Overview
The Laois Heritage Trail is a self‑guided, multilingual experience that weaves together the county’s most compelling historic sites, from medieval round towers to grand Anglo‑Norman castles. Launched on 19 September (year unspecified) as part of Ireland’s Ancient East initiative, the trail is accessed via a free smartphone app and downloadable audio guides, allowing visitors to explore at their own pace.
The trail’s Storymap, hosted on the Laois County Council website, plots more than 1,000 identified monuments and places of interest across the county. Local volunteers, museum staff and tourist offices are on‑hand at many sites to answer questions and deepen the experience.
Storymap & Audio Guide
A dedicated Storymap on the Laois County Council website leads you around the more than 1,000 identified monuments and places of interest across the county. The free audio guide, produced by Abarta Heritage in 2016, runs about 45 minutes and can be streamed online or downloaded for offline use. It is available in English, Irish, French, German, Spanish, Italian and Mandarin. The guide covers ancient monasteries, atmospheric castle ruins and elegant estates, bringing each location to life with locally recorded narration.
The audio guide is also available as a streaming playlist on SoundCloud here and can be downloaded as MP3 files from the Laois County Council site.
History
The concept grew out of a partnership between Laois County Council, Fáilte Ireland and local heritage organisations. Its aim is to showcase the five‑thousand‑year narrative that runs through the heart of the Ancient East, highlighting stories of early Christian saints, Norman knights and the social history of the Great Famine era. Three “hub” locations – Donaghmore Famine Workhouse Museum, Timahoe Round Tower and Heritage Centre, and Abbeyleix Heritage House – were chosen to anchor the trail, each staffed by knowledgeable locals who help bring the past to life.
What to See & Do
The trail links a string of attractions that can be followed in any order, thanks to the GPS‑enabled app.
- Timahoe Round Tower – One of the most elegant 12th‑century stone towers in Ireland, built on the site of a community founded by Saint Mochua in the 7th century. The audio guide explains the tower’s defensive purpose and the symbolism of its height.
- Donaghmore Famine Workhouse – A poignant reminder of the Great Famine, the workhouse’s short film tells the story of hardship and resilience in 19th‑century Laois.
- Abbeyleix Heritage House – A Georgian mansion that illustrates the “big house” era, complete with a short film in seven languages.
- Heywood Gardens – Formal Victorian gardens set against the Slieve Bloom foothills, ideal for a reflective stroll after a listening session.
- Emo Court – A neoclassical estate surrounded by lakes and woodland, featured in the trail’s narrative of Anglo‑Norman influence.
- Rock of Dunamase – The ruins of a 12th‑century castle perched on a limestone outcrop, offering sweeping views of the surrounding countryside.
- Aghaboe Abbey – The impressive 13th‑century abbey ruins, a key stop on the audio route.
- Durrow – Historic town with a medieval church and monastic heritage.
- Mountmellick – Known for its Quaker heritage and the Mountmellick Embroidery Museum.
- Portarlington – A Huguenot‑heritage town with Georgian streets and a historic market square.
- Additional sites – The trail also points out lesser‑known churches, monastic ruins and historic towns such as Portlaoise, giving a comprehensive picture of Laois’s layered past.
Other attractions featured on the audio guide
- Irish Fly Fishing and Game Shooting Museum
- Stradbally Steam Museum
- The Poet’s Cottage at Camross
All audio segments are available in the seven languages listed above, and the accompanying booklets can be downloaded in the same languages. Short films at each hub provide a visual complement to the spoken stories.
Getting the App
- Download – Search for “Laois Heritage Trail” in the Google Play Store or Apple App Store and install the free app.
- Select a language – Choose from the seven available languages before you start.
- Enable GPS – The map will automatically display the three hub locations and all nearby points of interest.
- Tap a marker – Selecting a site launches the corresponding audio guide; you can pause, rewind or skip ahead at any time.
- Download booklets – Printable PDFs are available within the app for offline reference.
- Enjoy – Follow the self‑guided routes at your own pace; no booking is required.
Direct URLs for the app listings are not currently available; please use the search method above.
Practical Information
The Laois Heritage Trail is completely free to use. The dedicated app can be downloaded from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store – simply search for “Laois Heritage Trail”. Once installed, the map automatically highlights the three hub sites and the surrounding points of interest; tapping a marker launches the relevant audio segment.
Visitors can also obtain printable booklets from the Laois County Council tourism office or from the app itself. The hubs are staffed during regular opening hours, which generally run from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Saturday; exact times may vary seasonally, so it is worth confirming on arrival.
Because the experience is self‑guided, there is no need to book in advance. Parking is available at each hub free of charge, and the sites are largely wheelchair‑accessible, with level pathways at Heywood Gardens and Emo Court. For those who prefer a deeper dive, the short films are shown on site in a small viewing room.
Further information, including downloadable guides and contact details for the hub locations, is available on the official Laois tourism portals:
- Laois County Council – www.laois.ie
- Laois Tourism – www.laoistourism.ie
Audio Guide Production
The audio guide was written by Neil Jackman, recorded at Bluebird Studios in Kildare and narrated by Lochlann Ó Mearáin. Production was overseen by Róisín Burke with sound engineering by Declan Lonergan. The guide was released in 2016 as part of the Abarta Heritage series on behalf of Laois Tourism and Laois County Council.
Nearby Attractions
If you have extra time, consider adding these Laois highlights to your itinerary:
- Laois Monastic Trail – A walking route linking early Christian sites across the county.
- Emo Court – The neoclassical house and its surrounding parkland are also a standalone attraction.
- Heywood Gardens – Explore the formal gardens and the historic Haywood Demesne.
- Rock of Dunamase – The dramatic castle ruins offer both history and panoramic views.
- Portlaoise – The county town provides shopping, dining and additional heritage sites.
These locations can be reached by car or local bus services from the trail hubs, making a flexible day‑trip easy to organise.