Young Laois trad stars with Portlaoise Comhaltas to shine in Tenessee

Portlaoise branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann celebrated the dawn of a New Year by Laois musicians and dancers will visit America for St Patrick’s Day.

The invitation to visit stems from the Sister Cities twinning of Laois and Williamson County, Tennessee. It will see the cream of young local trad talent participate in events during March 2026 to advance links between the two locations.

Portlaoise Comhaltas outlined plans to the Leinster Express / Laois Live. The branch says the visit will be hosted at Franklin, the administrative seat of Williamson County while the party will also visit Nashville and other locations.

The branch says the visit follows on from the summer of 2025 when a Franklin delegation visited Laois, meeting with business, sporting and cultural interests around the county. The visit concluded with an evening at a Portlaoise Comhaltas Seisiún in Kavanagh’s Pub on July 1, 2025.

Portlaoise Comhaltas say that the national Comhaltas HQ and the Laois County Board have endorsed the trip, with delegates at a recent meeting of Bord Co Laoise CCE expressing "their delight" that the Portlaoise branch will be representing the whole county as they meet with the diaspora in Tennessee.

Portlaoise Chairperson Jason Conroy welcomed support from across the county as plans are afoot to stage a major fundraising concert to coincide with St Brigid’s Day, including special guests from across the county.

Group leader P J Phelan believes this invitation came as a result of the dedication of the panel of teachers and the emphasis the branch committee places on staging entertaining performances such as the annual show on the main stage at the fleadh. More below photo.

Pictured: PJ Phelan welcoming Eric Stuckey, Franklin City Administrator, at Portlaoise Seisiún on July 1, 2025.

"Individuals and groups may take provincial and national honours but the seisiún andstage shows bring a great sense of pride to all the members,” he told the Leinster Express.

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Portlaoise is one of nine Comhaltas branches catering for young and old who wish to learn and enjoy traditional music. The branch says that partnering with the Buggy school of Irish dancing in recent years, it has come to prominence at national level building on decades of voluntary effort by enthusiasts proving the seanochal.

"Mol an óige agus tiochfaid sí - praise the young and they will flourish," concluded Mr Phelan.

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A formal Twinning Agreement was signed in March 2008 between Laois County Council and Franklin/Williamson County to foster trade, commerce, tourism, and build cultural, educational, and artistic connections.