Abbeyleix Heritage Company was formed in 1993 with the aim of preserving the unique history of the planned estate town of Abbeyleix. With this in mind it was determined that a heritage center should be established and the old North or Boys School was identified as a suitable location. This building had been used as school for more than a century but had then been abandoned following the the merger of the North School and Convent Primary School to form Scoil Muire, a new co-educational national school. Heritage House was officially opened on 17 May 1997 by Enda Kenny TD, Minister for Tourism at the time and current Taoiseach.
Heritage House offers a wide range of facilities and services to tourists, groups and members of the public.
These range from rental of meeting rooms, group tours, genealogy services, a research room and reference library, to a playground and picnic area