Our Shared Plate

19/05/2026

Community Spirit in action 🪏🦔

The Rathdowney Community Garden group enjoyed an informative workshop recently as part of Biodiversity Week 2026, where they created a dead hedge, a garden feature which promotes biodiversity creating a habitat for wildlife. Read more here and view a gallery of images: https://laoispartnership.ie/project/dead-hedge-the-perfect-habitat-for-local-wildlife-in-the-rathdowney-community-garden/
Our Shared Plate Rathdowney Community Centre Rathdowney MENS SHED Laois Local News Understory

19/05/2026

🐞🐛🪲🐜🕷️🏨

As part of Biodiversity Week 2026, Laois Partnership Company was delighted to be involved in a biodiversity workshop in Mountmellick, where local children got the chance to enjoy some bug collecting, bat detecting, and creature identifying. There will be another biodiversity workshop in Portlaoise on 23rd May, delivered by local urban gardener Kate Heffernan to the tenants of the O’Moore Place allotment, but it is open to the community to join in. Click here to see some images from the Mountmellick event: https://laoispartnership.ie/project/bug-hotels-and-bat-detecting-as-part-of-biodiversity-week-2026/
Mountmellick Notice Board Our Shared Plate Understory Laois People Portlaoise Notice Board

18/05/2026

We are really looking forward to this event & to hear from Molly, Our Shared Plate Project Manager 🌼

Molly is a food professional who brings a global perspective to her deep local roots in Irish agriculture.

Speaker Profile: https://nuffield.ie/scholar/molly-garvey/

Date: 9–10 July 2026

Venue: St. Mary’s Secondary School & The Mary Robinson Centre, Ballina

Tickets: https://www.maryrobinsoncentre.ie/

15/05/2026

Check out this delicious Flapjack recipe and have enjoy Jennie’s animation https://vimeo.com/1152262437?fl=pl&fe=sh ▶️🎧

14/05/2026

Community project funding opportunity 🪎

The 2026 ServiceNow Community Improvement Fund is now open for applications!

ChangeX and ServiceNow continue empowering communities in Ireland to take local action on climate challenges with a new call for applications for the ServiceNow Community Improvement Fund

● Nonprofits and schools can apply for funding for water, solar, or nature-based community projects that foster sustainable, inclusive local impact

● Applicants can submit their own project for funding, with up to €30,000 available, or apply for support to bring one of three proven, high-impact climate ideas to life in their community

Full details on our website news page link in bio or copy: https://grantsandfunding.ie/2026-servicenow-community-improvement-fund-open-for-applications/

To receive weekly grants and funding opportunities for your sports club, community group, charity or not for profit organisation subscribe to our Grants and Funding Newsletter, visit https://grantsandfunding.ie/subscribe/

14/05/2026

Ireland’s first National Philanthropy awareness event with the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht.
We are delighted to be an awardee of the first national place-based philanthropy grant 🌟

12/05/2026

A wonderful day spent visiting the Rathcoffey Zero Waste Garden and The Acre Project with the Allenwood Community Garden Group ☀️🪏

From inspiring growing spaces to conversations around composting, biodiversity and community action, there was so much shared learning throughout the day.

And of course, plenty of sunshine ☀️, cups of tea ☕️ and shared snacks along the way 🥖🍎🍪

A huge thank you to everyone who welcomed and hosted us 🌱

This work is supported by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine 🤝

11/05/2026

About 30% of fruit and vegetables in Ireland are rejected by commercial buyers due to self-imposed cosmetic standards.

However, an innovative project is aiming to level the playing field for fruit and vegetable growers, with a focus on repurposing food waste.

📲 To read the full story, click the link in the comment section

09/05/2026

Cork friends - check this out!

Bit of gardening planned this weekend? Swing by this library to find seeds for fruit, veggies and wildflowers - all free 😃