Free Festive celebrations at Emo Court this weekend

THE Office of Public Works is opening Emo Court to the public for festive Christmas events on Saturday and Sunday 14 and 15 December.

Visitors will have the opportunity of a free tour of some of the ground floor rooms following their refurbishments.

The rooms are presented in the style of the late 1700s and early 1800s when the Portarlington family resided there.

The tours come ahead of the planned re-opening of Emo Court to visitors from next Spring.

The ground floor interior will be beautifully decorated for Christmas where visitors will be able to enjoy festive music as they walk through the house.

The grounds and formal gardens, which visitors are free to explore, will be also transformed into a magical winter wonderland.

You are invited along to join in the festive fun, food, beverages and musical entertainment to enjoy.

The events on Saturday 14 December begin at 1pm with 11 harpists from Music Generation Laois performing in the dining room. A Ukrainian choir will perform from 2pm. At 3pm there will be a piano recital by Dr Fulham as he takes us back to the many memories of parties held in Emo Court and his time with Major Cholmeley Harrison. The Ukrainian choir will finish off the day’s events with a second performance from 4pm.

Sunday’s events begin at 2pm with another performance by the Ukrainian choir at 2pm. At 3pm pianist from the Laois School of Music Tatyana Vykhodtesva will give a performance in the drawing room. Then at 4pm there will be a grand finale performance by the Timahoe Male Choir.