Laois town to celebrate its 'Paris of the Midlands' status for Bastille weekend

All things French are to be celebrated in Portarlington,  ‘The Paris of the Midlands’, this Bastille weekend. 

The SOLAS Eco Garden Centre plans to hold a French Festival to celebrate the historic ties between France and Portarlington. 

The festival itself dates to the 1970s and celebrates the strong historical, architectural and cultural connection that we share with Ireland’s nearest EU neighbour - France. 

Portarlington became home toHuguenot emigrants fleeing religious persecution in 17 century France. The Huguenot influence lives on in the architecture, place names, ‘French Church Street’ and surnames of the town.

This year sees a large French Delegation visiting including an official entourage from the French town of Redessan which is to be twinned with Portarlington. His Excellency, the French Ambassador to  Ireland,  Vincent Guérend  will be arriving at SOLAS on Saturday, July 15 at lunchtime.

Over the weekend, 

Over the weekend there will be a range of activities and events including the French themed Farmers market, Ballet, Face painting, 'Tour De Port' cycling event, Wine Tasting and Jazz,

There will also be craft events, puppet shows, a photo exhibition and historian will give a talk on Portarlington’s French connection.

“We are thrilled and honoured to welcome the Ambassador and French delegation to our town. SOLAS provides the ideal location for hosting such a culturally significant event. Due to its unique artistic design, we can easily facilitate all aspects of the festivities - from food, to performance, music and dance, in our heated courtyard space,” said SOLAS Co-owner, David Maher. 

SOLAS is built on the site of an abandoned steel works. Its food and plant areas are built entirely out of end-of-life 40ft containers. It includes a 40ft Light House (a beacon of sustainability and hope), Ireland’s largest Mural (440sq m) and artworks, including a three metre high red-white-blue Rooster saying “BONJOUR”. Over 80% of its power needs come from onsite solar panels.

Laois town to celebrate its French connection

SOLAS itself represents a €3 million investment by local businessmen: John Carey and David Maher, to convert what was once Ireland’s largest steel works into a 9-acre campus built on the principles of sustainability, food, gardening, community and local enterprise. The garden centre which opened in May 2021 has become a significant employment, leisure, and cultural hub for the Midlands.