Lots of pictures and stories about Portlaoise town

Did you know that in 1915 a Maryborough man survived when the Lusitania sank with the loss of almost 1,200 lives?

Or that, in the 18th century, householders were expected to sweep the street in front of their houses twice a week?

Why, in 1950, did Coote Street inspire people to write poetry?

What happened in the Market Square on March 5, 1945?

What’s the true story of the Dead Wall?

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Answers to these and many other local issues will be revealed in the forthcoming talk by local historian John Dunne whose last book Home has been a bestseller since it was published in 2016.

His new work, The Town: A Book about Portlaoise, will appear next February but, in the meantime, Old Portlaoise: 40 Pictures; 40 Stories will appeal to old townies and new arrivals alike.

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The 45-minute talk will do exactly ‘what it says on the tin’: evocative pictures of our town – some shown for the first time in public – and John’s informative commentary are a combination that will be of interest whether you’re a serious historian or just plain curious.

Organised by Laois Heritage Society, Old Portlaoise: 40 Pictures; 40 Stories will be presented in the Midlands Park Hotel at 8 pm on Thursday, November 15th.

Everyone is welcome. Society members free and non-members only €3