LAOIS (Ireland)

Write a review or view peoples experiences in Laois.	Hotels	Flights	Car Hire/Rental

Want to contribute to the writings of this travel guide? If so, Click here

Laois is an inland county to the south-west of County Kildare. It forms part of the central plain, though the Slieve Bloom Mountains (Highest point Arderin, 1,734 feet) are a prominent feature in the north-west of the county.

There is much interest and beauty in the quiet by-ways of this area, away from the main roads that lead from Dublin to Limerick and Cork. Sporting attractions include fishing, hunting, shooting and golf.

Laois (pronounced LEASH) is another of Ireland's 12 land-locked counties.

"The Turf Board", have for the past 50 years harvested the bog land in this area, stripping the wet turf in thin layers, drying it and using the turf for the production of Briquettes, a modern day version of 'sods of turf'. This is Ireland's prime source of fuel for fireplace/cooking/electricity generation,

Portlaoise and Portarlington are the two main towns, which though far from the sea, were actual ports for the barges that plied the Canals linking Dublin and the rest of Ireland, before the railways were built.

The Abbey Leix Carpet Works
Re-live the story of Ireland's unique and world famous carpet factory at the Abbeyleix Heritage Centre where you can experience the authentic recreation of the factory's interior in the early 1900's.

Ballaghmore Castle
Built in 1480 by the Gaelic Chieftain, MacGiollaphadraig, the castle was partially destroyed by the forces of Oliver Cromwell, during the times of the famous Laois-Offaly Plantations in 1647.

Gash Gardens
Located at Gash, Castletown, Portlaoise, this four acre garden provides a decorative home for many interesting and unusual plants. It incorporates a large rock garden with rare alpines, a heath garden, splendidly colourful herbaceous borders, rhododendrons and a collection of choice trees and shrubs

Donaghmore Museum
Located close to Portlaoise, Donaghmore museum is housed in a restored Workhouse originally built in the early 1850s.