Abbeyleix
Mainistir Laoise
Town
Main Street
Main Street
Abbeyleix is located in Ireland
Abbeyleix
Abbeyleix
Location in Ireland
Coordinates: 52°54′50″N 7°20′56″W / 52.914°N 7.349°W / 52.914; -7.349
CountryIreland
ProvinceLeinster
CountyCounty Laois
Elevation
95 m (312 ft)
Population
 (2022)[1]
 • Total1,897
Irish Grid ReferenceS435850

Abbeyleix (/ˈæbiˌliːks/;[2] Irish: Mainistir Laoise, meaning 'Laois Abbey')[3] is a town in County Laois, Ireland, located around 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) south of the county town of Portlaoise.

Abbeyleix was formerly located on the N8, the main road from Dublin to Cork. At one point, up to 15,000 vehicles passed along the town's main street every day. Since May 2010, however, the town has been bypassed by the M8 motorway, with the former N8 consequently downgraded to the N77 national secondary road, and R639 regional road.

Abbeyleix was named Ireland's Tidiest Town in 2023.[4]

History

There was a settlement at Abbeyleix as early as 1183, that grew up near the River Nore, around the Cistercian monastery - which gives the town its name.

The monastery, known as Clonkyne Leix or De Lege Dei, was reputedly founded about the year 600 AD, but of which there is limited account until 1183, when it was refounded and dedicated to the Blessed Virgin by Conogher or Corcheger O'More (Conor Cucoigcriche).[5][6] O'More placed in it monks of the Cistercian order from Baltinglass, County Wicklow.[5]

The lordship of Feranamanagh (i.e. the Monk's land), consisting of the parish of Abbeyleix, is shown on a map of the territories of Leix and Offaly from 1561.[7]

Monument to John Vesey, 2nd Viscount de Vesci

Modern Abbeyleix is one of the oldest planned estate towns in Ireland. It was largely built in the 18th century by Viscount de Vesci. The regular flooding of the River Nore made the town an unhealthy place to live. Around 1790, John Vesey determined that the location of the town was not suitable for his tenants, and began to design a new one. The old town was levelled, and the residents moved to the new one.[8] A memorial to the 2nd Viscount de Vesci, paid for by subscriptions, is in the town center. It features a water trough for horses.

Today, there are many historical structures standing in and around the town - ancient ring forts, burial grounds, churches and estate houses. The town once had a carpet factory, established in 1904 by Yvo de Vesci, the 5th Viscount – notably producing some of the carpets used on the RMS Olympic and RMS Titanic.[9]

The Abbeyleix Heritage House is a local heritage centre, with visitor information and an exhibition on the county's history and local attractions. Original antique carpets and vintage costumes are on display alongside archaeological and historical artefacts.

Transport

Road

The N8 road to Cork passed through Abbeyleix prior to the opening of the M8 motorway in 2010. With the opening of the M8 the N77 road was extended along the route of the former N8 from Durrow to Portlaoise. Access to the M8 from Abbeyleix is also provided via the R433 road.

Rail

Abbeyleix railway station, on the line from Portlaoise to Kilkenny, opened on 1 March 1865 and closed on 1 January 1963.[10]

Bus

Bus Éireann's expressway service between Dublin and Cork ceased to serve Abbeyleix on 30 June 2012. As an interim measure until 11 August 2012 Bus Éireann operated a shuttle service (route 128) to connect with Expressway services at Portlaoise.[11] Slieve Bloom Coaches also have a route from Borris-in-Ossory to Portlaoise which serves the town.[12]

Amenities

There is a district hospital in the town, and a number of shops and pubs. Father Breen Park has fields for soccer and other sports, while the adjacent CYMS hall is home to a number of clubs. Heritage House also provides guided tours of the museum and runs workshops throughout the year. The Abbeyleix Manor Hotel is part of the Magnuson Hotels chain.[13]

The "Lords Walk Loop" is a 2.4 kilometer loop that traces an old walking route taken by the De Vesci Family to reach the local church and railway station.[14]

Buildings of note

Plaque on Market House

Abbeyleix House and the de Vesci estate (Abbeyleix Estate) is located on the Ballacolla road. As of 2019, the estate was being marketed for sale, with an asking price of €20 million.[15][16]

Within the town, Abbeyleix Market House is a five-bay, four storey building which was previously used as a fire station and library. It has been renovated as a library and exhibition centre.[17] Heritage House is a visitor centre which houses a local history museum. This 19th-century building was once the North Boys School.[18] Both the Market House and Heritage House are listed on the Record of Protected Structures for County Laois.[19]

Sport

Abbeyleix GAA club is the local Gaelic Athletic Association club. Abbeyleix Golf Club and Abbeyleix Lawn Tennis Club were established in 1895 and 1909 respectively.[20][21] Other sports clubs in the area include a hockey club and soccer (association football) club.[22][23]

Notable residents

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Census 2022 - F1015 Population". Central Statistics Office Census 2022 Reports. Central Statistics Office Ireland. August 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  2. ↑ "Abbeyleix Irish Heritage Town Promo". YouTube. 29 January 2013. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  3. ↑ "Abbeyleix / Mainistir Laoise". logainm.ie. Irish Placenames Commission. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  4. ↑ Fletcher, Laura (6 October 2023). "Abbeyleix named Ireland's Tidiest Town for 2023". RTÉ News.
  5. 1 2 "Abbeyleix". A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland. Samuel Lewis. 1837. p. 4 – via archive.org.
  6. ↑ "Moore". Irish Pedigrees. P. Murphy & Son. 1915. p. 324 – via archive.org.
  7. ↑ "Historical Notes on the O'Moores". Journal of the County Kildare Archaeological Society. 1911. p. 4 – via archive.org.
  8. ↑ ""Abbeyleix (Laois Heritage Trail)", Laois County Council". Archived from the original on 21 January 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  9. ↑ "Titanic Carpet Factory". Archived from the original on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
  10. ↑ "Abbeyleix station" (PDF). Railscot - Irish Railways. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 September 2007. Retrieved 8 September 2007.
  11. ↑ "Shannon Airport - Bus Éireann - View Ireland Bus and Coach Timetables & Buy Tickets". Buseireann.ie. Archived from the original on 28 July 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  12. ↑ "BorrisInOssory". Slievebloomcoaches.ie. Archived from the original on 7 September 2019. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  13. ↑ "Abbeyleix Manor Hotel". Archived from the original on 21 January 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  14. ↑ ""Lords Walk Loop Abbeyleix", All Trail". Archived from the original on 21 January 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  15. ↑ "The Abbey Leix Estate, Abbeyleix, Co. Laois". DAFT. Archived from the original on 24 June 2019. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  16. ↑ "Historic 1,100-acre Laois estate goes up for sale with €20 million price tag - Laois Today". Laoistoday.ie. 24 June 2019. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  17. ↑ "Market House". Ask About Ireland. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  18. ↑ "Heritage House". Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  19. ↑ "Laois County Development Plan 2017-2023 - Appendix 1 - Record of Protected Structures" (PDF). laois.ie. Laois County Council. 2017. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  20. ↑ "Abbeyleix Golf Club Est.1895 – Welcome to our site". Abbeyleixgolfclub.ie. Archived from the original on 26 December 2019. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  21. ↑ "About – Abbeyleix Tennis Club". Abbeyleixtennis.com. Archived from the original on 18 January 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  22. ↑ "Abbeyleix Hockey Club". Archived from the original on 20 March 2013. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
  23. ↑ Abbeyleix Soccer Club
  24. ↑ Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who. 1963.
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