County Laois is a landscape rich with folklore. Mythologies or origins stories belong to every culture. The aim of ‘Beneath the Sky of Stars’ is to explore existing folklore and mythologies working with a group of writers known as the Stradbally Writers. 

Or, should writers prefer, they can invent their own, against the backdrop of County Laois landscape/characters/events etc.  A county’s flora and fauna, its gods and goddesses (real or imagined) imbue frail humanity with noble and heroic deeds. 

Invariably, this kind of writing questions environmental issues and how to preserve landscape. Place names of themselves evoke respect and mystery. Place names in terms of writing attach a sacred connection to where we live; the neighbourhood becomes the community, the local and personal transforms to the universal. 

The result of this work will be the  publication of a chapbook to include the work of County Laois writers and the  imagery of Jim Fitzpatrick and Harry Clarke.

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