Old Fort fun at free festival

Excitement is building in anticipation of the Old Fort Quarter Festival, a weekend of free family fun and live music on Saturday and Sunday, June 25/26.

The free festival on the Main Street, Portlaoise will entertain all ages and inform locals and visitors alike about the little-known historic fort located in the town centre.

Some of the very best Irish street theatre performers will enliven and brighten the street throughout each afternoon. Stilt walkers, balloon modelling, circus performers and puppet shows will entertain audiences daily, and there’s a chance to discover more about the town’s fascinating heritage on a fun walking treasure hunt.

Families can explore their creative side with specially facilitated family art workshops each afternoon. On Saturday, people can help to create a model sized medieval town, inspired by our very own Maryborough Fort. On Sunday, all ages can be artists for a while and create their own marble-effect painting to take home. Face painters and a storyteller are also on hand, to keep the family entertained.

Sunday afternoon welcomes an Irish Arms re-enactment group with their interactive, hands-on and engaging medieval heritage displays. Costumed characters will add a unique historical flavour, for a taste of the way of life way back in the 16th Century Fort.

Grownups are encouraged to stay on into the later evening for top class musical acts on stage each night, including Big Generator, Poguetry in Motion, Transmitter, Strength in Numbers, The Valves and more.