Laois County Council Arts have partnered with the Dunamaise Arts Centre and Laois Library Service to present a selection of creative projects during the month of May.
The projects are part of the Laois Bealtaine Festival for older people, with the theme ‘Lust for Life’ chosen for the 2024 celebrations.
“We invite people of an older age to join in some of the wonderful events that are happening in Laois for the Bealtaine Festival 2024,” festival organisers said.
Dr Arthur Broomfield – Poetry Writing Course
Laois Arthouse, Stradbally
The three-week course runs on Mondays 13, 20 and 27, from 11am to 1pm and includes the opportunity to join in Bealtaine Festival poetry evening on Thursday May 30 at 7.30pm.
Dr Broomfield’s workshops will deal with the basic elements of poetry writing, such as reading the good poets; inspiration; rhyme and rhythm; imagery and naming; authenticity, and more.
Fee: €5 per session or €15 for the full three sessions as well as poetry evening.
Booking is essential and fees to be paid in advance. Contact Laois County Council Cash Office – 057 8674308 for payment.
Alan Meredith – Art Exhibition
Laois Arthouse, Stradbally
Quereu – the oak – brings together a new body of work by Mountmellick-born, Alan Meredith, on the occasion of his first solo exhibition in his native Laois.
The exhibition draws together separate, but related, ideas that the artist has been exploring in his practice for several years and reveals, if not the culmination of them, then certainly an advanced continuation and heightened expression of these ideas. Oak is important.
Laois Arthouse opening times:
- Tue: 1pm-5pm / 5.30pm-8pm
- Wed: 10am-1pm / 1.30-5pm
- Thu: 1pm-5pm / 5.30pm-8pm
- Fri: 1pm-4pm
- Sat: 10am-1pm
For more details contact artsoff@laoiscoco.ie
Meet the Artist: Saturday May 11 at 2pm, meet Mr Meredith for a tour and conversation of the exhibition.
Dunamaise Arts Centre
There are many events taking place at the Dunamaise Arts Centre throughout May for Bealtaine. These include:
- Sharon Shannon: Now & Then Tour,
- Tea Dance with Maureen Culleton
- Fourth Wall Laois Theatre Group presents The Country Boy.
All events in the Dunamaise Arts Centre can be booked on the Dunamaise Arts Centre website www.dunamaise.ie or ring the box office 057 866 3355.
Laois Libraries
A wide-ranging programme of events also taking place at Laois Libraries including:
- Cookery Demonstration Workshop in Abbeyleix Library,
- Money Management Talk by M.A.B.S – Money Advice and Budgeting Service in Portlaoise Library,
- Basketmaking Demonstration in Mountrath Library.
“We are delighted together with our colleagues in the county to bring a varied programme celebrating creativity in older age,” said Arts Officer and Creative Ireland Laois Coordinator Muireann Ní Chonaill.
“This year’s Bealtaine Festival promises great variety to choose from and we hope people enjoy it.”
Lifestyle and Wellbeing events run by Laois Sports Partnership include a Social Wellness Walk at Abbeyleix Bog Walk, Short Loop 3.6km.
The full programme is available here.
For more information and to request a brochure with full details contact: The Laois Arts Department on T: 057 868 9386 Email: artsoff@laoiscoco.ie.
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