Category: News

Concluding her impactful visit to County Laois, Minister Heather Humphreys unveiled the commencement of the long-awaited refurbishment works for the historic Market House in Portarlington. The Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council Mr Paschal Mc Evoy,  said “This momentous project promises to breathe new life into the town and bolster its vibrant community. This restoration endeavour serves as a testament to the commitment of Laois County Council towards the sustainable development of Portarlington and its communities. The Portarlington Market House, with a rich history spanning nearly 300 years, has played various roles in the town’s evolution, from a Market House and Courthouse to a Town Hall and even a garage. The project’s vision entails the meticulous refurbishment and repurposing of the Market House building, transforming it into an inviting space that will host meeting rooms, offices, and other facilities for public use. The refurbished building will seamlessly integrate with the surrounding public space, becoming a catalyst for the regeneration of the Square, and making a significant contribution to the vibrant town of Portarlington. The Portarlington Market House restoration represents a harmonious blend of history and progress. It cherishes the heritage of the past while breathing new life into a treasured landmark, ensuring that it remains a focal point for the community for generations to come”.

Mr Gerry Murphy, Deputy Chief Executive of Laois County Council concluded the speeches, saying: “This is a project that will bring huge dividends to the town of Portarlington and the surrounding area. There has been a number of stages to where we are today. The biggest stage was the signing of a 30-year lease. We then went into the next phase which was the preperation of a regenerative strategy for the town, called The Portarlington Regeneration Strategy 2040. We then brought the project to tender phase; and we expect to finalise the appointment of the contractor towards the end of next week, and to be in a position to commence work very, very shortly.

 

 

In her closing statement, the Minister reaffirmed her commitment to creating conducive conditions for people to thrive in rural towns and villages. Her tireless efforts are geared towards fostering vibrant communities, encouraging sustainable growth, and providing enriching opportunities for all citizens to flourish.

 

Next on the itinerary was the charming Heritage Village of Timahoe, where the Timahoe Heritage Committee, led by Chairperson Ms. Mary O’Dwyer, extended a warm welcome to the Minister. Ms. O’Dwyer eloquently shared the rich history of the Round Tower and the ambitious future plans for its development and said “ Tigh Mochua le Chéile had the pleasure to welcome Minister Heather Humphries to Timahoe on Monday last, to re-open our Heritage Centre.  It was also great to have our local man Cathaoirlach of Laois County Council , Cllr Paschal Mc Evoy present.  While there were a number of guests, it was wonderful to see our local community gather to acknowledge the work that has been done.  Minister Humphries had a stroll around the Heritage centre, taking in the beautiful majestic round tower.  She was also enthralled by the story of St Mochuas pets.  ( a statue dedicated to same can be seen in the grounds), and also the local Vikings who showed up to say “hello”.  Following on from the stroll outside, Minister Humphries then came into our Heritage Centre where she was welcomed by locals and the committee of women who run the ‘Tower & Bean’ coffee shop.  The Minister gave the coffee her seal of approval and enjoyed some refreshments.  It was a great opportunity for people to see exactly what is good about Heritage and Community in Timahoe.  After some brief speeches, which highlighted the pivotal role of volunteers and the blueprint that our heritage centre is for others, the Minister unveiled a plaque to mark the occasion.  The Heritage Centre is open during the week and the Tower & Bean coffee shop is open at weekends and bank holiday Mondays.  for more info check out instagram/facebook: timahoeheritagecentre & towerandbean “

 

The Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council,  Mr Paschal Mc Evoy,  said The Timahoe Heritage Centre is more than just a building; it represents the heart and soul of the community. It will serve as a hub for cultural education, a venue for engaging events, and a place where the rich history of Timahoe can be cherished and celebrated. The Heritage Centre stands as a beacon of pride and a testament to the shared history of Timahoe. It is a space that encapsulates the essence of the community, preserving its cultural treasures and providing a platform for its stories to be shared with generations to come.”.

 

Mr Donal Brennan, Director of Services said “As the doors of the Timahoe Heritage Centre officially opened, the community rejoiced in the knowledge that their efforts have borne fruit. The Heritage Centre stands as a symbol of unity and community pride, a place where the past is honoured, and the future is envisioned. The grand opening ceremony was a true reflection of the vibrant spirit of Timahoe, and it marked the beginning of a new chapter in the community’s journey to preserve and share its heritage”.

Delighted to be part of the momentous occasion, the Minister performed the official unveiling of the TVRS funded Timahoe Arts Centre. Her visit was further enriched by enjoying a cup of coffee at the Coffee Unit, funded under Community Enhancement, where Viking figures proudly stood, keeping an eye on the proceedings.

Continuing her tour of County Laois, Minister Humphreys was thrilled to unveil the exquisite new well-being amenity at Carrigmeal Woodland Walks. This delightful project was made possible through the generous funding from the ORIS programme.

The Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council,  Mr Paschal Mc Evoy,  said  “What has been accomplished here at Carrigmeal is more than just an outdoor space. It is a testament to the power of community spirit and vision. The generosity and dedication of James Deegan and the Deegan family have been the driving force behind the realization of this exceptional project. This space will undoubtedly serve as a dynamic resource for students, families, and the wider community, nurturing creativity, well-being, and social connection.”

 

Mr Donal Breannan, Director of Services, Laois County Council said “The Carrigmeal outdoor space has been thoughtfully designed to encourage creativity, promote physical activity, and provide a welcoming environment for all ages. With a focus on inclusivity and community engagement, it aims to become a hub for learning, relaxation, and inspiration. Local residents and visitors alike can look forward to enjoying the benefits of this outdoor space, which promises to enhance the quality of life in the Dysart area. Its open-air amenities, beautiful greenery, and inviting atmosphere are certain to be cherished by all who visit”.

Dr. Kate Ramsbottom  presented the Minister with a piece of magnificent Porcelain Pottery based on the Witch of Dysart Enos , as a token of appreciation. Under the guidance of the dedicated Proprietor and Chairperson of the Committee, Mr. James Deegan, the Minister embarked on an enchanting tour of the Woodlands. The tour included delightful traditional Boghran and Accordion music at the Outdoor Learning Centre, culminating in a breathtaking panoramic view of the heartlands of Laois from the viewing tower atop the Woodlands, with the majestic Rock of Dunamaise and the Slieve Blooms in sight.

 

Mr James Deegan, Chairperson of the Carrigmeal Woodland Walks Committee and Proprietor of the Woodlands said “Today we gather to officially launch the Carrigmeal Walkways and Outdoor School by Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys T. D. The Outdoor School and Meeting place is in partnership with Dunamaise College and the aim is to get pupils out of the urban classrooms and into the woods and countryside to learn and appreciate the natural environment and the biodiversity contained therein. I am of the opinion that this new venture will prove popular with the scholars.

The trails consist of three kilometres of walkways with another ten kilometres in the adjoining Coillte Forest that is accessed by a stile at the Southern end of the site.

The woodlands themselves measure roughly sixty five acres in area, with the native Irish tree section planted in 1994 and the Biodiversity section planted in 2010.

The native tree section was thinned some thirteen years ago, when we commenced to construct the walkways. Funding from the Dept of Rural and Community Development in conjunction with Laois Co. Co. became available and that allowed us to upgrade the walking trails and add in other features for the benefit of the community that use it on a daily basis. The Walkways were extremely busy during the Covid Lockdown with golf courses closed and the site within the permitted limits from the nearest towns, they provided an excellent alternative to anybody who wished to take fresh air and exercise.

Apart from the daily walkers the Woodlands are used on a regular basis by Scouts Ireland, School Groups, Leinster Orientering Club, Southern Command of the Irish Army, Music Generation, Operation Transformation, National Learning Network Ireland and other various  groups. Recently we played host to over one hundred people from war torn Ukraine and with refreshments served an enjoyable afternoon was had by all.

So Minister I think your funding has been well spent and we thank you sincerely for it. Before I conclude I would also like to thank Laois Co. Co. Sports & Recreation Officer, Ms AnnMarie Maher, Liam Dunne LOETB, Conor Browne from Leader, John O Connell Forester and the Neighbours and friends who supported us in this venture.”

The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, T.D., made a momentous visit to County Laois on Monday, 17th July, as part of the government’s ‘Our Rural Future’ roadshow,  to commemorate the official opening of the much-anticipated Mountmellick Arts Centre. The Minister’s presence was met with warm welcomes from the TVRS supported Mountmellick Arts Centre Committee, led by its dedicated Chairperson, Mr. Ger Lynch.

The Minister was treated to a captivating video presentation by Ms Anne Marie Kirrane, A/Administrative Officer and  MC for the Ministerial Visit. The Video  showcased  a myriad of projects from all across the county of Laois, that have flourished thanks to DRCD funding. Her enthusiasm for the Arts was further ignited when she received a gift of Mountmellick Yarnbombing from Committee Member, Ms. Martina Horan. After the presentation, the Committee proudly guided the Minister on an insightful tour of the newly opened Arts Centre. Mr John Mulholland, Chief Executive, Laois County Council, in welcoming the Minister said , “I  are delighted to witness the official opening of the Mountmellick Arts Centre, a testament to the vision and hard work of the dedicated committee and the community it serves. This new cultural hub will undoubtedly become a source of inspiration and creativity for our residents, fostering artistic expression and enriching the lives of all who visit. Mountmellick can now proudly showcase its vibrant arts scene, and we look forward to witnessing the positive impact this centre will have on the community for generations to come”. The newly unveiled Community Arts Centre in Mountmellick stands as a testament to the indomitable spirit of the local community, thanks to the unwavering dedication of the local committee and volunteers. The Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council said “I extend my heartfelt tribute to this remarkable Committee who have made this project possible. Volunteers are the lifeblood of society, and their selfless efforts enrich the lives of countless individuals, making the world a better place. It is with great appreciation that we acknowledge their invaluable contributions to the development and success of the Community Arts Centre. We are immensely proud of this accomplishment and believe that the Mountmellick Community Arts Centre will become a beacon of creativity and inspiration for generations to come. This project exemplifies the profound impact that communities, local councils, and the government can make when working together for the betterment of our local areas. I want to extend my sincere thanks to everyone involved in making this dream a reality. Your tireless efforts have resulted in a remarkable achievement that will undoubtedly leave a lasting legacy in Mountmellick and beyond. Congratulations to all, and I wish the Community Arts Centre every success in its journey of fostering creativity, artistic expression, and community spirit.”

 

Mr Ger Lynch, Chairperson, Mountmellick Arts Centre Committee said “What you have seen, and will see here today is the culmination of a lot of work and effort, over a good number of years, by many people and organisations. The Town and Village renewal grant, allowed us to put the finishing touches to a restoration and enhancement project, which has taken over 30 years to complete. To fully understand this, we must follow the timeline of the building and list the contributions of the various organisations.

The Mounrtmelllick Parish bought this site in 1944 and commissioned the building of an 800 seater cinema on the site, which was officially opened by President Sean T O’Kelly in 1951. It was known as the CYMS, or Catholic Young Mens Society Cinema. It ran successfully from the date of its opening until, due to the introduction of television it was forced to close, with the last film showing in 1992. This building is owned by the Parish and if it had been in private ownership,  it is highly probable that it would not be available for use by the community today.

I will list the organisations and their contribution to bringing this building from a potential derelict site to what we believe is one of the best entertainment venues in the Midlands.

• Mountmellick Parish. Having made a good deal of money during the hey day of the cinema, invested in a first class heating system, both upstairs and downstairs, in the early 90s, and it is still in use today. They also divided the balcony area from the main auditorium, creating a second small theatre and reducing the size of the main theatre. The intention of this was to create a small cinema in the balcony area. Unfortunately, due to the cost of sound screen and projection equipment, this project was not completed. In association with Mountmellick Drama Group they built, dressing rooms and a kitchen at the rear of the building

 

• Mountmellick Drama Group., who were producing their own plays in the venue since 1988, proposed the venue as a location to host the ‘RTE All Ireland Drama Festival’. They have been running a successful festival here for over 30 years. The group installed batteries of lights over the stage and fitted out a control room at the rear of the main auditorium. We are delighted with the fact that this venue has been chosen to host the final of the confined section of the national festival in April 2024. We take this opportunity to wish them well in the running of this event, and we are confident they will do a marvellous job based on their track record.

 

• Mountmellick Community Employment Scheme. The Mountmellick Community Employment Scheme formed their association with this theatre when in 1995, after getting permission from Father McNamara, they set up their office in the building. In the early years, they refurbished the toilets in the front of house, and since the Arts Centre committee was formed, have participated in every building and renovation project that has been carried out. Administration, cleaning and maintenance of the building is at present carried by workers on the Scheme.

 

• Mountmellick Community Arts Centre Committee. The committee was formed in 2000, consisting of representation from the Parish, Credit Union and the community, with an ambition to turn a building that was going derelict into a first class entertainment venue. Shortly after its establishment, they secured a grant from the ‘Ireland Fund’, which was used to renovate and refurbish the toilets at the stage end of the building. With this grant, they also paid for the material used by the community employment scheme to reupholster all the seats in the main auditorium. They then secured a substantial grant from ‘Laois Partnership’, to replace the existing asbestos roof, which was cracked and leaking. This grant required 50% matching funding, in order to meet this, the late Kathleen Cousin approached Michael Feely, who was them Manager of the Credit Union, and after discussion Michael put a successful proposition to the board, that they would sponsor Mountmellick Arts Centre for 10,000 a year over 10 years. This allowed the committee to replace the roof and renovate the two rooms at the front of house, as well as giving us funds for the day to day running of the facility. The Credit Union continued to be our main sponsors, for which we are grateful. In 2013, we secured a grant form ‘Laois Partnership’ to refurbish the Balcony Theatre. This meant installing a lift to allow access to all. The community employment scheme was of great assistance to us In 2015 approx, with our own funds and a grant from Laois County Council, we refurbished the reception area and relocated the control room in the main auditorium. In 2018, we secured a ‘Town and Village Renewal Grant’, which allowed us to complete refurbishment of the building as you see it now. We set up a steering committee in order to look after the day to day running of this project. This steering group, consisted of the following members from the main committee. Father Micheal Murphy, Michael Gormley, Micheal Feely and Ger Lynch. Sharon Deering, supervisor of the CE scheme, attended all those meeting and gave us enormous assistance, for which we are grateful.  Dom Reddin from Laois County Council was available at all times to the Committee and was helpful with his advice and experience. The Committee would like to remember the late Paddy Fitzpatrick, civil engineer, who attended the site regularly and signed off on the project without any charge.

 

• Tidy Towns. We are grateful to the Tidy Towns committee for maintaining the floral display at the front of the building and for the all access table and seating, which they placed in the Arts Centre square.

 

• Mens Shed. The Men’s Shed along with the CE scheme are located on the centre site and are a back up to us whenever needed.

 

• Balcony Cinema

In 2013, Michael Feely and Ger Lynch with permission from the Arts Centre Committee, set up the ‘Balcony Cinema’. This involved putting in a big screen, sound, projection and amplifying equipment as well as a protective curtain. They launched this in October 2013 and at present are screening a film every Wednesday night, at which the patrons receive a cuppa and refreshments. All for €5, which must be the best value anywhere.

 

• Seat Sponsorship Scheme

In 2019, Cathy Bishop proposed and executed a sponsorship plan that appealed to peoples nostalgic feelings about the cinema by allowing them to sponsor a seat for €50. This seating plan can be seen in the main entrance.

 

The Arts Centre, like a lot of entertainment venues is only coming out from under the shadow of Covid, and things are beginning to pick up again. The venue continues to host the weekly Bingo session, in aid of Parish funds, and is proving to be a major asset to community organisations within Mountmellick and further afield. Just to mention some of the organisations which have used the facilities in recent years

Music Generation Laois

Laois Scor

Laois Comhaltas

Mountmellick and Portarlington Comhaltas

Mountmellick Community School, they have staged their last 2 musicals here.

Mountmellick National Schools

Ballyfin Annual Parish Show

Mountmellick Youth Develepoment Centre

Mountmellick Scouts

Mountmellick Tidy Towns

Mens Shed

Barnashrone, Derlamogue and the Rock Schools

Mountmellick Drama Group

Gormans School of dancing

Lousie Ahern and her dancing group

Grannie Buggies school of dancing

It has hosted many drama groups including  the Clonaslee Players,

Open Door Theatre

Mountmellick Heritage Society

Mountmellick and Laois County Athletics

Laois Sports Partnership

Mountmellick Church Choir

Mountmellick Christmas Fair

Irish Photographic Federation

Porterhouse Players from Portarlington

B Sharp, Portarlington dance group

Portarlington School of Ballet

Laois Youth Dance Ensemble

Mountmellick and Laois Macra

Mountmellick Womens group

Sonas Creche Mountmellick

Speech and Drama Classes

Laois Community Games

Yarn Bombers Mountmellick also operated out of this building, until there need required a bigger premises.

 

Some of the acts that have played in the Arts Centre include,

Phil Coulter

Christy Moore

Pat Short

Tommy Tiernan

Rake the Ashes

The late Brendan Boyer

Andy Erwin

Sharon Shannon

Micheal O’Sullivan

Emer Dunne produced and performed inner show ‘Saluting the Brave’ which was in aid of the WW1 Research and Remembrance Committee, ‘

 

In terms of value for money, it would be hard to beat this project.

In conclusion I would like to thank the Minister and everyone for their attendance here today”.