Best of Irish writing and music comes to Laois with Leaves Festival

The best of Irish writing and music will come to Laois this November when this year's Leaves Festival gets underway.

The packed programme of events was launched in Dunamaise Arts Centre in Portlaoise with Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council. Cllr Bary Walsh and CEO, Michael Rainey in attendance. The festival is a Laois Arts Office and Laois Library Services initiative and is curated by Marina Rafter and will run from November 4 to 8. 

Leaves provides an inspirational forum to engage with authors and books, stimulating discussions and conversation, music, film and song. It promises to transport you on a literary journey encompassing a multitude of genres, including crime, memoir, romance  and short stories.

The Festival is delighted to host an evening that celebrates the life of Mary Lavin; highly regarded as a pioneer in the world of women’s literature. Focussing on her relationship with the New Yorker, the evening will welcome contributions from her two granddaughters Alice Ryan and Kathleen McMahon.

Róisín O’Donnell is this year’s One County One Books novelist; her packed programme of events will culminate in an interview with Lisa Harding facilitated by Miriam O’Callaghan and music by Steve Wickham. One County One Book is an initiative run by Laois Libraries as part of Leaves, designed to connect communities through the shared experience of reading and discussing the same book. This initiative successfully fosters a sense of community, promotes literacy and encourages a love of reading.
The acclaimed RTE Spoken Stories series will be presented with a distinct Laois flavour as well-known Laois voices that include Claire Byrne and Evelyn Cusack will take to the stage to read from these stories.

Acclaimed musicians Keith Donald and Don Baker will come together for a conversation about Keith’s recent memoir and to play a few tunes.

A full and vibrant programme of readings, talks, music, film and spoken word will take place over 4 days and nights.

Leaves Festival will also host a reading and writing workshop by Dagogo Hart. Mike McCormack and Mary O’Donnell will discuss the short story with Christine Dwyer Hickey.

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Crime writers Catherine Ryan Howard, Catherine Kirwan and Andrew Carter will feature. There will be a screening of Four Letters of Love based on Niall Williams' novel. Emma Fogarty will be  in conversation with Shauna Bowers.   

SoFFT Productions series of films In The Middle of The Fields; an eclectic mix of original performances which include music, readings, spoken word, and song, in an exciting celebration of the extraordinary life and work of Irish writer Mary Lavin. Featuring artists Steve Wickham, Deirdre Kinahan, Saramai Leech, Michael Brunnock, Catherine Byrne, Sasha Terfous, Gerardette Bailey & Wayne SheehySightless Cinema Network production Dog’s Life: An evening of audio plays in the dark. Following two successful shows by Sightless Cinema Laois at Dunamaise, the company returns with a new show. The immersive surround sound audio plays are a feast for the imagination - because all the pictures are in your head. Optional blindfolds are provided to help bring you into the world of Sightless Cinema.

For tickets or to check out the full programme of events see www.leavesfestival.ie or  www.dunamaise.ie  . Tickets can also be booked directly from Dunamaise Box Office, Tel: 057 8663355.

Leaves Festival 2025, is brought to you by Laois Arts Office, Laois County Library Service, Dunamaise Arts Centre and funded by Laois County Council, the Arts Council, The Laois Partnership and Creative Ireland Laois. Leaves Festival is supported by Laois Tourism and Laois Chambers.