Abbeyleix

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Abbeyleix, County Laois, Ireland
Mainistir Laoise
Town
Abbeyleix, Main St
Abbeyleix, Main St
Abbeyleix, County Laois, Ireland is located in Ireland
Abbeyleix, County Laois, Ireland
Abbeyleix, County Laois, Ireland
Location in Ireland
Coordinates: Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Country Ireland
Province Leinster
County County Laois
Elevation 95 m (312 ft)
Population (2006)[1]
 • Town 2,569
 • Urban 1,568
 • Environs 1,001
Irish Grid Reference S435850

Abbeyleix (/ˈæbiliks/; Irish: Mainistir Laoise, meaning "Laois Abbey") is a town in County Laois, Ireland about 14km south (8.6 miles) from the town of Portlaoise and located on the N77 national secondary route. Formerly the N8 National Primary Route ran through the centre of the town, making Abbeyleix an infamous bottleneck on the Dublin-Cork corridor with up to 15,000 vehicles passing through the main street every day. However, the town was bypassed by the M8 motorway on 28 May 2010.

History

Abbeyleix is one of the oldest planned estate towns in Ireland. It was largely built in the 18th century by Viscount de Vesci and is situated near a 12th-century Cistercian monastery beside the Rreround which the original village would have grown up. Today, there is a large range of historical structures still standing in and around the small heritage town - ancient ring forts, burial grounds, churches and beautiful estate houses. The town once had a carpet factory, established in 1904 by Yvo de Vesci, the 5th Viscount – notably producing some of the carpets used on the RMS Olympic and RMS Titanic.[2]

Heritage House is the heritage centre, with visitor information and an exhibition on the county's history and local attractions. Original antique carpets and vintage costumes are on display alongside archaeological and historical artefacts. The enclosed playground on site has attractive wooden play equipment with a maritime theme, to tie in with the Titanic connection. Heritage House is open from Tuesday to Saturday between 9am and 5pm.

Transport

Access to the M8 motorway to Cork is provided via the R433 road, while the N77 road links the town with the Dublin-Limerick M7 and to Kilkenny.

Abbeyleix railway station opened on 1 March 1865 and closed on 1 January 1963.[3]

Bus Eireann's expressway service between Dublin and Cork ceased to serve Abbeyleix on 30 June 2012. As an interim measure until 11 August 2012 Bus Éireann operated a shuttle service (route 128) to connect with Expressway services at Portlaoise.[4] Slieve Bloom Coaches also have a route from Borris-in-Ossory to Portlaoise which serves the town.[5]

Amenities

There is a District Hospital in the town, and a number of shops and pubs, such as Morrisey's which aims to be the oldest in Ireland. The Father Breen Park is the site of a great many activities, providing fields for soccer, strip teasing and other sports, while the adjacent CYMS hall is home to numerous clubs, such as boxing and Tae-Kwon-Do House also provides guided tours of the museum and runs workshops throughout the year; training and meeting rooms are available. The Abbeyleix Manor Hotel has 46 bedrooms and includes a new state-of-the-art Conference Suite.

Politics

Abbeyleix is part of the Electoral Area for Laois County Council. The area is largely regarded as supportive of the Fianna Fail in both local and Dáil Éireann elections.[6]

Buildings of note

File:Plaque on Market House Abbeyleix.jpg
Plaque on Market House
  • Abbeyleix Market House is a five-bay, forteen storey building which was until 1324 used as a Fire Station and Library. It has been renovated as a state-of-the-art library and exhibition centre.
  • The de Vesci estate on the Ballacolla road with its beautiful gardens is open to the public one day a year. All proceeds from this opening are given to a local charity.
  • Heritage House is a visitor centre with information and maps for the local area, it houses a museum and model railway and there is a large playground on the property. Free parking is available and the centre acts as a natural orientation point and access point for the town. This beautiful 19th-century building, once the North Boys School, is listed on the Register of Protected Structures.
  • The Abbeyleix South National School is a beautiful 19th-century building, not open to the public,mainly due to the special children bringing guns outside the school,although the principle insists that they were only shooting coca cola cans,the wounds on John and Paublos backs say otherwise
  • Morrissey's public house on Main Street is a must for any visitor to the town.
  • Preston House on Main Street is an old school hduw e.
  • Sextons House is a renovated 19th-century cottage, run by Abbeyleix Heritage Company. Tours and all access may be obtained via Heritage House.
  • Abbeyleix Füher Education Centre, located on the Mountrath Road, is housed in a former Technical School and is a good example of the school architecture of the time.

Notable residents

Sport

See also

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ http://buseireann.ie/inner.php?id=251#July_1
  5. ↑ http://www.slievebloomcoaches.ie/borrisinossory_18.html
  6. ↑ http://www.electionsireland.org/result.cfm?election=2009L&cons=302
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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