Places of Interest

communityAbbeyleix town has long been familiar to travellers commuting to or from the South and Southwest on the N8 Dublin to Cork road. While almost a half-way point between the two cities, it was for a time the first town stop on a trip from Dublin to the Munster capital. It now lies hidden, waiting to be explored and now traffic free, just off the newM7/M8 Dublin- Cork/Limerick motorway with exits at Portlaoise and Granstown. This picturesque town on the N8 route was described in 1826 by J. M. Brewer, the famous travel writer, as one of the most pleasing villages in Leinster with each cottage having a useful garden. Now a “Heritage Town of Ireland”, Abbeyleix invites passers-by and visitors to linger, to explore its distinct heritage & to sample the attractions of its hinterland.

 

  • Abbeyleix Estate –The first of the De Veci’s to come to Abbeyleix was Thomas Vesey , Church of Ireland Bishop of Killaloe and laterally Bishop of Ossary. Thomas marries Mary Muschamp, daughter to Denny Muschamp. On their marraige Denny made them a present of the old Abbey lands in Abbeyleix, which he had purchased some time previouslyThe De Vesci Estate and Abbeyleix House (built in 1774 by James Wyatt) stands within a mile of the town. It is four storeys in height above the basement, and contains many spacious apartments. The view from the upper windows of the house is extensive and beautiful, including the widely-spreading lawns, the intersecting River Nore, which, in its downward progress from its source in the Slieve Bloom Mountains, winds through the grounds in a pleasing serpentine form. The beautiful terrace and exceedingly lovely parterre, which lie before the south front of the mansion, excite the attention and call forth the admiration of the visitor. The mansion, gardens and demesne are set amidst some of the loveliest scenery in the midlands. Unfortunately the Estate only opens to the public a few times a year and is now occupied by the Davies family.

 

  • Heritage House (Today)– Exhibits, displays local crafts & Museum depicting the towns’ eight centuries of history. This community based museum captures the history of Laois from the earliest times and tells the unique story of the planned estate town of Abbeyleix, the landlord system and its profound influence in the area.
  • Heritage House (History)– Under the patronage of Lady Emma, wife of the 3rd Viscount de Vesci, the North Boy’s School was built in 1884 for the education of Catholic Boys. The school was staffed by lay teachers and incorporated a teachers residence. In 1933 the Patrician Order of Brothers was asked by public petition to take over the running of the school. The building was extended in 1039 in order to improve the living quarters of the brothers. The stone used for the extention came from the old fever hospital which was knocked in 1936 to make way for a new district hospital.
  • 003 smlTown Library (formerly Market House) (Today) -The old Market House in the centre of Abbeyleix has been refurbished and conserved to provide a new, beautifully detailed Public Library. The landscaped surrounding area provides a public square used for social events and helps to emphasize the building as a place to visit and relax in. Your browser may not support display of this image. Abbeyleix public library is one of five Irish architectural projects to have won an award in the UK based 2010 Civic Trust Awards scheme. The library has already picked up awards for best conservation project in the Irish Architectural Awards for 2009 and in the Heritage Category of the 2009 OPUS Architecture & Construction Awards.
  • Town Library (formerly Market House) (History) the Market House was built in the Mid 1800′s as part of the Market Town of Abbeyleix. Business relating to the markets in the town would have been conducted here. In 1906 the 5th Viscount de Vesci refurbished the market house and within living memery was used as a community building where plays and concerts took place. In more recent times the abbeyleix Fire service occupied the ground floor and the library service was housed on the upper floor. In 2008 the building was refurbished and reopened as our magnificent new library.
  • Church of Most Holy Rosary – impressive ornate interior and overlooking the town. The foundation stone for the present church was laid in 1893. By this time the old Church was inadequate to take the numbers attending mass.  The building was completed in 1895 with financial support from Viscount de Vesci and also generous support from the parishioners.  The cost of the building was £6,000 . the bell tower was added later.
  • Epworth Hall – built in 1826 formerly Methodist Church. Epworth Hall was developed by the Methodist Community in Abbeyleix for the conduct of various church services. The building was named after the town of Epworth in Linconshire, birthplace of John Wesley founder of the Methodists , who reputedly visited Abbeyleix.
  • Church of Ireland – the origional Church of Ireland for Abbeyleix is located on the de Vesci estate. When the cogregation expanded the current church was built in 1831. Wyatt. Originally of quite a plain construction, the present church was completely renovated in 1865 under the direction of Thomas Wyatt a relative of James Wyatt, who was the architect for the building of Abbeyleix House. The renovation of the Church was organised by Lady Emma , wife of the 3rd Viscount de Vesci and the Rev Wingfield. On completion of the renovations Lady emma had the church dedicated to her mother.
  • SouthSchoolSouth School – The South School was built be the de Vesci’s in 1843 for the education of children of the Protestant faith. The driving force behind the building of the school was Lady Emma, wife of the 3rd Viscount de Vesci who would also oversee the building of the North Boy’s School (now Heritage House) and renovations and extensions to the South School. The South school remains in operation as a school and owing to the number of pupils attending; a new school is due to be built shortly.
  • Dove House & Sensory gardens. Dove House is part of Sisters of Charity of Jesus & Mary services providing a day service for people with an intellectual disability. What is of particular relevance to Dove is Abbey Sensory Gardens. The Brigidine order of nuns came to Abbeyleix in 1842 and established a school.  The main convent building was adjoining the Church of the Most Holy Rosary and catered for the nuns living quarters and a secondary level boarding school. On the site of the Church Car Park, stood the Brigidine National School.Boys and girls attended this school up to first class, the boys then went to the North School (now Heritage House ) for the remainder of their primary education.
  • Sextons House – This house was built in the 1800’s by the Church of Ireland to house the sexton. The last sexton to occupy the house was Bill Galbraith. Bill served as sexton for fifty eight years and moved to the house shortly after his marriage. Bill and his wife raised a family of seven in Sexton’s House. The house is now restored & fitted out in 19-century furnishingsand fittings.
  • Preston House – First ever Post primary school in Co Laois, now a well known restaurant with B&B accomodation . Preston House began life as The Assembly Rooms, a meeting place for civic business in the town. Following an investigation into the running of ‘The Preston School’ in Ballyroan, it was decided in 1896 that the school should be moved to The Assembly Rooms with a new Board of Management of which Viscount de Vesci was chairman. The School was an endowed school and, under charter, it was obliged to teach both Catholic and Church of Ireland children. The Preston School remained in Abbeyleix until 1966 when the last school master Mr Mc Shane retired.
  • Fr Breen Memorial Park (Jelly’s Pit) – 11 acre park area off town’s main thoroughfare. The origins date back to 1909 and was known locally as Jelly’s pit. The Jelly family owners and builders of Shanahoe House operated a sand & gravel pit from the site. The pit became exhausted in 1924 and the de Vesci family donated land to the community of Abbeyleix a long term year lease, to be administered by appointed trustees. It was to be used as a Town park and general sporting facility. Under guidance of Fr Breen PP, various sporting organizations and townspeople worked voluntarily to develop the facility. The park now is home to the GAA , Soccer and Tennis clubs.
  • Lords Walk – walking route incorporating part of de Vesci estate. The walk is so called because it was the route taken by many Viscounts’ de Vesci, (who also held the title of Lord de Vesci) as they walked from Abbeyleix House to the Church of Ireland or to the Railway Station and the town.  Today only the section of the walk from the Church of Ireland to Coleman’s road crossing the old railway line is accessible. The woodland home to a wide variety of plant and animal life incl Deer , Red Squirrel and the now rare Pine Marten.
  • Laundry House & cornmill on de Vesci demesne
  • MorriseysShopfrontMorrissey’s Pub – the landmark Abbeyleix Pub built in 1770 with its authentic paraphernalia, fixtures , fittings and advertisements from bygone days. The Morrissey family came to the new town of Abbeyleix in 1775 and took a lease on a thatched cottage at the lower end of the town opening a General Store. At one time Morrissey’s was a public house, a grocery shop, had an undertaking business, a bakery and were a shipping agent. They also ran the the de Vesci arms Hotel and a drapery business. Up to 2004 the business was owned and run by the late Paddy Mulhall, who came to Abbeyleix in 1934 as an apprentice shop boy to his uncles the Morrissey’s. The business was sold by Paddy in 2004 to the present owners.
  • Bramley’s / Weaver Court – This was origionally the site of a Carpet factory set up in 1904  by Lord de Vesci to improve the employment situation in the town. It employed up to 40 women & girls and the name of Abbeyleix Carpets became known worldwide. Up until 1912 many magnificent carpets were manufactured there incl the carpets for the Titanic and her sister ship the Olympic.Among those who lost their lives on the Titanic was Mr WilliamGillespie the Sales Manager for Abbeyleix Carpets. The Factory closed in 1912.Bramley’s shop was for many years a very well known drapery / haberdashery. It was  magnificently renovated and restored in 2008 as a contemporary department store / cafe.
  • Temperance St — example of 1Nineteen century housing
  • Rathmoyle – In 1909 the Local Authority at the time acquired land in Rathmoyle & 30 cottages with 1 acre attached were built. By 1910 all had been leased to tenants.
  • Pembroke Terrace. When the 3rd Viscount de Vesci married lady Emma Hubert, daughter of the Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery. The Earl built this stone terrace of houses for the town as part of his daughter’s dowry. The terrace housed a constabulary barracks, a post office and an inspector’s house up to 1910.  More recently the second building in the terrace housed the Hibernian Hotel.
  • Knocknamoe House — Restored building on Carlow Rd – now home of Abbeyleix Parish Employment Committee
  • Abbeyleix Bog – The bog is 500 acres and after 10 years of campaigning has been handed over to the community to be developed. It is the biggest amenity to be handed to the community in nearly 100 years. Developing the bog will involve setting up and running numerous projects including; physical restoration, research and education projects, leisure & amenity projects, business/employment opportunities all of which will benefit the whole community.
  • Fountain of the North Monastery School – The fountain was erected by the De Vesci family in the middle of the 1800s to provide fresh water for the residents of Rathmoyle and the area known as ‘The Tiles’ on the Portlaoise Road. It is made of limestone, and previously it had a metal grid surround and a handle to hold the buckets whilst filling the water
  • Fountain of the Second Viscount De Vesci (Market Square)- This memorial fountain is an obelisk set on a robust, rusticated plinth in the centre of the Market Square. Designed in 1860 by J.S. Butler, it was to commemorate the help which the De Vesci family gave to the people of Abbeyleix during the famine.
  • Fountain of the Third Viscount De Vesci ( at junction of the N8 / rathdowney Road) – This memorial fountain is a Gothic, octagonal shrine built after a competition in 1877, to the design of Rawson Carroll by Lady Emma De Vesci in remembrance of her late husband, Tomas, the Third Viscount. The 3rd Viscount carried on the work which his father had started when he built the new town of Abbeyleix in 1770. Many of the features of the town today would have been put in place during the lifetime of the 3rd Viscount. His wife Lady Emma was also a very influental and far seeing woman who oversaw many projects towards the improvement of the town and the lot of its townspeople.
  • Market House – By way of town improvements, the proprietor, the Second Viscount De Vesci, erected the Market House in 1836 adjacent to the street and backed by a crescent of two storey houses. Subsequently, a large memorial to the Second Viscount was erected adjacent to the Market House consisting of a squat obelisk set on a robust, rusticated base. The memorial was designed by J.S. Butler in 1860. The building has been much altered and is now is the Town Library
  • Wingfield Memorial Fountain – The inscription reads: “In Memory of the Honourable and Reverend William Wingfield, Vicar of Abbeyleix 1836-1880.” Not only did the Reverend Wingfield Serve for a remarkable 44 years as a Vicar of Abbeyleix, but he also saw immense changes in his own Parish Church building.
  • The Old Railway Line. The railway came to Abbeyleix in 1865, reputedly, because of the intervention of the landlord with the railway company.  The town thrived with the coming of the railway and life, for a long time, revolved around this exciting new means of transport. Lasting almost a hundred years, this vital link was broken when a rationalisation of railways forced the closure of the line in 1961 and the removal of the tracks in 1962.
  • The Abbeygate . Origionally this building housed the de Vesci Arms hotel. The hotel was run by a Mrs Glennon who was a sister of the Morrissey’s. At the northern end of the building beside the arch Morrissey’s had a drapery business. The hotel’s main claim to fame would have been as a stopping point for the Bianconi Coaches.