Places to go and things to do -
in Co. Laois and surrounding counties in Southern Ireland.

What to do in County Laois?

EVENTS

29th and 30th April 2011 - Slieve Bloom Walking Festival (6:00 pm)
Come and join the fun, the beautiful scenery and the great walking at the 17th Annual Slieve Bloom Walking Festival. In the evening relax in good company at a traditional Irish music session in a local pub and join in the fun at the Walkers Hoe Down at Kinnitty Castle.

Contact Info : Christina Byrne PRO Slieve Bloom Walking Festival Ardmore House Kinnitty Co Offaly 'Slieve Bloom Walking Festival'

Monday 16th May to Thursday 19th May 2011 -The Laois International Golf Challenge 2011. It is now in its seventh year and is a fourball betterball competition (any combination). The Challenge appeals to anyone who wants to enjoy a relaxing golfing holiday in a sociable environment. The challenge attracts golfers of all levels and from a number of different countries. A large number of golfers return year after year as they enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and the fact that everything is organised for them. The Challenge will be played over four excellent parkland courses in County Laois with the final taking place at the Seve Ballesteros designed Heritage Golf & Spa Resort at

June 2nd – June 6th 2011 - Portlaoise, County Laois is to host the Irish Rose of Tralee Regional Finals again this year, during the June Bank Holiday weekend.

June 3rd to June 6th 2011 - The Gordon Bennett Irish Classic Car Run . The event is open to all vintage veteran and classic cars, motorcycles and commercials registered prior to 1980. 'Gordon Bennett Rally 2011'


2nd-4th September 2011 - The ELECTRIC PICNIC at Stradbally - 'Electric Picnic 2011'


GOLF COURSES -
Great value for rounds of golf with 4 courses within 5 miles.

‘Portarlington’,

‘The Heath’,

‘Portlaoise’

‘The Heritage at Killenard’.

WALKS -
Forest walks & hill walking in the ‘Slieve Bloom Mountains’.

Slí na Sláinte – stands for ‘path to health’ – walks developed by The Irish Heart Foundation’. (Emo Woods – 4.3kms, Portlaoise- 5 kms, Mountmellick 1.8kms or 6.9 kms, Ballyroan -7 kms.)

THE GARDENS OF LAOIS –
Emo Court Gardens – open all the year.

Gash Gardens in Castletown – open May – September.

Heywood Gardens in Ballinakill.

Sensory Gardens in Abbeyliex.

Photo 'Reflections in the lake at Emo Court' by Andrea Deverell


HEALTH & LEISURE FACILITIES -
The Heritage Golf & Country Club.
Pamper yourself with a visit to the 'Health Spa' at The Heritage. Special rates for our guests.

Portlaoise Leisure Centre - pools, sauna, steam room, aerobics studio
'Information on Portlaoise Leisure Facilities'

Portarlington Leisure Centre – pools, sauna, steam room, gymnasium, fitness studio 'Information on Portarlington Leisure Facilities'

ANGLING
Fishing in lakes and rivers.

‘Laois Angling Centre’ – 3 lakes at Coolrain.

‘Kellaville Course Fishery’ – Ballintubbet, Stradbally.

‘Brown Trout Fishery’ – Stradbally Lake.

EQUESTRIAN CENTRES IN LAOIS -
Located on Stradbally Hall Demesne -'Stradbally Equestrian Centre' .

Fossey Mountain Springs’ – welcome to ‘The Wild West’ (Western Trekking and riding lessons on American Appaloosa Quarter Horses) – Timahoe.

'FUN' ACTIVITIES
'Tenpin Bowling', 'Laser Quest', 'roller blading', ‘indoor soccer, ‘crazy golf’ and 'soft play area for 4 -12 year olds' at the 'Roll'nBowl' Portlaoise.

Supershot Paintball in mature Irish woodland – Stradbally.

Laois County Council’s CHILDREN'S PLAY FACILITIES –
Páirc Spraoi na hAnhann (1-14 year olds) – Link Road, Portarlington.

Solas na Gréine (1- 8 year olds) Timahoe Road Portlaoise.

Sult na Mara, Heritage House (1-12 year olds) Abbeyliex

Full Steam Ahead (1-12 year olds) The Green, Stradbally

Dún Spraoi (1-12 year olds) Portlaoise Leisure Centre

EXPLORE some of the local HISTORICAL SITES and MONASTIC SETTLEMENTS in Co. Laois;

Emo Court House, designed by 'Georgian' architect James Gandon, and its Lakeside Gardens are in the village of Emo. The house is open for visitors during summer months - (entrance fee). The gardens provide a wonderful place for your daily walk or run, at no charge. There are many interesting trees to be seen. Spoil yourself and stop in ‘The Cupcake Tearooms’- open 10am - 5pm.

The Rock of Dunamaise'.'

'Aghaboe Abbey'

‘Round Tower at Timahoe’


VISIT SOME OF THE MUSEUMS:

Learn about 'The Quakers' and 'Mountmellick Work' in the MDA Museum, Mountmellick.

Durrow Bygones Museum – a collection representing 100 years of social life in the Durrow area.

Donaghmore Workhouse & Agricultural Museum – Donaghmore, Rathdowney. 'Donaghmore Museum'

Steam Museum – steam, traction, fire and farm engines in Stradbally.

Narrow Gauge Railway – a heritage railway in the grounds of Stradbally Hall – open on Bank Holiday Sundays and Mondays from May to September.

OTHER ACTIVITIES IN LAOIS

Barrowline Cruisers – The Grand Canal, Vicarstown
Kilvahan Adventure Farm.

The Dunamaise Theatre - check their web site for a great evening out.

Irish Music in local pubs. Excellent Irish Music and Song can be enjoyed in the local 'pubs' - Vicarstown, Fisherstown, Portlaoise, Mountmellick and Portarlington.

'Irish Genealogy'- Genealogical research in Laois.

EATING OUT
Dine at Sol Oriens in Killenard, Castle Durrow, 'The Lemon Tree' or 'Les Olives' - for that romantic evening out!

Have lunch at one of the good restaurants in Portlaoise - 'Egan's Hostelry', 'Jim's Country Kitchen', 'The Midway', 'The Heritage' in Portlaoise & Killenard, 'The Kingfisher' - for excellent Indian cuisine and many more in the area. Portarlington also has many good restaurants....Chinese, Italian and good 'pub grub'.

Great days out from the Old Rectory in the surrounding counties.

There are many interesting 'days out' to be enjoyed.

Dublin is just one hour away - The Book of Kells at Trinity College, Dublin Castle, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Guinness Brewery, Grafton Street, St. Stephen's Green etc etc ........so many places to see!

Kilkenny & Cashel - visit Kilkenny Castle, Kilkenny Design Centre, St. Canices Cathedral and wander the streets of the town or explore some of the many interesting 'Arts & Crafts' in the area ..... and then on to The Rock of Cashel.

Birr Castle and Gardens - stopping for lunch en route in Kinnitty Castle?

Belvedere House and gardens, just outside Mullingar is well worth a visit.

Drive through the Wicklow Mountains to Blessington, 'the Sally Gap', and onto Glendalough. Perhaps have afternoon tea at Laragh. Or you could visit 'The Meeting of the Waters' and Avoca (Ballykissangel in the TV series)

Killaloe/Balllina are also just over an hour away on Lough Derg - stop to visit Garrykennedy en route.
Visit The Steam Museum in Stradbally and then drive over the 'Windy Gap' and onto Altamount Gardens - a little bit of heaven!

Take a drive to 'Newgrange' and Co. Meath.
Shop at the Kildare Village Shopping Outlet.

Go horse racing at the Curragh, Punchestown or Kilbeggan.
Go Greyhound racing at Shelbourne Park, Newbridge or Mullingar.

Visit Newbridge Cutlery and have lunch in the fine restaurant there.

Spend a day at Rathwood - 'Home, Gift & Garden World'.