President Higgins praises Lovely Laois Homecoming Festival
Maura and Eddie Phelan, Joe Phelan, Tim Conroy, Billy Morrissey, Trudi Lalor and artist Geraldine Molloy, pictured with Geraldine's Lovely Laois paintings. Photo: Stan Henderson
A WONDERFUL exhibition of paintings and photographs by Laois artists and photographers was launched in Phelan’s Restaurant, Mountrath by Queen of Irish Country music Trudi Lalor, as part of her Lovely Laois Homecoming Festival held in many venues around the county from 5-7 September.
The superb photographs were from Mountrath and District Camera Club members and other photographers from the Abbeyleix Camera Club, while the stunning paintings were from local artists including Geraldine Molloy, Edwina Cuddy, Kathleen Gilligan, Antoinette Breen, Maura Byrne, Heather Rice, Orla McDonagh, Liam Phelan and Billy Dollard.
Just before Trudi Lalor arrived to launch the exhibition, Eddie Phelan told the that he and his wife Maura were in Portugal with Trudi on her music week several months ago, when she told them about her Lovely Laois festival.
Eddie is an accomplished photographer who won photographer of the year in 2018, with a black and white photograph of his granddaughter that he submitted to the Midlands Photography exhibition, which incorporates camera clubs from several different counties.
He said: “Trudi told Maura and me that she was hoping to get something going in every town in the county. I’m involved in the camera club as one of the founding members and I know all the artists, as I’m on the board of Bloom HQ in the old Brigidine Convent.
“We displayed an exhibition here before, so we said that we’d do another one for the festival. We included my daughter Edwina’s craft shop, Telford’s and the library to display works by photographers and artists in their windows. Between the artists and the camera club, we have bits and pieces for people to enjoy around the town.
"Two local artists Mike Rafter and Antoinette Breen also have an excellent exhibition that’s running at the moment in Bloom, which is great.”
A gathering in the restaurant enjoyed a cheese and wine reception and viewed the displayed works, while waiting for the star of the show to arrive with her husband Billy Morrissey.
In her address, Trudi said: “This is amazing what Eddie and Maura and all the family have put on here for us all. I’m just as much blown away by it as you all are. The talent that we have on the walls here, between photography and art, is mind blowing. It's incredible.
"This captures the real sense of home, because we’re all reminiscing when we see the old photographs and the more recent ones as well.”
After launching the exhibition, Trudi read out a letter she received from President Michael D. Higgins, congratulating her on behalf of himself and his wife Sabina and thanking everyone who helped to organise the festival.
After a round of applause, Trudi sang for the delighted crowd and encouraged everyone to hold hands while they sang along.
Eddie thanked everyone who attended the launch, the exhibiting photographers and artists, Kevin McCann who organises all the art exhibitions in Bloom HQ and Trudi and Billy for attending the gathering and making it such a wonderful evening.
The exhibition will remain on display in the restaurant for several weeks to come.
