Everything to know about the Old Fort Quarter Festival 2018

The Old Fort Quarter Festival in Portlaoise kicks off this Friday, June 22 on Main Street Portlaoise and continues until Sunday, June 24. 

Over three days, the Old Fort Quarter will come alive with traditional medieval activities such as archery and shield-making.

The historic streets will be a hive of activity with live street theatre, artisanal food markets and live music along with lots of activities for young children.

Historians will host heritage exhibitions, offering a window into medieval life at the Old Fort of Maryborough.

Music

Friday, June 22

7:00pm The Jury

8.30pm The Frank & Walters

10:30pm Roll With It - Ultimate Oasis Tribute

12:30am DJ

Saturday, June 23

12:00pm Joe S

1pm Vendetta Love

2pm Curtis Walsh

3pm Robin and the Hoods

4pm Portlaoise Comhaltas

5pm Dublin Ukulele Collective

7pm Rusangano

8pm The Valves

9pm transmitter

12:30am DJ Bob Conway

Sunday, June 24

12:00pm Fionn Marum

1pm Curtis Walsh

2pm Music Generation Laois

4pm Vocalese

5pm Kavanagh’s Ukulele Troup

6pm Soul Beats

7:30pm James O’Connor and Alan Smyth The AJs

10pm Smash Hits

12:30am DJ Bob Conway

STAGE TWO

Friday, June 22

7:30pm Radio Nowhere

9:15pm Super Bass

Saturday, June 23

DJs all night

Sunday, June 24

7:30pm Abbeyfolk

DJs all night

Medieval heritage Saturday and Sunday from 12-6pm at Fitzmaurice Place

Step back in time to medieval Maryborough and learn some of the fascinating history of the mighty Fort Protector! Great fun for history buffs and curious kids alike. Explore a soldier’s camp display, stalls of medieval armoury, medieval craft and cooking displays or make your own shield.

Featuring Lord Edward’s own  Re-enactment Group, Raven Haven Aviaries, Ancient Music Ireland and Irish History live Re-enactment Group.

Explore the Old Fort of Maryborough on a short, guided walk led by Laois Heritage Society. Starting from the Main Stage at 2:00pm, 3:30pm and 5:00pm on Saturday and Sunday.

You will be amazed at the hundreds of years of heritage, tucked away behind our Main Street, previously unknown to most locals and visitors alike!

Artisan Food Market

All weekend, some of the best local artisan producers from Laois and beyond will bring their culinary delights to Portlaoise for the delicious Old Fort Food Market.

Food Producers:

Cocoa Couture - artisan chocolate

Original Street Food Junkie

Rockfield Icecream

Quarrymount Free Range Organic Meats

Aghaboe Farm Foods

G’s Gourmet Jams

Haze Foods Crepes

Bloom Restaurant outdoor BBQ

Sharon Shannon’s Garden of Vegan

Flavour Safari

La merienda Mexican Street Food

Fuel Your Roots Vegan stall

Family Fun

From 12-6pm Saturday and Sunday

Main Street and Fitzmaurice Place

Face painting, giant games and street theatre shows

ALSO on Saturday - Cruinniu na nOg

Cruinniu na nOg is a new national day of creativity for children and young people, taking place on June 23, 2018. The Old Fort Quarter Festival will be celebrating this day with a whole host of additional creative activities for children and young people, funded by Creative Ireland and organised by the Arts Office of Laois County Council.

Fitzmaurice Place from 12pm to 5:00pm

Arts and circus skills workshop

Cupcake decorating

Shield making

Intercultural dance, drama and music performances for and by young people and children

At the Dunamaise Arts Centre

Storytelling for children

Introductory instrument playing

Dance performances

Silent Disco

Drumming circle

Rap workshop

COMEDY at Kavanagh’s Pub, Portlaoise

Saturday

4pm Eve Darcy and Pauline Shanahan

5:45pm Cornelius O’Sullivan and Anthony Riordan

7:30pm Mark Doheny

Sunday

5:45pm gary Lynch and Greg Marx

7:30pm Jonathan Sheehan and Ashlee Bentley

SECOND STAGE

Jeramiah Grant's Bar and Eatery, Sally Gardens, Grellan Delaney's, Ryan's bar, O'Loughlin's Hotel, Bergin's Pub, The Office Bar and Venue, Kavanagh's Bar and Venue and Lilly's Bar on Main Street have all pulled together to be involved in the festival this year. 

The fun will begin at the top of Main Street at the Dunamaise Theatre and Jeramiah Grant's. There will be a marquee outside, the artisan food market will be located outside and a second music stage will have performers over the weekend including DJ's till late. 

The acts playing on the second stage outside Jeremiah Grants, Sally Gardens, Grellan Delaney's and Ryan's Bar include Radio Nowhere from 7:30pm on Friday evening and Superbass from 9:15pm. On Saturday, the stage will welcome a host of DJs all night and on Sunday Abbeyfolk will take to the stage from 7:30pm followed by DJs till late. 

FULL music line up and times for Old Fort Quarter Festival.

Excellent Irish comedy line up announced for Old Fort Quarter Festival.

Excitement building for 'bigger and better' Old Fort Quarter Festival in Laois.

Full line up of free family events at Old Fort Quarter Festival in Laois.

Cork band The Frank and Walters 'delighted' to return to Laois for Old Fort Quarter Festival.