‘Welcome to Laois’ Tour is an innovative initiative of the Creative Ireland Laois 2019 programme in partnership with Laois Asylum Migration and Integration Support Services in association with Laois Partnership.
The aim of the programme is to introduce Laois to new communities and in particular those coming from diverse international backgrounds.
The second tour in the series of three took place recently and focused on an excursion for residents from three Direct Provision Centres in the county.
Thirty-nine adults and children participated in the tour from nationalities as diverse as Somalia, Iran, DR Congo, Palestine, Nigeria, Latvia, Botswana, Guatemala, Togo, South Africa, Georgia, Zimbabwe, Bangladeshi and Ghana, with around thirteen different languages spoken throughout the day.
For many on the tour, it was their first time to get out and about in the county with pickups in Rathdowney, Abbeyleix, Portlaoise and the Montague.
The day included a guided tour of Emo Court House, a neo-classical mansion designed by 18th century British architect, James Gandon and an arboretum walk led by Gardener, John Duffy, sharing knowledge and expertise on the extensive tree collection.
En route to the medieval Round Tower in Timahoe, the coach passed through Vicarstown and across the Grand Canal. Tour guide, Trudy Carmody from Experiencing Laois, explained the history of Vicarstown as a significant inland Viking settlement from the 9th century.
She also mentioned about Vicarstown’s connections with Irish politician and member of the Irish House of Commons, Henry Grattan (1746-1820).
She introduced the historical role of the Grand Canal and its social and economic function for transporting produce and goods from the midlands to Dublin and across to England.
The day culminated in a visit to Timahoe’s 12th century Round Tower standing at 96 feet in height, and as well as ice cream being enjoyed on the village green, the children entertained themselves the local playground.
Another tour in this series is being planned for later in the year and will focus again on proactively welcoming new communities to Laois and introducing them to the treasure trove of arts, heritage and tourist attractions in the county.
The initiative is a positive approach and gaining recognition as a pathway to integration and imaginatively responding to the consequence of migration from areas of conflict in the Middle East, Africa and other parts of the world.
Creative Ireland Laois is a five-year programme (2018-2022) and is part of Creative Ireland, a culture-based programme designed to promote individual, community and national wellbeing and places creativity at the centre of public policy.
For further information, contact Muireann Ní Chonaill, Arts Officer, Laois and Creative Ireland Laois Co-ordinator.
Check out their Facebook page Creative Ireland Laois
SEE ALSO – Well-known Laois woman speaks about overcoming stammer on national television
