Free Community Arts Festival returns to Laois this weekend
The Laois Community Choir debut performance celebrating the official opening of The Fort, the new outdoor performance space in Laois Music Centre, Portlaoise. Photo: Alf Harvey
Laois le Chéile is an all-inclusive, multi-cultural, inter-generational community arts festival, taking place on the grounds of Laois Music Centre in the heart of Portlaoise town on next Saturday 7 June,
The festival will take place from 1-6pm, and is presented by Music Generation Laois.
This festival is part of Criunniú na nÓg, a national day of creativity for children and young people, happening all over Ireland on Saturday 7 June.
Activities on the day 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 across many of Music Generation Laois’ programmes will perform including DP Kidz – from Portlaoise and Abbeyleix after-schools programmes, Bass Brothers (a partnership project with Laois Traveller Action Group), Malva Ukrainian Choir, Bells Ukrainian Children's Choir, MGL Junior Harp Ensemble.
Workshops for younger children include Ta Tum Tum – a Brazilian rhythm interactive music workshop for younger children , Inisowiacy – a Polish music workshop for children age 3-13 (Inisowiacy will also perform on the Le Chéile stage), and a dance workshop with Anne Kiesel for children age 8-13. World Percussion workshops will take place with Eddie O’Neill, and Colm Phelan from Goitse, will host bodhrán workshops. All instruments supplied for workshops open to beginners and to all level of musicians.
Free crafting will take place from 1-3pm, using polymer clay and upcycled materials.
Laois Le Chéile will end with a Céilí Mór for all ages, led by Ceilí Master, Maureen Culleton.
All details and times are on musicgenerationlaois.ie Presented by Music Generation Laois in partnership with Laois Integration Network, Dunamaise Arts Centre, Laois Partnership Company, supported by Creative Ireland Laois/Laois County Council, LOETB Community Education.
Music Generation Laois is part of Music Generation, Ireland's national music education programme, co-funded by U2, The Ireland Funds and The Department of Education. Locally Music Generation Laois is part of Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board and supported by Laois County Council.
All events are free of charge.
