Brought to you by Laois Tourism
The sun is promised and the second largest festival in Laois after Electric Picnic takes place this weekend in Portlaoise.
The Old Fort Quarter Festival returns for its fourth year and it’s bigger and better than ever before.
There is lots of great free family entertainment on Main Street on Saturday and Sunday with headline music acts taking to the Old Fort Stage. It promises to be a great weekend for all the family.
The Stradbally steam train is also running this Sunday or why not join the SVT team for a 25km fun cycle to the Rock of Dunamase. As usual lots to do for young and old.
THURSDAY 27 JUNE
National Theatre Live: Small Island
Another great screening of a live play from the National Theatre London. Be there without being there. This time it is Andrea Levy’s Orange Prize-winning novel Small Island, coming to life in an epic new theatre adaptation.
The show runs at Dunamaise Arts Centre at 7pm and tickets are €15/€12 For more information or to book call 057 8663355.
25KM Cycle To The Rock Of Dunamase & Back
Join SVT Activity & Wellness HUB in Vicarstown on Thursday, June 27 for a 25KM cycle to the Rock Of Dunamase and back. As this is a slightly more strenuous cycle, it is strictly for adults & older teens only.
Meeting point is at Creans Vicarstown at 6.30pm and starting at 6.45pm sharp! Helmets & hi-vis vests are mandatory and bikes must be in good working order and tyres pumped. Bikes are also available for hire from Barrow Way Bike Hire for €5.
FRIDAY 28 JUNE
Portlaoise Summer Festival
Portlaoise Summer Festival continues in Peppers Lane this Friday and next Friday, July 5 2019. Local artisan food and craft producers have put this summer market together to showcase the great food and crafts in Laois.
This will incorporate the Portlaoise Farmers market also so take note of the new location until the 12 July.
Old Fort Quarter Festival 28-30 June
The Old Fort Festival is a celebration of heritage, music, food and family entertainment based in and around the walls of the Old Fort Protector, Portlaoise.
Medieval Times are brought to life in an entertaining way to capture the imaginations of adults and children alike. With live performances on Main Street throughout the day and top headline music acts nightly on the Old Fort Stage – just minutes from Main Street – the Town Centre will be bustling with activity all weekend long.
Friday at 3.30pm the festival will be officially launched at the newly revamped Fitzmaurice Place. All are welcome to attend.
The Old Fort Heritage Pub trail also begins on Friday night with acts like Paddy Casey, Stranger Things, Half the Truth, Monroe, The Giddy Yups and trad sessions playing in various pubs along the Main Street.
The new Old Fort Stage sees Abbaesque, Qween & The AJs take to the stage from 7pm. Tickets are €15 per night or €40 for the weekend and are on sale here.
SATURDAY 29 JUNE
Laois Hunt Mid-Summer Party
Celebrate the summer with the Laois Hunt mid-summer party at Stradbally Hall. Enjoy roast Pig on a Spit, buffet salads, Dessert and Tea/Coffee, music by the Valves and DJ. Drinks reception on arrival. Tickets are €40 and the event begins at 7.30pm. For tickets contact Fran on 0877965362
The Old Fort continues
The Old Fort Festival continues on Saturday with Free family entertainment on Main Street from 12-6pm.
This includes Street Theatre, Giant Games and Face Painting. Enjoy a drumming circle from 12.30pm each day and a self-guided Family Treasure Trail running from 1-4pm on both days, meet at Lower Square Stage.
Lots of heritage displays and re-enactments which will bring Medieval Times to life! Heritage Talks at 2pm, 3pm & 4pm will be delivered by Laois Heritage Society in Kavanaghs Bar Garden Room, with a Heritage Walk at 4.30pm. 12.30pm & 4pm: Experiencing Laois lead a Family Friendly Heritage Walk, meeting at Lower Square Stage.
The Artisan Food Market is a great place to refuel over the day. With two stages on Main Street there is lots to keep us busy.
| LOWER SQUARE STAGE | Saturday 29 June | ||
| 12 noon | Medieval Melissa Sheils | ||
| 1pm | Irish History Live Michael Moylan | ||
| 2pm | Fun Family Show Ronaldo Fanzini | ||
| 3pm | Fun Family Show Ballet Poulet | ||
| 4pm | Fun Family Show Ronaldo Fanzini | ||
| 5pm | Irish History Live Michael Moylan | ||
| 5.30pm | 65 Kitchen Choir | ||
| COURTHOUSE STAGE | Saturday 29 June | ||
| 2pm | Cocoa Couture Chocolate Demo | ||
| 3pm | Kevin Quigley | ||
| 4pm | Nova Band | ||
The Heritage Pub Trail will have Rain Dogs, Ronan Leonard, The Jury, Comhaltas Seisiúin Trail, Black Velvet, The Big Spoon, Pink Gin, The Chillies, Joe S and Mark McCabe to name a few. For full listings see www.oldfortquarter.ie
Headliners King Kong Company, Pogueology, The Valves and The Jury play the Old Fort Stage from 5pm.
SUNDAY 30 JUNE
Slieve Bloom Guided Walk
The Slieve Bloom Walking Club’s next guided walk is the Conlawn Hill Walk. This walk is a Grade B 10km walk and takes 3-4 hours so a good level of fitness is required. Meeting point is Deadman’s Inn, Ballyfin at 11am. €5 per walk or €20 annual membership (€30 for family).
M&M Road Race
Mountmellick GAA Club 10k run and 5k run/walk takes place on Sunday in aid of Mountmellick Athletic Club hosted by Mountmellick GAA. Refreshments will be served after the race in the clubhouse.
Medals plus t-shirts will be given to all participants in 10k (over 15s only). Medals for 5k participants (over 13s only). Cost of entry is 10k: €25 5k: €15 5k (family) €35. The race begins at 11am. For more information see here.
Old Fort Festival
Another great family day on Main St Portlaoise as the Old Fort Festival continues. Free street entertainment from 12-6. All the heritage acts will be in place again bringing medieval times to life in an entertaining and engaging way for all the family.
Street Theatre, Giant Games and Face Painting all continue today. Enjoy a drumming circle from 12.30pm each day and Self-guided Family Treasure Trail running from 1-4pm on both days, meet at Lower Square Stage. Both stages on Main Street will be busy:
| LOWER SQUARE STAGE | Sunday 30 June |
| 12 noon | Medieval Melissa Sheils |
| 1pm | Irish History Live Michael Moylan |
| 2pm | Portlaoise Comhaltas |
| 3pm | Irish History Live Michael Moylan |
| 4pm | Laois African Support Group |
| 5pm | Vocalese |
| 5.30pm | Circus Coranco |
| COURTHOUSE STAGE | Sunday 30 June |
| 2pm | TBC |
| 3pm | Paper Planes [Music Generation Laois] |
| 4pm | Joe S |
The Heritage Pub Trail also promises a great mix of music right along Main Street including: Comhaltas Seisiúin Trail, Ben Hammond, Daft Punk, The Big Spoon & Friends and The AJ’s to name a few.
Bringing to the festival to a close with an epic finish are our headliners for Sunday night, Smash Hits, Transmitter, Strength in Numbers and the Dooley Brothers. Tickets are €15 per night or €40 for the weekend.
End of Term Steam Trains
There’s no better way to kick off the summer with the whole family than at our End of Term Steam Trains on the Stradbally Woodland Railway.
The steam trains will be running from 12-4pm on Sunday, June 30. Tickets are priced at €15 for a family of four, €3 for children, €7 for adults and under 5s always go free. Remember your tickets are valid all day for multiple journeys.
Bring a packed lunch or pick up some snacks, tea or coffee from the onsite shop to enjoy a picnic right beside the tracks and watch the train come and go.
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