National Heritage Week 2023 has been a huge success with events held all across Laois.
There was a plethora of children’s events, held predominantly in the county’s libraries.
Archaeologist and museum curator, Donna Gilligan brought her Bronze Age Jewellery Crafts on tour to Mountrath, Portarlington, Durrow and Abbeyleix.
Michael Moylan’s workshop, Irish History Live explored a range of topics, including Ancient Times, The 1916 Rising, The Titanic, World War I, The Middle Ages, and The Tudors.
Moylan’s travelling museum docked in Rathdowney, Durrow, Abbeyleix, Mountmellick, Portlaoise, and Stradbally.
Wildlife expert, Dale Treadwell wowed children at his Dinosaur Show with Bugs and Beasties in Mountmellick
There were also scores of events for the adults, again held predominantly in Laois libraries.
Public historian, Regina Dunne deliver a hands-on workshop in Abbeyleix, entitled Digital Skills for Exploring Local History
Dunne also presented World War I Volunteer Aid Detachment of Queen’s County in Portlaoise, highlighting the women who worked on the front lines or military hospitals in France, England and Ireland.
Dr Cormac Moore gave a talk in Mountrath called Irish Grant Committee Reparations in Laois, examining applications for reparation for alleged damage to property from the Truce to the Civil War.
Laois native and renowned meteorologist, Evelyn Cusack was in Portlaoise to present Ireland’s Weather and Climate: A Journey Through Time.
An Evening of Irish Dancing, Music and Singing with Spink Comhaltas was held in Durrow.
Historic Portarlington: an Evening of Talks, consisted of Irish Rail’s Liam Murphy talking about the ‘Conservation of Victorian Buildings at Portarlington Railway Station’; Ray Simmons’ talk on ‘Saving a Country House: the Restoration of Woodbrook House’; and David Orford on ‘Portarlington’s Forgotten Artist: Walter Chetwood Aiken of Woodbrook House’.
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