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County Laois

General Information about County Laois.

County Laois is situated in the heart of some of Ireland's most beautiful landscapes, where history has left its marks in the remains of Celtic ringforts, medieval ruins and monastic buildings. The County is steeped in heritage and folklore and has many historic buildings and gardens testament to this, many located on the Laois Heritage Trail. The spectacular Emo Court is one of the greatest stately homes in Ireland and Heywood Gardens - 'The Secret Garden' is considered one of the finest gardens in Ireland. The magnificent Slieve Bloom Mountains, the oldest mountains in Europe is one of the most popular visitor attraction in County Laois. The Rock of Dunamaise is one of the county's great fortifications where Vikings and Normans have fought over its possession.

Laois is a popular destination for activity tours for adults and children - golf, horse-riding, western-style riding, angling, walking, bowling, tennis to paintballing and adventure sports. Laois has an excellent location as the county is 'Less than 1 hour' from Dublin and has an excellent road, rail and bus network which covers all parts of Ireland. Apart from its own many attractions, Laois is ideally situated to visit other places of interest on a day trip such as Rock of Cashel, Clonmacnoise, Kilkenny Castle, the National Stud and Japanese Gardens, Glendalough and many more…..

ATTRACTIONS:

1.

Gardens in Laois

2.

Irish Fly-Fishing and Game-Shooting Museum

3.

Heritage House, Abbeyleix

4.

Stradbally Steam Museum

5.

Donaghmore Workhouse and Famine Museum

6.

Mountmellick Museum

7.

Ballaghmore Castle (Borris-in-Ossory)

8.

Rock of Dunamase

9.

Aghaboe Abbey

10.

Round Tower of Timahoe

11.

Slieve Bloom Mountains

Laois - Can offer mountains, lakes, woods and the rolling rural landscape provide the natural terrain for an exciting range of activities for adventure seekers. Paintballing in the Stradbally woods, four wheel drive jeeps in the Slieve Bloom Mountains, touring Laois in a horse-drawn caravan or taking a barge on the historic Grand Canal are just a taste of the activities on offer for children and adults alike!

ACTIVITIES:

Walking

Walking in the Slieve Blooms is like walking in another world. Explore the Glens and hills while forgetting the hussle and bustle of everyday life. Or why not walk in some of the other attractive areas in Laois. For more information on walking contact the Tourist Office, Portlaoise, Co. Laois. 057 8621178

Steam Train
There is a Narrow Gauge Railway in Stradbally where a rare steam train runs every bank holiday weekend. Contact Tourist Office at 00 353 (0) 57 8621178 for more details.

Ballyhyland X Country Equestrian Centre
Ballyhyland,
Co.Laois
057 8727200
ballyhylandxcountry@eircom.net

Paintballing
Supershot Paintball Mission,
Cork Road,
Stradbally,
Co. Laois
T: 00353 (0) 57 8731912
Mob: 086-1949498
E: info@supershot.ie
W: www.supershot.ie

Western-style Riding
Fossey Mountains Springs Western Ranch
Timahoe,
Co. Laois
T: 00353 (0) 57 8736527
M: 087-2316591

Barge Hire / Boat Hire
Barrowline Cruisers,
Vicarstown,
Co. Laois
T: 00353 (0) 57 8625189
E: barrowline@eircom.net
W: www.barrowline.com

Barges on Grand Canal from Vicarstown.

Roll 'n' Bowl Bowling & Adventure Centre
Childrens adventure centre
Clonminam Industrial Estate,
Portlaoise.
T: 00353 (057) 8670005

Kilvahan Horse-Drawn Caravans
Tullibards Stud,
Coolrain,
Co. Laois
T: 00353 (0) 57 8625189
E: kilvahan@eircom.net
W: www.horsedrawncaravans.com

Bowls Stadium
Republic of Ireland's only Indoor Bowls Stadium
Heritage Golf & Country Club,
Killenard,
Co. Laois
Telephone: +353 (0)57 8645994
Email: info@theheritagegolf.com
W: www.theheritagegolf.com

 



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