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It’s a long weekend and that means it’s a busy one. There is lots of family fun with egg hunts in Portlaoise and Timahoe, the Woodland Steam Train is running in Stradbally woods on Sunday and Monday and egg painting in Abbeyleix.
Cultural Fusion, our newest festival, ran by Voice of Migrants guarantees to be a spectacle of colour, fun and entrainment on Saturday night.
Christy Moore plays a sold out gig in the Midlands Park Hotel on Friday and Portlaoise Tradfest runs from 5pm Friday with the best of Irish music and craic, all in support of the Klobe Special School.
As usual there are lots of guided walks and live music to keep us entertained all weekend.
THURSDAY APRIL 18
Egg Painting Workshops
Abbeyleix Playground is going to be eggciting on Thursday between 10am and 3pm. Abbeyleix Heritage house are running a pop in egg painting workshop.
The weather is looking good so why not get the kids outdoors and messy with paint with none of the clean up. It costs €3 per child and there is no need to book.
FRIDAY APRIL 19
Easter Egg Hunt Family Fun Day
Fun-filled afternoon of Easter Egg hunting, face painting, arts and crafts, games and more will take place in Togher Woods this Friday. This fun packed day is organised by Portlaoise Family Resource Centre.
The cost is €10 per family and the egg hunt runs from 12pm-2pm. The price includes tea and coffee, juice and an Easter egg per child! Pre-Booking is Essential by calling Portlaoise Family Resource Centre on 0578686153.
Portlaoise Tradfest
Enjoy an evening of Top Class Trad music and Irish Dancing at Lilly’s Bar Portlaoise on Good Friday, April 19th. There will be super music from The Buggy Boys, The Crooked Jacks, The Finns and Gypsy Davy to name a few, with lots more acts to be confirmed.
The event kicks off at 5pm and runs until late. All proceeds go to Kolbe Special School so you get a great night out and support a great cause at the same time. It truly is a Good Friday.
Martin Angolo & Keith Fox: A Night Of Stand Up Comedy
Kavanagh’s Comedy Club brings you a great night of stand-up comedy from two of the country’s best up and coming comedians.
Fresh from playing to full houses at the Edinburgh Fringe they bring their new shows on tour in Ireland for the first time. Martin Angolo is an award winning comedian, having written comedy for BBC and RTE radio.
With his one liners and silly observations he is a regular at every comedy festival in Ireland and tours regularly worldwide. A charming and energetic performer, Keith’s clever material and joyous comedy have made him a regular across the Irish comedy club and festival scene over the past 5 years.
Tickets are €10 and can be purchased on Eventbrite. Gig begins at 8.30pm
Christy Moore
Midlands Park Hotel hosts the infamous Christy Moore this weekend. Christy is one of Ireland’s most important and influential artists and with a career that spans over 40 amazing years and 30 albums.
The gig is sold out and a waiting list is in place for any cancellations. For more see midlandsparkhotel.com
Choons
From the MANIACS who brought you ‘Smash Hits’ & ‘oldskool’, choons! are a new live group that perform an energetic show full of classic nightclub anthems & euphoric dancefloor bangers from the modern dance music revolution.
This is a perfect way to kick off an long weekend. The gig begins at 9pm in Kavanagh’s Bar and Venue. Tickets are €14.50 and are available on Eventbrite
SATURDAY APRIL 20th
Easter Egg Hunt Timahoe
Heritage Centre Based Around The Village Green & The Round Tower – Solve The Riddle, Find The Egg! Adults Can Enjoy A Cuppa & There’s An Easter Egg For All Participants.
Booking Essential €5 Per Child/ €15 For A Family Of 4 11am Mary @ 087 234 3616 Or Anne @ 087 947 7362.
Forest Run
St Michaels AC are holding a Good Friday 8km run from 6pm. Register in Emo Community Centre from 4.30. The 8km run will take you through the lovely surroundings of Emo Court. Entry is €10.
Cultural Fusion Festival
Experience other cultures through this family-friendly event, with singing and traditional dancing from Lithuania, Zimbabwe, Ireland, and Nigeria, A fashion show, spoken word and poem.
This wonderful event is one to promote the spirit of integration and unity in Laois and an opportunity for all to experience the rich cultures of other countries. There will also be exhibition of visual arts and Zambian traditional food.
Micheal Chanda will spice the event with his unique African Drumming. African puff-puff and other Finger foods will be served. If you saw the Voice of Migrant’s group in the Portlaoise St Patrick’s Day parade you will know the colour, theatrics and overall energy and vibrancy this group brings.
This event is also an opportunity to help people living in Direct Provision. If you cannot make the event, you can kindly buy a ticket for someone living in Direct Provision or any marginalised individual who needs to get out and socialise.
The event is running in The Killeshin Hotel from 7pm -1am Tickets are € 10 and for details on how to book or donate a ticket see facebook.com/Voice-Of-Migrants.
2112 – Performing the music of Rush
Ireland’s premier Rush tribute band, 2112, will bring a spectacular audio-visual rock experience to Kavanagh’s Bar & Venue. Tickets are € 19 and the gig begins at 9:30pm. For tickets see www.ticketweb.ie
SUNDAY APRIL 21st
Stradbally Woodland Railway
One of our absolute local gems is back running this weekend. The steams trains are running at the Stradbally Woodland Railway on Easter Sunday and Monday, April 21st and 22nd from 12-4pm both days.
Experience a family day out with a difference in the beautiful forests of Stradbally Hall which are in full bloom for spring and savour the experience of one of the last real working steam trains in the country.
Tickets are priced at €3 for children, €7 for adults with children under 5 free! Remember, your ticket is valid all day so why not pack a picnic or take a walk locally and come back and use the train over the day to the delight of both children and adults.
The Burner, The Bun & O Hanlon
Sheeran’s Pub is always guaranteed for a great session and Easter Sunday is of no exception. Three of Ireland’s finest musicians take to the stage to play a mix of Cajun, Country, Tex Mex, Trad & more.
Renowned button accordionist and TG4’s 2013 Gradm Ceoil Dermot Byrne, together with country music legend Brendan Quinn and the illustrious Tyrone guitarist Pete O’Hanlon, join forces for what is sure to be the sessions of all sessions. The gig begins at 7pm and tickets are €20 and can be bought by calling 086 807 8842
The Valves
The Valves are back in Kavanagh’s Bar & Venue for another great live music gig. They are a versatile, professional, three piece cover band that play a non-typical blend of covers spanning the last 60 years. There is no cover charge and the gig kicks off at 9.30pm. For more see www.kavanaghsportlaoise.com
Slieve Bloom Guided Walk
The Slieve Bloom Walking Club’s next guided walk is the White Horse Falls/ Clear Lake Walk. This walk is a Grade A 12km walk and takes 4-5 hours so is suited for seasoned walkers. Meeting point is at Mountrath Cattle Mart at 11am. €5 per walk or €20 annual membership (€30 for family). For more information see www.slievebloom.ie.
The Electrix live at The Forge
The Electrix play The Anvil Inn Easter Sunday and always entertain The Electrix are born to entertain and always draw a great crowd. The gig begins at 10pm and there is no cover charge.
MONDAY APRIL 22
Guided tour and wild plant walk at Ballykilcavan Farm & Brewery
A guided walking tour of a working farm & Brewery that’s been in the same family for almost 400 years. Join us for a fabulous Easter Monday afternoon with all the family.
Enjoy a guided walking tour of the farm which has been in the same family for almost 400 years.
The current owner, David Walsh-Kemmis, will tell the stories of the farm while Julie Smyth from Wild Food Kildare will do a guided wild plant walk of the nearby woodland and walled garden.
Don’t leave without a chance to sample some fabulous Ballykilcavan craft beers or a hot cup of tea/coffee and a bun. Appropriate farm footwear is essential and the cost is €10 with children going free. The tour runs from 2pm-4pm and tickets can be book at dunamise.ie
Slieve Bloom Guided Walk
The Slieve Bloom Walking Club’s next guided walk is the Kinnitty Fearbreague Walk. This walk is a Grade A 10km walk and takes 4 hours so is suited to seasoned walkers. Meeting point is at Kinnitty Community Centre at 1pm. €5 per walk or €20 annual membership (€30 for family). For more information see www.slievebloom.ie.
The MacGiolla Phadraig Way Walk
The MacGiolla Phadraig Way walk is a 17Km, grade A walk from Durrow to Gathabawn in Co Kilkenny. The walk takes you through some beautiful countryside with breath taking views.
Starting from Chapel Carpark, Kilkenny Road, Durrow at 12 noon. Transport will leave Gathabawn at 11.15 sharp and will be available throughout the day for an additional cost of €5. Refreshments will be served afterwards in Mackey’s Bar, Gathabawn. Registration is at 12 noon and the walk cost €5
Transmitter
Kavanagh’s Bar & Venue host’s Transmitters annual Easter
Monday Pilgrimage to Portlaoise. Come along and enjoy a great evening to round off the long weekend. There is no cover charge and the gig begins at 7pm. For more see www.kavanaghsportlaoise.com
If you would like to have something included in our What’s On Guide email us on info@laoistoday.ie or call 057 8670722
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