Tucked away peacefully in the heart of Ireland’s midlands, County Laois is a hidden gem where deep historical roots and scenic serenity beautifully converge. The awe-inspiring Rock of Dunamase stands as the county’s crown jewel; this ancient Norman ruin perches dramatically on a limestone outcrop, rewarding those who ascend it with sweeping, panoramic views of the island’s ancient heartland.
Beyond its historic ruins, Laois offers a captivating natural playground. The gently rolling Slieve Bloom Mountains provide a beautifully untamed backdrop, featuring a network of secluded hiking trails that wind through deep glens, hidden waterfalls, and landscapes that feel untouched by time. The county is also graced by the tranquil waters of the River Nore and the scenic Barrow Blueway, where visitors can enjoy leisurely cycles along historic towpaths or peaceful afternoon strolls through the unique ecology of the Abbeyleix Bog Walk.
Laois effortlessly balances its wilder landscapes with refined architectural beauty and a vibrant community spirit. The elegant, neoclassical grandeur of Emo Court and the magnificently landscaped Heywood Gardens invite visitors to step back into a world of aristocratic charm. Today, this rich heritage is celebrated through a dynamic cultural and culinary scene. The flourishing Laois Taste initiative champions local artisan producers, while the annual calendar comes alive with renowned events ranging from the spirited Stradbally Folk Festival to the internationally famous Electric Picnic, ensuring a richly rewarding experience for every traveller.
County Laois, laois
Abbeyleix dazzles with its Georgian streets, historic market house and the Titanic‑carpet museum, while the adjoining Abbeyleix Bog offers tranquil boardwalks and thriving wildlife. Together they deliver a perfect blend of heritage and natural beauty for a day‑trip or weekend escape.
Aghaboe, laois
Who could have imagined a 6th‑century monastic settlement surviving a fire in 1234 and a centuries‑long transformation? Founded by St Canice in 576 AD, Aghaboe Abbey later housed the scholarly abbot St Virgilius before its ruins were reshaped into a 14th‑century Dominican friary that still dominates the Laois Heritage Trail.
Meath, meath
From the mist‑shrouded hills of Wicklow to the rugged cliffs of Wexford, the Ancient East cradles 5,000 years of history. Walk among Neolithic passage tombs, hear the echoes of early monks, and step into the grand rooms of Palladian mansions—all within a compact, drivable loop.
Ballinakill, laois
Holding the only known Patagonian servant’s eyewitness account of the 1641 siege, Ballinakill’s history stands out in Irish archives. The village’s 18th‑century Heywood Gardens, shaped by Frederick Trench and later refined by Sir Edwin Lutyens, provide sweeping lake vistas and a sunken garden guarded by turtles.
Ballintubbert Gardens & House, laois
Ever wondered where Ireland’s first organically certified ornamental garden thrives? Ballintubbert Gardens blends 19th‑century garden rooms, a restored herb garden once tended by actor Sebastian Shaw, and sustainable practices across its 14‑acre estate.
County Laois, laois
Stepping onto the quiet R425, the modest cluster of cottages and welcoming shopfronts of Ballyroan greet visitors with a warm, community‑focused ambience. The nearby 7 km Slí na Sláinte loop offers an easy, sign‑posted walk that showcases the rolling mid‑Irish countryside.
Kildare, kildare
Gentle towpaths trace the Barrow Way’s 117 km ribbon, inviting walkers to glide past historic towns, medieval castles and serene riverbanks. The easy, level route offers a tranquil introduction to Ireland’s second‑longest river, where every bend reveals a slice of living heritage.
Laois, laois
The River Barrow winds 192 km from the Slieve Bloom Mountains to Waterford Harbour, threading historic towns and a 111 km engineered navigation. Its tow‑path is the Barrow Way, a gentle 117 km trail that lets walkers and cyclists soak up castles, monastic ruins and vibrant riverside life.
Borris-in-Ossory, laois
1870 marked the completion of St Mark’s Church of Ireland, its Hiberno‑Romanesque bell tower becoming a landmark of Borris‑in‑Ossory. The village’s historic buildings have since been repurposed for community use, blending heritage with modern life.
Durrow, laois
Ever wondered how an 18th‑century Irish country house can feel like a living museum? Castle Durrow Country House Hotel, restored by Peter and Shelley Stokes, preserves Viscount Ashbrook’s original grandeur while offering deluxe rooms, a Chinoiserie‑adorned dining room and riverside activities such as archery and clay‑pigeon shooting.
Clonaslee, laois
Contrasting its humble village size with the sweeping expanse of the Slieve Bloom Mountains, Clonaslee serves as a welcoming gateway for walkers and history enthusiasts alike. Ancient roots trace back to a 7th‑century church founded by Saint Manman, while the nearby ruins of Ballinakill Castle and Clara Hill remind visitors of the Dunne family’s lasting medieval legacy.
Clonenagh, laois
Gentle whispers of wind stir the overgrown grass around the ruined nave, while the faint smell of damp stone hints at centuries of monastic austerity. Visitors can still see the robust western arch and the scarred east window that survived the 838 AD Viking raid.
Coolkerry, laois
Surprisingly, the modest Coolkerry Church once anchored a vital medieval highway, its nearby weir and ford forming part of the Sligh Dhála route that connected Tara to Kilkenny. Today only the ivy‑clad west gable survives, overlooking the River Erkina and a D‑shaped graveyard whose earliest headstone dates to 1768, offering a quiet glimpse into centuries of rural worship.
County Laois, laois
Ever wondered where the ancient kingdom of Loígis still casts its shadow over the Irish countryside? Cullenagh Hills, a 317 m Marilyn crowned by a trig point, rise between Abbeyleix and Timahoe, their holly‑named slopes once home to the O’Devoy clan and later the writer Jonah Barrington.
Ballyhegadon Glebe, laois
Cold stone walls and narrow windows greet visitors at Donaghmore, echoing the harsh winter drafts endured by 1,200 famine‑era inmates. Restored dormitories, a stark kitchen and an agricultural museum together convey the austere reality of Ireland’s 1853 workhouse system.
Durrow, laois
Nestled on the banks of the River Erkina, Durrow blends Norman roots, Georgian charm and a living 18th‑century estate. Visitors can wander leafy trails, explore a bustling market square and stay in the elegant Castle Durrow Country House Hotel.
Emo, laois
Lord John Dawson, the 1st Earl of Portarlington, commissioned James Gandon to design Emo Court in 1790. His vision of a neoclassical mansion crowned with an Ionic portico and a copper‑clad dome was later rescued from ruin by Jesuits and, finally, by Major Cholmeley‑Harrison, whose 1994 gift turned the estate into a public park of lakes, Wellingtonia avenues and art.
Kildare, kildare
One of the few Irish waterways recorded in the 12th‑century Book of Leinster, the Figile River weaves through the Midlands with mythic ties to Fionn Mac Cumhaill. Its gentle loop passes historic triple‑arch Kilcumber Bridge and tranquil willow corridors, inviting anglers and birdwatchers alike.
Castletown, laois
Can a former dairy paddock become a painter’s palette? Noel Keenan’s vision transformed the River Nore banks into Gash Gardens, where the Moon House cavern streams into lily‑filled ponds and rare perennials such as *Lilium martagon* colour every season.
Haywood Demesne, laois
Perched on a sweeping hillside above Ballinakill, Heywood Gardens blends an 18th‑century Romantic park with an Arts‑and‑Crafts formal garden designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and Gertrude Jekyll. Wander lime‑tree alleys, terraced walks and three historic lakes, then join the vibrant Twin Trees Festival each August.
County Laois, laois
On 19 September, the Laois Heritage Trail was launched as part of Ireland’s Ancient East initiative, inviting explorers to trace five‑thousand‑year stories across the county. The free multilingual app guides walkers from the 12th‑century Timahoe Round Tower to the poignant Donaghmore Workhouse, each stop brought to life by locally recorded audio.
County Laois, laois
During the 9th‑century Viking raids, monasteries along the Barrow and Nore were set aflame, scattering treasures across the landscape. The self‑guided trail links those scarred ruins with a free 67‑minute audio narration that weaves saints’ miracles and Norman reforms into each step. Walkers can hear echoes of that turbulent era while exploring round towers and Romanesque doorways.
Laois, laois
What lies at the very centre of Ireland’s mythic landscape? The Midlands cradle the sacred Hill of Uisneach, ancient bog road Corlea Trackway and historic Athlone Castle, weaving together druidic ceremonies, Norman fortifications and scientific marvels like Birr’s Great Telescope.
Irishtown, laois
Stepping into the modest museum, the soft glow of historic samplers immediately whispers stories of 19th‑century Irish craft. The collection celebrates Mountmellick Work, a white‑on‑white embroidery style pioneered by Quaker schoolmistress Johanna Carter in 1825, and offers hands‑on workshops for new generations.
Mountmellick, laois
Quaker‑born industriousness propelled Mountmellick from a modest 17th‑century settlement into the ‘Manchester of Ireland’ textile hub. Today, Georgian squares and the Mountmellick Embroidery & Heritage Museum celebrate both the town’s industrious past and its delicate needlework legacy.
Mountrath, laois
Against its modest size, Mountrath boasts a rich medieval legacy alongside a modern, traffic‑free town centre. While the historic Whitehorse River hints at its industrial past, the 2010 M7 bypass now grants easy access to the market town’s heritage sites and nearby Slieve Bloom hills.
Stradbally, laois
Nestled on a limestone ridge south‑east of Stradbally, Oughaval Wood blends deep‑rooted history with vibrant woodland walks. From the haunting ruins of St Colman's monastic site to the poignant famine‑era Cobbler’s Castle, the forest offers both cultural intrigue and natural beauty.
Portarlington, laois
Unexpectedly, the town welcomed roughly 500 French Huguenot refugees by 1702, shaping its streets with French‑style houses that earned it the nickname “the Paris of the Midlands”. Their legacy endures in St Paul’s French Church, where services were conducted in French well into the 1820s.
Portlaoise, laois
Surprisingly, Portlaoise endured the Cromwellian conquest without a siege, a rarity among Irish towns of the era. Its 16th‑century Fort Protector still dominates the skyline, while a vibrant market and easy rail links to Dublin make the town a modern Midlands hub.
South of Portlaoise, laois
St Fintan’s legacy anchors Raheen, where a clandestine Catholic Mass in 1729 prompted the Protestant Baldwin family to donate land for a thatched chapel, now commemorated by the Mass Pit. The 1857 Gothic Revival church that bears his name rises with pointed arches and stained glass, its spire visible across the gentle Laois fields and echoing the village’s steadfast spirit.
Rathdowney, laois
Stepping into Rathdowney, the town square bursts with the quiet gravitas of 19th‑century stone façades and the solemn Croppy’s Grave memorial. Beyond, the surrounding countryside reveals the lingering outlines of a vanished 7th‑century ringfort that gave the settlement its name.
Kilkenny, kilkenny
Ever wondered how a modest river can shape a whole barony? The Dinin’s winding course carves the Fassadinin wilderness, skirts Castlecomer’s historic streets and even inspired a Saint Patrick curse that withered the reeds along its banks.
County Laois, laois
Rustling water greets paddlers along the Erkina’s modest channel as they approach the historic wooden bridge at Woodenbridge. The river’s blueway ambitions, paired with medieval way‑crossings and the annual festival, turn this Laois watercourse into a lively corridor for canoeists and heritage walkers.
Tipperary, tipperary
Why does a modest river cut through three counties yet whisper stories of Bronze‑Age burials and medieval pilgrimages? The Goul’s gentle flow glides past Urlingford Castle’s stone bridge and the recreated Sligh Dhála crossing, letting walkers retrace the ancient Way of the Assembly that once linked Tara to the midlands.
South‑East Ireland, tipperary
The River Nore winds 130 km from Devil’s Bit Mountain through limestone valleys, medieval castles and lush gardens before meeting the Barrow at Waterford Harbour. Anglers, paddlers and walkers alike can enjoy world‑class trout fishing, gentle kayaking and heritage trails framed by the iconic Woodstock Gardens.
Portlaoise, laois
The River Triogue winds through Portlaoise, flanked by the vibrant Triogue Linear Park. Visitors can stroll or cycle the purpose‑built Triogue Way, watch kingfishers dart over the water, and let dogs romp in a secure off‑lead enclosure.
County Laois, laois
Majestic silhouettes of ruined walls rise from the limestone outcrop, greeting travelers with a sense of ancient defiance. From the 9th‑century drystone fort that repelled Viking raids to the Norman stone castle gifted to Strongbow’s daughter Aoife, the site offers sweeping Laois plains and a palpable echo of Ireland’s turbulent past.
Laois, laois
The Slieve Bloom Mountains rise from Ireland’s midlands as a gentle, ancient ridge crowned by Arderin, the highest summit in Laois and Offaly. Walk the 71‑km Slieve Bloom Way, chase panoramic views of the Wicklow and Galtee ranges, and step into the myths of Fionn Mac Cumhaill and the Fianna.
Stradbally, laois
Set amid 550 acres of oak‑filled parkland, Stradbally Hall blends Georgian elegance with vibrant festivals, while the on‑site Steam Museum and Woodland Railway let visitors step back into Ireland’s steam‑powered past.
County Laois, laois
Surprisingly, the 1903 Gordon Bennett Cup raced through Stradbally, cementing the town’s place in motoring history and spawning the iconic British racing green colour. Today the market town celebrates its steam legacy with museums, a heritage railway and the internationally‑renowned Electric Picnic, proving a small community can host world‑class events.
Southern Ireland (Ancient East), tipperary
Surprisingly, the name ‘Barrow’ stems from the Proto‑Celtic *boru*, meaning ‘boil’, a nod to the Celtic spring‑god Borvo and the river’s once‑fervent currents. Together with the Nore and Suir, the trio weaves myth, history and vibrant waterways across the Ancient East.
Timahoe, laois
Perched on the R426, Timahoe offers a striking 30‑metre Romanesque round tower, a lively heritage centre and a blue‑bell‑carpeted esker walk. History, art and nature sit side‑by‑side, making it a perfect stop on the Laois Monastic Trail.
