County Laois ( LEESH; Irish: Contae Laoise) is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Eastern and Midland Region and in the province of Leinster. It was known as Queen's County from 1556 to 1922. The modern county takes its name from Loígis, a medieval kingdom. Historically, it has also been known as County Leix. Laois County Council is the local authority for the county, and is based in Portlaoise. At the 2022 census, the population of the county was 91,657, an increase of 56% since the 2002 census.
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#1 Tinnakill Castle (Irish: Tigh na Coille, lit. 'house of the wood'), also known as Tynekill, is a ruined medieval tower house in the parish of Coolbanagher, in the Barony of Portnahinch, County Laois in Ireland.
#2 Heywood House and Gardens is a Georgian house and gardens in County Laois, Ireland. The estate was developed in the late 18th century by Michael Frederick Trench, a politician, landowner and architect. He built a substantial house and laid out an extensive park, under the direction of James Gandon. In the early 20th century, Heywood was owned by Sir Hutcheson Poë who commissioned Edwin Lutyens to develop the gardens immediately surrounding the house. Lutyens engaged his long-time collaborator Gertrude Jekyll to undertake the planting. The house was demolished after a fire in 1950 and the gardens are now in the care of the Office of Public Works.
#3 Clogrennane Castle is a ruined castle in County Carlow, Ireland, near Clogrennane, about two miles from Carlow on the River Barrow on the county border with County Laois.
#4 Emo Court, located near the village of Emo in County Laois, Ireland, is a large neo-classical mansion. Architectural features of the building include sash-style windows, pavilions, a balustrade, a hipped roof, and large dome. It was designed by the architect James Gandon in 1790 for John Dawson, the first Earl of Portarlington. It is one of the few houses to have been designed by Gandon. Other buildings by Gandon include the Custom House and Kings Inns in Dublin. While construction commenced in the 1790s, the first Earl died in 1798, and work was not completed until the tenure of the third Earl of Portarlington in the 1860s. Passing through several owners through the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the house and gardens were taken into ownership by the Irish state in the 1990s. Now managed by the Office of Public Works, the estate is open to visitors.
#5 Dunamase or the Rock of Dunamase (Irish: Dún Másc "fort of Másc") is a rocky outcrop in County Laois, Ireland. Rising 46 metres (151 ft) above a plain, it has the ruins of Dunamase Castle, a defensive stronghold dating from the early Hiberno-Norman period with a view across to the Slieve Bloom Mountains. It is near the N80 road between the towns of Portlaoise and Stradbally.
#6 Wolftrap Mountain (Irish: Sliabh Ghaiste na Mac Tíre) is a mountain in counties Laois and Offaly, Ireland. The mountain is 487 metres (1,598 ft) high, making it the third-highest summit in Offaly, the fourth-highest mountain in the Slieve Bloom Mountains and the 602nd-highest summit in Ireland. It is the most northerly summit of the Slieve Bloom range.
#7 The Abbey of Aghaboe is one of the most important of the abbeys and priories in County Laois. It was founded in the kingdom of Osraige by St. Canice in the 6th century. In his Vita Sancti Columbae (Life of St. Columba), Adomnán refers to the abbey, saying that its name means a (little field) of the cow: "quod Latine Campulus Bovis dicitur, Scotice vero Achadh-bou"
#8 Castle Durrow is an 18th-century country house in Durrow, County Laois, Ireland. The house was built in the pre-Palladian design and formal gardens that were popular in the 18th century.
#9 Ballaghmore Castle is a historic castle located in County Laois.
#10 Baunreaghcong (Irish: Bán Riabhach Conga, meaning 'narrow brindled pasture') is a mountain in County Laois, Ireland. Baunreaghcong stands at a height of 509 metres (1,670 feet).
Aghaboe Abbey, Co. Laois.
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Tinnakill Castle (Irish: Tigh na Coille, lit. 'house of the wood'), also known as Tynekill, is a ruined medieval tower house in the parish of Coolbanagher, in the Barony of Portnahinch, County Laois in Ireland.
Heywood House and Gardens is a Georgian house and gardens in County Laois, Ireland. The estate was developed in the late 18th century by Michael Frederick Trench, a politician, landowner and architect. He built a substantial house and laid out an extensive park, under the direction of James Gandon. In the early 20th century, Heywood was owned by Sir Hutcheson Poë who commissioned Edwin Lutyens to develop the gardens immediately surrounding the house. Lutyens engaged his long-time collaborator Gertrude Jekyll to undertake the planting. The house was demolished after a fire in 1950 and the gardens are now in the care of the Office of Public Works.
Clogrennane Castle is a ruined castle in County Carlow, Ireland, near Clogrennane, about two miles from Carlow on the River Barrow on the county border with County Laois.
Emo Court, located near the village of Emo in County Laois, Ireland, is a large neo-classical mansion. Architectural features of the building include sash-style windows, pavilions, a balustrade, a hipped roof, and large dome. It was designed by the architect James Gandon in 1790 for John Dawson, the first Earl of Portarlington. It is one of the few houses to have been designed by Gandon. Other buildings by Gandon include the Custom House and Kings Inns in Dublin. While construction commenced in the 1790s, the first Earl died in 1798, and work was not completed until the tenure of the third Earl of Portarlington in the 1860s. Passing through several owners through the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the house and gardens were taken into ownership by the Irish state in the 1990s. Now managed by the Office of Public Works, the estate is open to visitors.
Dunamase or the Rock of Dunamase (Irish: Dún Másc "fort of Másc") is a rocky outcrop in County Laois, Ireland. Rising 46 metres (151 ft) above a plain, it has the ruins of Dunamase Castle, a defensive stronghold dating from the early Hiberno-Norman period with a view across to the Slieve Bloom Mountains. It is near the N80 road between the towns of Portlaoise and Stradbally.
Wolftrap Mountain (Irish: Sliabh Ghaiste na Mac Tíre) is a mountain in counties Laois and Offaly, Ireland. The mountain is 487 metres (1,598 ft) high, making it the third-highest summit in Offaly, the fourth-highest mountain in the Slieve Bloom Mountains and the 602nd-highest summit in Ireland. It is the most northerly summit of the Slieve Bloom range.
▶ VideoThe Abbey of Aghaboe is one of the most important of the abbeys and priories in County Laois. It was founded in the kingdom of Osraige by St. Canice in the 6th century. In his Vita Sancti Columbae (Life of St. Columba), Adomnán refers to the abbey, saying that its name means a (little field) of the cow: "quod Latine Campulus Bovis dicitur, Scotice vero Achadh-bou"
Castle Durrow is an 18th-century country house in Durrow, County Laois, Ireland. The house was built in the pre-Palladian design and formal gardens that were popular in the 18th century.
Baunreaghcong (Irish: Bán Riabhach Conga, meaning 'narrow brindled pasture') is a mountain in County Laois, Ireland. Baunreaghcong stands at a height of 509 metres (1,670 feet).
Cullahill Castle was the principal stronghold of the MacGillapatricks of Upper Ossory built around 1425 and destroyed around 1650. Cullahill Castle takes its name from an ancient forest that covered Cullahill Mountain and extended down to Cullahill village.
Fossy Church is a medieval church and National Monument in County Laois, Ireland.
Ballyadams Castle is a historic castle located in County Laois. It represents one of the historic architectural sites in the county.
Killeshin Church is a 12th-century Romanesque church and National Monument located in County Laois, Ireland.
Ridge of Capard (Irish: Droim na Ceapaí Airde) is a mountain in County Laois, Ireland. Ridge of Capard's summit is at an altitude of 483 metres (1,585 ft), making it the third-highest point in Laois, the sixth-highest in the Slieve Bloom Mountains and the 615th-highest summit in Ireland.
Timahoe Round Tower is a historic round tower located in County Laois. It is a prominent historical landmark in the area.
Castleconor (Irish: Caisleán Uí Chonchúir) is a mountain in County Laois, Ireland. Castleconor's summit is at an altitude of 407 metres (1,335 feet) making it the fourth-highest point in Laois, the ninth-highest point in the Slieve Bloom Mountains and the 907th-highest summit in Ireland.
Cloncourse Castle (ruins) is a historical castle site located in County Laois.
Kilmackeady Church (ruins) is a historic church located in County Laois.
Kilmorony House (ruins) are historic ruins located in County Laois.
Oughaval Church is a historic ruin located in County Laois. Visitors can explore the remaining structure of this old church.
Sleaty Church is a medieval church and National Monument located in County Laois, Ireland.
St. Peter's Church is a historic church located in County Laois. Visitors to the area can view this local architectural landmark.