Visiting County Laois? This part of the Irish province of Leinster has a number of attractions that you won’t want to miss. Plus some interesting sights that are a bit off the beaten path. So why not take your time and spend a quiet but hot day or several not-so-quiet days in Laois (and especially Stradbally) when visiting Ireland.
Here are some ideas to make it worth your while.
Laois, the basics
Need to know some facts about County Laois? Well here’s help:
- The Irish name of the county of Laois is Contae Laoise , translated literally it would be to identify “(The men of) Lugaid Laígne”.
- Between 1556 and 1920, Laois was officially known as “Queen’s County” in honor of Queen Mary (“Bloody Mary”).
- Cars registered in County Laois have the letters LS on their license plates.
- The county town is Port Laoise, other cities of regional importance are Abbeyleix, Mountrath, Portarlington and Rathdowney.
- The size of County Laois was measured at 1,719 square kilometers.
- According to the 2011 census, there are 80,559 people living in County Laois.
Stradbally and Steam
Stradbally Estate offers all kinds of attractions, from riding stables to getting hitched (it is a wedding venue after all). But a lot of people get pretty shady when Stradbally is mentioned… because of the museum and special events.
The Irish Steam Preservation Society museum caters to enthusiasts and the public alike, with an extensive collection of engines and machinery, most (but not all) powered by steam. And if you want to experience the power of steam in action, head to the Stradbally Hall Narrow Gauge Railway Running Days.
Or, better yet, make a bee line for the gigantic rally in August, from steam engines to kerosene tractors and much more.
Electric Picnic at Stradbally
Want to blow off steam, dance the night away, meet like-minded people (en masse), and enjoy one of the most relaxed and upscale music festivals in Europe? Well, head over to the Electric Picnic on Stradbally. Presenting an eclectic mix of musical style with a strong focus on the 1980s as well as emerging bands.
Find out more about County Laois and the Province of Leinster
- County Laois Articles
- The province of Leinster
- Best of leinster
Moving Forward – Beyond Laois Borders
Did you spend enough time in County Laois? Then continue on to neighboring counties:
- County Offaly
- County Kildare
- County Carlow
- County Kilkenny
- County tipperary
