Day of free creativity for Laois children and young people

TO CELEBRATE Criunniú na nÓg, the national day of creativity for children and young people, Laois le Chéile festival will be held in Portlaoise on Saturday 7 June.

The all-inclusive, free-to-attend community multicultural, inter-generational festival will be held on the grounds of Laois Music Centre from 1pm to 6pm and presented by Music Generation Laois.

Activities will include music and craft workshops, open-mic, musical performances by Laois Community Choir and Music Generation Laois Primary School Singers with special guest, the renowned Galway singer Seán Keane.

Children and young people from many of the Music Generation Laois programmes will perform, including DP Kidz from Portlaoise and Abbeyleix, Bass Brothers (a partnership project with Laois Traveller Action Group), Malva Ukrainian Choir, Bells Ukrainian Children's Choir and MGL Junior Harp Ensemble.

Workshops for younger children include Ta Tum Tum – a Brazilian rhythm interactive music event for younger children; Inisowiacy – a Polish music workshop for children aged three to 13 (Inisowiacy will also perform on the Le Chéile stage) and a dance workshop with Anne Kiesel for children age eight to 13. World Percussion workshops will take place with Eddie O’Neill, and Colm Phelan from Goitse will host bodhrán workshops. All instruments supplied for workshops are open to beginners and all level of musicians. Free crafting will also take place from 1pm to 3pm.

Laois Le Chéile will end the festival with a céilí mór for all ages, which will be led by ceilí master Maureen Culleton.