International singer, songwriter and pianist, Lea Heart, visited the National Learning Centre Portlaoise to meet the students and also featured on the inaugural episode of their Podcast.
The National Learning Network is a wonderful facility that offers free, life changing courses and supported training to people who have experienced a setback, have had an accident, a mental health issue, an illness, injury or have a disability and extra support needs.
They offer QQI level 3 and 4 courses with the aim of giving students social skills, the ability to live independently and give them the chance to attend third level education and work.
They provide a variety of modules such as cooking classes, career planning and customer service. As well as this they are introducing a new module, podcasting.
Their podcast is run by student Martin Redomond and he had a very impressive first guest, Kildare native Lea Heart.
As well as featuring on the podcast, Lea met all of the students and staff to take pictures and sign autographs.
Lea is an artist who has amassed millions of streams on her songs and has performed in all over Ireland and as far as New York and Dubai.
She began singing at a young age, before posting videos of herself singing during the Covid-19 pandemic.
From here she began writing her own songs on the piano in her family home and posting the songs on TikTok while in university.
Performing in front of an audience was always natural to her.
She performed in her school musicals and sang in the student bar in university
In 2021 she caught the attention of ‘Picture This’ and supported them on their UK tour where she played her original music for the first time.
She is featuring in ‘Sea Sessions’ and is playing at the ‘The Marquee’ in Cork with Gavin James this Summer.
Thd National Learning Network are hosting an open day on May 21 in their centre, Dublin Road, Portlaoise, Co Laois R32HK11 and can be contacted via portlaoise@nln.ie .
Further information about the wonderful work they do can be found at www.nln.ie .
Lea Heart is also in for a very busy festival period and all updates on dates and information can be found on her website leaheart.com or from her instagram @iamleaheart.
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