President Michael D Higgins to open Esker Arts Centre in Tullamore

President Michael D. Higgins will officially open the Esker Arts Centre in Tullamore on June 6 at 4pm.

Sean Walsh, the Artistic Director of the centre said President Higgins was approached by members of the board when he was in Tullamore some years ago and he said at that time to contact him when it was ready to open.

Meanwhile the ''soft'' opening of the centre takes place tomorrow Saturday April 15 with the art exhibition 'Breaking Ground,' which includes painting, photography, print, sculpture and video work. All are welcome to attend and the centre is then open to the public to visit.

Tonight Friday April 14, a fundraising concert organised by the Tullamore Lions Club featuring Tullamore Academy Choir, Tullamore Stage School Ladies Choir and the Dublin Welsh Male Voice Choir is sold out.

''The Centre is all ready to go. It has been a busy few weeks finishing off everything. The building looks good, the ''Breaking Ground'' exhibition looks great and is over two galleries. It's great to see the galleries filled,'' said Sean Walsh.

The opening season will also include a programme of Bealtaine events specifically programmed for older people, as well as a number of Music Generation events for local schools and a production by the Stage Stars Academy.

''We also have the inaugural season of Esker Film Club, some fantastic theatre, and music by luminaries like Camille O’Sullivan, Andy Irvine and Mairtín O’Connor. With music, theatre, film, literature and local arts, this opening season is just the tip of the iceberg,''

''Esker Arts Centre will be a gathering place for everybody with an interest in the arts, whether as makers and collaborators or viewers and listeners, and will be a safe and inclusive space to enjoy the wonders of creativity (your own or somebody else’s). This is just the start of a long-term journey which we will embark on together,''  said Mr Walsh.

This venue will also be a platform for the talents of local artists (of all art forms), and we are delighted that our opening season will include performances by the Tullamore Musical Society, Tullamore Amateur Drama Society, and a number of local choirs. The Poetry Open Mic event on Poetry Day Ireland will be give local poets an opportunity to read their work.