Home > Counties > Co. Laois > Portlaoise

Portlaoise, Co. Laois

Port Laoise is the county town of County Laois in the midlands. The name is Irish for "Fort of Laois", however, a partially anglicised pronunciation as "Port Laois" (say 'Port Leash') is common.

Portlaoise was originally established as the Fort of Maryborough in 1556 under the reign of Queen Mary, and many elements of its garrison past are still evident throughout the town. The town now has a large and growing commuter population availing of the rail and motorway connections to Dublin.

The old jail in Portlaoise town centre has been recently restored to create a multi-purpose arts centre, which regularly hosts a variety of cultural delights.

Just outside Portlaoise lies the Rock of Dunamaise, an ancient Celtic fortification that is reputed to have been mapped by Ptolemy in the 8th century. The view from the summit is spectacular and well worth the climb.

Gardens

Delta Sensory Garden

Carlow, Co. Carlow

This is a very special garden for many reasons. Dedicated to waking every sense, the Delta Garden was born of one woman’s determination to provide the best possible experience for the differently abled and made possible with help from many ...

View all Read on

Golf

Esker Hills Golf Club

Tullamore, Co. Offaly
Course Type: Parkland

Esker Hills Golf Club, a Christy O' Connor Jnr designed masterpiece over 150 acres of testing terrain, is regarded as one of Ireland's leading inland golf courses. It's a challenging 18 hole par 71 championship golf course where no two hole ...

View all Read on

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 ...

View all Read on

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

View all Read on

Tourist Attractions

VISUAL Centre for Contemporary Art & The George Bernard Shaw Theatre

Carlow, Co. Carlow

VISUAL Centre for Contemporary Art & The George Bernard Shaw Theatre is a state of the art multi-disciplinary facility that comprises a 294-seater performing arts theatre, four principal gallery spaces (Main Gallery, Studio Gallery, Link Gall ...

View all Read on

Wedding Venues

The Wolftrap

Tullamore, Co. Offaly

Gina Murphy and her husband Padraig McLoughlin’s large bar and ‘informal fine dining’ restaurant is named after a mountain in the nearby Slieve Blooms (the border between Laois and Offaly is at its peak), and occupies a large to ...

View all Read on