Abbeyleix Womens Development Group

Formed in 1999, Abbeyleix Women’s Development Group is a socially inclusive group promoting the benefits of women becoming pro-active in their community. Among the aims of the group are the encouragement of early school leavers back to education and the provision of affordable childcare.

The Women’s Development Group was one of the first groups to receive funding under the Department of Justice Equality and Law Reform Childcare programme 2000 – 2006 allowing the group to establish non- profit community crèche.   The People in need Telethon prompted the Abbeyleix Women’s Development Group to undertake an ambitious project commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Abbeyleix Carpet Factory. The production of the longest piece of hand-tufted carpet in the world grabbed the imagination of diverse groups in the community and beyond. The Women’s Development Group found themselves co-ordinating schools, resource centres, asylum support groups, midland prisoner groups, district hospitals, local businesses and a wide circle of enthusiastic individual efforts that combined to complete this ingenious project. The group published a book in 2008 entitled “Abbeyleix Our Town Our Lives” with reflections from various townspeople over the years.

Contact: Mary White

Email: info@abbeyleixheritagetown.com