With National Heritage Week 2024 fast approaching, it is time to check out what is happening here in Laois.
This year Heritage Week will run from Saturday, August 17 to Sunday, August 25, with a huge range of free events taking place across the county, including lots of talks and events in Laois Libraries.
National Heritage Week brings together communities, families, organisations, cultural institutions, academics and enthusiasts, to build awareness about the value of heritage and support its conservation.
Events for Children
Discovering our Hidden Wildlife: Bats & Moths
Saturday, August 17
Portlaoise Library, 2pm
Join Albert Nolan, Heritage in Schools Bat and Biodiversity specialist, in Portlaoise library on Saturday, August 17, and discover the amazing world of bats and moths.
These misunderstood creatures are a vital and fascinating part of our wildlife and play an important role in keeping our environment healthy.
The first part of the workshop will take place in the library where we will learn about bats and moths, with some live specimens to be examined, followed by a walk outside to discover how we can help insects and bats in our community.
Lego Brick Workshop Exploring Irish Heritage
Wednesday, August 21
Mountmellick Library 10.30am – 12.30pm
Portlaoise Library, 2pm – 4pm
Join professional LEGO Brick artist Jessica Farrell for a heritage themed Lego brick family workshop that explores Irish heritage in a unique way through creative expression.
In small groups, families build custom models which represent aspects of Irish culture whilst learning the importance and value of the topics through open discussion.
This is a family workshop. Spaces must be booked for both adults and children.
Hands on History: Making Medieval Brooches
Wednesday, August 21
Stradbally Library, 10.30am – 11.15am
Durrow Library, 12.45pm – 1.30pm
Rathdowney Library, 3pm – 3.45pm
Children can get hands-on with the medieval past by joining Donna Gilligan from Scéal Heritage to create medieval ring brooches, a common piece of jewellery worn by men, women, and children in the Middle Ages.
Children are introduced to information on jewellery and fashion in medieval times and are guided to make their own gold or silver ring brooch, which they then personalise with colourful gemstones and metallic messages.
The brooches provide a unique visual souvenir of what they learned about their medieval past! Suitable for children between the ages of seven and 13.
Spaces are limited so prior booking is required.
Weaving Workshop
Thursday, August 22
Mountrath Library, 10.30am
Abbeyleix Library, 12.30pm
Portarlington Library, 3pm
Join Beth Murphy from Willow Wonder for a workshop on the ancient art of weaving, using willow and other natural materials.
Beth will guide each child through the process of creating their very own craft piece to take home with them on the day. Suitable for children aged eight to 12.
Spaces are limited so prior booking is required.
Events for Adults
Laois Cumann na mBan Exhibition,
Monday, August 19
Portlaoise Library, 6pm
This is an exhibition highlighting Laois women of the revolutionary period. It was curated by Bernadette Dunne with the support of Laois County Library and Decade of Centenaries funding.
The stories of local women featured in the exhibition are compiled from official records housed in the Military Archives and the oral histories gathered by Bernadette Dunne.
The Cumann na mBan exhibition and related events are part of a long-term and on-going engagement by Laois Local Studies in projects bringing back into the light women’s experience of the revolutionary era.
The exhibition will be on display in Portlaoise Library until the end of August.
Genealogy Clinics
Monday, August 19 – Friday, August 23
Portlaoise Library, 10am – 1pm
A series of family history clinics facilitated by local genealogists, to introduce and aid members of the public to research their family history using Laois Local Studies and online resources. Places are limited.
Booking is essential.
Beneath the Sky of Stars Book Launch
Tuesday, August 20
Stradbally Library, 7pm – 8pm
Laois writers, in collaboration with Laois County Council and Creative Ireland, have the pleasure in inviting you to the launch of Beneath the Sky of Stars.
Through the lens of mythology and fairy tale, this collection of short stories re-imagines the landscape of County Laois, offering new and imaginative insights.
Beneath the Sky of Stars also features art work by Harry Clarke and Jim Fitzpatrick.
Prior booking is advised. Light refreshments will be available on the evening.
Dereliction, Decay and Conservation: Saving Portarlington’s Historic Buildings
Wednesday, August 21
Portarlington Library, 8pm – 10pm
Portarlington Arts and Heritage Group presents a talk on the recent restoration of the Victorian buildings at Portarlington Railway Station and the ongoing work of conservation and restoration of the Market House or Tholsel in Portarlington.
They will also talk of the challenges in trying to save some of the town’s historic houses which are now derelict and in danger of demolition.
Arlington House will be used as a case study to illustrate what measures are required to save similar historic buildings.
Hidden Portlaoise: a talk by John Dunne
Thursday, August 22
Portlaoise Library, 7pm
Join local writer and Portlaoise enthusiast John Dunne for a talk as he reveals lesser-known aspects of the town’s history including many old photographs and interesting facts which may surprise you.
Newspapers as a Resource for Family & Local History
Saturday, August 24
Portlaoise Library, 11am – 12.30pm
Join Sinead Holland, Laois Local Studies, for a presentation on how to use newspaper archives for family, local and national history.
Participants will be given a demonstration of the newspaper archives available in Laois Local Studies and library branches in Laois, including the Irish Newspaper Archive containing the Leinster Express, Laois Nationalist and many more regional and national Irish newspapers, and the British Newspaper Archive containing over 81 million historic newspaper pages held by the British Library.
Places are limited. Booking is essential.
Life in the Mountmellick Malt Factory Exhibition
Saturday, August 17 – Saturday, August 24
Mountmellick Library, during library opening hours
An exhibition on the Mountmellick Malt Factory containing documents, photographs and stories, including the life of Dr Werner Schwarz who fled Nazi Germany and found love in the Malt Factory.
The exhibition was researched and prepared by Sean O’Driscoll with the support of Mountmellick Heritage Society.
Book you place for free events by contacting your local library or online on the Heritage Week website or the Laois Local Studies website.
Laois Heritage Week Event Guide QR Code
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