Longford Social Prescribing Service

18/02/2026

Upcycling - An introduction to Decoupage (2 Part Workshop)

Come join us for a fun and creative event where you'll learn all about the art of decoupage! Hosted at Granard Library, this in-person workshop will teach you how to upcycle old items into beautiful pieces using decoupage techniques.

✨ Tuesday 24th Feburary- Decoupage (Part 1)
Decoupage is the creative art of assembling and gluing paper cut-outs to create beautiful patterns and collages on an object of your choice. We’ll start by showing you how to decoupage a plain gift box (we provide one for everyone, plus a huge selection of beautiful papers). Once you’ve learned the basics, the world is your oyster—picture frames, boxes, trays, furniture, vases, and even shoes can be transformed.

Tip: If you’re eyeing something to upcycle next week, bring it along in Session 1, a small item for decoupage so we can check it’s suitable and advise on prep.

✨ Thursday 26th Feburary – Decoupage (Part 2)
Using the skills from Session 1—bring a small item to upcycle (e.g. box, frame, tray, vase/jar) and give it a fresh lease of life

Whether you're a beginner or have some experience, this event is perfect for anyone looking to unleash their creativity and learn a new skill. Don't miss out on this opportunity to get crafty and make something unique!

18/02/2026

18/02/2026

It’s great to see new people joining us each week for Chair Exercise Classes ….. and staying on for a cuppa and a chat! The class continues tomorrow, Thursday 19 February from 12.00 noon to 1.00 pm in Longford Community Resources building, Templemichael Glebe, Longford, Eircode N39 RH22. We warmly welcome new participants to this friendly group.

Chair exercise offers a safe, effective and fun way to stay active, no matter what your age or fitness level. Chair exercise classes are great for :
• People new to exercising
• People who have been inactive for a while and who wish to start exercising at a gentle pace
• People returning to exercise after illness or injury
• Anyone looking for low-impact movement in a supportive environment
• People who find it easier to stay motivated when they have the structure of a weekly class and group support

Classes are instructor-led through Longford Sports Partnership, and take place weekly. You are welcome to turn up without advance booking, or book by phone, text or WhatsApp on 087 448 0837, or online via Longford Sports Partnership website:
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/physicalactivityforhealthprogrammes


LCRL - Longford Community Resources clg Longford Sports Partnership Longford Volunteer Centre EDI Centre Longford

18/02/2026

Today is National No Smoking Day

Quitting is great for your health, your energy, your finances, and usually for the people around you too.

But what’s not great is the fact that it can be very hard to quit…….

There is lots of help and encouragement to hand, so if you have even a small bit of motivation to quit, then look for the help and see where it goes from there.

HSE Stop Smoking Advisors will support you every step of the way. The service is free and available all year round. They provide personalised stop smoking plans, tailored to suit your individual needs and circumstances. When you engage with the HSE Stop Smoking service you can avail of:
1. FREE confidential one-to-one behavioural support with your own trained stop smoking advisor
2. FREE ongoing Carbon Monoxide Testing to show your improvement over time
3. FREE stop-smoking Ni****ne Replacement Therapy (NRT) medications to help deal with cravings
4. Motivational tips to keep you on track
5. Additional support through We Can Quit group programme

To find out what you can expect from availing of the Smoking Cessation Service, there is lots of useful information here: https://tinyurl.com/cyz6v7rp

To make an appointment with the Stop Smoking Service in Longford, contact Catherina on 087 443 5256.


LCRL - Longford Community Resources clg EDI Centre Longford Longford Volunteer Centre County Longford Youth Service

17/02/2026

Triple P Parenting Course is starting next Tuesday 24th of February at the Ardnacassa Community House (4 Palace Crescent, N39 A4W9) from 10am to 12pm !!

Feel free to share this course with any parents of Ardnacassa who may be interested !!

Places Are Limited !!

Please Contact Us To Register Your Interest !!

Ardnacassa Community House
Longford County Council
Longford Community Safety Partnership
LCRL - Longford Community Resources clg
An Garda Síochána Longford
Longford Women's Link
Triple P - Positive Parenting Program
Lus Na Greine

17/02/2026

Join Bryan Nolan on Friday 27th February at 10am for an engaging online talk designed to support family carers as they navigate dementia and the evolving dynamics within their families. Register at https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/1980646970406?aff=oddtdtcreator

17/02/2026

Feeling stressed? You’re not alone. Small, everyday actions can make a big difference — whether it’s going for a walk, moving your body, cooking, reading, or taking a few quiet minutes to breathe. Try what works for you. For more practical tools and free mental health resources, visit www.mentalhealthireland.ie 💚

17/02/2026

📢 Thinking about your next step in work, training or education?

The Careers, Training and Information Fair is a great opportunity to explore what’s available locally and connect directly with people who can help you move forward.

📅 9th March
⏰ 11.00am – 3.00pm
📍 Longford Arms Hotel

On the day you can:
✔️ Learn about local courses and apprenticeships
✔️ Meet employers and training providers
✔️ Speak with representatives from local agencies
✔️ Get information, guidance and support in one place

This is a free event, open to everyone — whether you’re job-seeking, considering training, or just exploring your options.

EDI Centre will be there on the day, so feel free to drop by our stand for a chat and information on our supports and services. We look forward to meeting you!

16/02/2026

Next meeting, this Saturday @ 11, upstairs in Longford Library

16/02/2026

16/02/2026

Get involved in Ireland Reads day in Longford Libraries.
Check out the range of activities we have on www.longfordlibrary.ie/events

Did you catch the radio interview this week over Ireland Reads? Reads the fascinating results below and catch up on link.

A unique look at Ireland’s reading habits has been carried out for Ireland Reads 2026 — and the good news is we continue to be a nation of readers!

93% of us read every day, and half of us (48%) pick up a book to read at least once a month.

Despite the growth of digital and audio options, traditional paperbacks and hardbacks remain our biggest page‑turners. Print is still the preferred format for two‑thirds (65%) of adults — compared with 16% for e‑books and 11% for audiobooks.

Reading also plays a powerful role in wellbeing. Among book readers:
63% feel calm and relaxed,
58% feel happy and content,
32% say they learn something new, and
31% feel inspired and motivated through reading.

Genre preferences follow familiar patterns:
Crime and thrillers are the most popular genre across Ireland, especially among women aged 55+ (58%).
Both men and women enjoy biographies/true stories equally.
Women (40%) are nearly seven times more likely than men (6%) to choose a romance novel.

When it comes to how much we read:
Four in ten people read 1–5 books per year,
One in five read 6–10, and
Almost 1 in 10 (8%) read 41 books or more annually.

📻 Listen back to Stuart Hamilton, Head of Libraries Development at the LGMA, discuss the research findings on Morning Ireland, this morning: https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/22582499/

And remember — Ireland Reads Day is coming up on February 28. Take some time to get lost in a good book!

15/02/2026

Still thinking about Quitting Smoking? Why not go ahead and give it a go?

We Can Quit are starting their second programme of 2026 in Temperance Hall, Longford town this week. It begins on Wednesday 18 February. This is a free group programme for people who want encouragement, accountability and shared experiences while quitting smoking, rather than going it alone. You’ll get weekly support in a stop-smoking group, 1-to-1 support with a facilitator and free medication to help you stop smoking.

Additionally, Longford Social Prescribing Service can support you to replace smoking with alternative activities which may be able to help you take your mind of ci******es as well as building a healthier routine for yourself. This includes connecting you with whatever interests you most:

• Creative groups, to keep your hands and mind occupied, for example art, needlework, crafts, drumming, writing
• Weekly exercise groups, to help build a positive routine, boost confidence and improve overall health
• Mindfulness, yoga, Tai Chi classes, or online options to help reduce stress and anxiety
• Social and community groups to reduce loneliness and boredom

The We Can Quit Programme is run by the EDI Centre in Longford in conjunction with the HSE. To register, or to find out more information, phone 087 430 4222 or email healthylife@edilongford.ie or register using the QR Code on the poster

To find out more about Longford Social Prescribing Service, phone Mary on 087 448 0835 or Tony on 087 458 1178 or email socialprescribing@lcrl.ie



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