Abbeyleix

Abbeyleix (pronounced "Abbi-leesh") is a town in County Laois in the midlands of Ireland, with a population of 1770 in 2016. The abbey was Cistercian, founded in 1183 in the valley of the River Nore, and the original settlement grew up around it. Nothing remains of these, as the valley was flood-prone, and around 1790 the landowner Viscount de Vesci moved Abbeyleix onto higher ground 2 km east; it was thus one of the earliest examples of a "planned village". The de Vescis also established local industries such as carpet weaving.

The new Abbeyleix, 14 km south of Portlaoise, came to lie on the main Dublin to Cork road, and was an infamous bottleneck until 2010 when it was bypassed by M7 / M8.

By road from Dublin follow N7 / M7 to Portlaoise then N77 south.

Slieve Bloom Coach 831 runs from Portlaoise to Abbeyleix, Ballinakill, Durrow, Rathdowney and Borris-in-Ossory, with three daily.

Local Link Bus 858a from Cashel and Bus 858b from Thurles both run four times daily to Durrow, Abbeyleix and Portlaoise.

JJ Kavanagh Bus 825 runs twice M-F from Carlow via Athy, Stradbally and Portlaoise to Abbeyleix.

52.9148-7.34821 Market Square is the main bus stop in Abbeyleix.

The bog is within walking distance and the bus runs to Durrow. You need wheels to reach Heywood Gardens, a bike would do.

• Abbeyleix Library on Market Square R32 CY65 was built in 1836 as the Market House, then for a time was the fire station.
• 52.9176-7.34621 Heritage House, Ballyroan Road R32 H244, ☏ +353 57 871 4944, info@abbeyleixheritage.com. M-F 9AM-4:30PM. This is the former North Boys School, converted into a local history museum in 1997. Adult €5.  (updated Oct 2026)
• 52.9148-7.34612 Church of the Most Holy Rosary, Church Avenue, ☏ +353 57 873 0844. Roman Catholic church with Hiberno-Romanesque architecture, founded in 1893-95 and richly decorated thanks to de Vesci money.  (updated Oct 2026)
• 52.8967-7.3733 Abbeyleix House was built in 1773 for the de Vesci family. It was the second Earl who removed Abbeyleix village away from the river to its present site. The house is privately owned, no visits.
• Abbeyleix Bog, ☏ +353 83 110 6210, info@abbeyleixbog.ie. 24 hours. This is a raised bog created when glacial debris blocked the rivers so lakes backed up and infilled into wetland. Field drainage, commercial peat-cutting and road building allowed water to escape, degrading the habitat. The Bog Project focuses on restoration. Two trails start just south of Manor Hotel: a short loop of 3.6 km and a long loop of 7.5 km. Free. (updated Oct 2026)
• 52.8882-7.30864 Heywood Gardens, Ballinakill R32 K4V6, ☏ +353 57 873 3563. Daily Oct-Mar 8:30AM-5PM, Apr & Sep 8:30AM-7PM, May-Aug 8:30AM-9PM. Elegant landscaped gardens by Sir Edwin Lutyens and Gertrude Jekyll. Free.  (updated Oct 2026)

• Durrow is an attractive small village 10 km south of Abbeyleix on N77, but its main sight the castle is now a plush hotel, see below. Durrow Abbey isn't here, but north of Tullamore - Durrow or Derry means "oak grove", doire, so it's a common placename.
• 52.8162-7.47265 Cullahill Castle is the crumbling ruin of a five-storey tower house built in 1425 and wrecked by Cromwell in 1650. It's just off the road south to Thurles and Cashel.
• 52.926-7.46436 Gortnaclea Castle is a similar five-storey ruin along a back lane near Liscolman. It's in a private field but you see enough from the lane looping round it.
• 52.8771-7.61267 Donaghmore Workhouse, Dunacleggan R32 PC58, ☏ +353 86 829 6685. Year-round M-F 11AM-5PM plus June-Sep Sa Su 2-5PM. This grim place opened in 1853 and housed the destitute from the famine years. It now includes an agricultural museum. Adult €5, conc €3.  (updated Oct 2026)

• Golf: Abbeyleix GC is north side of the village, white tees 6082 yards, par 72.
• Folly Festival is at Cullohill Castle in July / Aug.

(Durrow Scarecrow Festival folded, as the dates clashed.)

• Power of Words started as writing festival but is now a year-round programme of events in Abbeyleix.a

Breslin's SuperValu is by Abbeyleix crossroads, open M-Sa 7AM-9PM, Su 8:30AM-9PM.

• Bramley (formerly Gallic Kitchen), 10 Main St R32 D8C0, ☏ +353 87 946 6824. Great reviews for this award-winning fine dining place just south of the crossroads. (updated Oct 2026)
• Quinns's Tea Rooms further down Main St are open W-Su 10AM-4PM.
• Mario's at the crossroads is a pizza takeaway open Sa-Th 2-11PM, F noon-11PM.
• Mueller & O'Connell is a bakery in Market Square open M-Sa 8AM-4PM.
• Jade Palace is a takeaway north of Market Square open daily 5-11:30PM.
• Tasty Spice north on Main St is open daily 4PM-midnight.
• Daily Dose is a gluten-free bakery and cafe north end of Main St, open Tu-Sa 10AM-4PM.
• Durrow has Kim's and Bowe's Cafe, but the tops are Ashbrook Arms and Castle Durrow, see Sleep.

• Morrissey's Pub, Main St, Abbeyleix R32 T1X8 (at crossroads), ☏ +353 85 165 0287. M-Th 10:30AM-11:30PM, F Sa noon-12:30AM, Su 12:30-11PM. Atmospheric pub that took on its present form in 1880 and is little changed since. It's sometimes made out to be the oldest pub in Ireland but it's 1000 years younger than Sean's in Athlone, reliably dated to circa 900 AD. (updated Oct 2026)
• Benny's at the crossroads is open Su-Th noon-11:30PM, F Sa noon-12:30AM.
• Durrow pubs are Durrow Inn, Dec's and Bob's Bar.
• First Ireland Spirits produce liqueurs and pre-mixed cocktails on the industrial estate northwest of Abbeyleix. No tours.

• Preston House has upmarket suites at Main St R32 KP78.
• 52.9065-7.35271 Abbeyleix Manor Hotel, Cork Rd R32 VE24, ☏ +353 57 873 0111. Modern mid-range hotel with 46 bedrooms and conference suite. The rooms at the back are quieter. B&B double €150.  (updated Oct 2026)
• Blackhill Woods bills itself as a retreat but is available for standard B&B. It's 1 km west of town at Blackhills R32 WE52.
• 52.8453-7.39632 Castle Arms Hotel, The Square, Durrow R32 NW25, ☏ +353 57 873 6117. Comfy mid-price place in Durrow village centre with 16 rooms en suite.  (updated Oct 2026)
• Ashbrook Arms is also on The Square in Durrow.
• 52.8461-7.40153 Castle Durrow Hotel, Castle View, Durrow R32 EA02, ☏ +353 57 873 6555. Grand pre-Palladian mansion built from 1712. In the 20th century it was a school, but re-developed as a plush hotel in 1998. Great reviews for comfort and service, often caters for weddings. B&B double €250.  (updated Oct 2026)

As of Oct 2026, Abbeyleix and its approach roads have 4G from Vodafone, and 5G from Eir and Three.

• Kilkenny is an attractive small city with a castle and other medieval heritage.
• Mountrath is the access point for trails on the south slopes of the Slieve Bloom Mountains.
• Portlaoise the county town is a transport hub and its sights (such as Rock of Dunamase) are some way out. Continue north to Mountmellick to access the north slopes of the mountains.

Portlaoise ←

N  S

→ Kilkenny