TOP THINGS to DO in LAOIS and Nearby Counties Roll ‘N Bowl Entertainment Centre

TOP THINGS TO DO in LAOIS and nearby counties Roll ‘n Bowl Entertainment Centre

Clonminam Business Park, Portlaoise, Co. Laois Tel: (057) 867 0005 Email: [email protected] Web: www.bowlingireland.com Computerised state-of-the-art ten pin bowling featuring pinball wizard for children, bowling balls and shoes for all ages, cosmic glow in the dark lanes, pool, air hockey and video games available upstairs in games room. Outdoor Mini-golf also available with putters and balls provided.

Soft Play Centre comprising of three areas over three levels, catering for toddlers and children up to 12 years. There are ball pools, slides, twisters, punch bags, aerial runways, scramble nets, stepping stones and lots more. Parties are held in our Rain Forest Area. Meals for groups can be provided on request. There are activities for all ages at Roll ‘n Bowl.

Open: 11.00am – 10.00pm; 7 days a week, Monday – Sunday Rates: Reasonable rates | Group packages available

Fossey Mountain Springs Ranch

Timahoe, Co. Laois Tel: (057) 873 6527 Mobile: 087 231 6591 Email: [email protected] Web: www.fosseymountainsprings.com Western riding, trail rides, riding lessons, natural horsemanship. American-bred horses. Trails across scenic wooded landscape at Fossey Mountain – all trails off-road. Suitable for all levels. Open: 9.00am – 9.00pm; 7 days a week, Monday – Sunday Rates: 25 per person per hour. Group rates & packages on request. Irish Fly-Fishing & Game Shooting Museum

Attanagh, Co. Laois Tel: (057) 873 6112 Email: [email protected] Web: www.irishflycraft.com The only fishing and hunting museum of its kind in Europe. Over four thousand exhibits with many rare artefacts tracing the development of hunting, shooting and fishing through the ages.

Open: Normal Business hours (outside these hours by arrangement) Please ring in advance Rates: Adults 5 (Concessions Seniors, Children & Groups)

Crean’s Barge Hire

Vicarstown, Co. Laois Tel: (057) 862 5189 Email: [email protected] Web: www.barrowline.com A friendly family owned and operated cruiser hire company based on the Grand Canal, Vicarstown, Co. Laois. Our well equipped base is ideally located to allow you explore the full extent of both the Grand Canal and River Barrow.

Rates: Varies according to barge capacity

Kilvahan Horse Drawn Caravans

Tullibards Stud, Coolrain, Co. Laois Tel: (057) 873 5178 Email: [email protected] Web: www.horsedrawncaravans.com Award-winning horse drawn caravan holidays give you the opportunity to step outside of the everyday bustle. Travel from place to place (farms, pubs, etc.) in your own cosy caravan with your new best friend – your horse! No experience required. Activities include pet-zoo, pony-riding, trekking in the Slieve Blooms, carriage tours and castle banquets.

Open: Open April 2006 - All year Rates: Available on request The Sensory Gardens

Dove House, Abbeyleix, Co. Laois Tel: (057) 873 1325 Email: [email protected] A garden designed to appeal to your five senses – touch, taste, sight, sound, and smell. A garden of peace and tranquillity. We supply a large range of concrete garden furniture and accessories.

Open: All year; Mon – Fri, 9.00am – 4.00pm from June – Sept Weekends 2.00pm – 6.00pm; Bank Holidays 2.00pm – 6.00pm Rates: By donation

Heritage Bowls Stadium/Outdoor Green

The Heritage, Killenard, Co. Laois Tel: (057) 864 2320 Email: [email protected] Web: www.theheritage.com All ages catered for (children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult). Overshoes and bowls provided. Tuition will be given prior to play. Company and group outings are our speciality. Come and join our Wednesday ‘fun night’. Open: Open to the public 7 days a week from 12 noon to 10pm Rates: 6 per hour per person

Dunamaise Arts Centre

Church Street, Portlaoise, Co. Laois Tel: (057) 866 3355 Email: [email protected] Web: www.dunamaise.ie Arts Centre and theatre which presents the best in local, national and international performing and visual arts, including theatre, music and children’s events.

Open: Office opening hours 10.00am – 5.30pm Rates: Rates available from box office Mondello Park

Mondello Park Ltd., Donore, Naas, Co. Kildare Tel: (045) 860 200 Email: [email protected] Web: www.mondellopark.ie Mondello Park offers a wide range of events and activities including Motor Racing courses, corporate entertainment and conferencing, car and bike track days, early drive and more. For more information visit www.mondellopark.ie

Open: 9.00am – 5.30pm Rates: Available on request

Donaghmore Famine Workhouse & Museum

Donaghmore, Co. Laois Tel: (057) 864 6315 Mobile: 086 829 6685 / 087 917 2008 Email: [email protected] Web:www.donaghmoremuseum.com The Workhouse Museum, a unique attraction in Ireland, aims to tell the story of the families who lived and died here before, during and after the Great Famine. Visitors can walk through the virtually unchanged rooms of a 19th Century workhouse.

Open: July & August; 7 days; 2pm – 5pm Groups all year by arrangement Rates: 5 Adults | 4 Group rates | 3 School tours

Country Quads

Tinnecarrig, Borris, Co. Carlow Tel: (059) 972 4624 Mobile: (087) 227 0466 Email: [email protected] Web: www.countryquads.com Quad bike trekking over 100 acres of scenic livestock farm. We can cater for ages 8 years upwards. Groups of up to 10/12 at a time. Clay pigeon shooting also available.

Open: 10.00am – 6.00pm Rates: 8-12yrs 28 | 13-15yrs 30 | 16-18yrs 32 | 18+ 35 Mountmellick Museum

Mountmellick Museum, Irishtown, Mountmellick, Co. Laois Tel: (057) 862 4525 Email: [email protected] Web: www.mountmellickdevelopment.ie Mountmellick museum tells the story of Mountmellick’s rich Quaker and industrial history. It showcases Mountmellick Work, the only form of embroidery in the nineteenth century which can claim to be entirely Irish in origin and design.

Open: July/ Aug 2.00pm – 5.00pm; Other times on request Rates: 3 | FREE to children under 16

Ballyhyland X Country Equestrian Centre

Ballyhyland, Co. Laois Tel: (057) 862 7200 Email: [email protected] Panoramic views of countryside, trekking, cross-country course, tuition, livery, tack available on-site. Only 10 minutes from main town of Portlaoise. Canteen & toilets facilities. Child-friendly, group discounts, ongoing one day events.

Open: All year round; 7 days a week. Rates: Rates available by contacting Ballyhyland directly

Birr Castle Demense & Historic Science Centre

Birr, Co. Offaly Tel: (057) 912 0336 Fax: (057) 912 1583 Email: [email protected] Web: www.birrcastle.com The Demesne has become world famous for its exotic tree and plant collections, rivers and lakes. The great Telescope & Science Centre will ensure any visit is memorable for the whole family.

Open: Open every day 9.00am – 6.00pm Rates: 5 Child | 9 Adult | 6.50 Group | 7.50 Senior/Student 24 Family | Children under 8 FREE Lockes Distillery

Kilbeggan, Co. Westmeath Tel: (057) 933 2134 Email: [email protected] Web: www.lockesdistillerymuseum.com The tour of Lockes is the complete step back in time experience. Your guided tour follows the process from the grinding of the grain to the casking of the whiskey. Your groups are then treated to a complimentary tasting of Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey.

Open: Daily; Nov to Mar, 10am – 4pm; April to Oct, 9am - 6pm Rates: 3 Child | 5 Adult | 4.75 Group of 10 or more

Heritage House Museum & Heritage Centre

Abbeyleix, Co. Laois Tel: (057) 873 1653 Email: [email protected] Web: www.heritagehousemuseum.com Heritage House Museum captures the turbulent history of ancient Laois, early Christianity, the Normans, and tells the unique story of the landlord town of Abbeyleix, a Heritage Town of Ireland.

Open: All year, Monday – Friday, 9.00am – 5.00pm; May - Sept, Saturday / Sunday 1.00pm – 5.00pm Rates: 3 adults | (Concessions: Seniors, Students, Children & Groups)

Supershot Paintballing

Cork Road, Stradbally, Co. Laois Tel: (086) 377 7499 Five action-packed game areas set in beautiful mature Irish woodland. Supershot has the most up-to-date facilities in Irish paintball. Ideal for corporate outings, schools, colleges, families and stag & hen parties.

Open: 9.30am – 1.00pm (Morning); 1.30pm – 5.00pm (Afternoon) 6.30pm until dark (Summer only) Rates: Available on request 1 Abbeyleix Golf Club WESTMEATH 2 Abbeyleix Heritage House Museum MEATH and Heritage Centre Kinnegad N6 3 Abbeyleix Sensory Gardens 4 Birr Castle Demense and Historic Science Centre Kilbeggan 5 Birr Outdoor Education Centre 20 N6 LAOIS Edenderry 6 Ballyhyland X Country Equestrian Centre M52 7 Country Quads KILDARE 8 Crean’s Barge Hire 29 Tullamore 9 Curragh Racecourse Rathdangan 21 10 Donaghmore Famine Workhouse and Museum Naas Newbridge 11 Dunamaise Arts Centre M52 Portarlington Curragh Kildare 12 Emo Court and Gardens N62 Clonaslee 24 9 M9 15 16 Monastrevin 13 Fossey Mountain Springs Ranch OFFALY Mountmellick Rosenallis 14 Heath Golf Club 4 22 12 Emo Cana Grand 5 Birr SLIEVE BLOOM 15 Heritage Bowls Stadium/Outdoor Green M7 8 N52 MOUNTAINS 11 N78 Vicarstown 16 The Heritage Golf and Country Club

PORTLAOISE 6 14 l 26 17 Heywood Gardens Mountrath Stradbally 27 N62 23 WICKLOW 18 Irish Fly-Fishing and Game Shooting Museum 19 Athy N7 LAOIS Timahoe Ballaghmore 19 Kilvahan Horse Drawn Caravans Roscrea Baltinglass N8 N78 13 N9 20 Lockes Distillery Borris in Ossory 1 2 N7 3 Abbeyleix 21 Mondello Park 17 10 N80 Donaghmore 22 Mountmellick Museum 28 7 M62 25 Durrow 23 Mountrath Golf Club Rathdowney 18 Carlow Attanagh 24 Portarlington Golf Club Tullow Templemore 25 Rathdowney Golf Club

N100 26 Roll ‘n Bowl Entertainment Centre N8 N77 N78 27 Supershot Paintballing TIPPERARY CARLOW N9 28 Tearaways Thurles KILKENNY Kilkenny 29 Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre

For further information Contact Laois Tourism Officer tel: (057) 866 4132 or log on to our website www.laoistourism.ie

Laois Laois Tourism East Coast & County Council Midlands Tourism

The publishers gratefully acknowledge photographic contributions primarily by Kevin Byrne. The publishers cannot accept responsibility for errors or omissions but where such are brought to our attention future publications will be amended accordingly.

Design by Penhouse Design www.penhouse.ie 1 Abbeyleix Golf Club WESTMEATH 2 Abbeyleix Heritage House Museum MEATH and Heritage Centre Kinnegad N6 3 Abbeyleix Sensory Gardens 4 Birr Castle Demense and Historic Science Centre Kilbeggan 5 Birr Outdoor Education Centre 20 N6 LAOIS Edenderry 6 Ballyhyland X Country Equestrian Centre M52 7 Country Quads KILDARE 8 Crean’s Barge Hire 29 Tullamore 9 Curragh Racecourse Rathdangan 21 10 Donaghmore Famine Workhouse and Museum Naas Newbridge 11 Dunamaise Arts Centre M52 Portarlington Curragh Kildare 12 Emo Court and Gardens N62 Clonaslee 24 9 M9 15 16 Monastrevin 13 Fossey Mountain Springs Ranch OFFALY Mountmellick Rosenallis 14 Heath Golf Club 4 22 12 Emo Cana Grand 5 Birr SLIEVE BLOOM 15 Heritage Bowls Stadium/Outdoor Green M7 8 N52 MOUNTAINS 11 N78 Vicarstown 16 The Heritage Golf and Country Club

N100 26 Roll ‘n Bowl Entertainment Centre N8 N77 N78 27 Supershot Paintballing TIPPERARY CARLOW N9 28 Tearaways Thurles KILKENNY Kilkenny 29 Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre

GUIDE TO THE SYMBOLS

Picnic Area Playground Coach Parking

Guided Tour Gardens Suitable for all Levels

Pitch & Putt Walks Adult Activity

Historic House Information Educational Attraction

Internet Access Gift/Craft Shop Disabled Facilities On-site Coffee Shop Restaurant Suitable for Children Birr Outdoor Education Centre

Roscrea Road, Birr, Co. Offaly Tel: (057) 912 0029 Email: [email protected] Web: www.offalyvec.ie Canoeing and hill walking, rock climbing, abseiling and kayaking, orienteering and camping, gorge walking, raft building, archery, ropes course and body surfing.

Open: Office hours: 9.30am - 5.30pm Rates: Available on request

Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre

Bury Quay, Tullamore, Co. Offaly Tel: (057) 932 5015 Email: [email protected] Web: www.tullamore-dew.org Visit the birthplace of Tullamore Dew Whiskey and Irish Mist Liqueur. Audio-visual in different languages, self-guided tours and complimentary tasting.

Emo Court and Gardens

Emo, Co. Laois Tel: (057) 862 6573 Web: www.heritageireland.ie One of the finest stately houses in Ireland, Emo Court was designed by James Gandon in 1790 for the Earls of Portarlington. It is a magnificent example of neo-classical style. Guided tours of the house are available. House open June-September and by appointment. Gardens open all year round. Open: Early June - September Rates: 2.90 Adults | 2.10 Seniors | 1.30 Students | 7.40 Family Golf

There are excellent golf courses in Laois to suit all levels. They are in easy access and offer very competitive green fees. There is also the championship course designed by Seve Ballesteros and Jeff Howes, The Heritage of Killenard. Laois is a gateway to a number of championship courses including the K-Club, Kildare, host to the Ryder Cup 2006. Abbeyleix Golf Club Tel: (057) 873 1450 Email: [email protected] Web: www.abbeyleixgolfclub.ie Heath Golf Club Tel: (057) 864 6533 Email: [email protected] Web: www.theheathgc.ie The Heritage, Killenard Tel: (057) 864 5994 Email: [email protected] Web: www.theheritage.com Mountrath Golf Club Tel: (057) 873 2558 Email: [email protected] Web: www.mountrathgolfclub.ie Portarlington Golf Club Tel: (057) 862 3115 Email: [email protected] Web: www.portarlingtongolf.com Portlaoise Golf Club Tel: (057) 866 1557 Email: [email protected] Web: www.portlaoisegolfclub.com

Rathdowney Golf Club Tel: (0505) 46170 Email: [email protected] Web: www.rathdowneygolfclub.com

Tearaways

Rathdowney Designer Outlet, Co. Laois Tel: 1850 386 386 (for bookings) Email: [email protected] Web: www.tearaways.ie One of the largest indoor children’s play centres in the country. Catering for children 0-9 yrs (5ft height restriction applies). Ideal for children’s parties. Equipment safety inspected and certified by ILAM. Open: 10am – 6pm, Mon – Sat; 11am – 6pm, Sun & Bank Hols Rates: 7.50 for 90mins (Children under 3 – 3.75) Special rates for school trips and special needs visitors Heywood Gardens

Abbeyleix, Co. Laois Tel: (056) 772 1450 Email: [email protected] One of the finest gardens in Ireland, this site contains two types of garden. The first is a elegant 18th Century park with fine trees and lakes. The second is a series of small interlinked gardens designed by Sir Edward Lutyens and Gertude Jekyll in the early 20th Century.

Open: Daylight hours Rates: Admission free

The Curragh Racecourse

The Curragh Racecourse, The Curragh, Co. Kildare Tel: (045) 441 205 Fax: (045) 441 442 Email: [email protected] Web: www.curragh.ie The Curragh is the head quarters of horse racing in Ireland and one of Ireland’s premier sporting venues. Hosting the best flat racing including the Boylesports Irish 1000 and 2000 Guineas, Budweiser Irish Derby, Darley Irish Oaks and Irish Field St Leger. Open: Race days – available on request Rates: Available on request

BALLAGHMORE CASTLE

Ballaghmore, Borris-in-Ossory, Co. Laois Tel: (0505) 21453 Email: [email protected] This unique castle was built in 1480 and was once the chief seat of the Mac Gillophadraigs, Lords of Upper Ossory (family dates back to 500 B.C.) Visitors are given a guided tour of the castle’s many interesting features, which include a Sheela-na-Gig. Available for private parties and weddings.

Open: 10am – 6pm All year round. Always book in advance. Rates: 5 per adult | 3 per child | Group reductions