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Portlaoise Heritage Trail
Portlaoise Heritage Trail is now completed. There are 26 sites on the route, each now with its own beautiful and informative plaque in place. The Heritage Trail was launched during National Heritage Week, the last week in August at a special ceremony at County Hall presided over by Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council, Tom Jacob, and Cathaoirleach of Portlaoise Town Council, Willie Aird.
The Portlaoise Heritage Trail begins, appropriately at County Hall, where the newly erected monument to one of our most famous ancestors, James Fintan Lalor, stands. This tribute to JFL is number one and then continues all around the town. The Old Fort of Maryborough is probably the most important site on the trail. Laois County Council had signalled that they plan to put a new county library on the site, which will be fine if it protects and enhances this, our most significant shrine to the colourful history of the county town.
Laois Heritage Society and public representatives have been pushing to have a new county museum/heritage centre located at the Fort site. Let’s hope that the opportunity is not missed this time to include a heritage centre we can be all proud of in the plans for the site. It would be a sin to let the opportunity be lost to establish a rich core of heritage that would be such a bonus and attraction to a town that badly needs a soul.
The Society have published a beautiful brochure to mark the official launch which details the location and significance of each site. The project was funded mainly from our own limited funding as a voluntary organisation with significant help from Laois Leader and the Heritage Council. Laois County Council, through its Heritage Officer, Catherine Casey, has been very supportive and most helpful every step of the way. Laois Heritage Society is grateful for all their assistance.
Portlaoise Heritage Trail now complements the Laois Heritage Trail and also Mountmellick who have a Heritage Trail of their own for some years. It is hoped Portarlington and other Laois towns will follow suit in the near future and plans are currently being examined through the auspices of the Laois Heritage Forum to map out the best way forward to achieve this aim.
Portlaoise Heritage Trail
Portlaoise Heritage Trail is now completed. There are 26 sites on the route, each now with its own beautiful and informative plaque in place. The Heritage Trail was launched during National Heritage Week, the last week in August at a special ceremony at County Hall presided over by Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council, Tom Jacob, and Cathaoirleach of Portlaoise Town Council, Willie Aird.
The Portlaoise Heritage Trail begins, appropriately at County Hall, where the newly erected monument to one of our most famous ancestors, James Fintan Lalor, stands. This tribute to JFL is number one and then continues all around the town. The Old Fort of Maryborough is probably the most important site on the trail. Laois County Council had signalled that they plan to put a new county library on the site, which will be fine if it protects and enhances this, our most significant shrine to the colourful history of the county town.
Laois Heritage Society and public representatives have been pushing to have a new county museum/heritage centre located at the Fort site. Let’s hope that the opportunity is not missed this time to include a heritage centre we can be all proud of in the plans for the site. It would be a sin to let the opportunity be lost to establish a rich core of heritage that would be such a bonus and attraction to a town that badly needs a soul.
The Society have published a beautiful brochure to mark the official launch which details the location and significance of each site. The project was funded mainly from our own limited funding as a voluntary organisation with significant help from Laois Leader and the Heritage Council. Laois County Council, through its Heritage Officer, Catherine Casey, has been very supportive and most helpful every step of the way. Laois Heritage Society is grateful for all their assistance.
Portlaoise Heritage Trail now complements the Laois Heritage Trail and also Mountmellick who have a Heritage Trail of their own for some years. It is hoped Portarlington and other Laois towns will follow suit in the near future and plans are currently being examined through the auspices of the Laois Heritage Forum to map out the best way forward to achieve this aim.
