re:CENTRING Laois comes to Fitzmaurice Place, Portlaoise on Sunday 29 May

Celebrating the return of audiences to the arts, Dunamaise Arts Centre is proud to present the finale of re:CENTRING Laois, funded by the Arts Council’s Faoin Spéir/In the Open initiative in collaboration with Music Generation Laois and Laois County Council, on Sunday 29 May from 1pm-5pm.

Celebrating the return of audiences to the arts, Dunamaise Arts Centre is proud to present the finale of re:CENTRING Laois, funded by the Arts Council’s Faoin Spéir/In the Open initiative in collaboration with Music Generation Laois and Laois County Council, on Sunday 29 May from 1pm-5pm.

 

Sunday 29 May, Fitzmaurice Place, Portlaoise

All events are free of charge

1pm – Sásta 

1.45pm – Bandwagon House Band 

2.45pm – Eddie O’Neill – Drumming circle

3.15pm – Bandwagon House Band

3.30pm – Circo Corcano

3.45pm – Ukulele Taster

4.00pm – Criola Dance 

4.45pm – Bandwagon House Band to close

 

The Bandwagon House Band, fronted by well-known Laois Singers James O’Connor and Nuala Kelly, will kick off the afternoon’s entertainment! The Bandwagon House Band is made up of Ros O’Meara on drums, Denise Boyle on fiddle, Siobhan Buckley on harp, David Harte on bass and Tommy Fitzharris on flute and concertina. These musicians are well-known in music circles in the midlands, and as Musician Educators with Music Generation Laois and Laois School of Music. 

The Bandwagon, a mobile music venue, first shot to prominence when it appeared in Trailer Park in Electric Picnic in 2019, to festival-goers delight. Since then, the musician collective known as The Bandwagon House Band have performed at events all over County Laois. 

 

Music workshops in ukulele led by professional musicians from Music Generation Laois and a drumming circle, led by world percussionist Eddie O’Neill. These workshops are open to ages 7 upwards, adults are also welcome and all instruments provided.

 

A very special performance by Dublin-based Afro Brazillian Dance group, Criola Dance, will be a highlight of the day. Criola Dance is the expression of afro-Brazilian culture through music and dance, celebrating the joy, spirit and resilience of an underrepresented community. Criola Dance has performed at All Together Now, Electric Picnic, Body & Soul, Culture night, Five Lamps Festival and more, and their energetic performances include opportunities for all ages to get involved, and is simply not to be missed.

 

Sásta, a trad three-piece made up of Ruaidhrí Tierney (box), Dale McKay (bodhrán, guitar) and David Harte (double bass) will also perform as part of this family-friendly event. Sásta are a new Portlaoise band, who have received great public response since they starting performing together in 2021. 

 

Maria Corcoran and guests will encourage audience members of all ages to try out various circus skills throughout the afternoon and families can also enjoy a fun-filled street theatre performance by Circo Corcano! 

  

re:CENTRING Laois has brought a range of free arts events across seven months, to open spaces and venues in seven towns across Laois including Stradbally, Abbeyleix, Rathdowney, Portarlington, Mountrath, Mountmellick and Portlaoise.

 

re:CENTRING Laois is a county wide arts initiative developed by Dunamaise Arts Centre, in partnership Music Generation Laois and Laois Arts Office and is funded by the Arts Council Ireland’s In the Open / Faoin Spéir programme and Laois County Council.