Mountmellick

Mountmellick is a town in County Laois, with a population of about 4900 in 2022. It's difficult to believe that this small place was once a large industrial town: English Quakers settled in the 17th century and founded breweries, a distillery, woollen mills, cotton, tanneries and glassworks. These have all vanished, though a tradition of lace-making and embroidery continues. The main reason to visit is to explore the Slieve Bloom Mountains rising to the west. The town in spite of its name doesn't have a "mount" — it's from Irish Móinteach Mílic. That means "the bog next to a river" which, this being Ireland, doesn't much help you locate it.

By road from Dublin follow N7 / M7 towards Portlaoise. Take Exit 15 at Emo and follow R422 west to Mountmellick.

Bus Éireann 73 traverses the midlands from Waterford via Thomastown, Kilkenny, Carlow, Stradbally and Portlaoise to Mountmellick. It continues to Killeigh, Tullamore, Clara, Moate and Athlone. There are two M-Sa and one on Sunday.

Slieve Bloom Coach 830 runs seven times M-Sa from Tullamore via Kilcormac, Kinnitty, Cadamstown, Clonaslea and Rosenallis to Mountmellick and Portlaoise.

Local Link Bus 823 runs from Birr via Kinitty to Mountmellick and Portlaoise, five times M-Sa with four on Sunday.

Bus 827 runs from Portlaoise three times M-F via Portarlington.

53.1155-7.32231 St Joseph's Church is the most central bus stop in Mountmellick.

Portlaoise is the nearest railway station, with hourly trains from Dublin Heuston, and buses from Dublin city and airport.

The spur from the Grand Canal at Monasterevin via Portarlington to Mountmellick closed in 1960, so you can't get here by boat.

You need wheels to reach the hiking trails in the Slieve Bloom mountains.

• Town centre of Mountmellick is 18th- to 19th-century low-rise, mostly grey-harled or whitewashed rather than the usual multiple colours of an Irish small town.
• Mountmellick Embroidery Museum, Pearse St R32 A0PK, ☏ +353 57 862 4525. M-F 9:30AM-4:30PM. Small volunteer-run exhibition. Adult €10. (updated Oct 2026)
• St Joseph's is the Roman Catholic church on Sarsfield St.
• Emo Court: see Portarlington for this grand neo-classical mansion.

• Mountmellick Community Arts Centre is on Parnell St, 100 m west of St Joseph's Church.
• 53.1229-7.45141 Glenbarrow is the trailhead for hikes in the Slieve Bloom Mountains. Easy trails are a 4-km walk along the River Barrow to Glenbarrow Waterfall, and the 10-km Old Mill Loop.
• 53.147-7.5272 Brittas Forest near Clonaslee has lowland walking trails around a lake. Brittas Castle was a 19th-century neo-gothic pile that burned down in 1942.
• Golf: the nearest course is Portarlington GC 8 km northeast.

• SuperValu is on Davitt St, southeast side of Mountmellick. It's open M-Sa 8AM-9PM, Su 8AM-8PM.

• Golden Grill on Patrick St and Roberto's on Sarsfield St do fish & chips, burgers and pizza.
• Four Seasons is a Chinese at 29 Patrick St R32 YO22, open Tu-Su 4:30-11:30PM.
• Notions Coffee is on O'Connell Square R32 YY17, open daily 9AM-3:30PM.
• The Hare's Corner is next to the Embroidery Museum on Pearse St R32 A0PK, open M-Th 9AM-4PM, F-Su 9AM-5PM.
• Chen's Chinese on Parnell St R32 H261 does takeaway daily 4:30-11:30PM.
• The Old Canal Bar, Harbour St R32 A260, ☏ +353 57 869 7683. W-Su noon-11:30PM. Good trad food. (updated Oct 2026)

• Dowling's Bar is at 45 O'Moore St, Tom & Vron's is at 3 O'Moore St, Moloney's Gaelic Bar is at 27 Patrick St, Hollow Bar is on Church St and The Druid is on Parnell St.
• Lalor's Bar is east edge of town on Harbour St.
• Rosenallis village has Village Tap.
• Clonaslee village has Mary Hickey's, Fallon's and Cosy Bar close together on Main St.

• 53.1127-7.32441 Brielle House, Irishtown, Mountmellick R32 KF97, ☏ +353 57 864 4329. Bungalow for self-catering. €150 per night, €900 per week.  (updated Oct 2026)
• 53.1413-7.35812 Barrow View, Upper Forest, Mountmellick R32 P588, ☏ +353 57 862 4316. Friendly guesthouse 3 km north of village. B&B double €120.  (updated Oct 2026)
• Ballyfin: see Portlaoise for this upmarket hotel 10 km southwest.

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

• Portlaoise is a transport hub and has places to stay and eat; its sights (such as Rock of Dunamase) are some way out.
• Portarlington is near the grand mansion of Emo Court.
• Tullamore has two famous distilleries and is on the Grand Canal.
• Kildare is in horse-rearing country, near Curragh racecourse.