The annual Leaves Festival of Writing and Music returns to Emo Court – an event which celebrates writers, musicians and the world of film and theatre
The organisers behind Leaves say it celebrates the diversity and richness in today’s literary, music, theatre and film scene.
Leaves aims to excite and engage with audiences young and old.
The Emo Court events will take place on November 9-11, while the Dunamaise events run from November 7 to 9.
This year the weekend-long programme will be held in Emo Court; the magnificent Gandon designed neo-classical house and gardens on the outskirts of Portlaoise.
At the recent launch of the Leaves Festival in Emo Court, festival coordinator, Muireann Ní Chonaill said: “The Leaves Festival is a great opportunity to celebrate writers, musicians and the world of film and theatre. We are very excited to be hosting the Leaves weekend in the beautiful surroundings of Emo Court and there is no better place to listen to and meet writers and musicians.”
Opening the weekend in the Drawing Room, Emo Court, on Friday night at 8.00pm are poets Jean Ó Brien, Martin Figura, and Helen Ivory.
They will be joined by musician, Úna Keane and the event will be chaired by Arthur Broomfield.
The Tea Rooms in Emo Court is the venue for Saturday mornings writing workshop, to be led by Helen Ivory.
It runs from 10am-12.30pm.
Returning to the Drawing Room for the rest of Saturday’s events, are poets Denise Curtin, Paddy Moran, Karen J Mc Donnell, joined by Portlaoise born musician, Gary Dunne.
This event will be chaired by Séamus Hosey and commences at 3.00pm.
To celebrate National Harp Day, Scottish Harpist, Catriona McKay together with Swedish nyckelharpa player Olov Johansson, will perform a special concert.
They will be accompanied by the Music Generation Laois Harpists and it commences at 5.00pm.
Saturday evening will see Lisa Harding and Kevin Barry reading from and discussing their novels with Sean Rocks, presenter of Arena, on Radio 1 and it commences at 8.00pm.
Premiere
On Sunday at noon, the Drawing Room will be the setting for the premiere of Thresholds.
This new music commission celebrating the theme of pollination, by Ian Wilson will be performed by saxophonist, Cathal Roche.
It was funded through the Creative Ireland Laois programme. The winning poems on the theme of pollination, will be read by the prizewinners at this event.
The new Laois Spoken Word artist, who will commence their ten month residency during the Leaves Festival will be introduced to the public at this gathering also.
During their residency the Spoken Word artist will work with young people throughout the county, through secondary schools, Youth Theatre and Youthreach.
The Dunamaise Arts Centre, Portlaoise has scheduled events for Leaves, including cinema; My Cousin Rebecca and the live broadcast from the Harold Pinter Theatre, London of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf. Dubliners’ Women, by Katie O’Kelly, featuring female characters from James Joyce’s Dubliners, will be performed.
Readings
Readings in the schools and libraries will be by Helen Ivory, Martin Figura and Alan Nolan.
Booking Box Office: 0578663355 or online at www.dunamaise.ie
You can follow them on Facebook at Leaves.
For more information, contact the Arts Office, Laois County Council Portlaoise, Co Laois. Email artsoff@laoiscoco.ie Web www.laois.ie
