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Abbeyleix

Abbeyleix is located in the south of county Laois, on the N77, 14km from the County Town of Portlaoise and 15km from Junction 3 on the M8 Motorway.

Abbeyleix is characterised by a wide main street, which is enclosed on both sides by a continuous building line. A semi-circular Market Square in the centre of the town acts as a focal point, providing an open space amenity for the town. The town’s urban form is a fine example of an eighteenth century planned town, built by Viscount De Vesci of the Abbeyleix Demesne. Good examples of late eighteenth to early nineteenth century Georgian architecture are to be seen throughout the town with notable examples being Preston House, the former courthouse and the Abbey Gate Hotel and a relatively large number of traditional shop fronts survive, the majority of which display a high level of craftsmanship in their design and finish. The town is designated as an Architectural Conservation Area, reflecting its historic and special architectural character.

Abbeyleix was awarded second place in the Small Towns category in the 2016 Tidy Towns competition and the town was also awarded the Irish Water Value Award for Best Small Town in 2016.

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Overall population base

1,770

Local labour force

769

Labour force 30 mins

46,747

Labour force 60 mins

281,745

Education

There are 2 primary schools and 1 secondary school in Abbeyleix.

Primary School M F Total
Schoil Mhuire 196 182 378
South N.S 47 51 98
Secondary School M F Total
Heywood Community School

Transport
Infrastructure

The N77 (the old N8 Dublin-Cork Road) routes through the centre of Abbeyleix, providing regional connections southwards to Kilkenny, the M9 Motorway and beyond and northwards to Portlaoise, the M7 and M8 Motorways and beyond. The R430 Mountrath-Carlow Road also routes through the town.

Local Amenities

Abbeyleix is provided with a range of amenities, including Father Breen Park, which provides GAA, soccer and tennis amenities, Abbeyleix Golf Club and a number of signposted walking routes. Abbeyleix Bog in particular provides an extensive local amenity, encompassing an area of c. 500 acres.

Population Base

Abbeyleix has a population of 1,770 with a local labour force of 1,391 and 46,747 within a 30 minute drive (CSO, 2016). The town benefits from a relatively young population, with 43% of total population aged 34 years or younger.

Broadband

Abbeyleix benefits from the provision of fibre broadband, with a number of fibre cabinets located within the town and providing reliable broadband speeds. The town will also benefit from further improvements in broadband speeds, as part of Eir’s rollout of improved broadband services throughout the country.

Planning Context

Abbeyleix is designated as a ‘Service Town’ within both the Laois County Development Plan 2017 – 2023 and the Regional Planning Guidelines for the Midland Region 2010 – 2022 and it provides an important retail, residential, service and amenity function for the local hinterland and support for the Principal Town of Portlaoise. Abbeyleix is provided with zonings for the provision of additional Residential, Commercial, Enterprise & Employment, Industrial, Community-Educational-Institutional and other sustainable development in the future. The Laois County Development Plan 2017 – 2023 zones lands for development in Abbeyleix as follows:

Land use Ha
Residential 12
Community-Educational-Institutional  12
Industrial 16
Enterprise & Employment 11
Tourism 6

Testimonials

“Abbeyleix is one of the most attractive and best known small towns in the country. Business and other activities have started to grow in the town in the last few years and we are very much looking forward to opening and building our new Bakery business in the town.”

Mueller & O’ Connell Bakery