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Abbeyleix, Co. Laois

Abbeyleix takes its name from a 12th century Cistercian abbey and today it is an attractive town with tree-lined streets situated beside the River Nore. One of Ireland’s best-loved old pubs, Morrissey’s (+353 (0)502 31281) is on the main street; it first opened as a grocery in 1775 and, true to the old tradition, ‘television, cards and singing are not allowed’.

Today, you'll find a range of historical structures still standing in and around the town - ancient ring forts, burial grounds, early monastic buildings, castles, churches and colonial estate houses.

The town has a golf course, a tennis club, a Polo Club - that offers great entertainment in the summer - and many delightful walks including one starting from the grounds of St. Michael & All Angels Church of Ireland, known as The Lords Walk. There are also many beautiful gardens to visit close to hand, and wonderful fishing on the internationally renowned River Nore.

Gardens

Heywood Gardens

Abbeyleix, Co. Laois

Representing two chapters of garden history, Ballinakill is an 18th century landscaped estate laid out in the romantic manner, with a rare gem - an architectural garden designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens (1869-1944) - at its heart. Created in 1906 for ...

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Golf

Kilkenny Golf Club

Kilkenny, Co. Kilkenny
Course Type: Parkland

Kilkenny is a championship golf course and is set on 120 acres of parkland and measures 5,917 metres with a par of 71. The course now boasts 18 sand-based undulating greens and is constructed on free draining soil which means it is playable ...

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Self Catering

Roundwood House - The Forge & The Cottage

Mountrath, Co. Laois

Two self-catering units situated on the grounds of Roundwood House, an 18th century Palladian Villa, in a beautiful region of central Ireland at the foot of the unspoilt Slieve Bloom Mountains. Each building possesses immense character and is ...

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What's On

Athy Farmers Market - County Kildare - Sundays

Athy Farmers Market - Emily Square, Athy, Co Kildare

Sunday, 10am - 3pm

Contact: 087 215 3332; www.kildare.ie/athyfarmersmarket

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Tourist Attractions

Kilkenny Castle

Kilkenny, Co. Kilkenny

Kilkenny Castle is a 12th century castle remodelled in Victorian times and set in extensive parklands which was the principal seat of the Butler family, Marquesses and Dukes of Ormonde. Kilkenny Castle was built to control a fording-point of the ...

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Wedding Venues

Castle Durrow

Durrow, Co. Laois

This 300-year-old mansion half way between Dublin and Cork has recently been refurbished to a very high standard and, overlooking beautiful terraced gardens to the south, and the River Erkina to the north, it makes a magnificently romantic weddin ...

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