Arrive as a guest ...leave as a friend a message from the County Manager Located in the heart of the Midlands is the picturesque County of Laois. One of the least discovered counties in Ireland but yet one that has so much to offer including a range of activities to its visitors from excellent golf courses to horse riding and fishing. Laois is also blessed with two fine rivers, the River Nore and the River Barrow, both providing superb angling. Hillwalking and cycling are two other favourite pastimes, not to mention the glorious Slieve Bloom Mountains. The newly established Laois Garden Trail showcases our beautiful gardens and the Laois Heritage Trail will guide you through the historic monuments and the fine heritage of County Laois. And so, to assist visitors and residents of the County, this brochure lists the many attractions in the county, things to do and places that you should on your visit be sure to see. Please take time to explore all that is on offer in the County and we hope you’ll arrive as a guest and leave as a friend. Mr Peter Carey, County Manager, Laois County Council, Chairman of Laois Tourism. Credits Produced by the Tourism Section of Laois County Council with the assistance of Laois Tourism. Graphic Design, Copywriting and Project Consultants: Creactive Studios - www.creactivestudios.com Print: Mochua Print - www.mochuaprint.ie All photographs: © Copyright of Tourism Officer Laois County Council/Laois Tourism 2013 2 2 A message from the County Manager contents 4/5 Welcome to Laois Can we sum Laois up in a few words - let’s try. 6/7 Town and Country From the hustle and bustle of urban life to country living, the two live side by side and create magic. 8/9 Heritage Echoes of the past are evident everywhere, from an old castle ruin, a great tower or a stone carved door to another world. 10/11 Fresh Air Get out and stay out ... don’t mean to be rude but Laois can give you the best outdoor experience. 12/13 The Big Event From the Electric Picnic to the Gordon Bennett Rally - there is something for everyone in Laois. 14/15 The Good Life For music and the craic, good food and top class accommodation you’ve come to the right place. 16/17 Arts and Minds Whether music, theatre, art, dance or poetry. Culture is the very heartbeat of this county. 18/19 Greens with Envy A paradise for golfers with seven courses to choose from to suit everyones game. 20/21 This Sporting Life An arena in the heart of Ireland where a passion for sport beats from every corner of the county. 22/23 Resources Credits A map and some important information to make Produced by the Tourism Section of Laois County Council with the assistance of Laois Tourism. your stay run more smoothly. Graphic Design, Copywriting and Project Consultants: Every care has been taken in the compilation of this guidebook to ensure accuracy at the time of publication. Creactive Studios - www.creactivestudios.com The publishers cannot accept responsibility for printed errors or Print: Mochua Print - www.mochuaprint.ie omissions, or alterations occurring after the guidebook has been All photographs: © Copyright of Tourism Officer Laois County Council/Laois Tourism 2013 published. Cover shots: The Rock of Dunamase and Emo Court. 3 welcome to Laois Always on the go, leading busy lives, the stress of modern day living, the hustle and bustle, forever going from A to Z, but have you ever wondered what lies between. The place over there as you glance out the window of your car. The place you drive through as you go on your way cutting through the countryside on our motorways. The place you don’t have to stop at. The place that lingers in your mind, that mysterious place over there. But just stop and think for a minute, maybe you do need to stop off, maybe you deserve some downtime, a place to rewind, to relax, to get away from it all. A place to connect with nature, discover the past in the present, learn a different way of life. Surprise yourself. Over there is a place called Laois. Give it a go, you will not be disappointed. 4 Some stats and facts about Laois Laois is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the Province of Leinster. Laois County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county is 80,559 according to the 2011 census - 20% higher than it was in the 2006 census which is the highest percentage population growth in the country. The county’s total area is 1,720 sq km or 660 sq miles, making it the 23rd largest of Ireland’s 32 counties in area and also 23rd largest in terms of population. It is the seventh largest of Leinster’s 12 counties in size and tenth largest in terms of population. Agricultural activities occupy about 70% of the land area of the county with the remaining area consisting of stretches of raised bog, and the Slieve Bloom mountains, which are partially covered by Ancient Celtic sites, serene country villages, monastic The visitor is offered a myriad of reasonably priced coniferous forest. The county has a small industrial base, with industrial parks at round towers, windswept valley landscapes, rugged places to stay, superb award-winning restaurants, Portlaoise, Portarlington and desolate bog lands, tumbling waterfalls - Laois is great entertainment, exhilarating outdoor adventure, Mountmellick. steeped in myth and legend. excellent shopping and welcoming people. All within an hour of Ireland’s capital. The main town is Portlaoise, situated just The captivating heritage of Laois is supported by north of the M7 and M8 junction, the country’s main artery routes connecting breath-taking landscapes where you can enjoy A county of rich contrast, Laois is a place for people Dublin to Limerick and Cork. peaceful moments of rejuvenation. Take a drive who want a different experience of Ireland. through the Slieve Bloom Mountains and its quaint A meeting point for ancient heritage and modern The county is landlocked and, uniquely, mountain villages, or visit the charming towns and culture, Laois calls out to people who want to does not border any other county which magnificent gardens around the county. You can experience something real, something authentic, touches the coast. It is surrounded by Offaly, Tipperary, Kilkenny, Carlow and choose from many picturesque riverside spots along something truly out of the ordinary. Kildare. the Grand Canal where fishing and water activities are popular. This diversity of landscape offers the With its central location and excellent road and rail The Gaelic for County Laois is Contae visitor a wide variety of activities from horse-riding infrastructure, Laois is the perfect place to stay and Laoise. Laois’ nickname is the O’Moore to fishing in any of our renowned rivers and lakes. discover attractions in other nearby counties like County. Under English rule the county was called The Queen’s County. Kilkenny, Carlow, Kildare, Offaly, Wicklow, Tipperary Take a barge on the Grand Canal or a horse-drawn and Dublin. We look forward to welcoming you to To find out more about Laois go to caravan holiday break, where you can view this Laois and we wish you an enjoyable visit. www.laois.ie magnificent scenery and so much more! Laois also offers some of the most competitive green fees in Ireland and easy access to many quality parkland golf courses. For more information on County Laois e.g. where to stay, eat etc., please see www.laoistourism.ie For specific queries, contact Laois Tourism Office tel: +353 (0)57 862 1178 email: [email protected] 5 town and country Main St, Portlaoise Head out across Laois and you can’t miss them - the towns and villages that dot the countryside. They are gems in the county’s tourist crown, honeypots beloved of day-trippers and tourists. From Clonaslee to Stradbally, Vicarstown to Durrow, the picture-book towns and villages of Laois are famous for a reason. As the famous anthem of Laois testifies, Lovely Laois I hear you calling. portlaoiSE The Mountmellick Development Association Originally called Maryborough, after Queen Mary of commissioned the conversion of a grain mill which England, it reverted to Portlaoise following independ- houses a Quaker Museum, where the focus is to ence. Due to its central location, recent years have conserve and display original pieces of Mountmellick Castletown seen this vibrant town transform into an exciting and Work and to protect the memory of its rich Quaker rapidly growing business hub, with fascinating local heritage and past. Mountmellick sources of crafts and food and the splendid Dunamaise Arts Centre. Within twenty minutes in Mountrath any direction there are numerous golf clubs, Founded in 1628 by Charles Coote, it derives its equestrian centres and possibilities for trekking in name from the Irish “Móin Ratha”, meaning The Fort the Slieve Bloom Mountains. in the Bog. By 1750 the town was a thriving industrial centre with its own woollen and linen industries, portarlinGTon ironworks, grain and rape mills and later, its own Founded in 1666, on a bend of the Barrow River by brewery and distillery. Mountrath was also an Sir Henry Bennett, Lord Arlington. After the Jacobite important market town with its beautiful market Wars, General Rouvigney, Earl of Galway established house dominating the square. The town is now a thriving colony of French Huguenots in the town mainly agricultural and an excellent base for and separate chapels and schools were built for the exploring the Slieve Bloom Mountains.