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24 Oct 2025
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24 Oct 2025
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Leo Moran and Padraig Stevens are on the way to Laois thanks to festival driving force Trudi Lalor .
The Sawdoctors band member Leo Moran is working on a special project for the upcoming Lovely Laois Homecoming Festival.
Mountrath woman Trudi Lalor is the driving force behind the Festival, which takes place at the start of September to gather Laois people from near and far to celebrate all things Laois.
While it won't be a Johnny Cash scale Folsom Prison concert, Trudi expects Leo and former band member Padraig Stevens to play a few tunes to some prisoners when they visit Portlaoise on Friday, September 5.
Central to the initiative is a song-writing workshop for the inmates of Portlaoise Prison. The aim is to help men who are rehabilitating their lives, through creativity via a love of music and songwriting.
Trudi explained to the Leinster Express / Laois Live that it is one of many community events around the county which are part of the festival. She said the prisoners are working on a stained glass window project for the gathering. Trudi felt that they should get something in return for their contribution to the homecoming.
"So I thought it would be a nice idea for some songwriters to go in and chat with them about their songwriting class. That is when I reached out to Leo. He said himself and Padraig would go in and talk to them about songwriting," he said.
Trudi acknowledged the enthusiasm of Paula Grant of the prison education unit for the initiative, which will see the west of Ireland lads playing some of their famous songs. MORE BELOW PICTURE.
Johnny Cash famously performed to prisoners in Folsom Prison in 1968.
"The two boys are delighted and are really looking forward to it," said Trudi.
The Mountrath woman also revealed that the famous N17 is the song that ends all the ongoing music classes at the prison.
READ ALSO: Big grant for revamp of Laois pub that inspired famous Ballymaloe duo
Padraig wrote “I Usedta Love her“ “That’s what she said last night“ “Same Oul’Town“ along with many more of their hits . Leo co- wrote the “N17”and “Clare Island“ with singer Davy Carton, and “The Joyce Country Ceile Band “ with Padraig, Davy & Pearse.
The Lovely Laois Homecoming Festival promises to be a celebration of community, creativity and culture in the O'Moore County on September 5, 6 and 7 when Laois people will have the chance to return, reconnect and reunite
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