Laois families encouraged to get out and play at Play Trail event

The Portlaoise Play Trail will take place on Thursday, July 9

Published 8th Jul 2026, 13:24 BST The Portlaoise Play Trail features outdoor activity stations scattered across Portlaoise town centre and Páirc an Phobail. The Portlaoise Play Trail will take place on Thursday, July 9 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.

Families are encouraged to get out and play in Portlaoise to celebrate National Play Day on Thursday, July 9.

To mark this year’s National Play Day, Laois County Council and Portlaoise Tidy Towns are hosting the Portlaoise Play Trail.

This free family event will run under the national theme for the day, ‘Play for All’, and will be inclusive for children of all abilities.

The Portlaoise Play Trail features eight unique outdoor activity stations scattered across Portlaoise town centre and Páirc an Phobail.

The event will be led by professional artists and play leaders, with the stations designed to ensure every child can participate, regardless of ability.

The plans for the Portlaoise Play Trail. Activities will run from 9.30am to 1.30pm on Thursday, July 9.

The trail starts at Hynds Square and moves onto the old St Peter’s Church and Graveyard off Main street, Fitzmaurice Place, the garden space at Portlaoise Library and then Páirc an Phobail.

Families are encouraged to come out, explore the town, and discover all eight play trail stations together.

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Commenting on the event, Ann Marie Maher of Laois County Council’s Recreation Department said: "National Play Day is a great opportunity to witness the positive impact that play has on children's mental well-being, creativity, and social connections.

“By embracing the 'Play for All' ethos, we have created a trail of vibrant, inclusive activities that every child can enjoy."

The initiative is funded by the Department of Children, Disability & Equality.

It will be a busy day for Portlaoise Tidy Towns and Laois County Council as the judges from the Pride of Place Awards will also be visiting the town on Thursday.

Portlaoise Tidy Towns will represent County Laois in the Climate Action & Biodiversity category of the 2026 IPB Pride of Place competition.

To welcome the judges, there will be a talk held in Portlaoise Library at 9.30am on Thursday which will be followed by a 2 hour walk around the town to visit projects completed by the Tidy Towns group.