LAOIS TOURIST OFFICE

06/10/2020

With heavy hearts, we have taken the very difficult decision to close the glampsite for 2020 from today, and have cancelled all bookings up to 31st October 2020, when our glamping season ends.

Throughout the pandemic, the wellbeing of our guests and staff has been a core priority for us. We have gone to great lengths to create a safe, yet fun, glamping experience - adding extra facilities and protocols to ensure social distancing.

However, level 3 restrictions announced last night state that people may not travel outside of their own county, and we cannot encourage people to go against the restrictions in order to stay with us.

We are so sorry to have to do this! We know that this year, more than any other, people need a break and something to look forward to. The year has been full of ups and downs for everyone, and we did not foresee these restrictions coming into force so soon.

We sincerely apologise for the disappointment caused, to all our guests, our staff, and to all the marshmallows that will go untoasted!

We’d like to thank our many lovely guests who have supported us throughout what has been an incredibly difficult time for the glampsite, and for the hospitality industry as a whole. Your kindness and goodwill has kept us going!

Right now, we are thinking positive for next year, and will spend the winter making improvements to our glamping offer, ready for better times in 2021.

We reopen on 1st April 2021. Midweek breaks are now available to book on our website. We are taking full site bookings only for weekends at the moment, but remaining weekends will be released in February. For more info, please see our website.

Hang in there folks!

We will be back toasting marshmallows before too long 👍😉🔥.

30/09/2020

Final allocations of seats for the upcoming Goitse concert on Saturday and we have 10 spots available we are now putting online for sale! Nab the final few seats for a wonderful night's entertainment here:
https://dunamaise.ticketsolve.com/shows/873615533

If you miss these or are looking for an at-home option, head on over to Goitse's page for details on the broadcast of this event too!

30/09/2020

DEA-SCÉALA MAIDIR LE SIANSA GAEL LINN!!

Tá dhá dhea-scéal againn daoibh inniu! Uimhir a haon ná go bhfuilimid ag obair go fóill ar Chraobh 2020 a chur i gcrích roimh Nollaig agus uimhir a dó go bhfuil sé beartaithe againn dul ar aghaidh le comórtas Siansa 2021!

De bharr go bhfuil roinnt mhaith srianta ann go fóill maidir le treoirlínte Covid-19, ní bheidh sé ar ár gcumas Craobh Siansa 2020 a reáchtáil mar a dhéantaí blianta eile. I mbliana, beimid ag déanamh taifeadadh ar ardchaighdeán (ag úsáid an fhear fuaime céanna a bhíonn againn sa Cheoláras de ghnáth) de na grúpaí atá cáilithe don Chraobh ina mbailte féin agus á chraoladh mar chlár beo ar leathanach Facebook Gael Linn go gairid roimh Nollaig. Coinnígí súil amach anseo ar uasdhátú maidir le dáta craolta Craobhchomórtas Siansa 2020!

Maidir le comórtas Siansa 2021, is é an Aoine, 30 Deireadh Fómhair 2020 an dáta deiridh iontrála. Is féidir iontráil a dhéanamh ag https://www.gael-linn.ie/ga/deiseanna-usaide/siansa-gael-linn-(com%C3%B3rtas-ceoil)/78-25/ Is ar an Mháirt, 8 Nollaig 2020 a bheidh na taifid le bheidh istigh ag Gael Linn don chéad éisteacht. Tá súil againn go mbeimid ábalta Siansa 2021 a reáchtáil sa ghnáth bhealach, le ceardlanna agus Craobh beo ach dar ndóigh braitheann sé sin ar Covid-19!

***

We have two good news stories for you regarding Siansa! Number one is that we are still working on completing the 2020 Siansa Final before Christmas and number two is that we plan to go ahead with the 2021 Siansa competition!

As there are still many restrictions on us because of Covid-19 guidelines, we will not be able to organise the 2020 Siansa Final as we have in previous years. This year, we will be making a high-quality recording (with the sound engineer we usually work with in the National Concert Hall) of the groups that have qualified for the final in their own home towns. We will be contacting the groups in the next day or two to finalise details. The recordings will be used to create a live programme which will be broadcast on the Siansa Gael Linn page shortly before Christmas, with the adjudicators giving us their first, second and third! Keep an eye out for an update on the Siansa 2020 Final broadcast date!

For the 2021 Siansa Competition, the closing date for entries is Friday, 30 October 2020. Entries can be made at https://www.gael-linn.ie/ga/deiseanna-usaide/siansa-gael-linn-(com%C3%B3rtas-ceoil)/78-25/ The deadline for the first-round recordings will be Tuesday, 8 December 2020. We hope to be able to run Siansa 2021 in the usual way, with live workshops and a live final but of course that depends on Covid-19!

29/09/2020

29/09/2020

Life Drawing returns on 1st October! You can join in for the event in the building (very limited spaces so book ahead!) or via Zoom with the wonderful
More info and booking details on www.dunamaise.ie

🎉🎉🎉🎨🎨🎨

29/09/2020

Have you had your coffee and pastry yet from Mueller & O' Connell Bakery?

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29/09/2020

So worth getting up early for. Enjoyed the Summer Solstice celebration held this morning on the Rock of Dunamase Laois Taste Laois Tourism The Merry Mill Mueller & O' Connell Bakery Rural Vagabonds - Boutique Coffee & Eats G's Gourmet Jams Bloomhq Laois Heritage Society Laois Archaeology Laois Heritage Forum Experiencing Laois

29/09/2020

The holy well of Ladywell is just outside Ballinakill and a few meters inside the Kilkenny county boundary. It is thought that this well was one of the stations on the Rosconnell pilgrimage route and there are accounts from the 19th century of tents being erected in the field during the feast of the Assumption.

The water from the well was known to cure diseases but there is one account from the 1930's of people taking water from the well to make butter and all the milk turning to blood!

Thanks to Concept Development Solutions for the image.

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24/09/2020

Are you wondering what Laois has to offer? Are you looking to discover and explore our wide open landscapes, our historic castles, our peaceful gardens, or walk in Europe's oldest mountains? Then visit laoistourism.ie and start planning that trip today.

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24/09/2020

Wooftastic news! Well it seems fitting on National Dog Day to announce we are now a dog friendly hotel! We know our furry four legged friends are part of the family and now you don't need to leave them at home. To find out more details check out our website on www.thekilleshin.com/dog-friendly-hotel or call our reservations team on 057 8631200 who will be happy to tailor your stay

24/09/2020

Did you know that the Balcony Cinema Film Club in Mountmellick is back up and running again. Tonight's film is 'Motherless Brooklyn'. Tickets must be booked in advance, email - [email protected], call - 0578697600 or text - 0894247488. A wonderful venue and totally compliant with government guidelines regards social distancing and masks.

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23/09/2020

Laois Blew Me Away -Travel Journalist Thom Breathnach - https://mailchi.mp/137da5f37062/thom-breathnach-makes-a-break-for-laois

23/09/2020

23/09/2020

Did you know Abbeyleix is also known as the 'Town of the Fountains'? It has five fountains, some big like the one shown below and some very small ones. Will you come and find them all?

Thanks to Dominic Reddin for this image.

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