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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

Gash Gardens

Portlaoise, Co. Laois

Anyone needing the courage to start a garden from complete scratch could do no better than to visit Gash. It was started in 1986 by the late Noel Keenan in a field behind his farm, and what started as a walk to the river Nore became a fully fledg ...

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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

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

Emo Court

Emo, Co. Laois

Emo Court is a large neo-classical mansion, formal and symetrical in its design and with beautifully proportioned rooms that was designed by the architect James Gandon (architect of the Custom House and Kings Inns in Dublin) in 1790 for the Earls ...

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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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