Maltese Ambassador visits Laois in honour of Ireland’s EU Presidency

Laois is twinned with Malta for the duration of Ireland’s EU Presidency term

Published 4th Aug 2026, 17:30 BST Ambassador of Malta to Ireland, Fiona-Jayne Formosa, at the flag raising event in Laois with Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council, Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald, local councillors, Laois TD Sean Fleming, Laois County Council management and staff, and members of the Maltese community in Laois. Photo: Laois County Council. Laois is twinned with Malta for the duration of Ireland’s EU Presidency term Sign up to our Laois Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Laois Live within your account.

The Ambassador of Malta to Ireland visited Laois this week to mark the beginning of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Ireland took over the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union on July 1. The six-month term will continue until December 31, 2026 and marks the eight time that Ireland has held the position.

Key to the Presidency is chairing negotiations between EU Member States, advancing EU legislation, and representing the Council in discussions with the European Parliament over the next six months.

To mark the Presidency in Laois, Laois County Council held a flag raising ceremony at Áras an Chontae in Portlaoise on Wednesday, July 29.

Hosted by Cathaoirleach Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald, the event saw the Irish and European Union flags raised along with the Maltese flag to signify the pairing of Laois with Malta during the Presidency.

Laois is temporarily paired and twinned with Malta for the duration of Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Each county in Ireland will be paired with a specific Member State of the EU until the end of the Presidency.

The initiative is hoped to promote and facilitate direct engagement between communities and other EU Member States, as well as to help strengthen each county’s cultural, business and community links with other parts of Europe

Ambassador of Malta to Ireland, Fiona-Jayne Formosa, attended the event alongside local councillors, Laois TD Sean Fleming, Laois County Council management and staff, as well as members of the Maltese community in Laois.

Laois County Council thanked the Maltese Ambassador for her visit.

Special thanks were also given to the Comhaltas Portlaoise branch for providing music for the event.