Behind the lens with Abbeyleix Vitality Hub
Liz Kennedy, Abbeyleix Vitality Hub coordinator with photographer Alf Harvey, David Broderick, Creative Ireland Laois and Mary Egan, Abbeyleix Vitality Hub chairperson at the Abbeyleix Vitality Hub group photography exhibition, showcasing works from creative encounters with Abbeyleix Heritage by participants guided in Photography with Alf Harvey. Photo: Julie Harvey
OVER the past five weeks, Abbeyleix Vitality Hub has been running a photography course with established photographer Alf Harvey.
The course titled ‘Creative encounter with Abbeyleix Heritage’ was funded by Creative Ireland, administered by Laois County Council.
Throughout the five weeks, the group visited Abbeyleix and learned how to photograph both the built and natural heritage of this fabulous historic town. They then took a visit to Portlaoise and learned how to photograph people and places at the Youth Electric Music event.
A trip to Abbeyleix Bog explored how to photograph the unique features of the bog. Finally, time was spent in Fr Breen Park, home to Abbeyleix Vitality Hub, where time was spent photographing all the Park has to offer. The group were blessed with beautiful weather and fabulous summer evenings.
An all-of-government culture and wellbeing programme, the Creative Ireland Programme is administered through local authorities and is supported by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport.
Creative Ireland’s ambition is to inspire and transform people, places and communities through creativity. In Laois, a Sense of Place is the overarching theme in which culture and creativity are recognised as integral to life within the county, with multi-faceted portals for everyone to become involved in creativity and culture, as initiators and innovators as well as participants and audiences.
A photographic exhibition of the results was opened by David Broderick of Creative Ireland, Laois County Council, at the Abbeyleix Vitality Hub on 6 August.
