Portlaoise town centre was alive to the sound of over 150 singing voices on Thursday with the much-anticipated debut performance of the newly-formed Laois Community Choir.
The event also marked the official opening of the Outdoor Performance and Event Space – ‘The Fort’ – on the grounds of Laois Music Centre, marking a truly joyous community occasion full of atmosphere and musical excellence.
‘The Fort’ was funded under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund from the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media under the Outdoor Public Space Scheme 2021.
The development aims to promote and support arts, culture, creative activities, entertainment events, community events, and festivals, creating a more attractive and vibrant urban place in which people choose to live and work.
Laois Community Choir was established just eight weeks ago by Music Generation Laois, in partnership with LOETB Community Education, Age Friendly Laois and Portlaoise Family Resource Centre.
This collaborative approach was key to it’s success and was representative of a huge cross-section of participants from all ages and walks of life.
The varied programme had something for all musical tastes, starting with a fantastic rendition of Dreams by the Cranberries, followed by an old favourite, Can’t Help Falling in Love – with a twist.
We were then treated to a song from Ghana in the Akan language called Sansa Kroma, before two very moving pieces – Isle of Hope and Why We Sing.
Ob-la-di from The Beatles had the audience singing along and James O’Connor lead a powerful rendition of From Now On before the programme concluded with All Works Out by Irish rock band The Riptide Movement.
The songs were introduced by members of the choir, providing a lovely narrative to the evening and highlighting the true community spirit that was evident from the off.
It was a superb performance all round, led by a fantastic house band – Mary Wisely (Piano), James O’Connor (Guitar), Dave Harte (Bass), Denise Boyle (Fiddle) and Ros O’Meara (Drums) from Music Generation Laois with the choir directed and co-ordinated by Nuala Kelly.
All in attendance will be looking forward to many more performances from Laois Community Choir.
Alf Harvey was present and captured some great images.
Check them out below:
The Laois Community Choir debut performance celebrating the official opening of ‘The Fort’, the new outdoor performance space in Laois Music Centre, Portlaoise. Photo: Alf Harvey.The Laois Community Choir debut performance celebrating the official opening of ‘The Fort’, the new outdoor performance space in Laois Music Centre, Portlaoise. Photo: Alf Harvey.The Laois Community Choir debut performance celebrating the official opening of ‘The Fort’, the new outdoor performance space in Laois Music Centre, Portlaoise. Photo: Alf Harvey.The Laois Community Choir debut performance celebrating the official opening of ‘The Fort’, the new outdoor performance space in Laois Music Centre, Portlaoise. Photo: Alf Harvey.Gillian Cunningham., LOETB; Eileen Hughes, Age Friendly Ireland and Hazel Duffy, LOETB at the Laois Community Choir debut performance celebrating the official opening of ‘The Fort’, the new outdoor performance space in Laois Music Centre, Portlaoise. Photo: Alf Harvey.Matty and Betty Brophy at the Laois Community Choir debut performance celebrating the official opening of ‘The Fort’, the new outdoor performance space in Laois Music Centre, Portlaoise. Photo: Alf Harvey.Mary Whelan, Fiona O’Reilly and Deirdre Finn at the Laois Community Choir debut performance celebrating the official opening of ‘The Fort’, the new outdoor performance space in Laois Music Centre, Portlaoise. Photo: Alf Harvey.Eileen Hughes, Age Friendly Ireland and Tom Curran, Age Friendly Laois at the Laois Community Choir debut performance celebrating the official opening of ‘The Fort’, the new outdoor performance space in Laois Music Centre, Portlaoise. Photo: Alf Harvey.Marian Shalloe and Ann McDonald at the Laois Community Choir debut performance celebrating the official opening of ‘The Fort’, the new outdoor performance space in Laois Music Centre, Portlaoise. Photo: Alf Harvey.Kathleen Payne and Carmel Hibbitts at the Laois Community Choir debut performance celebrating the official opening of ‘The Fort’, the new outdoor performance space in Laois Music Centre, Portlaoise. Photo: Alf Harvey.Johanna Brennan and Rebecca Marshall at the Laois Community Choir debut performance celebrating the official opening of ‘The Fort’, the new outdoor performance space in Laois Music Centre, Portlaoise. Photo: Alf Harvey.Noleen Carroll and Nancy Carroll at the Laois Community Choir debut performance celebrating the official opening of ‘The Fort’, the new outdoor performance space in Laois Music Centre, Portlaoise. Photo: Alf Harvey.Lucy Kelly, Paula Kelly and S. Coss at the Laois Community Choir debut performance celebrating the official opening of ‘The Fort’, the new outdoor performance space in Laois Music Centre, Portlaoise. Photo: Alf Harvey.Realtin and Lily Kirwan at the Laois Community Choir debut performance celebrating the official opening of ‘The Fort’, the new outdoor performance space in Laois Music Centre, Portlaoise. Photo: Alf Harvey.Roisín, Áine, Kieran and Siobhán O’Sullivan at the Laois Community Choir debut performance celebrating the official opening of ‘The Fort’, the new outdoor performance space in Laois Music Centre, Portlaoise. Photo: Alf Harvey.Patty Murphy and Nuala Heffernan at the Laois Community Choir debut performance celebrating the official opening of ‘The Fort’, the new outdoor performance space in Laois Music Centre, Portlaoise. Photo: Alf Harvey.Breda Byrne, Cora Mulvany and Breda Breen at the Laois Community Choir debut performance celebrating the official opening of ‘The Fort’, the new outdoor performance space in Laois Music Centre, Portlaoise. Photo: Alf Harvey.Paddy Lalor and Carol Foran at the Laois Community Choir debut performance celebrating the official opening of ‘The Fort’, the new outdoor performance space in Laois Music Centre, Portlaoise. Photo: Alf Harvey.Dick and Sheila Reid at the Laois Community Choir debut performance celebrating the official opening of ‘The Fort’, the new outdoor performance space in Laois Music Centre, Portlaoise. Photo: Alf Harvey.Linda and Joe McGill at the Laois Community Choir debut performance celebrating the official opening of ‘The Fort’, the new outdoor performance space in Laois Music Centre, Portlaoise. Photo: Alf Harvey.Tom Donoher and Tom Fingleton at the Laois Community Choir debut performance celebrating the official opening of ‘The Fort’, the new outdoor performance space in Laois Music Centre, Portlaoise. Photo: Alf Harvey.Mary McGrath, Bridget Kelly-Roche and Ann Kelly at the Laois Community Choir debut performance celebrating the official opening of ‘The Fort’, the new outdoor performance space in Laois Music Centre, Portlaoise. Photo: Alf Harvey.Eoin, Martin, Monica, Caitrion, Liam and Jake Meade at the Laois Community Choir debut performance celebrating the official opening of ‘The Fort’, the new outdoor performance space in Laois Music Centre, Portlaoise. Photo: Alf Harvey.Jason, PJ and Ollie Byrne at the Laois Community Choir debut performance celebrating the official opening of ‘The Fort’, the new outdoor performance space in Laois Music Centre, Portlaoise. Photo: Alf Harvey.The Laois Community Choir debut performance celebrating the official opening of ‘The Fort’, the new outdoor performance space in Laois Music Centre, Portlaoise. Photo: Alf Harvey.Mary Hyland and Anne Fitzpatrick at the Laois Community Choir debut performance celebrating the official opening of ‘The Fort’, the new outdoor performance space in Laois Music Centre, Portlaoise. Photo: Alf Harvey.Kevin, James and Ellen O’Mahony at the Laois Community Choir debut performance celebrating the official opening of ‘The Fort’, the new outdoor performance space in Laois Music Centre, Portlaoise. Photo: Alf Harvey.Mary and Caroline O’Neill, Adam and Layla Reilly and Jennifer and Roxi Mai Pearson at the Laois Community Choir debut performance celebrating the official opening of ‘The Fort’, the new outdoor performance space in Laois Music Centre, Portlaoise. Photo: Alf Harvey.at the Laois Community Choir debut performance celebrating the official opening of ‘The Fort’, the new outdoor performance space in Laois Music Centre, Portlaoise. Photo: Alf Harvey.Enjoying the music at the Laois Community Choir debut performance celebrating the official opening of ‘The Fort’, the new outdoor performance space in Laois Music Centre, Portlaoise. Photo: Alf Harvey.The Laois School of Music band supporting the Laois Community Choir debut performance celebrating the official opening of ‘The Fort’, the new outdoor performance space in Laois Music Centre, Portlaoise. Photo: Alf Harvey.Nuala Kelly leading the Laois Community Choir debut performance celebrating the official opening of ‘The Fort’, the new outdoor performance space in Laois Music Centre, Portlaoise. Photo: Alf Harvey.Hazel Duffy, LOETB; Tom Curran, Age Friendly Laois; Rosa Flannery, Music Generation Laois and Gillian Cunningham, LOETB at the Laois Community Choir debut performance celebrating the official opening of ‘The Fort’, the new outdoor performance space in Laois Music Centre, Portlaoise. Photo: Alf Harvey.Cllr Padraig Fleming, cathaoirleach of Laois County Council cuts the tape at the Laois Community Choir debut performance celebrating the official opening of ‘The Fort’, the new outdoor performance space in Laois Music Centre, Portlaoise. Photo: Alf Harvey.The Laois Community Choir debut performance celebrating the official opening of ‘The Fort’, the new outdoor performance space in Laois Music Centre, Portlaoise. Photo: Alf Harvey.The Laois Community Choir debut performance celebrating the official opening of ‘The Fort’, the new outdoor performance space in Laois Music Centre, Portlaoise. Photo: Alf Harvey.The Laois Community Choir debut performance celebrating the official opening of ‘The Fort’, the new outdoor performance space in Laois Music Centre, Portlaoise. Photo: Alf Harvey.The Laois Community Choir debut performance celebrating the official opening of ‘The Fort’, the new outdoor performance space in Laois Music Centre, Portlaoise. Photo: Alf Harvey.The Laois Community Choir debut performance celebrating the official opening of ‘The Fort’, the new outdoor performance space in Laois Music Centre, Portlaoise. Photo: Alf Harvey.The Laois Community Choir debut performance celebrating the official opening of ‘The Fort’, the new outdoor performance space in Laois Music Centre, Portlaoise. Photo: Alf Harvey.The Laois Community Choir debut performance celebrating the official opening of ‘The Fort’, the new outdoor performance space in Laois Music Centre, Portlaoise. Photo: Alf Harvey.The Laois Community Choir debut performance celebrating the official opening of ‘The Fort’, the new outdoor performance space in Laois Music Centre, Portlaoise. Photo: Alf Harvey.The Laois Community Choir debut performance celebrating the official opening of ‘The Fort’, the new outdoor performance space in Laois Music Centre, Portlaoise. Photo: Alf Harvey.
