Laois County Council has appointed singer Noirin Ni Riain as its artist in residence until May 2000. An ambitious music programme is planned for her residency which will involve bringing music to people of all ages within the community. A weekly adult singing group, lunchtime concerts involving local musicians, singers and dancers, music workshops for long-stay and day-care patients in Abbeyleix Hospital and workshops with Transition Year students from schools throughout the county are all part of the planned programme of events.

Laois County Council produces a regular arts newsletter which gives information about upcoming cultural events and it has recently published a third anthology of creative writing by people from the area called From Here to the Horizon. The arts office of Laois County Council can be contacted at (0502) 22044