Co Laois is not synonymous with arts festivals but all that is about to change now that a high-powered committee has set about planning a festival which it claims will rival the best arts events in the State.
Festival co-director John Whelan feels Laois has as much talent to offer as any other part of the State but that it has never carved out a reputation for itself in the arts world. "This is something we are anxious to redress," he said.
The festival will run over the Hallowe'en bank holiday weekend from October 24th to 31st and its budget will be £100,000. None of this money has been raised yet, but Mr Whelan is confident of getting the backing of local businesses once the festival line-up is unveiled.
The line-up is still being finalised but Mr Whelan said the committee has already secured "some well-established and high-profile acts" which will leave people "pleasantly surprised" when the programme is published next month.
The festival will be modelled on the Galway Arts Festival and will include events for all the family across several categories including theatre, film, comedy, visual arts, literary events and a special programme for children. Bookings will be co-ordinated from the Dunamaise theatre and arts centre in Portlaoise.
Mr Whelan, who is editor of the Leinster Express, said there had been no arts festival in the county for a number of years and "absence had made the heart grow fonder". Members of the committee, who include among others local TD Charles Flanagan, gallery owner Kevin Kavanagh, poet Pat Boran, and actress Gail Fitzpatrick, are very enthusiastic about the event.
"People don't associate the arts with Laois but there is, for example, a strong tradition of set dancing in rural areas of the county. If they were in Clare or Galway everybody would be talking about them. To some extent we suffer from that anonymity," Mr Whelan said.
Kevin Kavanagh, the festival's other co-director, said it should put Laois on the map. "Our idea is to get the ball rolling and to build up the festival over four to five years into a substantial event," he said.
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Readers who want to contact Eibhir Mulqueen can leave messages for him by phoning 01-6707711, ext 6544. emulqueen@irish-times.ie