Laois County Council Arts have partnered with the Dunamaise Arts Centre and Laois Library Service to present a selection of creative projects during the month of May celebrating the Laois Bealtaine Festival for older people. We invite people of an older age to join in some of the wonderful events that are happening in Laois for the Bealtaine Festival 2023.  In(ter)dependence is the theme for 2023.

Pictured for the Launch of the Laois Bealtaine Festival Programme 2023 were David O’Hara Senior Planner, Laois County Council, Diane Seale Laois Assistant Arts Officer, Angela McEvoy Director of Services, Laois County Council, Muireann Ni Chonaill Laois Arts Officer, P.J Kelly Leas Cathaoirleach, Bernie Foran Laois County Librarian. Photo Denis Byrne

Join Eileen Casey for a Memoir Writing Workshop on Monday 8^th, 15^th, 22^nd and 29th May from 11:00am – 1:00pm at Laois Arthouse, Stradbally. ‘Digging’ memoir workshops are geared towards unearthing personal or family history treasures. Mining past lives helps to illuminate and revitalise our own precious life story. Each session will be facilitated in a relaxing, enjoyable and thought provoking way. The various types of memoir will be explored together with important memoir elements such as identifying timeline, bringing scenes and characters to life and how to avoid that familiar tyranny – too much information. Triggers and prompts throughout the duration of the course ensures that stories which might otherwise be lost in the mists of time, will breathe again. Fee: €5 per session or €15 for four sessions. Booking is essential and fees to be paid in advance. Contact Laois County Council Cash Office – 05786 74308 for payment.

Book your free place for a workshop on Socially Engaged Arts with Older People taking place on Wednesday 17th May, 11:00am to 4:00pm. The training session, led by Sarah Thornton, will focus on understanding and delivering best practice when working creatively with older people.  It will share ideas drawn from the latest research and practice in the fields of ageing creatively, arts and health, and socially engaged arts.

There are many events taking place at the Dunamiase Arts Centre throughout May for Bealtaine. All events in the Dunamiase Arts Centre can be booked on the Dunamiase Arts Centre website www.dunamaise.ie  or ring the box office 057 866 3355

Arts Officer and Creative Ireland Laois Coordinator Muireann Ní Chonaill said; “we are delighted together with our colleagues in the county to bring a varied programme celebrating creativity in older age. This year’s Bealtaine Festival promises great variety to choose from and we hope people enjoy it.”

P.J Kelly Leas Cathaoirleach & Muireann Ni Chonaill Laois Arts Officer browsing the Laois Bealtaine Festival Programme for 2023. Photo Denis Byrne

A wide ranging programme of events also taking place at Laois Libraries as well as lifestyle and  wellbeing events run by Laois Sports Partnership.

Full programme available here. 

For more information contact:  Muireann Ni Chonaill, Arts Officer & Diane Seale, Acting Assistant Arts Officer. T:  057 868 9386 E:  artsoff@laoiscoco.ie.

Pictured for the Launch of the Laois Bealtaine Festival Programme 2023 were David O’Hara Senior Planner, Laois Co Co
Diane Seale Laois Assistant Arts Officer, Bernie Foran Laois County Librarian, Angela McEvoy Director of Services, Laois County Council. Photo Denis Byrne

The Arts Office of Laois County Council is hosting a four-week memoir writing course with Eileen Casey at Laois Arthouse, Stradbally. The course runs for four Mondays in May; 8^th, 15^th, 22^nd and 29^th from 11:00am to 1:00pm as part of the Bealtaine Festival.

Bealtaine is Ireland’s national festival which celebrates the arts and creativity as we age. Age & Opportunity Arts provides opportunities for older people to be more creative more often and to create meaningful participation.

Join Eileen Casey for a Memoir Writing: Writer as Archaeologist Workshop. ‘Digging’ memoir workshops are geared towards unearthing personal or family history treasures. Mining past lives helps to illuminate and revitalise our own precious life story. Each session will be facilitated in a relaxing, enjoyable and thought provoking way. The various types of memoir will be explored together with important memoir elements such as identifying timeline, bringing scenes and characters to life and how to avoid that familiar tyranny – too much information. Triggers and prompts throughout the duration of the course ensures that stories which might otherwise be lost in the mists of time, will breathe again.

Eileen Casey who is originally from the Midlands and is currently based in South Dublin. Her poetry, prose and short fiction are widely published in anthologies by Dedalus, Crannóg, New Island, Arlen House, Faber & Faber, The Nordic Irish Studies Journal, Ireland of the Welcomes, among others.

A Hennessy Award Winner (Emerging Fiction) and a Patrick and Katherine Kavanagh Poetry Fellowship recipient, memoir pieces are anthologised in ‘A Fascination with Fabric’ (Arlen House), The Irish Times, ‘Portrait of a County’ (New Island) and broadcast on Sunday Miscellany (RTÉ).  ‘Black Ball Gown’ (memoir poem) featured as a short film by Paris based artists Cleary/Connolly.

She received a number of  Arts Council Awards together with commissions from County Offaly Arts. She holds an M.A. (Creative Writing) from The Oscar Wilde Centre, The School of English, Trinity College, Dublin.

Booking Details:

Limited spaces booking is essential. Fees to be paid in advance. Fee: €5 per session or €15 for four sessions

Contact Laois County Council Cash Office – 05786 74308 for payment. Please quote: Bealtaine Memoir Writing workshop.

Cash Office Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 9.30am – 3.30pm.

Full Laois Bealtaine 2023 programme can be found here . 

For further information: Email: artsoff@laoiscoco.ie or ring 057 868 9386

Laois County Council Arts & Libraries are planning a diverse range of programming during the coming year.

They wish to invite submissions from arts and cultural facilitators and producers seeking to join a panel for programming during 2023/24.

Programming could take place during Bealtaine, Cruinniú na nÓg, Culture Night, Leaves Festival of Writing & Music or as part of other programming.

Facilitators for the panel may be chosen to deliver workshops, specialist talks, storytelling, and other tailored events to children, adults, and specialist groups. We welcome events held through Irish, English and other languages.

They are seeking facilitators in the following areas:

• STEAM activities such as Coding, Robotics, Fun Science, Virtual Reality, Electronics, and Creative Technologies.
• Literacy-focused activities including storytelling, poetry readings, drama, author talks, and creative writing. Activities aimed at specialist groups, e.g. dyslexia friendly, sensory stories etc
• Activities can also focus on Technology, development of skills in use of new technologies including: 3D Design, Audio Recording & Editing, Image Editing, Video Recording & Editing, Virtual Reality and Smartphone photography.
• Film / Visual Art / Music – performances and workshops
• Climate Change: Events raising awareness of climate change, as well as talks and workshops with an emphasis on the practical side, such as gardening and up-cycling workshops.
• Creativity: Wide range of activities that encourages and develops creativity in all ages.
• Age Friendly: Activities and events that ensure the voices of older people are represented and promote the wellbeing and quality of life of all citizens and communities.
• Youth Theatre: facilitators interested in delivering weekly workshops
• Wellbeing: Workshops and events with a focus on health and wellbeing, including but not limited to mindfulness, yoga, and play therapy.
• Live performance: music, drama, puppetry and spectacle shows for children young people and adults.

Specify which languages you can present your programme eg English, Irish, Ukrainian etc.

Where working with children, compliance is essential with appropriate legislation with regards to Health and Safety and Children First.

To be considered for the panel, please fill out the application form below and email the completed application form to  artsoff@laoiscoco.ie

Application Form:

Call out for Facilitators 2023 Application Form

Deadline for expressions of interest:

Friday 21st April 2023

The Laois Arthouse, Stradbally, Co Laois, are delighted to present Spontaneous People / Spontaneous Paintings.

This two-person exhibition which opened recently, brings together works by artists Diana Chambers and Seamus Morton. The exhibition is curated by Dominic Thorpe. The exhibition opened on Saturday April 1^st and runs to Friday 28^th April.

The word ‘spontaneous’ refers to the impulse, instinct and natural feeling that fuels the work of both Chambers and Morton. The works presented in Spontaneous People / Spontaneous Paintings also demonstrate the deep curiosity and expression of two artists dedicated to art practice.

Diana Chambers works from the KCAT studio in Callan Kilkenny. She is a prolific painter who addresses a range of subject matter from portraiture to landscape to everyday scenarios and objects. She has shown in several exhibitions including at the West Cork Arts Centre, Riverbank Arts Centre, Galleria Art Kaarisilta Helsinki, and Farmleigh House Dublin.

“We are delighted to bring together these artists for this unique exhibition. The reaction to the art works by the public has been extraordinary and we look forward to welcoming many visitors to the exhibition over the coming weeks,” commented Muireann Ní Chonaill, Arts Officer.

Seamus Morton works from his studio at Erkina House Rathdowney Co. Laois. He has developed a substantial body of work, including portraiture, landscape, and still life. He has exhibited his work in several exhibitions, including a sell-out solo show at Áras an Chontae, Laois County Council, Portlaoise, Dunamaise Arts Centre, and currently has work on display in the Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise.

Dr. Dominic Thorpe is an Irish visual artist and curator. He has shown extensively, including at the Bangkok Cultural Centre, Performance Space London, Galway

Arts Centre, the Golden Thread Gallery Belfast, and SASA Gallery Adelaide. Thorpe frequently engages with inclusion and education-based initiatives and has work in several public collections in Ireland, including the collection of the Arts Council of Ireland.

The exhibition was opened by Pádraig Naughton. Pádraig Naughton became Executive Director of Arts & Disability Ireland in 2005.  Working strategically in partnership with the arts sector ADI champions the creativity of artists with disabilities and promotes inclusive experiences for audiences with disabilities.  In 2022 Pádraig graduated with an LLM in International & Comparative Disability Law & Policy from the University of

Galway, also that same year The Kennedy Center, Washington D.C., recognized his lifetime achievement with an Excellence in Accessibility Leadership Award.

Exhibition Tour

An exhibition tour by Diana Chambers, Seamus Morton and Curator Dominic Thorpe, takes place on Thursday 20^th April at 12.30pm in the Gallery, Laois Arthouse, Stradbally. Light refreshments will be served. Booking for this event is advisable at the artsoff@laoiscoco.ie  T: 057-8689386

Price List:

Click here for the Price List.