St. Patrick's Day - Athlone 2025

☘️ Happy St. Patrick's Day! ☘️ ❤️🤍

As every year, on March 17th, the St. Patrick's Day Parade took place, and we had the honor of participating, representing our Polish community in the Midlands! ❤️🤍☘️

A big thank you to the organizers of the Athlone Croí Na hÉireann Festival for inviting us to join in the celebration! 🎉 It was an amazing day full of joy, music, and pride.

Many thanks to all the Polish people who joined the parade and marched with us! ❤️🤍☘️

Special thanks to @85db_studio for the excellent sound system, Janosik Polish Grocery Shop Athlone for the sweets, and to everyone from Midlands Polish Community CLG for celebrating together! 🎶🎊

See you next year! ❤️🤍☘️

33rd Grand Finale of Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity in Athlone 2025

33rd Grand Finale of WOŚP in Midlands – Together We Raised €12,869.78! 🎉❤️

On Friday, January 24th, at Longford Arms Hotel, and Saturday, January 25th, at Radisson Hotel Athlone, the Midlands Polish Community came together once again for the 33rd Grand Finale of WOŚP (The Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity). And guess what? Thanks to the generosity and amazing energy of everyone involved, we raised an incredible €12,869.78 for this fantastic cause! 🎊

This year, we had some special guests all the way from Poland – actors Mateusz Damięcki, Sebastian Stankiewicz, and director Cyprian Olencki – who joined us to support the event. Between exciting auctions, great live music, and a buzzing atmosphere, it was a weekend to remember!

A massive thank you to all the volunteers, artists, sponsors, and everyone who contributed to making this event a success. Once again, we proved that kindness knows no borders, and when Polish and Irish hearts unite, magic happens! ☘️❤️🇵🇱

See you next year – and get ready to make even more noise for a good cause! 🎶🔥

 📸 Photos: click here

New Year's Eve 2024/2025

New Year's Eve 2024 with Midlands Polish Community – Welcome, 2025! 🎉

The Midlands Polish Community’s New Year's Eve 2024 celebration brought together a fantastic crowd at Athlone Springs Hotel, where we bid farewell to the old year and welcomed 2025 in style! 🎉🎶

The evening kicked off with a delicious gala dinner, featuring two courses meal, mouth-watering desserts, and a variety of snacks—the perfect fuel for a night full of dancing! As the clock struck midnight, we toasted the arrival of the New Year with a glass of prosecco. 🥂

🎶 DJ JANQ made sure that no one stayed seated for too long—his vibrant playlist kept everyone on the dance floor until the early hours! 🔥

🎟 The New Year’s lottery was another highlight of the night! Thanks to the generous support of Electro Direct - Athlone and other sponsors, our guests had the chance to win some fantastic prizes.

A huge thank you to everyone who celebrated with us and made this night so special! We can't wait to do it all again next year! 🥳

Little Santa 2024

The Magic of St. Nicholas Day 2024 with Polish Midlands Community!

St. Nicholas Day is a time when small dreams come true, and joy and kindness spread faster than snowflakes on a winter breeze. This year, once again, our community proved that the spirit of St. Nicholas is very much alive! 🎅✨

Under the watchful eye of our one-of-a-kind Santa, Wojtek Wróbel, and his dedicated team of Elves, we prepared 220 gift packages filled with sweets and treats. These special gifts found their way to those who needed them most, bringing happiness where it was needed most. The packages were donated to:
🎁 The Melting Pot - Roscommon
🎁 Esker House Domestic Abuse Support Service Athlone
🎁 Athlone Family Resource Centre

Little Santa – Mee-Ko-Why-Ki (Mikołajki) Wouldn’t Be Possible Without You!

This heartwarming initiative would not have been possible without the support of our wonderful partners and generous donors. A special thank you to Polish Embassy Dublin, as well as:
❤️ autoelectro.ie
❤️ Janosik Polish Grocery Athlone
❤️ Polska Strefa Roscommon

Your kindness and generosity helped us create something truly special! Thanks to you, this beautiful Polish tradition of St. Nicholas Day shined brighter than ever, reminding us all how important it is to share joy and goodness. Most importantly, children got to experience the magic of this special day! 🎅🌟💖

Let this incredible energy stay with us all year long! See you at the next St. Nicholas Day celebration! 🎉

Polish Independence Day 2024

Polish Independence Day 2024 in Athlone – A Celebration of Joy, Pride, and Surprises! 🇵🇱🎉

On November 10, 2024, Drum Community Centre in Athlone turned red and white as we celebrated Polish Independence Day! From patriotic music and traditional decorations to exciting activities, the atmosphere was filled with pride, joy, and a true sense of community.

Organized by Midlands Polish Community CLG, this event brought together both Poles and Irish people interested in learning more about Poland’s history, culture, and traditions. And what a celebration it was!

Moments to Remember!

🔥 Independence Run – Participants of all ages ran symbolic distances and received special medals at the finish line.
🎶 Emotional Performances – Anna Misiewicz’s moving renditions of the Polish national anthem and patriotic songs touched everyone’s hearts, with the stage beautifully decorated by Nikola from Dream Party Style.
🎨 Creative Corner for Kids – Under the guidance of Anna Watras, children made patriotic badges and decorations, proudly showing off their creations.
🔊 Top-Quality Sound – Thanks to 85DB Studio & Sound System Hire, the event had professional audio.
🔫 Airsoft Shooting Range – The Athlone Airsoft Team gave participants a chance to test their sharpshooting skills.
🎟 Exciting Prize Lottery – With amazing gifts from local sponsors, tickets sold out fast, and lucky winners left with fantastic prizes!

Special Guests Who Made the Day Even More Memorable!

🚑 Order of Malta Ireland - Ambulance Corps - Athlone
👮 Athlone/Longford Community Garda Unit
💂 Declan Killeen from the Army Engineering Unit in Athlone Barracks
🔥 Athlone Fire Brigade

A huge thank you to the Polish Embassy in Dublin for their continuous support!

A Community Effort!

This unforgettable event wouldn’t have been possible without the generosity of our sponsors and partners, including Camlin Contractors Longford, Electro Direct - Athlone, Monksland Pharmacy, and many more.

Athlone Bridge Lit Up in Polish Colours! 🇵🇱✨

To top it all off, thanks to Westmeath County Council and Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail, the Athlone railway bridge was illuminated in red and white, marking this special occasion in the heart of Ireland.

💖 Thank you to everyone who joined us – see you next year! 🎉

MPC-TV Workshops 2024

MPC-TV Training 2024 – Media, TV Interviews, Short Film Production

Our community TV group, MPC-TV, hosted a series of free media and film production workshops in 2024! These hands-on training sessions provided a fantastic opportunity to gain professional experience under the guidance of industry experts. Here’s what we covered:

🎬 On the Movie Set – June 8-9, 2024

Led by James Van De Waal from Sticky Tape Productions, this workshop dived into the behind-the-scenes world of film production. Participants learned about camera work, lighting, and sound while gaining both basic and advanced filmmaking techniques. The training took place at Coláiste Chiaráin Secondary School in Athlone.

🎥 Your Weekend with Professional Filmmakers – October 12-13, 2024

This exciting hands-on workshop, run by professionals from Western Front Studios, focused on filming, lighting, and audio recording. Attendees had the chance to work with professional equipment and master essential video production techniques used in the industry.

📺 Media Training with Ciaran Mullooly MEP – December 13-14, 2024

Ever wondered how journalists conduct TV interviews? Former RTÉ correspondent Ciaran Mullooly led this workshop, teaching participants how to prepare for interviews, ask the right questions, and avoid common mistakes. It was a great opportunity to understand media communication from an insider’s perspective.

Each of these workshops was a unique learning experience for anyone interested in media and filmmaking. They were free of charge and conducted in English.

🙏 Huge thanks to our supporters!

These workshops were funded by the Community Education Scheme and REACH FUND 2024, with support from the Department of Education, Galway and Roscommon ETB.

🎥❤️ Thank you to everyone who participated – we hope to see you at our future events!

Children's Day - Athlone 2024

Children’s Day 2024 with Midlands Polish Community!

"The best way to make children good is to make them happy." – Oscar Wilde

And happiness was in the air at our International Children's Day & Family Day celebration! 🎉

On June 2, 2024, the Drum Community Centre in Athlone turned into a wonderland of fun, laughter, and excitement. Families came together to enjoy an unforgettable day filled with fantastic activities! 🎈🥳

✨ What an incredible day it was! ✨

☀️ The weather was on our side, making all the outdoor fun even better!
🏰 Bouncy castles kept the little ones jumping with joy.
🎭 Talented young performers stole the show with amazing artistic displays.
🐐 A mini zoo delighted animal lovers with adorable farm friends.
🏹 Archery and archaeology workshops transported us to the past!
🎮 A gaming van and airsoft shooting range provided thrills for older kids (and some parents too!).
🥋 A karate show wowed the crowd with skill and discipline.
🚒 Motorbikes, fire trucks, an ambulance, and Civil Defence vehicles made future heroes' dreams come true!
🎟️ The excitement was through the roof with fantastic prizes up for grabs in our big lottery!
🍔 A delicious BBQ, waffles, ice cream, and sweet treats kept everyone going!

🎉 A huge thank you to our supporters! 🎉

This amazing event was made possible with the support of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth’s Social Inclusion Fund. Special thanks to the Polish Embassy in Dublin, Roscommon County Council, Roscommon Leader Partnership, Roscommon Creative Ireland, and fantastic partners like Night Wolves Athlone Airsoft Team, Athlone Fire Brigade, Roscommon Civil Defence, Clonark Garda Station, Roscommon Volunteer Centre, Electro Direct, and Janosik.

💖 A heartfelt thank you to our wonderful volunteers and Midlands Polish Community members – your energy, passion, and hard work made this day truly unforgettable!

Thank you to everyone who joined us – see you next year! 🎈🎊

📸 Photos: Click here

32nd Grand Finale of Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity in Athlone 2024

Celebrating the 32nd Grand Finale of WOŚP in Longford & Athlone! 🎶❤️

The last weekend of January was all about music, community, and generosity as we celebrated the 32nd Grand Finale of WOŚP (The Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity) in Longford and Athlone!

🎶 Longford – Saturday, January 27th
The evening kicked off at Longford Rugby Club with an incredible concert featuring Zibbster, AERTE, DJ B.O.G, and the amazing Jan on saxophone and Sławek on guitar. With fantastic music, exciting auctions, and a heartwarming atmosphere, we all came together for one important cause – helping those in need!

🎸 Athlone – Sunday, January 28th
The celebrations continued at Athlone Springs Hotel, where the crowd enjoyed high-energy performances from Rock’n’Grants and MT Project. As always, there were charity auctions, fundraising activities, and the Siema Shop – all hosted by our special guests from Poland, Marta Żmuda-Trzebiatowska and Kamil Kula.

A massive thank you to all the artists, volunteers, donors, and participants who made this event truly unforgettable. Your generosity and support made a real difference – and we can’t wait to do it all again next year! 🎶❤️

📸 Photos: click here and here

New Year's Eve 2023/2024

How We Celebrated New Year’s Eve 2023/2024 in Athlone! 🎉🥂

What a night! Midlands Polish Community CLG hosted an unforgettable New Year's Eve celebration at Athlone Springs Hotel, and we were there to welcome 2024 in style!

🕣 The evening kicked off at 8:00 PM – everyone arrived on time, ready for an amazing night!
🍽️ A delicious three-course dinner – plus a bottle of fine alcohol on each table, so the toasts started early!
🎶 DJ JANQ kept the music and energy high – the dance floor was on fire all night long!
🎁 New Year’s Lottery – The excitement was through the roof with fantastic prizes up for grabs! Electro Direct - Athlone sponsored the grand prize – a PlayStation 5! And that wasn’t all – EV Academy Beauty & Trichology offered a special €500 voucher for beauty treatments! Some lucky winners went home with amazing prizes, while the rest of us took home unforgettable memories!

🥂 At midnight, we raised our glasses of prosecco, welcomed the New Year under the glow of fireworks, and danced until dawn!

New Year’s Eve celebrations are a huge tradition in Poland, and this was the perfect way to bring that spirit to Athlone! If you weren’t there – you missed out! But if you were – you know it was worth celebrating together! See you next year! 🥳🎆❤️

MPC-TV Workshops 2023

MPC-TV Workshops 2023

MPC-TV is dedicated to film, television, and media production, operating under the Midlands Polish Community. Our goal is to foster integration while supporting artistic and cultural development within our community. Here is a recap of our recent events:

1. “Social Inclusion in Film” – A Short Film Production Workshop

On Saturday, November 18, 2023, Colaiste Chiarain School in Athlone hosted an inspiring event titled “Social Inclusion in Film.” The workshop was led by director and producer Anna Czarska (@sticky_tape_productions) and cinematographer James Van De Waal. Participants had the opportunity to gain insights into the entire short film production process in Ireland – from pre-production to post-production.

Anna, the director and producer of the award-winning film Mildly Different, shared her extensive experience and invaluable knowledge with the attendees.

A huge thank you to all participants and organizers for creating such a fantastic atmosphere!

1. “TV, Studio & Video Productions” – A Video Production Training Course

Another exciting event we organized was a two-day course focused on television and video production. During this training, participants had the opportunity to work with professional Blackmagic Design equipment and learn how to use Da Vinci Resolve software for post-production.

It was an amazing experience for all video enthusiasts looking to enhance their skills.

A big thank you to everyone who took part – we hope you gained valuable experience and inspiration from these workshops!

Little Santa 2023

St. Nicholas' Day, is a custom we celebrate in Poland on 6 December, was known as far back as the 19th century.

On the night of 5 to 6 December, St. Nicholas visits the children, giving them small presents, which are usually placed in a sock, under a pillow or in a shoe. These visits are preceded by the children sending a letter to St.Nicholas declaring that they have been good and writing out their wish list of presents.

 To take inspiration from this very beautiful tradition, to spread the magic of Christmas the originator and initiator of the project, Wojtek Wróbel, Vice-Directory of the Board of the Midlands Polish Community, put his "Little Santa" project into practice.

Our hard-working Elves worked non-stop and managed to organise more than 250 boxes with sweet treats, which were distributed to local organisations supporting the most vulnerable families and children.

 The boxes went to Ken Smollen Food Appeal, Midlands Simon Community, Esker House Domestic Abuse Support Service, Infinity Friends and The Melting Pot - Roscommon.

None of this would have been possible if it had not been for the great support from many quarters.

Thanks to the generosity of the participants of the Independence Day Family Picnic, we were able to raise part of the funds.

We received great support from the Polish Embassy in Dublin as well as from local Polish businesses, for which we would like to thank them wholeheartedly.

Polish Independence Day 2023 Athlone

5th of November 2023 in Athlone together with our guests, we celebrated this very special day for our community -Polish Independence Day.

The programme included: The Independence Run for children, (during which each participant received a medal), the Patriotic Song Competition, Dance Workshops for children, face painting, National Rosette Ribbon making workshop and plenty of other attractions for the whole family.

There was also a Raffle with great prizes, vintage cars, an airsoft shooting competition, a re-enactment group and delicious Polish food.

However, it would not have been possible without the great support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Polish Embassy in Dublin and our Sponsors Camlin Constructors and Electro Direct for which we thank them wholeheartedly.

We also invited the irreplaceable: Order of Malta Ireland - Ambulance Corps - Athlone, Westmeath Fire Brigade, Roscommon Civil Defence

 Thank you for your support!

Many thanks to Mr Consul Maciej Wójcik and Ms Consul Aleksandra Wójcik for celebrating with us.

Thanks also to our Donors who donated prizes for the raffle:

1️⃣. Monksland Pharmacy Athlone,

2️⃣. Cunningham Pharmacy,

3️⃣. Rustic Roots Restaurant,

4️⃣. Suits District,

5️⃣. Lashes by Alicja,

6️⃣. Mary Kay,

7️⃣. Plywood Little Things

8️⃣. Izabella Wrombel.

Thanks to:

➡️ Jarek from 85DB Studio &Sound System Hire.

➡️ The Polish Song and Dance Ensemble "Koniczyna ".

➡️ The Night Wolves Airsoft Team.

➡️ The WWII Polish Reenactment Group.

➡️ Thanks to all the Children who took part in the Patriotic Song competition.

➡️ Thank you to Roscommon Volunteer Centre for helping us find Volunteers.

We would like to thank our special guests Anna Misiewicz and Malwina Lukaszewka who honoured us with their presence and made the time more special with their performance.

Finally, a big thank you to all the wonderful Volunteers and everyone involved in the preparation - without you we couldn't have done it! THANK YOU ❤️

Children's Day - Athlone 2023

LINK to photo gallery from the Children’s Day here

When a child laughs, the whole world laughs....

In Poland, Children's Day is celebrated every year, always on 1 June.

Traditionally, it is a day of fun and joy, day free from school activities - either a sports day or an excursion is held in schools on that day.

The Midlands Polish Community used this occasion to organise a Children's Day in Athlone on 4 June.. 

Beautiful and sunny weather, a variety of activities and games kept the smiles on the faces of the children who came to the Drum Community Centre with their whole families. 

We would like to thank everyone who contributed to making this day a successThe Polish Embassy in Dublin, Roscommon County Council, Roscommon Leader Partnership, Roscommon Creative Ireland as well as the Night Wolves Athlone Airsoft Team, Athlone Fire Brigade, Roscommon Civil Defence, Clonark Garda Station and Roscommon Volunteer Centre, Electro Direct and Janosik.

Special thanks to our wonderful Volunteers and Midlands Polish Community Members for their amazing commitment and support at every stage of the project. Without you we could not have done it. 

31st Grand Finale of Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity in Athlone 2022

The Grand Finale of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity is behind us. ❤ 

31st Grand Finale played on 29 January 2023 under the theme:

We want to beat sepsis!

We play for all – the little and the big ones!

It was a wonderful time for us, a time when together we tried to support this great cause.

Thanks to your support and generosity, we managed to raise as much as € 21,426.01!

Of course, this would not have been possible without you!

We would like to thank you all for the huge amount of support we received.

We would like to thank our wonderful Guests, Sponsors, Donors, Volunteers and everyone who donated a penny to our collection boxes.

Thank you for being with us!

See you next year!

Live stream: click here

Photos: click here

Little Santa 2022

St. Nicholas' Day, is a custom we celebrate in Poland on 6 December. 

During this time, on the night of 5-6 December, Santa visits children, giving them small presents, which are usually placed in their socks, under their pillows or in their shoes.

 To take inspiration from this very beautiful tradition, to spread the magic of Christmas, we also put our 'Little Santa' project into practice this year.

Our hard-working MPC Elves worked non-stop, allowing us to organise up to 240 parcels, which we donated to local organisations supporting families and children in the most vulnerable situations.

 In total, we managed to organise up to 240 boxes of treats which we donated to local organisations supporting the most vulnerable families and children.

The boxes went to Ken Smollen Food Appeal, Midlands Simon Community, Esker House Women's Refuge & Domestic Abuse Support Service, The Melting Pot - Roscommon and KS food appeal Longford team.

Many thanks to our wonderful Donors: Polish Embassy Dublin, Polska Strefa, Janosik Polish Grocery Athlone, Autoelectro.ie, Glamour Beauty SPA .

Without your help we would not have been able to do it. 

Our warm thanks also go to our wonderful Volunteers: Anna, Zosia, Weronika, Julka and Rafał and Maja with her family.

Thank you! You are amazing 

Polish Independence Day - Family Event 2022

National Independence Day in Poland is a significant day in the Polish calendar every year. It is a chance for nationwide remembrance and celebration. Families and friends come together to mark the occasion with food, music and traditional ceremonies. The day is an opportunity for the people of Poland to gather, commemorate the

anniversary of the restoration of Poland’s sovereignty and remember our shared history.

Midlands Polish Community CLG marked the occasion with a Family Picnic on Sunday, 6 November, at the Drum Community Centre, Athlone. Together with our guests, we celebrated this very special day for our community.

The programme included: an Independence Run for children (during which each participant received a commemorative medal), dance workshops for children, face painting, a traditional ribbons workshop and many other attractions for the whole family.

There was also a raffle with great prizes, vintage cars, a re-enactment group and delicious Polish food.

We are delighted that: Order of Malta Ireland - Ambulance Corps - Athlone, Athlone Fire Brigade, Roscommon Civil Defence and Custume Barracks Athlone - Army Armored Unit joined us on the day. We are very grateful for their continuous support.

Many thanks to our esteemed main Sponsors: the Polish Embassy in Dublin, Electro Direct of Athlone, Camlin Constructors LTD, SEDU Ireland.

Thanks also to our Donors who donated prizes for the raffle:

Ev Academy Beauty & Trichology, EXIT Athlone - Escape Rooms, Janosik Polish Grocery Athlone, Monksland Pharmacy Athlone, Cunningham Pharmacy, Cyber Sun Tanning & Beauty, Inksane Tattoo and Body Piercing Athlone, Suits District, Emilia Hair Salon Roscommon.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to all the wonderful Volunteers, we couldn't have done it without you!

To conclude, we would like to thank our very special guests: Anna Bystroń - Jajkiewicz and Anna Misiewicz, who honoured us with their presence.

Picnic Report: Click Here

Photos: HERE

Trad & Classical Music for Ukrainian Appeal

Last Sunday Midlands Polish Community CLG held a "Trad & Classical Music" charity concert in Athlone. All proceeds from ticket sales will go to support Ukraine. Probably everyone who attended the concert will agree with us that it was an extraordinary and moving time. On stage we could see artists from Ukraine as well as Irish artists who graced the event with their presence.

Midlands Polish Community CLG would like to sincerely thank to Westmeath County Council, Foroige Athlone, Association of Ukrainians in Republic of Ireland , Music From Your Heart , Ukrainian Emeralds, Slava Ukraini, Donal Keigher Piano, Comhaltas Longford, Sergiy Balan Ukrainians in Cavan, Natalia Bumblauskiene, Hannah Barry, Andriy Blyznyuk, Amalia Shmyhovska.

Concert coverage: Here

More pictures: HERE

International Children`s Day

We would like to invite all children and parents to call in to Drum Community Centre, Athlone on Sunday 5th June to celebrate together International Children's Day!

Start at 1pm!

It is an event open to everyone and everyone is more than welcome to attend and have fun – especially children, naturally!

Great range of different attractions are already booked like, carousel, bouncy castle, gaming van, exploration dome, science show, obstacle course and lots more!

There will be food stalls, ice cream, coffee van and other delights!

This ‘International Children’s Day – Family Day’ is supported by the Community Integration Fund from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

The entry and car park is free however €10 wristband will be required to avails of some ‘special attractions’ for children – all funds collected on the day will support partial renovation of Drum Community Centre which will be delivered by Midlands Polish Community CLG later on during the year.

Family event not to be missed!

All welcome to come and enjoy!

Check out: Attractions

International Women's Day

On Saturday 12th of March 2022 we celebrated International Women's Day in Longford.

It was a very special event where we had the opportunity to meet representatives of local authorities and many beautiful guests from different nationalities and communities.

Many of us can agree that, that night was magnificent and magical.

We also had a chance to watch few wonderful performances like: A Ukraine group, Irish Dancing, a Polish Singer Malwina, Irish fiddles, Pakistan Singer and a Slovakian band.

Thank you to all those who came to be with us.

More photos: see here

HERE is the report from the event

#internationalwomensday2022 #Saturday #fantasticday #fantasticpeople❤️

30th Grand Finale of Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity in Athlone 2022

The GOCC Grand Final is behind us.

It was a great time, a time when we worked side by side to support this wonderful cause.

This year we were collecting money for children's ophthalmology.

Thanks to you we managed to raise as much as € 24.589,77

We would like to thank you all for such a huge amount of support.

Thank you to our wonderful guests, sponsors, donors, volunteers and everyone who threw a penny into our cans.

We hope that next year we can count on you too!

Thank you and see you next year!

See more: here

More photos: here

Let's live it again !