Supervet and Hollywood star for Laois Homecoming Festival

THE much-anticipated Lovely Laois Homecoming Festival, which is the dreamchild of world-renowned country music queen Trudi Lalor from Mountrath, promises to be an enormous hit with people from near and far, taking place in various venues around the county over the coming weekend.

People from all over the world are set to experience Laois like never before. The inaugural festival, which will run from Friday 5 to Sunday 7 September, will celebrate local arts, music, culture, literature and food through an amazing list of concerts, talks, literary and special events, aimed at reconnecting the community across the county.

Trudi is famous within the Irish country music scene, having performed on the world’s stages over the past 30 years and is well-known for her recording of Christy Cullen’s song, Lovely Laois.

The star is also recognised as a prominent radio presenter and editor and she is a multiple award winner, including Hot Country Sky TV Awards for Female Entertainer of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year, to name just a few of her achievements.

Literary events at Preston House in Abbeyleix include a singing and poetry recital by famous Hollywood actor and singer Patrick Bergin, writing workshops with author Helen Moorehouse and playwright tutor Frances Harney and an open Mic session curated by Amanda Kelly of the Power of Words Events.

Laois’s queen of country music took time out from her busy schedule to talk to the Laois Nationalist about her family-friendly festival, which she says “aims to gather Laois people from around the world together once a year, reunite families, friends, neighbours and communities and celebrate those who fly the blue and white worldwide”.

Taking up the story, Trudi said: “For many years, I’ve been very blessed through my music and I’ve been able to sing in different parts of the world. No matter what area of the globe I was performing in, I would always meet someone from Laois at the end of the show. I always chat with them about Laois and when they were last home and many would say that they were home a few years ago but met no one they knew, or that they haven’t been home in years and I thought that was sad.

“The Lovely Laois Homecoming Festival has been an idea that has been planted in my head for many years, to have a weekend once a year where Laois people can come back to their native county, reunite with their friends, family, old school friends, their old teammates and just celebrate all that is great about Laois.

“It is also to extend the hand of friendship to people who have made Laois their home and to get them to know their local community and get to know their neighbours and make them feel welcome.

“The festival is also aimed at people who have never visited Laois. I’ve met people on my travels who might just know Laois from passing through and never stop off. They can see the great scenery, the views and the beauty of the county. 

"Laois is a county of festivals with Electric Picnic, Forest Fest and so many other wonderful music festivals, but I wanted it to include photography, the arts and literary events too so the ethos of the festival is the people of Laois and reuniting them with each other and with their home county.

“There are a lot of community-based goodwill events taking place, like afternoon tea dances on the Sunday right across the county, which allows people who are living on their own or isolated, or whose families have grown up, to come out and meet their neighbours and friends and enjoy the events, which are all free. I have the music organised for these events and the Laois Irish Countrywomen’s Association reached out to me and offered to help, so they are providing the tea and sandwiches and buns for these events. I am very passionate about these community events.

“We will also be honouring people who have flown the flag for Laois all over the world at the Gala Dinner on Saturday. People like Supervet Noel Fitzpatrick from Ballyfin, along with four unsung heroes who are incredible people. These are Jack McDonald who started the Laois People Worldwide page, Christy Cullen who wrote the song Lovely Laois, which is the first song that I ever recorded over 30 years ago. Christy originally wrote it as Lovely Abbeyleix. I rang him one day as I was starting on the road and asked him if I could change the words to Lovely Laois and make it an anthem song for the county and he said absolutely. Christy is 90 years of age this year.

“We’ll also be honouring Gerry Thompson, who is chairman of the Laois Association in Dublin and organises social events for Laois people living in Dublin, and Portlaoise Action to Homelessness (PATH) who are a wonderful group of volunteers.

“We also have a songwriting workshop for prisoners who are trying to rehabilitate their lives in Portlaoise Prison, who have completed a work of art project for the festival called ‘Homecoming’ which will be displayed at the Midlands Park Hotel over the weekend.

“Artist Tommy Gorman will be showcasing his work in The Hare’s Corner in Mountmellick on Friday at 4pm and the works of several local artists will be launched in Eddie Phelan’s restaurant in Mountrath on Thursday at 7.30pm, with a free cheese and wine reception. Everyone is welcome to attend the launches. 

"There is a free bus tour on Saturday morning, where Martley’s are bringing people all around the county to see the scenery of Laois.” 

Trudi said a huge amount of effort has gone into the organisation of the festival and she wishes to thank everyone who is involved and everyone who is helping out in any way.

Much more information on all events is available on the Lovely Laois Homecoming Festival website, Facebook page and other social media platforms.