WATCH: Laois Live Well Expo a hive of action in Portlaoise hotel

From mindfulness and art to pensions and health, the fourth annual Laois Live Well Expo for older people went down a treat in its new Portlaoise venue, with some 2,000 visitors filling the Midlands Park Hotel with silver haired energy on Wednesday, April 8.

The free one day exhibition is funded by Laois County Council and CEO Michael Rainey told the audience that the “fabulous” event had visitors from Kerry County Council on the day, eager to copy the format that won them a national Age Friendly award last year, and was shortlisted for a local government award to boot.

This year’s exhibition, moved from Portlaoise College, had over 100 stands, proving the respect it has earned in reaching older populations across Laois who this year braved the fuel protests to get there.

It was again opened by Laois Age Friendly Ambassador, Anna May McHugh, who turns 92 in May, she revealed to the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

"I’d say I’m the oldest person here. My advice is keep engaging, whatever you do keep the mind active. Get up and say ‘I can do it’, convince yourself,” she advised her audience.

The Managing Director of the National Ploughing Association, had a good look at the silver Centenarian medal. Every person who reaches 100 years old in Laois can now apply for and receive it. The new scheme by Laois County Council began in Carlow.

"I’m doing my best to reach it, in another few years,” Ms McHugh said to applause.

Along with leaflets and free pens, visitors clutched brown boxes under their arms, another new scheme launched by the council. Available free in Portlaoise library, the Bosca Beo has questionaires inside for grandchildren to ask their grandparents, keeping memories and traditions alive.

Organiser Danielle Keane, Age Friendly Programme Mamager for Laois, told the Leinster Express why the expo is important to hold.

"It’s so important to show what Laois has to offer, in health and wellbeing, and social and community groups, to encourage everyone to put the spark back in their lives. 

"We have a new venue, with the whole conference section of the hotel to ourselves, there is great camaraderie between everyone, by 11.20am it was full, it’s brilliant,” she said.

Trudy Nealon is the chair of the Laois Older People’s Executive.

"We have everything we need for living well and being involved in communities all under one roof here. The hotel gives it a great sense of occasion.

"Our main motto is that you only get one chance at living so live well, and all the supports to do that are here, whether it’s advice on health, legal advice, even Google with free tech advice, it’s all here,” she said.

The event was MC’d by Seanie Morris, with Cllr Barry Walsh Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council also speaking.

"The council is delighted to be part of this event, we take great pride in it, age is something that comes to us all, well done to all involved,” he said.

Mr Rainey told the Leinster Express that the object of holding the Live Well Expo, is “to improve people’s quality of life”.

"It’s not all about going to the gym or the latest diet, it’s about signposting to supports that are already there, about visiting neighbours, enjoying the outdoors, maybe joining a club. There are fantastic opportunities in this county to get out of your houses,” he said.

The hotel’s two main function rooms held over 100 exhibition stands. There were information talks in a quiet conference room on crime and fire safety, pensions, tax and inheritance, phsyiotherapy, heart and brain health checks, wrapping up with live music to dance to by Dickie Donnelly.

An activity room offered mindfulness, chair pilates, line dancing and activator pole walking.

The Laois Ukraine Malva choir and Laois Men’s Sheds provided music along with talented young comhaltas musicians. 

There were free health, hearing and eye tests too by the HSE and Irish Heart Foundation. The event is supported by Age Friendly Laois and Healthy Laois.