, Anna May McHugh, MD of the National Ploughing Association.

Laois Age Friendly Ambasador Anna May McHugh; Emma O’Connor, Healthy Laois; Catherine McGuigan, Chief Officer of Age Friendly Ireland and Tom Curran, Age Friendly Laois at the Live Well Health & Wellbeing Expo 2025. Photos: Alf Harvey

“Its wonderful to see so many people here, there are really wonderful exhibition stands. This is putting Laois on the map. None of us feel old now. We are lucky to have lived well, a privilege denied to many,” she said.

The Laois Community Choir got the day off to a joyful musical start, led by Nuala Kelly of Music Generation Laois.

Over 2,000 people, mainly older generations, thronged two large halls, dancing, listening to expert speakers, enjoying free sandwiches and visiting stands manned by clubs, support organisations and volunteer groups and getting free health checks.

New this year was an arts and crafts room with Laois artists, and an activity room for fitness sessions. There was even an extra Portlaoise public bus put on for the day.

The expo is organised by Emma O'Connor of Healthy Laois and Tom Curran of Age Friendly Laois, backed by Laois County Council.

“It's bigger than ever, we had 2,000 last year but it seems full already and we're not even officially opened yet,” Emma O'Connor told the Leinster Express / Laois Live that morning.

“People struggle to get information but when you put it under one roof, they can walk around, see what's there. We have over 110 stalls with 250 people exhibiting, even eight staff from Google using their annual holidays to be here, there's an amazing spirit,” she said.

Tom Curran was delighted at the turnout for 2025.

“People are coming very early today, there's huge enthusiasm, it's brilliant to see. It all began because we were told an expo was needed for people to get information about health and community services,” he said.

The Chief Officer of Age Friendly Ireland, Catherine McGuigan said they have “maximised the attendance” and she is “astounded to see the amount of people”.

The Laois Community Choir performing at the Live Well Health & Wellbeing Expo, delivered for free through a collaboration between Age Friendly Laois and Healthy Laois and held at Portlaoise College. Picture: Alf Harvey.

“It is an absolutely fabulous model, there are learnings for Age Friendly Ireland here today. If they have 2,000 attendants and they each tell three or four people the information, that's 8,000 reached across Laois, amazing,” she told the Leinster Express.
Laois County Council CEO Michael Rainey spoke on stage.

“It's fantastic to see so many groups committed to living well in this county. We deliver 1,100 services to Laois but at the heart is to deliver the best quality of life possible,” he said.

Cathaoirleach Cllr Padraig Fleming also gave a speech.

“A healthy county is one where you enjoy physicial and mental wellbeing, where we all want to live, work and visit, today is about opening doors and giving signposts”.

The newly elected chairperson of Laois Older Persons Council is Trudy Nealon.

“We only have one shot at living so lets live well,” she said.

Mindfulness for Health led by Margaret Bergin at the Live Well Health & Wellbeing Expo. Picture: Alf Harvey.

Syl Murphy was at the Portlaoise Lions Club stand.

“We come here so people can see us, we usually do a lot behind the scenes. We met SOSAD here today so we are bringing them to our next meeting for a talk and donation,” he said.

Joe Grant was on the Portlaoise Men's Shed stand, this year given a prominant place at the centre of the venue.

“It's great for the public, we're in the firing line today where everyone passes us. We want to attract new members young and old,” he said.

PICTURES of Laois Live Well Expo by Leinster Express / Laois Live.

Laura Matikaite is a full time ceramic fine artist from Coolrain.

“It's lovely today, I normally sell my pieces in galleries so it's lovely just to get to meet people and have conversations to encourage them to practice art in any way they see fit,” she said.