A new festival is being launched in Laois, to celebrate the rich history of aviation and exploration in the county. The Festival of Flight programme is flight-tastic with music events, arts and science workshops, history talks and films.

The Impossible Dream, the suite of music commissioned by Music Generation Laois and composed by Martin Tourish and the young musicians of the Music Generation Laois Trad Orchestra to celebrate the life and achievements of the Portlaoise Aviator James Fitzmaurice will be performed as part of a special event at St Peter’s Church of Ireland Church in Portlaoise starting at 3pm on Saturday 9th April and will also feature talks on the history and future of aviation and exploration in Laois and Ireland. Commission and Performance supported by Creative Ireland Laois. Booking info here

The Portlaoise Plane, the 100 year old artefact built in Portlaoise which was one of the first planes to fly in Ireland, will be on public display during the weekend, and there will be a ceremony to mark the 94th anniversary of the first east west transatlantic flight, including a parade from the Irish Air Corps and a fly past of historic and modern aircraft.

Midlands Science will deliver science based workshops, exploring the science of flight, and an art workshop programme responding to the imaginative, creative and playful side of flight.

More information can be found here

Supported by Creative Ireland Laois.

Please note that the details of events listed above are provided by the relevant Local Authorities.