Calendar of Events & FESTIVALS in Laois for 2007
MARCH
28th March – 1st April
International Bowls Tournament
The Heritage at Killenard, Co. Laois
Tel: 057 86 42320
Email: bowls@theheritage.com
Web: http://www.theheritage.com
This International Lawn Bowls Tournament is open to everyone and admission is free. There are excellent prizes which are listed on www.theheritage.com The tournament takes place in March at the superb Indoor Bowls Stadium at the Heritage Resort at Killenard, County Laois. The Bowls Stadium is the only one of its kind in the south of Ireland. For more information on entry forms, please contact the Bowls Stadium directly.
APRIL
Annual International Irish Music and Set Dancing Festival
Castletown, County Laois
Tel: 086 2607658
Set Dancing Workshops for advanced and beginners. Sat and Sun. Five Ceilis all weekend. Sessions every evening. For more information, please contact the above number or contact +353 (0) 57 86 21178
MAY
Budweiser International Golf Challenge (21st to 24th 2007)
County Laois
Tel: +353 (0) 57 86 64132
The Budweiser International Golf Challenge takes place on an annual basis in May. This year, it will take place from May 21st to May 24th. The Challenge attracts golfers from all over Europe as well as from Ireland. The Budweiser International Challenge is a fourball, betterball competition. Players will be given the chance to experience the variety and quality of at least 3 of the 5 participating golf courses: Abbeyleix, Mountrath, Portarlington, Rathdowney and the Heath. Prizes are given each day. The leading pairs with the best accumulated scores over the three days will qualify to play the grand final at the championship Golf Course of the Heritage at Killenard, designed by Seve Ballesteros.
For entry forms or more information, please contact Tourism Officer, Laois County Council. Tel: +353 (0) 57 86 64132 Email: hdeevy@laoiscoco.ie Web: www.laoistourism.ie
Laois Bealtaine Festival (Arts Festival)
Arts Office, Laois County Council, Aras an Chontae, Portlaoise
Tel: +353 (0) 57 86 74342
This festival takes place in May each year and is run by the local arts office in association with Age and Opportunity. Various storytelling and music events take place throughout the County. For more details, please contact the Arts Office.
Slieve Bloom Walking Festival
Kinnity, Co. Laois
Tel: + 353 57 9137299
Email: info@slievebloom.ie
Web: http://www.slievebloom.ie
The Slieve Bloom Rural Development Society and the Slieve Bloom Walking Club organise a Programme of Walks on most Sundays from May to September, with local guides to enable you to get the most enjoyment and to benefit from their local knowledge of the terrain and of the flora and fauna encountered on the way.
June
Gordon Bennett Irish Classic Run (1st – 4th June 2007)
Tel: +353 (0) 57 86 25522 / 64132
Email: gandoninn@eircom.net info@laoistourism.ie
Web: http://www.laoistourism.ie/
An Annual Rally for Classic vehicles of all types (registered pre-1977) takes place on an annual basis on the June Bank Holiday weekend. The Classic Car Run is based in County Laois and takes in counties Kildare and Carlow to commemorate the original Gordon Bennett ‘the race that saved motor sport’. The Gordon Bennett route is a historic motoring route which is signposted through the three midland counties.
Laois Walks Festival
Tel: +353 (0) 57 86 61900
The festival programme includes fifteen walks over a 4 week period. All types of walkers are catered for through the festival programme. Each walk is lead by a local guide. All routes boast special features that set them apart from each other. The Walking Festival will take place from 13th June to 11th July.
More information about Walking in Laois is available from the sports section of the website
July
International Gardens Festival
Emo Court & Gardens, Emo, County Laois
Tel: +353 (0) 1 2889086
Email: info@igf.ie
The International Garden Festival takes place at Emo Court and Gardens takes place at Emo Court and Gardens. A first for Ireland, this International Garden Festival sets out to display gardens that focus on the importance of design. The 15 gardens are open to visitors to walk through. The festival runs through the Summer period. Other attractions will include Garden Seminars, Garden Tours of the area, farmers Markets and children’s entertainment. Emo Court, County Laois is an excellent venue to host the Festival. Designed by James Gandon in 1790, Emo Court provides a magnificent backdrop and is a location which will blend traditional gardens of the 18th Century with the modern designs of the 21st Century.
Festival of the Mountain – Rosenallis
Rosenallis, County Laois
Tel: +353 (0) 57 93 28879
This festival takes place in July in the picturesque town of Rosenallis at the foot of the Slieve Bloom Mountains.
Ossory Agricultural Show
Tel: + 353 (0) 87 6572536 / 0505 46666
This annual Ossory Show takes place in July. There are many attractions for all ages, including classes for horses, cattle and sheep with many qualifiers in these classes, an also in vegetables, home baking and crafts. There are also classes for jams, poultry, flowers, amateur photography and children’s competitions
Smithwicks Erkina Festival, Rathdowney, Co. Laois.
Web: http://www.erkinafestival.com
Tel: 0505 46320 / 46454
This event takes place in July the central theme of this festival is pageantry and heritage. There will be day and night entertainment plys a day in the bog, finishing off with the grand finale – ‘Flare in the Square’
Noel Duggan Memorial Vintage Classic Show
The Square, Ballinakill, Co. Laois.
Tel: 057 87 33331
Vintage cars, tractors, motorbikes, engines, old parts, stalls and a parade of cars and tractors all feature in this festival.
August
National Steam Rally
Stradbally, County Laois
Tel: +353 (0) 57 86 25444 / 25154
Web: www.irishsteam.ie
This festival, which takes place each August bank holiday weekend, is one of Laois’s most famous with its unique collection of ancient machinery. 30 engines in steam and a steam train all add to the spectacle and a carnival, hot air ballooning and a sheep dog demonstration provide a great day’s entertainment.
Durrow Carnival Weekend
Tel: 00 353 (0) 57 87 36327
Family based entertainment including music shows, Irish music and dance, carnival amusements, a parade and street entertainment. This event takes place in August usually the Bank Holiday Weekend.
World Fleadh
Portlaoise, County Laois.
Tel: +353 (0) 68 28008 / +353 (0) 57 86 64132
The World Fleadh is a unique annual cultural festival which will take place over a seven day period in a custom built festival village. The World Fleadh will comprise theatre, marquee and outdoor concerts given by the most celebrated Irish Traditional and contemporary performers in the world in addition to exclusive Irish performances given by a selection of the world’s greatest celtic /world music performers.
Clonaslee Show (9th September 2007)
Community Centre, Clonaslee, Co. Laois.
Tel: 057 86 48303
This agricultural show includes a dog show, cookery and domestic arts.
National Heritage Week (25th August – 2nd September 2007)
Tel: 057 87 74348 (Catherine Casey, Heritage Officer)
Web: www.laois.ie
An important week for the county with reflection and celebration being the emphasis.
September
Electric Picnic Festival
Tel: +353 (0) 1 4789093
http://www.theelectricpicnic.ie
Stradbally, County Laois
The Electric Picnic Festival is a boutique music festival over three days in late August / early September and features music, comedy, cabaret, organic cafes and juice bars, family entertainment, all in the idyllic and picturesque setting of Stradbally Hall Estate in Stradbally, Co. Laois.
Seve Trophy
Heritage Golf & Spa Resort
Killenard, County Laois
Tel: +353 (0) 57 86 45500
Email: info@theheritage.com
Web: http://www.theheritage.com
The Seve Trophy pits Europe’s leading players in a team match play event between Continental Europe and Great Britain & Ireland. The next event will be played at The Heritage, a course that Seve co-designed, between 27-30 September next year when Europe’s next Ryder Cup captain, Nick Faldo, will come up against Seve as opposing non-playing captains in the Seve Trophy
October
Slieve Bloom Storytelling Festival
Tel: + 353 (0) 57 9137299
Email: info@slievebloom.ie
Web: http://www.slievebloom.ie
Kinnity, Co. Offaly
A landscape of mountains, valleys glens and waterfalls, ancient raths and medieval castles, in the heart of Ireland, rich in music and folklore is the ideal setting for a festival of Oral Storytelling.
Should you have any information on an event or wish to amend any details above please contact the Tourism Officer at 057 86 64132 or email: hdeevy@laoiscoco.ie
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