The Ronnie Matthews Archive Collection
Laois County Library Service is delighted to continue work is commencing on the conservation and archiving of the Ronnie Mathews Archive Collection. The collection, acquired in 2021 by Laois County Council, was compiled by the late Ronnie Mathews, a well-known and highly respected local historian and author from Portarlington. More…
Laois Local Studies Digital Archive
Laois Local Studies was established to collect, preserve and make available for reference, material relating to the history and heritage of County Laois. It is home to the Laois Collection, a specialist collection on the local, social, political, economic and geographic history of the county. More…
Location Scouting in Laois
As part of the development of the screen sector in Laois, producer Leeona Duff and Katherine Foyle from Up on Blue Bridge Productions are location scouting in the county. Details here.
Laois Screen Sector Networking Event
Dunamaise Arts Centre Sunday, October 23, 2:00pm – 5:00pm. Details here.
Creativity in Older Age
Creativity in Older Age is a multifaceted initiative that engages with artists in Laois (ages 55+). For details on each part of this year’s programme, click the links below.
Creativity in Older Age 2022 – ‘Activations – Laois Arts’ details
Creativity in Older Age 2022 – Talking Art Programme details
Creativity in Older Age 2022 – Dunamaise Arts Centre
Mountmellick Swift Mural
Laois Heritage Officer Catherine Casey; Ricky Whelan from BirdWatch Ireland; Artist James Kirwan and Ann Lawlor, Project Manager Creative Ireland Laois at the launch of Mountmellick’ mural celebrating Ireland’s Swift (Apus apus) by street artist James Kirwan. Mountmellick is a stronghold within County Laois for these charismatic and threatened birds. Supported by Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme, in partnership with Laois County Council Heritage Office, and BirdWatch Ireland.
Creativity in Older Age – Fadó Faces
Creativity in Older Age Laois 2022 is a partnership initiative between Laois Arts Office and Dunamaise Arts Centre celebrates older generations through creativity. It is a collaboration with Healthy Ireland Laois and Laois Age Friendly Alliance. More….
Laois Short Film Bursary Winner 2022
The Laois Short Film Bursary of €10,000 has been awarded to Songway Films for their short film The Light Within. The film is a supernatural tale set in Rosenallis, Queen’s County, (Co. Laois) in 1780 where Lydia, a teenager must defy her Quaker upbringing to save her ailing younger sister. This is the first film to dramatize Quaker culture in Ireland. Principal Photography commences in the Autumn. More…
Community and Voluntary Awards 2022
The Laois Culture & Creativity team consisting of Arts, Heritage, Libraries, Housing and Community Sections, the Dunamaise Arts Centre, Music Generation Laois, and LOETB’s Local Creative Youth Partnership are sponsoring the Arts, Culture & Heritage category in the 13th Annual Laois Community & Voluntary Awards 2022. More…
“Bearings” Residency
Laois artist, Deborah Corcoran’s initiative Bearings is a collaborative response – residency that engages with ‘sense of place’ and the parameters of working on a farm in Laois. More…
Children’s Song Commission
Music Generation Laois have commissioned composer Lorna McLaughlin to create a suite of 5 songs for and with children, ages 8-12, in 3 Laois Primary Schools: Rath NS, Paddock NS, and Cloneyhurke NS. The children’s voices and ideas will be central to the development of these new songs. More…
Music Rich Schools 2022
For 2022, the Music Rich schools programme is operating in Mountmellick Girls School – weekly tin whistle classes; Mountmellick Boy’s School – weekly bodhran classes; and in Scoil Bhride Knockmay in Portlaoise – ukulele classes; with each school receiving a visit from the Bandwagon, MG Laois’s Mobile Music vehicle. More…
Story Stroll 2022
Erika McGann’s book, Wee Donkey’s Treasure Hunt is available as a ‘story stroll’ in playgrounds and parks across Laois in summer 2022. Pages of the book on boards are displayed and families can walk around our green spaces – reading this beautiful publication at the same time! More…
Pupils from the Rock N.S Mountmelllick all smiles at the Laois Library’s Launch of this summers “Storybook Stroll” at the Playground in Mountmellick Photo Credit Denis Byrne
Laois Short Film Bursary: Superhuman
Click here for detail of the filming and premiere of the Laois Short Film Bursary Award Winner “Superhuman”.
Cruinniu na nOg 2022
Click here for all details of Cruinniu na nOg in June 2022.
“Home Stories”
A new limited podcast series with writer and broadcaster Manchán Magan on the homelands & cultures of Direct Provision residents in Co Laois. More details here.
Know Your Locality Course
This successful online and in person course on local heritage and history was completed in March 2022.
More details here.
Studying an archaeological artefact on a field trip at the Rock of Dunamase looking at the geology, landscape, archaeology and history as part of Know Your Locality. Supported by Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme (2017-2022) in partnership with Laois County Council.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
In Trust. In Gratitude. In Hope. Celebrating 10 years at The Laois Arthouse
Laois County Council Arts Office is pleased to present In Trust. In Gratitude. In Hope. 10 Years at the Laois Arthouse, an exhibition featuring the work of over 60 artists who have been part of the Laois Arthouse programme since its establishment in 2011. Open to the public and school & special group visits until Fri 27 May.
More details here
Pupil from 4th Class, St. Colmans NS Stradbally, on her visit to Laois Arthouse 10th Anniversary Exhibition “In Trust. In Gratitude. In Hope”. Photo: Michael Scully
Till Something Moves…
A roundtable event hosted by Laois Arts Office as part of the Laois Arthouse 10th year anniversary exhibition In Trust. In Gratitude. In Hope. and will take place at the Laois Arthouse and Library on Sat 12 March, 2pm-5pm. More details here.
Artist Lisa Fingleton with her work; Muireann Ni Chonaill, Laois Arts Officer; Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council Conor Bergin; Poet Pat Boran; Sinead O’Reilly, Arts Council and Curator Monica Flynn at the opening of “In Trust. In Hope. In Gratitude.” an exhibition celebrating 10 years at The Laois Arthouse. Supported by Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme in partnership with Laois County Council and the Arts Council.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Call out for Artists for Laois Festival of Flight (Thurs April 7 – Sun April 10, 2022)
Laois County Council Heritage Office and Creative Ireland Laois are programming a series of workshops for Laois Festival of Flight in Portlaoise. We are seeking artists that work in a range of diverse media to design, manage and deliver workshops that will inspire children & young people to creatively and imaginatively respond to the theme of ‘flight’.
The Festival of Flight is organised by the Col James Fitzmaurice Commemoration Committee in partnership with Laois Heritage Society, Music Generation Laois, Dunamaise Arts Centre, and Midlands Science.
Application details here
Know Your Locality Course
Laois Heritage Office is delighted to offer a FREE online course delivered by Irish Heritage School in March 2022, and will take you step-by-step through the available online sources that will allow you to paint a picture of the geological, archaeological, and historical events that happened close to where you live. Details here.
Stephen Mandal, Irish Heritage School leading a field trip at the Rock of Dunamase looking at the geology, landscape, archaeology and history as part of Know Your Locality. Supported by Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme (2017-2022) in partnership with Laois County Council.
Picture: Alf Harvey.