A major new publication on the Rock of Dunamase “The High Fortress” edited by Peigin Doyle and published by Wordwell Books was published in Portlaoise last night (23rd November 2022). Launching the book, Cllr Thomasina Connell, Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council said “A special site like this, deserves a very […]
For one day in 1903, a sporting event took place in Ireland which not only profoundly altered the future of that sport worldwide, but also had a lasting impact on both Irish sport and society. The race was the International Gordon Bennett Cup race, carried out on newly repaired, and […]
The 2023 Community Monuments Fund has been launched by Malcolm Noonan, Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform. €6 million will be invested in next year’s Community Monuments Fund helping owners and custodians of archaeological monuments to safeguard them into the future. The Community Monuments Fund was first established […]
Laois has brought home two major awards at the National Heritage Week Awards Ceremony organised by the Heritage Council, in Dublin today (20th October) Teddy Fennelly from Portlaoise has been named Ireland’s national Heritage Hero for 2022. Teddy has been an advocate and enthusiast for local history and heritage […]
Over €63,000 funding for biodiversity projects in Laois has been announced by Minister Malcolm Noonan through the Local Biodiversity Action Fund. The Laois Wetland Survey continues this year, with field survey underway by consultant ecologists Wetland Surveys Ireland of these crucially important sites for biodiversity and climate change. The […]
Launch of mural in Mountmellick celebrating Swifts for Laois Culture Night For Culture Night Laois on Friday, September 23rd, Creative Ireland Laois, Laois County Council Heritage Office and BirdWatch Ireland launch a street mural by artist, James Kirwan to celebrate Ireland’s threatened Swift (Apus apus). The mural is located at […]
New training programme for artists and creative practitioners. Creative Ireland Laois in collaboration with Recreate Ireland are seeking eight creative practitioners from Laois to participate in a new Creative Sustainability training programme focussed on the ethos and practices of ReCreate Ireland. Open to professional practicing artists and creative workers currently […]
The 2021 Laois Short Film Bursary was awarded to Swandive Productions for their short film Superhuman. The film explores universal themes, with a micro lens on para-athletics and being black and living in Ireland. After being rejected from professional football and diagnosed with a degenerative eye disease, an African-Irish secondary […]
Voluntary group recognised for work at Old St Peter’s Graveyard The committee of Portlaoise Tidy Towns working in partnership with Laois County Council has received an award from the Adopt Monument Scheme of the Heritage Council, in recognition of their tremendous work in the conservation of Old St Peter’s Graveyard […]
A major new plan to guide the conservation and presentation of the 16th Century Fort Protector at the heart of Portlaoise has been launched. The plan, which was created in a partnership between Laois Heritage Society and Laois County Council, with the support of the Heritage Council, builds upon several […]
There is a huge range of events registered for National Heritage Week 2022 (13 – 21 August 2022), and everyone in Laois is being encouraged to take part. Laois Events The event guide for Laois is now available to download, and hard copies will be in Laois Branch Libraries […]
The Heritage offices of Laois, Carlow and Kildare County Councils, working with video makers Bailey and Blake, are looking for the memories from local families about the famous Gordon Bennett motor race of 1903. This was the first ever international sporting race in Ireland, which brought the biggest ever […]
