Portlaoise exhibition to take a step back in time

PORTLAOISE locals will be able to enjoy a trip down memory lane over the next few weeks thanks to a photographic exhibition entitled ‘Main Street Down The Years.’

The exhibition of old photographs of the town’s main thoroughfare opens at Portlaoise Library next Thursday, August 23 at 6pm. The pictures are mainly drawn from the Eason, Scully and Redmond collections is one of many events being staged to celebrate National Heritage Week in Laois.

The exhibition, which is part of Heritage Week, features various views of Main Street, shopfronts on Main Street and some streets directly adjacent to it. It is drawn from different collections held by the library service and features photographs from the early 1900’s to the mid 1990’s.

The collection includes streetscapes and shopfronts of past traders and businesses as well as old buildings such as the Townhall and the market square. It also illustrates the variety of businesses, buildings that made up the busy main street area some of which are still here today.

Residents and shop owners, past and present, are invited to view the exhibition. The photographs will remain on display in the Library until mid September and are available to view during library opening times.

And members of the public that may have an old photograph they would like scanned and added in digital format to the county’s local history collection are urged to bring them along.

The guest speaker at the launch will be Mr Michael Parsons from Laois Heritage Society and the Heritage Council while the Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council, Cllr Paul Mitchell will officially launch the exhibition