Heritage of County Laois

Laois Heritage Office aims to bring Heritage to the heart of life in Laois. Follow the links below for details.

• Heritage News and Events
• Exploring Laois
  • Heritage Week
  • Biodiversity Week
  • Heritage in Schools
  • Laois on the Web
• Archaeology
  • Monuments
  • Excavations 
• Biodiversity
  • Gardening for Biodiversity
  • Habitats
  • Species 
  • Local Biodiversity Action Plans
  • Research & Surveys in Laois
• Architecture
  • Protected Structures
  • Laois County Council-owned buildings
• Geology
• Cultural Heritage
  • Museums
  • Placenames
  • Graveyards and memorials
  • Local history
• Laois Heritage Plans
  • Laois Heritage Plan 2014 – 2019
  • Laois Heritage Plan 2007 – 2011
  • Laois Heritage Plan 2002 – 2006
  • Laois Heritage Forum
• Laois Heritage Trail
  • Abbeyleix
  • Aghaboe Abbey
  • Donaghmore Workhouse
  • Durrow
  • Emo Court
  • Heywood Gardens
  • Irish Fly-Fishing and Game Shooting Museum
  • Mountmellick
  • Poet’s Cottage
  • Portarlington
  • Rock of Dunamase
  • Stradbally Steam Museum
  • Timahoe
• Funding for Heritage Projects
• Invasive Species
• History of Laois
  • James Fintan Lalor School
• Publications

We aim to promote pride in the heritage of Laois, and to increase awareness, appreciation and enjoyment of all aspects of the County’s heritage.

This is achieved through the Laois Heritage Plan, and includes:

• Undertaking surveys, research and conservation projects under the Laois Heritage Plan;
• Carrying out practical conservation projects at sites including
  • Fitzmaurice Place & Fort Protector Project (2018 Historic Towns Initiative Project and 2019 Urban Regeneration and Development Fund Project)
  • Killabban Medieval Church
  • Old St Peter’ Graveyard, Portlaoise
  • Ballyroan School House
  • Donaghmore Workhouse
  • Timahoe Monastic Site and Round Tower
• Helping communities and individuals to plan and carry out heritage projects based around their own local areas;
• Raising awareness of the heritage of the County, through
  • Creating new guides to Laois Heritage sites, like the Story of Laois Audioguides
  • Events during Heritage Week in August each year
  • Projects like the Laois Heritage Trail
  • Publications like the books on Gardening for Biodiversity, Maps of Laois, Mountmellick Canal, Laois Thatch and the Geology of Laois and Offaly

Karen Dempsey leads a tour of Lea Castle during Heritage Week. Picture: Alf Harvey

So what does a Heritage Officer do anyway?

Click here to download information on the Heritage Officers of Ireland.