Offaly celebrates the power of community during National Volunteering Week 2025

FROM Edenderry to Ferbane, and Clara to Birr, Offaly Volunteer Centre (OVC) marked National Volunteering Week 2025 with a resounding celebration of connection, kindness and collaboration. With the theme “Building Communities Together”, the week was filled with vibrant events, meaningful conversations, and heart warming stories that brought the community spirit of Offaly to the fore.

“It’s weeks like these that remind us of the sheer power of people,” said Deirdre Fox, Manager of Offaly Volunteer Centre. “Volunteers are the quiet powerhouses behind so much good in our communities-and we are proud to shine a light on their work.”

The week began at OVC headquarters in Tullamore with the launch of the 2024 Annual Report. Attendees were moved by the report’s thoughtful format, which combined data and personal stories to reflect the centre’s achievements over the past year.

“Our report reads beautifully,” said Ms. Fox. “Although punctuated with facts and figures, it manages to convey the spirit of volunteering and community. Now that we have four of these reports since our inception in 2021, it’s incredibly encouraging to see the progress writ large.”

The report paints a compelling picture of Offaly’s volunteer energy and highlights how community-building has evolved year on year.

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Midweek brought an exciting innovation with the launch of the Professional Exchange Bank, hosted at Old Warehouse in Tullamore. The programme aims to match voluntary organisations with professionals in fields such as law, accounting, data protection, marketing and IT-offering pro bono expertise where it’s most needed.

“The Professional Exchange Bank is so exciting and future-focused,” said Ms. Fox. “We’re identifying needs and designing towards them to craft solutions. This is one of those programmes.”

The event was keenly attended, with representatives from the Lions Club, Probus, and Tullamore & District Rotary showing strong interest.

Denis Egan, a local accountant and professional mediator, expressed his enthusiasm:

“I am delighted to be involved. It’s a great initiative, and it’s wonderful to be able to give something back to organisations who do so much for their own local communities.”

Molly Buckley, Chairperson of OVC, added:

“This is a superb programme. Practical problems often drain voluntary groups emotionally and financially. Having a bank of professional services to address this is brilliant. It’s mutually beneficial-professionals get to feel they’re giving back in a meaningful way.”

OVC encourages other professionals who are interested in joining the programme to get in touch.

Sonyashnyk in Tullamore played host to an unforgettable International Communities Celebration, inviting people to “bring a plate” and share a dish from their culture. Dishes from across Europe and Africa were served, with stories and flavours mingling joyfully.

“This was just heart-warming,” said Ms. Fox. “Food is one of our most basic human needs. This event spoke not only to sustenance, but to the nourishment of the soul.”

Ernest Cherenkov, OVC’s Ukrainian Support Coordinator, shared: “I was blessed to be part of it. Many dishes reminded me of home. It was lovely to taste the little tweaks some makers and bakers added- those tiny nuances served as a reminder that we are all different, but at our core, we are all human.”

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In Clara, Transition Year students from Ard Scoil Chiaráin Naofa joined Ukrainian residents from Kilcormac & Tullamore and staff from the Clara Family Resource Centre to work on a garden volunteering project. This collaborative initiative encouraged cultural exchange, intergenerational bonding, and environmental stewardship.

“If this day could be summed up in one word, it’s ‘hope’,” said Ms. Fox. “After all, what is more hopeful than planting a garden? It’s a wish for the future.”

One participant reflected: “Gardening was a hobby of mine in my home country. It was so great to engage in it here- to feel like I am helping the community of Offaly and the young people.”

Capping off the week was the Offaly Expo 2025 at the Tullamore Court Hotel-a vibrant, buzzing celebration of over 30 community organisations. Attendees were treated to interactive displays, storytelling sessions, and the chance to meet community leaders and volunteers from across the county.

Groups included the Offaly Association for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Grand Canal Park Run, Bracknagh Heritage Society, and many more. Community Garda Fergus Collins was also present, engaging warmly with attendees.

Feedback from the event was overwhelmingly positive:

“Count us in next year!”“The buzz is fantastic!”

“We’re so grateful to everyone who took part,” said Ms. Fox. “Thanks to our partner Offaly Local Development Company, to Volunteer Ireland, and to every group and individual who makes Offaly the warm and resilient place it is.”

Offaly Volunteer Centre continues its work year-round, by listening, connecting, and empowering.

Deirdre Fox summed up the week: “We continue to learn from the needs of the organisations, the volunteers, and the community at large. Weeks like NVW give us that opportunity. However, our ears are always open. Please do get in touch-whether you want to volunteer, or you have an idea or vision to start something. We are here. We are just a cog in the machine-but all cogs work together.”

For more information:Offaly Volunteer Centre info@volunteeroffaly.ie 083 0154 668 / 669 www.volunteeroffaly.ie
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