Emer's photographic exhibition captures the essence of 'Lovely Laois' in Mountmellick Community Arts Centre
Ger and Sheila Lynch, Lorraine Strang Jerry Dunbar, Heather Rice Singer and curator of the exhibition Emer Dunne, Michael Feely and harpist Alanah Conroy pictured at the launch in Mountmellick Community Arts Centre
WHEN Irish folk singer, storyteller, musician and accomplished Irish dancer Emer Dunne packed for America, Lovely Laois travelled with her in the form of 22 super photographs by 14 local photographers alongside her songs and stories to promote her native county as a tourist destination to US audiences.
With a laptop, a portable projector and wonderful photographs of her home county the Mountmellick star gave audiences across the Atlantic a glimpse of places many had never heard of. Emer has now brought those images home to Mountmellick Community Arts Centre’s newly opened gallery space, where they are on display.
On Thursday 15 October more than 80 people gathered in a celebration of music, photography and local pride at the centre for the formal launch of the collection from photographers Andrea Mulhall, Eddie Bond, Alice Owens, Lorraine Strang, Paul Lalor, Heather Rice, Gilly Guilfoyle, Goran Grah, Dominic Reddin, Terry Conroy, Ryan Veitch, Susan Laverty, Anne Byrne and Charlie White.
Aptly titled 'Capturing Lovely Laois', the exhibition gathers a masterful collection of photographs of well-known places across the county. The photographs became backdrops to Emer’s US performances, turning a little piece of home on tour into a project connecting artists, audiences and communities on both sides of the ocean.
The idea took shape after Emer fulfilled a childhood dream with her first American tour in November 2025. Meeting Irish American diaspora members and other audiences, she discovered that many knew little about Laois. A return to New York with the Laois County Council delegation for the St Patrick’s Day celebrations in March 2026 waving her blue-and-white county flag in the parade and performing in Times Square strengthened her determination to change that.
Emer told the Laois Nationalist that she wanted to find another way of bringing a little piece of Laois with her when performing abroad. She said: “I thought it would be lovely to showcase the work of local photographers and allow audiences to experience some of the beauty and heritage of our county.” Ahead of her second US tour in June this year Emer contacted photography clubs, individual photographers and community contacts. The response brought a wealth of landscapes, landmarks and heritage sites, each seen through a different lens. Supported by Creative Ireland Laois through the Heritage Through Arts Scheme and the arts centre where she volunteers, the project began its journey from local cameras to American stages.
Emer said: “Selecting the photographs for the exhibition was such a challenge. Each of the photographers could do an exhibition in their own right. We just wanted to show a small sample and a variety of places and to include everybody who submitted work.” While welcoming guests, arts centre chairman Michael Feely acknowledged the photographers and organisers and recalled the venue’s long history of entertainment and community activity. Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council Catherine Fitzgerald welcomed the promotion of the county at home and abroad, describing Laois as a “hidden treasure” and encouraging people to use the centre and its “wonderful exhibition space.” Creative Laois community engagement officer David Broderick put aside his prepared speech after seeing the photographs, choosing instead to speak about their colour, creativity and connection with the diaspora. Officially launching the exhibition, he expressed the hope that the images would encourage people to visit the places pictured. He said that “It was a lovely way to bring parts of the county abroad.” Behind the photographs was another story of care and community effort. Emer recalled standing beside Bryan Fergus of B. Fergus Photos in his Main Street shop in Portlaoise as he fine-tuned the prints for display.
Emer thanked everyone who attended the launch, the entire arts centre team, the volunteers who were serving wine at the launch, harpist Alanah Conroy, Cathaoirleach Catherine Fitzgerald, David Broderick, Michael Feely, Ger and Fiona Lynch, David Broderick and everyone involved, while acknowledging the years of voluntary work that have shaped the theatre and its newly refurbished exhibition space.
Planned workshops and interactive sessions will bring local young people into the space by inviting secondary-school students and music classes to explore Laois heritage, ask Emer about life as a touring musician and share their own music and creative ambitions. The aim is to turn a celebration of the county into an invitation to discover it.
Emer suggested that people could find unique personal Christmas presents with a local connection at the exhibition. She said: “It’s about celebrating where we come from, supporting each other’s creativity and recognising the wonderful talent we have here in our own county.” Then Emer said she was recovering from a chest infection but she picked up her guitar to conclude the launch with an intimate cover of Christy Cullen’s Lovely Laois, inviting the audience to sing along. After a journey from Laois to New York and back again, the evening ended with the county celebrated not just in photographs, but in song.
The exhibition is open to the public and is definitely worth visiting. Visitors interested in purchasing photographs can obtain the photographer’s contact details through the organisers. Mountmellick Community Arts Centre can be found on social media and contacted by phoning 057 8697600.
