Abbeyleix

Infobox Irish Place
name = Abbeyleix
gaeilge = Mainistir Laoise
crest

motto =
map

pin coords = left: 53px; top: 69px
north coord = 52.8992
west coord = 7.3575
irish grid = S435850
area =
elevation = 129 m
province = Leinster
county = County Laois
town pop = 1,383
rural pop = 2,379
census yr = 2002
web =
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Abbeyleix or Abbeylaois (Irish place name|Mainistir Laoise|Laois Abbey) is a town in County Laois, Ireland about 14 km from Portlaoise. It is located on the N8 National Primary Route.

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.

Transport

Abbeyleix railway station opened on 1 March 1865, but finally closed on 1 January 1963. [cite web | title=Abbeyleix station | work=Railscot - Irish Railways | url=http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf | accessdate=2007-09-08]

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.

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 has been 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.

Notable residents

*Launt Thompson, (1833-1894), born in Abbeyleix, was a noted sculptor. cite book | title = Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896 | publisher = Marquis Who's Who | location=Chicago | date = 1963]

port

*Abbeyleix GAA
*The Abbeyleix Golf Course is an 18-hole course located near the town.

ee also

*List of towns in Ireland
*Market Houses in the Republic of Ireland

References

External links

* [http://www.abbeyleixgolfclub.ie/ Abbeyleix Golf Club]
* [http://www.abbeyleixmanorhotel.com/ Abbeyleix Manor Hotel]