Latest Laois Sport: Laois Sports Partnership February Update

Monthly Laois Sports Partnership Bulletin

February has been another good month for the LSP and sport in the County of Laois. We had a number of programmes from January continue on into February including our Community Trekkers Walks, Pre Gym with Woodlands for Health, Fitness for Mammy’s and our Virtual Couch to 5km Programme.

The Community Trekkers Walks, were a series of 9 walks lead by newly qualified walk leaders from a course we delivered in December. Over the 9 weeks we visited a variety of the fantastic walking locations throughout the county. Fitness for Mammy’s was a fitness class for mothers, guardians and child minders. The class encouraged participants to bring their little ones and make time for their own fitness in a social environment. The classes were delivered by Tommy Delaney which received excellent feedback and resulted in extra classes being provided. Our Virtual Couch to 5k saw participants join right throughout the whole month of January. Participants who signed up received a Couch to 5k guiding document along with the Laois LSP couch to 5k podcasts, available on soundcloud, and could participate at their own leisure as an individual or within a group. Some participants even went on to complete the Operation Transformation 5k in the Phoenix Park.

Line Dancing with Maureen Culleton proved to be extremely popular, originally we had advertised one session but with high demand we opened up a second class. These classes are extremely enjoyable and open to people of all ages and all abilities, Maureen will be sure to get you moving and smiling. This is a great form of exercise in a very friendly and welcoming environment.

Rath National School hosted a family fun run which Laois Sports Partnership, the entire day was fantastic with all members of families taking part. Moez kicked things off with a warm up, the run was led by St. Abbans / Irish International runner and former student, Jack Fenlon. 

Collaboration Project with Laois Leisure

In February Laois Sports Partnership teamed up with Laois Leisure Portlaoise & Portarlington to increase the levels of participation within the county by offering free and subsidised programmes. The project so far has been a massive hit. Older adults, men, women, schools, clubs and people with disabilities have all been engaged with throughout this collaboration project.

2^nd Edition of the Green Gym User Guide

We recently updated the ‘Green Gym User Guide for County Laois’. This is the second edition of the Green Gym User guide for County Laois. There are currently 6 public Green Gyms throughout the County. Within this guide you will find details on; Benefits, Locations, Examples of Equipment, Exercise Tips and Other Green Gym Alternatives. The next step will be to support the newly designed booklet will be a series of demonstration videos with Laois County Council. The booklet can be viewed or downloaded from our website www.laosisports.ie. 

Vision Impaired Sports

Throughout the month of February, there were a number of Vision Impaired and Blind sporting activities including swimming, an adults come and try golf day, and the return of the VI /Blind soccer. County Laois has a number of fantastic sporting opportunities for the visually impaired and blind.

Xcessible Programme

Laois Sports Partnership is extremely proud of its commitment to inclusion and providing opportunities for all to participate in sport and physical activity. In February, Laois LSP presented its application to Cara for the Xcessible Bronze award. The Xcessible programme is an inclusive programme designed for National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs) and Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs) to positively and meaningfully provide opportunities for people with disabilities to take part in sport and physical activity. Laois Sports Partnership from its foundation has always been an organisation committed to and passionate about providing opportunities for all to participate in sport.

Laois Lions Wheelchair Rugby Promotion with Leinster Rugby

Laois Lions Wheelchair Rugby Club welcomed the Leinster Rugby Media Team along with some coaches to a training session last month. A number of the staff joined in and Leinster created a promotion video to help created awareness of other forms of rugby. The Laois Lions W.R.C are based in Vicarstown hall and are always welcoming new members, both wheelchair users and non-wheelchair users. It is a fantastic sport, the sessions are a great form of physical activity and has a brilliant social element. It was a great experience for all involved and we look forward to working with Leinster Rugby again in the near future. 

Women In Sport Week

The aim of Women in Sport Week is to:

Celebrate every woman and girl who plays, coaches, officiates, volunteers, works in and leads out on Women in Sport.
Promote and highlight the ongoing work of Sport Ireland, NGBs, LSPs and other stakeholders and clubs under the topic of Women in Sport.
Highlight some of the programmes/initiatives funded by Sport Ireland Women in Sport Programme.

Sport Ireland’s vision for women in sport is one where women have an equal opportunity to achieve their full potential, while enjoying a lifelong involvement in sport.

For Women In Sport Week 2023 Laois Sports Partnership have a number of female specific programmes, educational workshops for women/ girls, and promotion/celebration of women in sport from County Laois. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to see more of what we got up to for Women in Sport week.

Upcoming Programmes & Training Courses

Laois Sports Partnership have a number of Upcoming programmes and courses that may interest you:

Line Dancing with Maureen Culleton
Blazzing Saddles Learn to Cycle Camp
Womens Self Defence Classes
Corrective Gymnastics
Irish Street Leagues
Gym and Swim for Teenage Girls
Safeguarding 1
Safeguarding 2
Safeguarding 3

For more information on any of the above programmes / courses email communications@laoissports.ie.

To keep up to date with all Laois Sports Partnership news and activities follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.