Host of events planned to celebrate Volunteering Week in Offaly
A week-long celebration of volunteering gets underway in Offaly next week to celebrate National Volunteering Week, with the highlight being an Offaly Expo 2025 which will showcase the many organisations that contribute to making the county such a special place.
Offaly Expo 2025 will take place on Saturday, May 24, in the Tullamore Court Hotel and will feature groups from towns and villages across the county including Birr, Clara, Edenderry, Ferbane, Banagher, Tullamore and many other areas who will highlight the breadth of community spirit across the county.
Visitors to the Offaly Expo can connect with local initiatives, discover volunteer opportunities, and celebrate the people and groups working tirelessly to make Offaly a vibrant, caring and connected place to live.
Among the other events which are planned for Offaly during National Volunteering Week are:
Monday, May 19 – Bury Quay, Tullamore Launch of Offaly Volunteer Centre’s Annual Report 2024. This special event will unveil the Annual Report, which captures not only the facts and figures of the past year, but also acts as a social document recording the stories and impact of volunteers. It will serve as a lasting testament to the compassion, commitment and care demonstrated by volunteers across the Faithful County.
Wednesday, May 21 – Location: Offaly Volunteer Centre, Meeting Room Launch of the Professional Exchange Programme (PEP) This exciting new initiative, the Professional Exchange Programme (PEP), aims to create a dynamic network of local professionals who are ready to share their skills with community and voluntary groups. Whether you are an accountant offering financial mentoring, a marketer helping a charity raise its profile, or a legal advisor providing guidance, PEP will empower organisations to thrive through expert volunteer support.
Thursday, May 22 – Sonyashnyk International Communities Celebration This vibrant and inclusive event invites Offaly residents from diverse heritages to come together and celebrate their cultures. Expect delicious international cuisine, uplifting music, and opportunities for cultural exchange as volunteers and guests share traditions and stories in a spirit of unity. This promises to be a joyful morning where the richness of Offaly’s global community will truly shine.
The theme of this year's National Volunteering Week, which takes place from May 19 to 25, is "Building Community Together" and the event will focus on the social opportunities that volunteering creates - from meeting new people and making friends to forging deeper connections within local communities.
Offaly Volunteer Centre Manager, Deirdre Fox, said that outside of home and work, "volunteering is the ‘third space’ for many people where we connect, empathise, laugh and nurture." She added that the bonds that are built through volunteering "strengthen our communities and unite us as we mind each other" and she urged everyone in Offaly to celebrate how "our countless instances of supporting our community connect us into a huge network of care” during National Volunteering Week.