A NEW spark is lighting up the creative heart of Laois and it’s coming from the Dunamaise Arts Centre as the county’s cultural and creative hub recently welcomed its new chief executive officer - Ciara O’Connell.

A full and vibrant programme of readings, talks, music, film and spoken word will take place over 4 days and nights

Laois Connects Health and Wellbeing Programme takes place from Monday to Sunday 6 to 12 October. 

THE Dunamaise Arts Centre was a beehive of activity on Saturday 6 September as the popular Clothes Swap event took place which included the new addition of a children’s clothes swap while an art exhibition by talented Carlow-based artist Mary Cullen ...

YOUNG musicians from Laois, Offaly and across Northern Ireland took to the stage of the Dunamaise Arts Centre, on Saturday 20 September, performing original songs from a creative cross-border music project, presented by Music Generation Laois.

Seán Ronayne - ‘Nature Boy’ - is a wildlife sound-recordist, award-winning author and environmental activist.

FOR many Laois people, myself included, the annual Old Fort Quarter festival serves as the official launch of the summer festival season. The Quarter in question is the area of Portlaoise in which the original ‘Fort of Maryborough’ was situated.

IN a remarkable fusion of music and theatre, which revives the legacy of Canada’s renowned singer/songwriter, author and poet Leonard Cohen, playwrights John MacKenna and Angela Keogh are bringing their show At War with Mercy to the Dunamaise Arts ...

AN amazing 30-acre plot near Portlaoise where Brendan Guinan, owner of Fiorbhia Farm, works without the use chemical fertilisers, sprays or antibiotics to produce minimally processed nutrient-rich food that’s sold directly to local families.

Students from Scoil Chríost Rí, Portlaoise took to the stage, at the Dunamaise Arts Centre, last week with their production of the hit show Mama Mia- The Musical.

FOR over 20 years, Access Cinema has partnered with the Irish Film Institute to organise a May film tour where screenings nationwide coincide with the Bealtaine Festival.

FOURTH Wall Theatre Group are busy rehearsing for their upcoming stage production of the Bernard Farrell play ‘I do not like you Dr. Fell.

THE first of the Portlaoise Spotlight Sessions took place in Dunamaise Arts Centre recently.

Tickets are priced at €8/€5 concession and can be purchased from the Dunamaise Arts Centre website on www.dunamaise.ie or by phoning 057 86 63355.

MEMBERS of the Fourth Wall Theatre Group are busy rehearsing for their upcoming stage production of the Bernard Farrell play ‘I do not like you Dr. Fell.

THE recent Clothes Swap and Sustainable Fashion event at the Dunamaise Arts Centre, Portlaoise was a great success, with ever-increasing numbers taking advantage of the eco-fashion initiative.

THEATRE lovers in Laois are in for a 'fasten-your-seatbelt' performance from renowned Irish actor Don Wycherley when he takes to the stage at the Dunamaise Arts Centre for a one-man play titled Paddy: The Life and Times of Paddy Armstrong on ...

TRANISITION Year students from Portlaoise College lit up the stage in the Dunamaise Arts Centre with a fantastic production of Grease last week.

A LARGE crowd gathered for an exhibition co-curated by an Athy man David Delaney at the Dunamaise Arts Centre on Friday 7 February. They gathered to celebrate the launch of 12, an exhibition exploring the complexities of addiction and recovery.

CHIRAL, described as Ireland’s most dangerous rock band, are preparing to tear down the walls of convention between performers and audience at the Dunamaise Arts Centre to induce alternative music fans into a world of sonic and visual spectacularism ...

TRANSITION YEAR students at Portlaoise College are all set to take to the stage with their production of the hit musical Grease. The play is directed by teachers Mr Whelehan and Mr Hogan, with choreography by Niamh Ahern.

COMEDIAN Norma Sheahan’s new stand-up comedy show It’s Wine O’Clock is selling out in theatres around the country and her racy over-18s revue is coming to the Dunamaise Arts Centre, Portlaoise on Friday 28 February.

€180,000 was allocated to the project.

Through a range of media, the exhibition aims to challenge stigma, spark conversation, and offer insight into the complexities of addiction.

A SUPER night of stories, questions and answers and even a guided meditation session took place in the Dunamaise Arts Centre just before Christmas, when actor Robert Sheehan from Portlaoise returned to his beloved childhood stage to be interviewed ...

THE first ever cook book compiled by members of the Laois Traveller Action Group (LTAG) will be launched on Tuesday 17 December.

This week’s Laois Nationalist is available to purchase from your local shop or online.

THE Dunamaise Arts Centre held its first Christmas Market on the last weekend of November.

RENOWNED actor and author Robert Sheehan returns to where it all began – the Dunamaise Arts Centre – for a fundraising event for the theatre on Friday 20 December.

The Dunamaise Arts Centre has announced its first Christmas Market, bringing together a curated selection of local artists, makers, and more to celebrate the holiday season.

The shows take place in the Dunamaise Arts Centre, Portlaoise from Saturday 16 to Saturday 23 November.

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The Laois Nationalst is availbe to purchase from today Tuesday 22 October.

SIGHTLESS Cinema returns to the Dunamaise Arts Centre, Portlaoise on Thursday 17 October following the huge success of the visually-impaired group’s hilarious comedy show ***Blind Panic*** last year.