Everyone with an interest in wetlands and wildlife is welcome to this evening event in Mountrath on March 10th to celebrate the wetlands of Laois, discuss the ongoing survey, share information on the wetlands of the county and people who look after them.
Speakers
Patrick Crushell Wetland Surveys Ireland ,
The Laois Wetland Survey
Aoife Kirk, Project Coordinator/Community Engagement Officer
Connecting Communities with Peatlands
Mary Mulvey, Community Wetlands Forum
Recent work of Community Wetlands Forum Members
Followed by Q&A and informal networking
A partnership event between The Heritage Office of Laois County Council, Wetland Surveys Ireland and the Community Wetlands Forum.
The Laois Wetlands Survey is funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage under the Local Biodiversity Action Fund
The Equipment Grant Scheme is for creative and cultural individuals and/or groups living and operating in Laois. The grant can be used only for the purchase of equipment that contributes to creative and cultural activities within Laois. A maximum grant of €1000 only will be awarded to an individual or group.
Deadline for submissions of applications is 4pm on Thursday, March 24
The ‘Made in Laois’ Grant Scheme aims to bring together a creative practitioner / organisation and collaborate with a local community / communities of place and interest. The grant scheme is only for co-creation and collaborative initiatives that contribute to creative and cultural activities within Laois. The amount awarded will be based on the quality of application with a maximum grant of €2000
per successful application.
Deadline for submissions of applications is 4pm on Monday, March 21
This Award aims to foster talent, creativity and activity in filmmaking in County Laois. We are looking for original, entertaining stories by talented filmmakers who, if selected, must set and shoot their project in County Laois. A grant of €10,000 will be awarded to a filmmaker towards the cost of production of a short drama or documentary film of 10-12 minutes duration to be shot in Laois in
2022.
Deadline for submissions of applications is 4pm on Friday, April 8.
The Abbeyleix Climate Action Project has been awarded the prestigious Supporting Sustainable Communities award in the Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards.
The project saw Laois County Council creatively engaging the community of Abbeyleix with the topic of climate change. Artist and Science Communicator Niamh Shaw was appointed with the support of Creative Ireland and Midlands Science to work with Abbeyleix Tidy Towns for six months, examining aspects of climate change, making videos of work already ongoing, hosting online discussion panels featuring local speakers and international experts, organising interactive citizen science workshops, and building capacity and confidence in the members on science communication and digital storytelling.
Congratulating the team involved with the project, Conor Bergin, Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council said “The Excellence in Local Government Awards showcase best practice in local government and recognise the skills, hard work, innovation and enthusiasm within local government that can often go unrecognised. I am delighted to congratulate the team involved with this project in Laois County Council and within the community in Abbeyleix, for the tremendous work done on this creative project. The past year has continued to provide new challenges as we learn to adapt the way we live and work during a pandemic and I think the way this project delivered so many different digital and online events and outputs really sets it apart from other projects”.
Pictured with the trophy awarded to the Abbeyleix Climate Action Project and Laois County Council as winners of the Sustainable Communities prize in the Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards 2021. From left: Robbie Quinn, chairman Abbeyleix Tidy Towns; Catherine Casey, Laois Heritage Officer; Mary White, Abbeyleix Tidy Towns; Dr Niamh Shaw, Science Communicator in Residence for the Abbeyleix Climate Action Project; Cllr Conor Bergin, Cathaoirleach of LCC; Angela McEvoy, A/Director of Services Housing, Regeneration and Planning LCC; Dr Fiona MacGowan, Ecologist and advisor to Abbeyleix Tidy Towns and Cllr John Joe Fennelly, Abbeyleix Tidy Towns. Supported by Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme 2017-2022, in partnership with the Heritage Office of Laois County Council, Midlands Science and Abbeyleix Tidy Towns. Picture: Alf Harvey.
The Supporting Sustainable Communities award seeks to recognise projects by Local Authorities that promote social awareness and work with communities to involve them in making their localities a better place in which to live and work. This category celebrates initiatives which promote sustainable communities, development of the community or contribute to improved quality of life in an area.
Welcoming the award Robbie Quinn, Chair of Abbeyleix Tidy Towns said “The impact of the project has been that the members of Abbeyleix Tidy Towns are highly engaged with the issue and there has been an increase in awareness of climate change among the wider community too. We have a bank of over 20 video clips on everything from sustainable travel and food waste to climate anxiety and monitoring the impacts of climate change. It has also resulted in the installation of air quality sensors in the town and the creation of the Abbeyleix Climate Action Walk, a walk with QR links to animated video clips, so we have a legacy remaining on the ground from the project too”
Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council Catherine Fitzgerald MCC performing the launch of the Abbeyleix Climate Action Walk in 2021, with members of Abbeyleix Tidy Towns, Dr Fiona MacGowan, Jackie Walsh, Cllr John Joe Fennelly, Mary White, Mark Clancy and Robbie Quinn, chairman along with Laois Heritage Officer Catherine Casey, Suzanne Dempsey, LCC-Community and Julie Scully, LCC Healthy Ireland co-ordinator at the launch of the Abbeyleix Climate Action Walk. Picture: Alf Harvey.
The Climate Action Project was supported by Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme (2017-2022) in partnership with Laois County Council, Abbeyleix Tidy Towns and Midlands Science. The Climate Action Walk was created thanks to the support of Healthy Ireland, an initiative of the Government of Ireland with funding from the Healthy Ireland Fund and the Sláintecare Fund delivered by Pobal, administered by Laois County Council.
The Local Authority Heritage Officers Network invites you to a new series of Climate Action webinars. Join us for four one-hour sessions every Thursday, starting on 27th January at 9.30am.
You will hear about positive actions for climate from the heritage sector. Topics will include nature-based solutions, adaptation of heritage structures, risk assessment and will focus on methods that we hope will ignite action for climate right across the country.
Malcom Noonan, Minister for State for Heritage will launch the first seminar this Thursday. Paddy Woodworth, journalist will chair this webinar entitled “Embedding Climate in Heritage”. This webinar focuses on how we work to embed the climate crisis, and mitigation and adaptation approaches into the heritage agenda.
“Despite our heritage being a source of inspiration, livelihoods and significance, it is often missing in discussions on climate change…”.
– Dr. Kate Crowley, PCAN, Edinburgh.
This webinar focuses on how we work to embed the climate crisis, and mitigation and adaptation approaches into the heritage agenda. Our first webinar chair is Paddy Woodworth, author and journalist.
“Peatlands are an outstanding example of nature-based solutions and should be high on the political agenda…We must make peatland protection a more central part of our climate policy.”
– Global Peatlands Initiative at COP26.
Wetlands and peatlands are super solutions for climate, due to their important role for both climate mitigation in absorbing carbon and adaptation by providing many ecosystem services.
Our webinar chair today is Dr Martina Maloney, Chairperson of the Heritage Council.
Nature is “one of the most effective ways” of combatting climate change.
– Inger Andersen, UNEP.
Nature-based solutions are actions that protect, sustainably manage, and restore natural or modified ecosystems. They address societal challenges, thereby simultaneously providing human well-being and biodiversity benefits.
Our webinar chair today is Claire Cooper, Assistant Principal, Science & Biodiversity Unit, NPWS.
“Real success can only come if there is a change in our societies and in our economics and in our politics.”
– David Attenborough.
Local Authorities work with communities, landowners and politicians to create improved understanding and engagement with our places through the lenses of heritage and biodiversity. A sense of rootedness in a community helps stabilise society and allows actions to be taken for the common good.
Our webinar chair today is Sean McKeown, Director of Services, Kilkenny County Council and member of CCMA Rural Development, Community, Tourism, Culture and Heritage Committee.
This seminar series is organised by the Local Authority Heritage Officer Network. Local Authority Heritage Officers play a key role in promoting heritage awareness, developing policy and providing advice and information on local as well as national heritage issues.
County Heritage Officers are employed by Local Authorities in partnership with the Heritage Council under the auspices of the Heritage Officer Programme, which was initiated in 1999. The programme celebrated 20 years in 2019. As of 1st September 2021, there is now a Heritage Officer employed in each Local Authority. More information on the network is here.
Construction works are continuing for the Portlaoise and Fort Protector Enhancement Project Phase II at Church Street, Portlaoise, Co. Laois. These works include the removal of overhead powerlines and associated ESB poles, and the construction of new underground ducts for services. The works area taking place along the path and roadway beside the northern wall of Fort Protector which is a known and legally protected archaeological site. The ground disturbance works are being archaeological monitored, which is being carried out under archaeological licence 18E0339, by archaeologists from Colm Flynn Archaeology.
Discovery of 18th century culvert
During the monitoring of removal of existing road and path materials on the south side of Church Street beside the wall of Fort Protector, an 18th century mortar bonded stone culvert was identified. The culvert had been previously disturbed by utilities services and other constructions, but still appeared to carry water during rain periods. Some of the culvert has been piped with concrete drains in recent times. The culvert was constructed in the late 18th century when stone roads were being constructed in Portlaoise to aid trade and commerce.
Archaeological monitoring of works along the east end of Church Street near Fitzmaurice Place resulted in the identification or previously unknown archaeology. Two stone walls and a ditch were identified under the existing path and road near the corner tower of Fort Protector. The walls likely mark the location of a building and artefacts recovered from the area indicate that the building could date to the 16th century. One of the building walls is parallel to the northern wall of Fort Protector. Historic mapping (see 1560 map below) that survives for Portlaoise shows us what the houses in the 16th century would’ve looked like. The houses would have been Tudor style, storey and a half buildings, with thatched roofs, and central hearths or chimneys.
Laois County Council have ensured that the works did not impact on the archaeological walls which were preserved in situ under a protective membrane and sand.
Image showing walls and ditch identified in slit trench for ESB lighting pillar on Church Street, facing west
A filled in ditch cutting was also identified at the location of the walls (see image above). The ditch was identified immediately against the north wall of Fort Protector. The ditch had been backfilled with soil and stone. The ditch was likely an external ditch around the outer wall of Fort Protector and may date to the 16th century. Several artefacts were identified and recovered from the ditch fill, including post medieval pottery, animal bone, and a military uniform button (see image below).
Image of Royal Irish Dragoon Guards button from ditch fill
The button is a uniform button from the Fourth Royal Irish Dragoon Guards who were stationed in Portlaoise in the end of the 18th century, and mustered to crush the 1798 Rebellion. The button features St. Patricks Cross, and the shamrock, with the Roman Numerals ‘IV’ in the corner indicating the ‘Fourth’ of the regimental name. On the base of the button is the Latin regimental motto ‘Qui separabit’, which translates as ‘who will divide us’.
Image of 16th century green-glazed plate sherd from excavation
The pottery sherd is from a domestic serving platter and dates to the 16th century. This platter or plate would have been used in one of the homes of the English settlers in Portlaoise.
The ditch and walls are not depicted on any maps of the area, although the 1560 map of Portlaoise (Maryborough) shows a building to the north of the north wall of Fort Protector (see maps below). The stone culvert previously discussed had been constructed in the backfilled ditch, indicating that the ditch predates this construction. A road is depicted at the location of the Church Street on the 1721 Parnell Estate map (see below) and subsequent 19th century Ordnance Survey maps. The presence of roads on these maps at the location of the walls and ditch indicate that the walls and ditch predate the 18th century and based on their location and associated artefacts, date to the 16th century. The walls may represent the remains of one of the first settler homes of the Tudor Plantation of Laois and Offaly. The archaeological monitoring of works has afforded us the opportunity to identify and preserve nearly 500 year old archaeology, and to examine the unique heritage of Portlaoise, as Irelands first plantation town.
The Community Monuments Fund will have €5 million in 2022 to invest in archaeological heritage and help owners and custodians of archaeological monuments to safeguard them into the future for the benefit of communities and the public.
Old St Peter’s Church and Graveyard in Portlaoise benefitted from funding under the Community Monuments Fund in 2021
Core Aims of the Fund
The core aims of this Fund are the conservation, maintenance, protection and presentation of archaeological monuments. It will:
enable conservation works to be carried out on monuments which are deemed to be significant and in need of urgent support
build resilience in our monuments to enable them to withstand the effects of climate change
encourage access to monuments and improve their presentation.
Project promoters are encouraged to incorporate a traditional skills training element in projects.
Streams 1-3
The Community Monuments Fund has 3 Streams:
Stream 1 will offer grants up to €85,000 aimed at essential repairs and capital works for the conservation and repair of archaeological monuments
Stream 2 will offer grants of up to €30,000 for development of Conservation Management Plans/Reports that are aimed at identifying measures for conservation of archaeological monuments and improving public access.
Stream 3 will offer grants of up to €30,000 for enhancement of access infrastructure and interpretation (including virtual/online) at archaeological monuments (including COVID 19 public health measures).
Eligible Projects
The Community Monuments Fund provides funding for projects in relation to:
Archaeological Monuments that are included in the Record of Monuments and Places (RMP) under the National Monuments Act 1930 (as amended)
Archaeological Monuments that are identified in the Sites and Monuments Record compiled by the National Monuments Service.
Eligible projects will be drawn from the following categories:
projects proposed by a Local Authority in relation to archaeological monuments in public ownership , where a clear heritage focus and community or public benefit has been demonstrated
projects proposed by a Local Authority on foot of applications from private applicants who are the owners or custodians of relevant archaeological monuments where there is a tangible public benefit
projects with a clearly defined heritage focus and community or public benefit proposed directly to the Department by a State-funded organisation working in the heritage area.
Killabban Medieval Church was conserved by the community the the help of the Community Monuments Fund in 2020 and 2021
How to Apply
Application Form A below should be submitted to Laois County Council by Tuesday 15th February 2022.
Laois County Council in partnership with the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage is inviting applications for grants for the conservation of architectural heritage and archaeological monuments in 2022
Community Monuments Fund 2022
The Community Monuments Fund will enable conservation works to be carried out on monuments which are deemed to be significant and in need of urgent support; build resilience in our monuments to enable them to withstand the effects of climate change; encourage access to monuments and improve their presentation. The Community Monuments Fund has 3 Streams relating to conservation works, conservation plans, and improving access and interpretation.
The closing date for applications under the Community Monuments Fund is 15th February 2022.
Applications to Laois County Council are invited for the following schemes:
Historic Structures Fund:
Stream 1: Grants from €15,000 to €50,000 for essential repairs and smaller capital works, with separate streams for Historic Shopfronts, Irish language Shopfronts and Vernacular Structures.
Stream 2: Grants from €50,000 to €200,000 for larger projects involving historic structures, with a clear community or public benefit
Built Heritage Investment Scheme:
For ongoing repair and conservation of properties on the Record of Protected Structures or within Architectural Conservation Areas (ACAs). Grants at 50% ranging from €2,500 to €15,000.
All works must be planned and overseen by qualified and experienced conservation professionals. Applications must be accompanied by a Method Statement. Applicants cannot avail of funding under both schemes in the same year.
The closing date for applications under Architectural Conservation Grant schemes is 31st January 2022.
Doreen McPaul, Attorney General of the Navajo nation, visited Mountmellick this week with her family to explore her Laois Roots.
Doreen McPaul, Art Hobson, Denise Hobson Ryan with Paddy Buggy of Mountmellick Webmill Digital Hub and Trudy Carmody of Experiencing Ireland during the family’s recent visit to Mountmellick. (Photo Courtesy Doreen McPaul)
Ms McPaul, who was in Ireland to receive a Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad from President Michael D. Higgins, stopped off in Mountmellick on a whistle-stop tour of family in Ireland and was shown around by Trudy Carmody of Experiencing Ireland and Paddy Buggy, Manager of Webmill Digital Hub Mountmellick.
Speaking after she received the award for charitable work with the Irish Cultural Centre and McClelland Library in Phoenix, Arizona in raising funds for members of the Navajo Nation impacted by Covid 19, Ms McPaul said “For the first time in my lifetime my two cultures were intertwined in the most beautiful way … I was so proud to be Navajo and so proud to be Irish.”
Doreen McPaul receiving Presidential Distinguished Service Awards for the Irish Abroad from President Michael D. Higgins (Photo Courtesy Doreen McPaul)
Trudy Carmody, an active member of Laois Tour Guides Forum had contacted Ms McPaul last year and offered to help her trace her Laois family, following a press report about the family’s Mountmellick connections.
Trudy said “genealogy is such an important way for members of the Irish diaspora to connect with their roots and we were delighted to help Doreen trace her father’s family. I was so touched to meet Doreen with her Dad Art Hobson and sister Denise on their visit and look forward to showing them around more of Laois on their next trip home to Ireland”.
Local TD and former Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Charlie Flanagan on this remarkable story.
“The life story of Doreen McPaul is truly remarkable, and her presence and her distinguished award is fully deserved. I am delighted she took the time to visit Mountmellick and her ancestors and I would hope she will return soon.
The fact that the Attorney General for the Navajo Nation can claim Mountmellick heritage proves beyond doubt that the Irish footprint is everywhere and truly global. “
Traditional Navajo necklace presented to Trudy Carmody by Doreen McPaul, Attorney General of the Navajo Nation during her visit to Mountmellick. (Photo courtesy Trudy Carmody)
Paddy Buggy, Manager of Webmill Digital Hub in Mountmellick said “Mountmellick Development Association were delighted to welcome Doreen McPaul, her sister Denise and father Art Hobson to visit our museum as they learned more about their ancestral home. We look forward to welcoming them back in the near future to meet with the ladies responsible for our marvellous museum.”
Writing on Facebook Ms McPaul said “Our Quaker & Kerr roots are tied to Mountmellick, Ireland in County Laois. Divine intervention connected us to Trudy Carmody. Our great-great grandparents were neighbours here. Small Irish world! She & Paddy kept the museum open late for us tonight and treated us extra kind. Super special unplanned stop in this amazing town. Would love to spend much more time here…next trip!”
Caragh Burns-Sharma, Chair of Laois Tourism said “Congratulations to Ms Mc Paul on her richly deserved award and well done to Trudy Carmody on her ever fantastic research and connection building. Welcoming tourists to Laois and helping them discover the story of their ancestral roots in Ireland is a key part of our tourism offering. Our visiting diaspora often become frequent repeat visitors which is a huge opportunity for our sector.”
Genealogy forms an important part of the Irish Tourism industry, with increasing numbers of people tracing their Irish family roots with the help of organisations like Experiencing Ireland and Mountmellick Museum. While a huge array of information is now available online, many visitors welcome the personal approach offered by a genealogist and tour-guide like Trudy to help them to really connect with the home place of their ancestors.
Minister of State for Heritage Malcolm Noonan has launched the Built Heritage Investment Scheme and the Historic Structures Fund for 2022, delivered by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, in partnership with local authorities.
With €8m in funding across both schemes – an increase of €2 million from 2021 – they represent a continued and significant boost to the preservation of Ireland’s built heritage. It is expected the schemes will support hundreds of projects while also creating over 44,000 days of employment.
All around the country, communities are repurposing historic buildings to create livable, low carbon and resilient town centres. I’m delighted to be able to support this heritage-led regeneration by significantly increasing funding for both the Built Heritage Investment Scheme and the Historic Structures Fund to a total of €8 million in 2022. The increase underlines this Government’s continued commitment to the protection and preservation of our built heritage, benefitting hundreds of historic structures, keeping traditional building skills alive, and creating employment for skilled conservation workers.
Fisherman’s Thatched Inn in Fisherstown was awarded Built Heritage Investment Scheme Funding in 2021 for thatch repair
The Built Heritage Investment Scheme and the Historic Structures Fund support the owners and custodians of protected structures and those in Architectural Conservation Areas to meet their obligations to care for their properties.
Administered in conjunction with Local Authority Architectural Conservation Officers, Heritage Officers, and planning and administrative staff, both schemes will assist hundreds of small-scale, labour-intensive projects as well as larger-scale projects to repair and conserve our historic built environment. The projects will also give significant support to local jobs in conservation, traditional skills, and construction, providing a vital boost to local economies during challenging times. In addition, these schemes can unlock the potential to utilise heritage building stock and return it to residential use – an outcome which will be key to Housing for All, the Government’s far-reaching plan to create a sustainable housing system into the future.
Following on from the successful introduction of two pilot streams for vernacular structures and English and Irish-language historic shopfronts in 2021, both streams have been incorporated into Historic Structures Fund (HSF) 2022. The Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) maintenance stream from 2020 has also been retained for the scheme this year.
Lea Church in Killenard was awarded Historic Structures Fund funding in 2021 for roof repair
In 2021, over 550 projects were awarded funding under the two schemes, ranging from minor but essential repairs of rainwater goods to large-scale roof repairs.
The funding announced today includes a total of €4 million for the Built Heritage Investment Scheme – an increase of 33% from last year’s scheme – and €4 million for the Historic Structures Fund – which is also an increase of 33% from HSF 2021.
Owners are invited to make an application through Laois County Council, with a closing date of 31st January 2021. Details of the schemes and how to apply are available here.
Laois County Library Service and Laois Heritage Office are delighted to announce that work is commencing on the Ronnie Mathews Archive Collection. The collection, acquired earlier this year by Laois County Council, was compiled by the late Ronnie Mathews, a well-known and highly respected local historian and author from Portarlington. The collection contains records and artefacts relating to the history of Portarlington and environs including maps, photographs, business records and much more. It reflects the original collector’s knowledge and passion for local history, from the earliest times to recent years.
With items from the Ronnie Mathews Collection at Bloom HQ Mountrath, from left: Orla Connaughton, Archivist; Catherine Casey, Laois Heritage Officer; Bernie Foran, Laois County Librarian; Tim Mathews, son of Ronnie Mathews; Dom Reddin, LCC Tourism Officer and Sinead Holland, LCC Librarian Local Studies. The project is supported by Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme (2017-2022) in partnership with Laois County Council. Picture: Alf Harvey.
With items from the Ronnie Mathews Collection at Bloom HQ Mountrath, from left: Orla Connaughton, Archivist; Catherine Casey, Laois Heritage Officer; Bernie Foran, Laois County Librarian; Tim Mathews, son of Ronnie Mathews; Dom Reddin, LCC Tourism Officer and Sinead Holland, LCC Librarian Local Studies. The project is supported by Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme (2017-2022) in partnership with Laois County Council.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
This important local collection will now be processed in conjunction with Eneclann, Ireland’s leading history and heritage company. Professional archivist, Orlagh Connaughton, will list, describe and physically reorganise the collection contents to facilitate future access and display. This collaboration between Laois Heritage Office and Laois County Library Service is supported by Creative Ireland Laois, as part of the Creative Ireland Programme (2017-2022) in partnership with Laois County Council.
Tim Mathews, son of the late Ronnie Mathews said “I think it’s great news that a start is being made on archiving my Dad’s collection. He was born and lived all of his life in Portarlington, and loved the town, and spent over half of his lifetime collecting and researching items relevant to the town and county. He would be very proud and honoured by Laois County Council’s acquisition of his collection. Everything in the collection is original, be it maps, letters, photos, postcards, etc., and many items are well over 100 years old. Archiving these material and preparing them for future display to the public will give people an insight into life in the town over the last few centuries.”
With the Ronnie Mathews Collection at Bloom HQ Mountrath, from left: Tim Mathews, son of Ronnie Mathews; Sinead Holland, LCC Librarian Local Studies; Catherine Casey, Laois Heritage Officer and Dom Reddin, LCC Tourism Officer. The project is supported by Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme (2017-2022) in partnership with Laois County Council. Picture: Alf Harvey.
With the Ronnie Mathews Collection at Bloom HQ Mountrath, from left: Tim Mathews, son of Ronnie Mathews; Sinead Holland, LCC Librarian Local Studies; Catherine Casey, Laois Heritage Officer and Dom Reddin, LCC Tourism Officer. The project is supported by Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme (2017-2022) in partnership with Laois County Council.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Ronnie Mathews collected documents, maps and artefacts relating to Portarlington over his whole life, with the collection also including some items collected by his father. JT Mathews, established in 1866, was a bakery, confectionary, tea rooms, hardware and general provisions, and was in business for over 130 years. Ledgers and account books from the business shed a fascinating light on many aspects of life in Portarlington in the past and are also part of the collection. Among the interesting artefacts are a series of glass plate negatives showing all aspects of Irish life dating from around 1910; a cannon ball reputed to be from the site of Lea Castle outside Portarlington; and a hand painted chess board with the crest of the Dawson family of Emo Court. Materials also include a map of Patrick Street dated 1889 and a large collection of postcards by Wynne of Portarlington -showing Portlaoise (formerly known as Maryborough), Mountmellick, Monasterevin and more.
Laois County Librarian Bernie Foran said “Acquiring archives is an important first step in preventing loss of memory, but processing of archives is an essential step in ensuring that memory is shared and lives on. By processing the collection to the highest archival standards, Laois County Library Service ensures that this remarkable local collection can be accessed by this generation and preserved for the generations to come.”
With the Ronnie Mathews Collection at Bloom HQ Mountrath, from left: Tim Mathews, son of Ronnie Mathews; Bernie Foran, Laois County Librarian and Orla Connaughton, Archivist. The project is supported by Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme (2017-2022) in partnership with Laois County Council. Picture: Alf Harvey.
With the Ronnie Mathews Collection at Bloom HQ Mountrath, from left: Tim Mathews, son of Ronnie Mathews; Bernie Foran, Laois County Librarian and Orla Connaughton, Archivist. The project is supported by Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme (2017-2022) in partnership with Laois County Council. Picture: Alf Harvey.
Over the coming months the collection will be carefully archived and catalogued, and arrangements made for any necessary conservation, as well as preparing materials to be made available for research and for future display as part of Laois Local Studies.
Laois Local Studies was established to collect, preserve and make available for reference, material relating to the history and heritage of County Laois. It is home to the Laois Collection, a specialist collection on the local, social, political, economic and geographic history of the county. A dedicated member of staff is available to assist and support members of the public with their research and queries. The collection and service are open to all by appointment. Laois Local Studies is part of the Laois County Library Service, funded and governed by Laois County Council. Further information at www. laoislocalstudies.ie and/or 057 8594985.
