Two Laois Offaly ETB initiatives win awards at event in Croke Park
Adult learning groups from Offaly and across the island of Ireland were celebrated at an awards event in Croke Park on Friday last, March 7.
Organised by Aontas, the national adult learning organisation of Ireland, the STAR awards – short for showcasing teamwork, awarding recognition – highlight initiatives that showcase the transformative power of adult education.
Two Laois Offaly Education and Training Board (LOETB) entries were recipients of special recognition awards at the event, which were co-hosted by the writer and actress Pauline McLynn, aka. Mrs Doyle from Father Ted.
The Offaly and Laois winners were 'Beyond Barriers' and 'Transformative Journeys for Traveller Women', both run by LOETB. They brought home the European Social Fund (ESF) Special Recognition Award and the Open University Ireland Shooting Star award.
The 'Beyond Barriers' project captured and shared voices of adult learners in LOETB's literacy service, highlighting their personal journeys and achievements, especially those who have faced unique challenges in returning to education.
'Transformative Journeys for Traveller Women' is a programme designed to empower parents or carers who have experienced cumulative trauma and have been denied access to education and societal opportunities.
The programme nurtures self-compassion, both for the child they once were, for their own parents, and for the young people they are parenting.
Speaking at the STAR Awards ceremony in Croke Park, Aontas CEO Dearbháil Lawless said: "The Offaly STAR Award winners highlight the incredible initiatives and programmes that are running in Offaly and across the island of Ireland that promote adult learning and community education.
"The value and benefit of adult education is truly reflected in the individuals here this morning and I highly commend all the winners and nominees for their fantastic achievement."
The STAR Awards marked the end of the 2025 Aontas Adult Learners’ Festival, a week-long all-island celebration of adult learning that this year centred around the theme of connecting communities.