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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

Heritage Golf Club, The

Killenard, Co. Laois
Course Type: Parkland

The Heritage a par 72 Championship course, designed by Seve Ballesteros and Jeff Howes is set in the beautiful rolling countryside of Co. Laois, just one hour from Dublin, with the Slieve Bloom Mountains as a backdrop. It provides a most enjoyabl ...

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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

Portlaoise Farmers Market - Co Laois - Fridays

Portlaoise Farmers Market - Friday 10-3pm

Market Square, Portlaoise, Co Laois

Contact: Ray Dunne 086 833 1006 raydunne@freerangemeats.ie

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Tourist Attractions

Dunmore Cave

Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny

Dunmore Cave is a limestone cave that consists of a series of chambers formed over millions of years, while not being of the largest of Ireland's caves - it contains just a quarter of a mile of passages and at its deepest point, it descends to 15 ...

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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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