STORM TRACKER: Follow 'Storm Amy' as it bears down on Ireland amid brutal forecast
Search
06 Sept 2025
Search
06 Sept 2025
Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content.
Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist.
If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter .
Support our mission and join our community now.
To continue reading this article, you can subscribe for as little as €0.50 per week which will also give you access to all of our premium content and archived articles!
Alternatively, you can pay €0.50 per article, capped at €1 per day.
Thank you for supporting Ireland's best local journalism!
This July marks the return of Laois' renowned Twin Trees Festival.
The festival is a two-day celebration of creativity, set in the historic surroundings of Heywood Gardens and Ballinakill Village.
Featuring tutored En Plein Air painting, children’s and teen workshops, and a community movie night, the festival promises something for everyone.
See the full programme of events here!
En Plein Air Painting
Friday July 11 and Saturday July 12, Ballinakill Community Centre, Church Street | R32HT73.
Attendees are invited to gather at 9:30am for coffee and a catchup, with a timetable to be confirmed prior to your arrival.
Content of the day includes demos from three expert tutors, with optional workshops discussing canvas stretching, pricing, colour mixing and more.
Lunch will be provided to all participants from 1pm to 2pm, with soup, sandwiches, tea, coffee and dessert all included.
On Saturday July 12, an afternoon session will take place from 2pm to 4pm involving painting in the great outdoors in the environs of Ballinakill village. This session will be guided by experienced tutors Neal Greig, Hollie Murphy and Jock Nichol.
Day 1: €90 | Day 2: €60 | Both Days €130.
A special one-day art workshop tailored just for teens will take place, led by the talented Kate Knowles.
This fun and creative session is perfect for budding young artists looking to explore both studio techniques and outdoor painting. All materials are included, with the ticket price including a free Teen Movie ticket.
These sessions will take place in;
Morning: Ballinakill Community Centre, Church Street, R32HT73
Afternoon: Heywood Gardens (Heywood Community School) R32FE04
The morning session sketchbook making and a process tutorial, on the key techniques to kickstart your artistic process.
The afternoon session will see Painting Outdoors for Beginners. Here attendees can explore En Plein Air painting with guidance on surface prep and using your sketchbook as a starting point.
"No prior experience needed – just curiosity and creativity!" organisers have said.
Teenage Outdoor Workshop- 'Sing Street in Heywood Gardens'
On Saturday July 12 at 5pm, step into the soundtrack of the ’80s with an unforgettable outdoor screening of Sing Street — a coming-of-age film packed with heart, humour, and original music.
Set in Dublin during the 1980s, this uplifting story follows a teenager who starts a band to impress a girl and ends up finding his voice.
"Bring along a blanket, your friends, and your inner rock star as we transform the picturesque Heywood Gardens into a magical movie setting," organisers said.
"Admission is FREE but must be booked in advance – Just follow the link below to secure your place! Popcorn encouraged. Picnics welcome. A perfect way to close out a day at the Twin Trees Festival," they said.
Children's Outdoor Workshop- inspired by Oscar nominated movie ‘Song of the Sea’
Exploring folklore through creative clay modelling!
In this engaging hands-on workshop, young artists will delve into the magical world of Song of the Sea through storytelling and sculpture. Facilitated by Linda Jones, a passionate educator and creative arts facilitator, this session encourages imagination, self-expression, and the joy of making with clay.
Part one of the workshop will feature a story Warm-Up (5–10 mins).
"We’ll begin with a brief recap of the themes and folklore in Song of the Sea—the Selkie legend, storytelling, the sea, and the power of emotions," organisers explained.
Discussion prompts include:
“If you were a character in the Song of the Sea world, what magical creature or object would you be?” and, “What part of the story or setting do you like most?”.
Part two will see the design Your Clay Creation (5–10 mins). Children will sketch a design based on a character, creature, or magical object from the story—or something entirely their own inspired by the film.
Part three of the workshop will feature clay sculpting (30–60 mins).
A short demonstration will guide children on how to use air-dry clay and sculpting tools to bring their ideas to life. Techniques for shaping, smoothing, and adding textures like fur, feathers, or ripples will be introduced. Children then sculpt their chosen subject using their design as a guide.
Materials provided on the day!
Children's Outdoor Movie- The Song of the Sea
On Saturday July 12 at 2pm, get ready for a special outdoor screening of the Oscar-nominated Irish animated film Song of the Sea, set against the stunning backdrop of Heywood Gardens.
This enchanting family film, inspired by Irish folklore and selkie legends, tells the story of a young boy and his sister as they embark on a journey to free the faeries and save the spirit world.
Tickets to all outdoor movies are free, but must be booked in advance. There is free admission for children attending our Children’s Art Workshop earlier in the day.
Outdoor Adult Movie Night- Brooklyn
On Saturday July 12 at 8:00pm, settle in for a magical evening under the stars with a special outdoor screening of Brooklyn, the award-winning Irish romantic drama that captures love, longing, and homecoming.
Surrounded by the historic beauty of Heywood Gardens, this adult-only movie night offers a peaceful and picturesque close to the festival’s Saturday events. Bring a blanket, a chair, and someone to share it with.
Entry is free, but tickets must be booked in advance. This film is 18+ only with limited spaces, and attendees must bring their own snacks and drinks. Attendees are asked not to bring glassware.
"Escape into story and setting—just don’t forget to book early!" organisers finished.
Subscribe or register today to discover more from DonegalLive.ie
Buy the e-paper of the Donegal Democrat, Donegal People's Press, Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles.
Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm.
This publication supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice of the Press Council. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at www.presscouncil.ie, Lo-call 1800 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie.
