Abbeyleix
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Abbeyleix Mainistir Laoise |
||
| Location | ||
|
||
|
WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates:
|
||
|---|---|---|
| Irish grid reference S435850 |
||
| Statistics | ||
| Province: | Leinster | |
| County: | County Laois | |
| Elevation: | 129 m | |
| Population (2002) - Town: - Environs: |
1,383 2,379 |
|
Abbeyleix or Abbeylaois (Irish: Mainistir Laoise, meaning Laois Abbey) is a town in County Laois, Republic of Ireland about 14 km from Portlaoise. It is located on the N8 National Primary Route.
Contents |
[edit] History
Abbeyleix was founded in the 18th century as a town by Viscount de Vesci and is situated near a 12th century Cistercian monastery beside the River Nore. Today, there is a large range of historical structures still standing in and around the small village - ancient ring forts, burial grounds, early monastic buildings, Norman and mediaeval castles, churches and colonial estate houses. The town once had a carpet factory - notably producing some of the carpets used on the RMS Titanic.
There is a heritage house located in the old Patrician monastery schoolhouse which provides information on the towns history. Abbeyleix was made a Heritage town of Ireland several years ago.
[edit] Transport
Abbeyleix railway station opened on 1 March 1865, but finally closed on 1 January 1963.[1]
[edit] Amenities
There is a district hospital in the town, and a number of shops and pubs. The Father Breen Park forms the nexus for a great many activities, providing fields for soccer, football and other sports, while the adjacent CYMS hall is home to numerous clubs, such as boxing and tae-kwon-do. The town boasts a newly built hotel - the Abbeyleix Manor Hotel. The hotel has recently extended to 46 bedrooms. A new state of the art conference centre is due open in early spring 2007.
[edit] Buildings of note
- Abbeyleix Market House is a 5 bay, 2 story building which was until 2005 used as a fire station and library. It is currently (as of 2007) being renovated as a state of the art library/exhibition centre.
- Open once annually to the public, for local charity, are the beautiful grounds of the old de Vesci estate.
- Also of note are the heritage centre & the sensory gardens on Main Street.
- The Abbeyleix South National School is a beautiful 19th century building.
[edit] Notable residents
- Launt Thompson, (1833-1894), born in Abbeyleix, was a noted sculptor. [2]
[edit] Sport
- Abbeyleix GAA
- The Abbeyleix Golf Course is an 18 hole course located near the town.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Abbeyleix station. Railscot - Irish Railways. Retrieved on 2007-09-08.
- ^ (1963) Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who.
