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What not to miss when staying in Laois
The medieval city of Kilkenny and Kilkenny Castle - Kilkenny is a 12th Century Castle and estate town. Visitors can wander in the extensive grounds and take guided tours of the Castle daily. Other historic buildings located in the town are St. Canice’s Cathedral and Rothe House. Kilkenny is located only 45 minutes drive from Portlaoise and 30 minutes from Durrow.
Irish National Stud & Japanese Gardens – the National Stud is home to some of Ireland’s finest thoroughbreds. The Japanese Gardens are the finest Japanese Gardens in Europe. Both are located in Co. Kildare, 20 minutes drive from Laois.
Clonmacnoise – This ancient monastic site is situated in neighbouring County Offaly and dates back almost 1,500 years. Now is state ownership, guided tours are provided daily. This site is one of the most famous in Ireland.
Birr Castle Demense – The Demense is famous for its exotic tree and plant collections, rivers and lakes, formal gardens, terraces and wildflower meadows. It is also home to the Science Centre and the Birr telescope. Birr is located 40 minutes approx from Portlaoise.
Rock of Cashel - The Rock of Cashel is one of the most spectacular archeological sites in Ireland. It sits on the outskirts of Cashel on a large mound of limestone bristling with ancient fortifications. Mighty stone walls encircle a complete round tower, a roofless abbey, a 12th Century Romanesque chapel with a sheelaghnagig and numerous other buildings and high crosses. Cashel is located less than 1 hour approximately from Portlaoise.
Newgrange - The most famous of all Irish prehistoric monuments, Newgrange is one of the finest European passage-tombs. It is more than 5000 years old and thus older than the pyramids in Egypt! This building, which is a big mound of some 80 meters in diameter, stands in the Boyne Valley in County Meath. Newgrange is located approx 1 hour 30 mins drive from Portlaoise.
Glendalough – Glendalough ‘the glen of the two lakes’ is an ancient monastic settlement and two clear water lakes beneath the sheer cliffs of a deep valley which was carved out by glaciers during the Ice Age. The monastic settlement has been a centre for pilgrims and visitors since its foundation by St. Kevin in the 6th Century. Glendalough in County Wicklow is located approx 1 hour 30 minutes from Laois.
The medieval city of Kilkenny and Kilkenny Castle - Kilkenny is a 12th Century Castle and estate town. Visitors can wander in the extensive grounds and take guided tours of the Castle daily. Other historic buildings located in the town are St. Canice’s Cathedral and Rothe House. Kilkenny is located only 45 minutes drive from Portlaoise and 30 minutes from Durrow.
Irish National Stud & Japanese Gardens – the National Stud is home to some of Ireland’s finest thoroughbreds. The Japanese Gardens are the finest Japanese Gardens in Europe. Both are located in Co. Kildare, 20 minutes drive from Laois.
Clonmacnoise – This ancient monastic site is situated in neighbouring County Offaly and dates back almost 1,500 years. Now is state ownership, guided tours are provided daily. This site is one of the most famous in Ireland.
Birr Castle Demense – The Demense is famous for its exotic tree and plant collections, rivers and lakes, formal gardens, terraces and wildflower meadows. It is also home to the Science Centre and the Birr telescope. Birr is located 40 minutes approx from Portlaoise.
Rock of Cashel - The Rock of Cashel is one of the most spectacular archeological sites in Ireland. It sits on the outskirts of Cashel on a large mound of limestone bristling with ancient fortifications. Mighty stone walls encircle a complete round tower, a roofless abbey, a 12th Century Romanesque chapel with a sheelaghnagig and numerous other buildings and high crosses. Cashel is located less than 1 hour approximately from Portlaoise. Newgrange - The most famous of all Irish prehistoric monuments, Newgrange is one of the finest European passage-tombs. It is more than 5000 years old and thus older than the pyramids in Egypt! This building, which is a big mound of some 80 meters in diameter, stands in the Boyne Valley in County Meath. Newgrange is located approx 1 hour 30 mins drive from Portlaoise.
Glendalough – Glendalough ‘the glen of the two lakes’ is an ancient monastic settlement and two clear water lakes beneath the sheer cliffs of a deep valley which was carved out by glaciers during the Ice Age. The monastic settlement has been a centre for pilgrims and visitors since its foundation by St. Kevin in the 6th Century. Glendalough in County Wicklow is located approx 1 hour 30 minutes from Laois.
