View source for Portlaoise

{{short description|Town in County Laois, Ireland}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=May 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{Infobox settlement
 | name                            = Portlaoise
 | other_name                      = Maryborough
 | settlement_type                 = [[Town]]
 | native_name                     = {{lang|ga|Port Laoise}}
 | motto                           = 
 | url                             = 
 | title                           = 
 | publisher                       = 
 | access-date                     =
 | archive-url                     = 
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| image_skyline                   = {{multiple image
|border = infobox
|total_width = 280px
|image_style = border:1;
|perrow = 2/2
|image1 = Main Street, Portlaoise, 2021-07-21, 02.jpg
|caption1 = Main Street
|image2 = St. Peter and Paul's Church, Portlaoise, 2021-07-21, 01.jpg
|caption2 = St. Peter & Paul's Church
|image3 = Portlaoise Main Street County Courthouse 2010 09 01.jpg
|caption3 = [[Portlaoise Courthouse]]
|image4 = Portlaoise Prison, 2021-07-21.jpg
|caption4 = [[Portlaoise Prison]]
}}
 | image_flag                      =
 | flag_size                       =
 | image_seal                      =
 | image_shield                    = Portlaoise COA.svg
 | shield_size                     =
 | pushpin_map                     = Ireland#Europe
 | subdivision_type                = Country
 | subdivision_name                = Ireland
 | subdivision_type1               = [[Provinces of Ireland|Province]]
 | subdivision_name1               = [[Leinster]]
 | subdivision_type2               = [[Counties of Ireland|County]]
 | subdivision_name2               = [[County Laois|Laois]]
 | government_type                 =
 | leader_title                    = Local authority
 | leader_name                     = [[Laois County Council]]
 | leader_title1                   = [[Local electoral area]]
 | leader_name1                    = Portlaoise
 | leader_title2                   = [[Dáil constituency]]
 | leader_name2                    = [[Laois (Dáil constituency)|Laois]]
 | leader_title3                   = [[European Parliament constituencies in the Republic of Ireland|EP constituency]]
 | leader_name3                    = [[Midlands–North-West (European Parliament constituency)|Midlands–North-West]]
 | established_title               = Founded
 | established_date                = 1557 (as ''Maryborough'') 
 | established_title2              = Town Charter
 | established_date2               = 1570
 | established_title3        =
 | established_date3         =
 | area_footnotes                  =
 | area_magnitude                  =
 | area_total_km2                  = 12.1
 | area_total_sq_mi                =
 | area_land_km2                   =
 | area_land_sq_mi                 =
 | area_urban_km2                  =
 | area_urban_sq_mi                =
 | area_metro_km2                  =
 | area_metro_sq_mi                =
 | population_as_of                = [[2022 census of Ireland|2022]]
 | population_footnotes            = <ref name=cso2022>{{cite web | url = https://visual.cso.ie/?body=entity/ima/cop/2022&boundary=C04160V04929&guid=f3ae1c54-27b3-458d-bde9-f58eb64c0f08 | title = Interactive Data Visualisations: Towns: Portlaoise | work = Census 2022 | publisher = [[Central Statistics Office (Ireland)|Central Statistics Office]]| access-date = 30 September 2023}}</ref>
 | population_note                 = 
 | population_total                = 23,494
 | population_rank         = [[List of urban areas in the Republic of Ireland|18th]] '''(1st in [[Midland Region, Ireland|Midland]])'''
 | population_density_km2          = 1,941.7
 | population_density_sq_mi        =
 | population_urban                = 
 | population_density_urban_km2    = 
 | population_density_urban_sq_mi  =
 | population_metro                = 
 | population_density_metro_km2    =
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 | population_blank1_title         =
 | population_blank1               =
 | population_density_blank1_km2   =
 | population_density_blank1_sq_mi =
 | population_blank2_title         = [[Ethnicity|Ethnic or cultural background]]
 |population_blank2                = {{Collapsible list
 |title = 
 |frame_style = border:none; padding: 0;
 |title_style =
 |list_style = text-align:left;display:none;
 |1 = White Irish (59.38%)
 |2 = White Other (17.67%)
 |3 = Black or Black Irish (4.59%)
 |4 = Asian or Asian Irish (5.42%)
 |5 = Other (3.63%)
 |6 = White Irish Traveller (1.22%)
 |7 = Not Stated (8.07%)}}
 | population_density_blank2_km2   =
 | population_density_blank2_sq_mi =
 | population_demonym              = 
 | timezone                        = [[Western European Time|WET]]
 | utc_offset                      = ±0
 | timezone_DST                    = [[Irish Standard Time|IST]]
 | utc_offset_DST                  = +1
 | coordinates                     = {{coord|53|1|51|N|7|18|3|W|region:IE|display=inline,title}}
 | elevation_footnotes             =
 | elevation_m                     = 139
 | elevation_ft                    =
 | postal_code_type                = [[Postal addresses in the Republic of Ireland|Eircode]]
 | postal_code                     = R32
 | area_codes                       = 057
 | website                         = 
}}
'''Portlaoise'''<ref>{{Cite web|title=Port Laoise/Port Laoise|url=https://www.logainm.ie/ga/131233?s=Port+Laoise|access-date=2021-04-29|website=Logainm.ie|language=Irish|archive-date=29 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429020412/https://www.logainm.ie/ga/131233?s=Port+Laoise|url-status=live}}</ref> ({{IPAc-en|p|ɔr|t|ˈ|l|iː|ʃ
}} {{respell|port|LEESH}}),<ref>{{Cite AV media|url=http://www.rte.ie/radio/utils/radioplayer/rteradioweb.html#!rii=9%3A20524156%3A0%3A%3A|title=Pronunciation|date=12 February 2014|people=[[John Murray (Irish broadcaster)|John Murray]], [[Doireann Ní Bhriain]]|publisher=RTÉ|time=18m55s–19m45s|work=John Murray Show}}</ref> or '''Port Laoise''' ({{IPA|ga|ˌpˠɔɾˠt̪ˠˈl̪ˠiːʃə}}), is the [[county town]] of [[County Laois]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]].
It is in the [[Midland Region, Ireland|South Midlands]] in the [[province]] of [[Leinster]].

Portlaoise was the fastest growing of the top 20 largest towns and cities in Ireland from 2011 to 2016.<ref name="Pop2016">{{cite web|url=https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-cp2tc/cp2pdm/pd/|title=Census of Population 2016 - Profile 2 Population Distribution and Movements|date=2016|publisher=[[Central Statistics Office (Ireland)]]|access-date=12 May 2017|archive-date=7 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107002953/https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-cp2tc/cp2pdm/pd/|url-status=live}}</ref> However, the [[2022 census of Ireland|2022 census]] shows that the town's population increased by 6.6% to 23,494, which was below the national average of 8%.<ref name="cso2022"/> It is the most populous and also the most densely populated town in the [[Midland Region, Ireland|Midland Region]], which has a total population of 317,999 at the [[2022 census of Ireland|2022 census]].<ref name="cso2022" />

It was an important town in the sixteenth century, as the site of the Fort of Maryborough, a fort built by English settlers during the [[Plantations of Ireland#Early plantations (1556–1576)|Plantation of Queen's County]].

Portlaoise is fringed by the [[Slieve Bloom Mountains|Slieve Bloom mountains]] to the west and north-west and the Great Heath of Maryborough to the east. It is notable for its architecture, engineering and transport connections.
On the national road network, Portlaoise is located {{convert|94|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} west-southwest from [[Dublin]] on the [[M7 motorway (Ireland)|M7]], {{convert|170|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} north-east from [[Cork (city)|Cork]] on the [[M8 motorway (Ireland)|M8]]/[[M7 motorway (Ireland)|M7]] and {{convert|114|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} east-northeast from [[Limerick]] on the [[M7 motorway (Ireland)|M7]].

It was once known for the manufacture of iron and steel buildings, tennis balls, rubber seals, tyres, electrical cabling, and Ireland's first aircraft. Today, Portlaoise is a commercial centre with the economy dominated by the [[service sector]], and a hub of shopping, transport, and events for the surrounding catchment.

==History==
[[File:Fort of Maryborough - 2025-07-06 01.jpg|thumb|left|Fort of Maryborough]]
[[File:World War 1 memorial monument, Portlaoise - 2025-07-06 02.jpg|left|thumb|World War 1 memorial monument]]
The site of the present town is referred to in the ''[[Annals of the Four Masters]]'', written in the 1630s, as ''Port Laoighisi''. The present town originated as a settlement around the old fort, "Fort of Leix" or "Fort Protector", the remains of which can still be seen in the town centre. Its construction began in 1548 under the supervision of the Lord Deputy, Sir [[Edward Bellingham]], in an attempt to secure English control of the county following the exile of Celtic chieftains the previous year. The fort's location on rising ground, surrounded to the south and east by the natural defensive barricades of the [[River Triogue]] and an [[esker]] known locally as 'the Ridge', greatly added to its strategic importance.

The town proper was established by an Act of Parliament during the reign of [[Mary I of England|Mary I]] in 1557. Though the early fort and its surrounding settlement had been known by a number of names, such as Governor, Port Laois, Campa and Fort Protector, the new town was named '''Maryborough''' (IPA [ˈmarbrə]) and the county was named Queen's County in Mary's honour. In about 1556, Portlaoise acquired its first parish church—Old St Peter's—situated to the west of Fort Protector. Although first built as a Catholic church, due to Mary's re-establishment of Catholicism, the church was used for Protestant services after the accession to the English throne of Mary's half-sister, [[Elizabeth I of England|Elizabeth]].

The area had been a focus of the rebellion of [[Ruairí Óg Ó Mórdha]], a local chieftain who had rebelled and had lost his lands, which the Crown wanted to be settled by reliable landowners. For the next fifty or so years, the new English settlers in Maryborough fought a continual, low-scale war with the Gaelic chieftains who fought against the new settlement. The town had been burnt several times by the end of the 16th century.

[[File:Maryborough 1839 Ordnance Survey Map.png|thumb|Ordnance Survey Map, 1839, showing Maryborough]]
Maryborough was granted a market in 1567, and then in 1570, a charter of [[Elizabeth I of England|Queen Elizabeth I]] raised the town to the rank of [[borough]]. This allowed the establishment of a Corporation of the Borough, a body which consisted of a burgomaster, two bailiffs, a town clerk, and a sergeant at arms, as well as various other officers, burgesses and freemen. The [[Maryborough (Parliament of Ireland constituency)|Maryborough Division]] was represented by two members in the [[Parliament of Ireland|Irish Parliament]] until 1800. The [[Act of Union 1800|Act of Union]] ended this franchise, and it became part of the electorate of [[Queen's County (UK Parliament constituency)|Queen's County]] until 1922. The town's Corporation itself existed until 1830.

In 1803–04, a new [[Church of Ireland]] church was built to replace the Old St Peter's; it was the first building to be erected on the new Market Square. The building is attributed to architect [[James Gandon]]. Other notable buildings constructed in Maryborough in the 19th century included the Court House on Main Street, built in 1805; the County Gaol built in 1830 to a design by [[William Deane Butler]]; and the neo-classical [[St. Fintan's Hospital]], built in 1833 on the Dublin Road.

The city of [[Maryborough, Victoria]] in [[Australia]] was named in the 1850s after his birthplace by James Daly, a gold commissioner,

In 1929, a few years after the foundation of the [[Irish Free State]], the town was renamed ''Portlaoighise'' (later simplified to ''Port Laoise''), and the county was renamed County Laois.<ref>[http://logainm.ie/131233.aspx Port Laoise] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717190214/http://logainm.ie/131233.aspx |date=17 July 2011 }}, Placenames Database of Ireland.</ref>

==Local government==
[[File:IMGPortlaoise 4420w.jpg|thumb|Bridge Street and Church of Sts. Peter and Paul]]
The town forms part of the Portlaoise [[local electoral area]] and municipal district for elections to [[Laois County Council]]. This includes the urban Portlaoise area, Abbeyleix and Ballinakill and surrounding rural areas. As of 2020, the total population of the Portlaoise local electoral area is 31,794 people.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.leinsterexpress.ie/news/news/590221/portlaoise-is-the-brightest-place-in-laois-for-the-wrong-reasons.html|title=Portlaoise is the brightest place in Laois for the wrong reasons|date=19 November 2020|newspaper=Leinster Express|access-date=26 November 2023}}</ref> Portlaoise Town Council was abolished in 2014 in accordance with the [[Local Government Reform Act 2014]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2014/act/1/enacted/en/print |title= Local Government Reform Act 2014|publisher=Irish Statute Book| access-date=24 November 2023}}</ref> Portlaoise Town Hall on Market Square, which was designed in the French Renaissance-style, was badly damaged in a fire in March 1945 and subsequently demolished.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.askaboutireland.ie/reading-room/history-heritage/heritage-towns/towns-and-villages-of-lao/portlaoise/town-hall/  |title=Town Hall|publisher=Ask Abourt Ireland|access-date=26 November 2023}}</ref>

Portlaoise is twinned with [[Coulounieix-Chamiers]], [[Dordogne]], [[Nouvelle-Aquitaine]], France.

==Demography==
{{Historical populations|state=collapsed
|1821|2677
|1831|3223
|1841|3633
|1851|2078
|1861|2935
|1871|2731
|1881|2872
|1891|2809
|1901|2957
|1911|3270
|1926|3374
|1936|3396
|1946|3170
|1951|3304
|1956|5561
|1961|5598
|1966|5873
|1971|6470
|1981|7756
|1986|8384
|1991|8360
|1996|9474
|2002|12127
|2006|14613
|2011|20145
|2016|22050
|2022|23494
| footnote=<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cso.ie/census |title=Census for post 1821 figures. |access-date=25 July 2009 |archive-date=20 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100920090814/http://cso.ie/census |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.histpop.org/ohpr/servlet/|title=HISTPOP.ORG - Home|website=www.histpop.org|access-date=6 November 2019|archive-date=28 August 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090828234704/http://www.histpop.org/ohpr/servlet/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nisranew.nisra.gov.uk/census |title=Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency - Census Home Page |access-date=2012-02-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217095720/http://www.nisranew.nisra.gov.uk/census |archive-date=17 February 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite book
| last=Lee|first=JJ| author-link =J. J. Lee (historian)|editor-last=Goldstrom|editor-first=J. M.|editor2-last=Clarkson
| editor2-first=L. A.|title=Irish Population, Economy, and Society: Essays in Honour of the Late K. H. Connell
| year=1981|publisher=Clarendon Press|location=Oxford, England
| chapter=On the accuracy of the [[Great Famine (Ireland)|Pre-famine]] Irish censuses}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal  | last1 = Mokyr  | first1 = Joel
| author-link = Joel Mokyr  | last2 = Ó Gráda  | first2 = Cormac
| author2-link = Cormac Ó Gráda  | title = New Developments in Irish Population History, 1700–1850  | journal = The Economic History Review  | volume =  37  | issue =  4
| pages = 473–488  |date=November 1984
| url = http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/120035880/abstract  | archive-url = https://archive.today/20121204160709/http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/120035880/abstract  | url-status = dead  | archive-date = 2012-12-04  | doi = 10.1111/j.1468-0289.1984.tb00344.x  | hdl = 10197/1406  | hdl-access = free  }}</ref>
}}

Portlaoise was among Ireland's fastest growing towns from 2006 to 2011, with a 37.9% increase in population. In the [[2016 census of Ireland|2016 census]] it was again in the top 10 fastest growing regions, with the population of the town and its suburbs exceeding 22,000.<ref name="Pop2016"/> By the [[2022 census of Ireland|2022 census]], population reached 23,494.<ref name="cso2022"/>

In 2022, non-Irish nationals accounted for 28.47% of the population, compared with a national average figure of 20%. Polish (6.29%) were the largest single group, with the largest categories being Other European Union (7.88%) and Rest of the World (9.79%).<ref name="cso2022"/> The former Mayor, [[Rotimi Adebari]], was the first person of African descent to become a mayor in Ireland.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/6251094.stm|title=Ireland elects first black mayor|work=[[BBC News]]|date=28 June 2007|access-date=10 February 2017|archive-date=1 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170101030251/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/6251094.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>

Due to rapid population growth and its location in the commuter belt, Portlaoise has seen the development of additional services, including a new fire station and a large swimming leisure complex.<ref>{{cite web|title=Portlaoise Leisure Centre|website=Laois County Council|url=https://laois.ie/departments/sport-and-leisure/leisure-facilities/portlaoise-leisure-centre-2/|access-date=2 October 2023}}</ref> Portlaoise has a high percentage of people under the age of 15,<ref name="cso2022group">{{cite web|title=Census 2022 - F1015 Population per Age Group|work=Central Statistics Office Census 2022 Reports |publisher=[[Central Statistics Office (Ireland)|Central Statistics Office Ireland]] |date=August 2023 |url=https://data.cso.ie/table/F1015 |access-date=16 September 2023}}</ref> reflected in the recent construction of new secondary and primary schools.<ref>{{cite web|title=New schools open their doors in Portlaoise|website=Leinster Express|url=https://www.leinsterexpress.ie/video/180474/New-schools-open-their-doors-.html|access-date=2 October 2023}}</ref>

==Climate==
Portlaoise has an [[oceanic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Cfb'').

{{Weather box
| width = auto
| location = Port Laoise

| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
| Jan mean C = 5.4
| Feb mean C = 5.6
| Mar mean C = 6.6
| Apr mean C = 8.5
| May mean C = 11.4
| Jun mean C = 14.0
| Jul mean C = 15.4
| Aug mean C = 15.1
| Sep mean C = 13.4
| Oct mean C = 10.6
| Nov mean C = 7.5
| Dec mean C = 5.8
| year mean C = 
| Jan high C = 7.7
| Feb high C = 8.3
| Mar high C = 9.8
| Apr high C = 12.1
| May high C = 15.0
| Jun high C = 17.5
| Jul high C = 18.7
| Aug high C = 18.4
| Sep high C = 16.6
| Oct high C = 13.4
| Nov high C = 9.9
| Dec high C = 8.1
| year high C = 
| Jan low C = 2.9
| Feb low C = 3.0
| Mar low C = 3.4
| Apr low C = 4.9
| May low C = 7.6
| Jun low C = 10.4
| Jul low C = 12.1
| Aug low C = 11.9
| Sep low C = 10.2
| Oct low C = 7.7
| Nov low C = 4.9
| Dec low C = 3.4
| year low C = 
| Jan precipitation mm = 68.9
| Feb precipitation mm = 65.4
| Mar precipitation mm = 64.9
| Apr precipitation mm = 62.3
| May precipitation mm = 71.7
| Jun precipitation mm = 72.6
| Jul precipitation mm = 75.6
| Aug precipitation mm = 79.7
| Sep precipitation mm = 66.0
| Oct precipitation mm = 89.5
| Nov precipitation mm = 82.9
| Dec precipitation mm = 81.2
| year precipitation mm = 
| source 1 = Weather.Directory<ref name="Weather.Directory">
{{cite web|url=https://weather.directory/ie/port-laoise
|title= Port Laoise Weather & Climate Guide
|access-date= 26 Jul 2025
|website= Weather.Directory}}</ref>
}}

==Economy==
Portlaoise has long been a major commercial and retail hub for the Midlands. Until the mid 20th century, the main industries of the town were flour milling and the manufacture of worsted fabric. Since their respective declines, among the largest employers are state-owned bodies such as the maximum-security [[Portlaoise Prison]], which houses the majority of the [[Irish Republican]]  prisoners sentenced in the [[Republic of Ireland|Republic]], the [[Midlands Prison]], the [[Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine|Department of Agriculture]] and the [[Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise]]. State-owned companies [[CIÉ|Córas Iompair Éireann]] (railways, with a National Traincare Maintenance Depot in Portlaoise), the [[ESB Group|ESB]] (utilities, with a training centre in the town) and also [[An Post]] are all major employers. In 2013 ''MyPay'', a new central payroll system for 55,000 local authority employees across Ireland, was set up in Portlaoise.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://merrionstreet.ie/en/News-Room/Releases/Minister_Alan_Kelly_T_D_launches_MyPay_-_payroll_and_superannuation_shared_service_for_local_authorities.html |title=Minister Alan Kelly T.D. launches MyPay - payroll and superannuation shared service for local authorities - MerrionStreet |publisher=Merrionstreet.ie |date=2015-05-29 |access-date=2019-11-06 |archive-date=29 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161229083139/http://merrionstreet.ie/en/News-Room/Releases/Minister_Alan_Kelly_T_D_launches_MyPay_-_payroll_and_superannuation_shared_service_for_local_authorities.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Due to its location and transport connections, the National Spatial Strategy chose Portlaoise as the location for Ireland's first "[[Dry port|Inland Port]]". This designation encourages the town to focus on the growth of distribution, logistics and warehouse uses. [[An Post]] operates the second largest mail centre in Ireland (after Dublin) at their depot in Portlaoise.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eirephilatelicassoc.org/content/volume-3-number-8 |title=Volume 3, Number 8 &#124; Éire Philatelic Association |publisher=Eirephilatelicassoc.org |access-date=2019-11-06 |archive-date=12 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161112034827/http://www.eirephilatelicassoc.org/content/volume-3-number-8 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise.JPG|thumb|[[Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise|Midland Regional Hospital]]]]

===Retail===
Retail spaces include Laois Shopping Centre which is [[Anchor tenant|anchored]] by [[Tesco]], The Kyle Centre which is anchored by [[Dunnes Stores]], Parkside Shopping Centre which is anchored by [[SuperValu (Ireland)|Super Valu]], the Kylekiproe road retail area which houses [[Aldi]], [[Lidl]] and [[Shaws Department Stores]] as well as retail parks in Kea Lew and on the South Circular Road.

===Tourism===
[[File:Castle of Dunamase im Abendlicht 02.jpg|thumb|[[Rock of Dunamase]]]]
Tourist sites near the area include the [[Rock of Dunamase]] (6&nbsp;km to the east), a hill-top castle which dates from the 12th century. There is also a 12th-century [[Irish round tower|round tower]] 12&nbsp;km away in [[Timahoe]].

Also close by is Fort Protector, a 16th-century fort built to protect British colonists from Irish natives.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fort Protector |url=https://laois.ie/departments/heritage/archaeology/fort-protector/ |website=Laois County Council |access-date=7 May 2024}}</ref>

[[Emo Court]] is a large Georgian estate designed by [[James Gandon]] at nearby [[Emo, County Laois|Emo]].

==Transport==
[[Image:portlaoise railway station.jpg|thumb|Portlaoise railway station]]
Portlaoise stands at a major crossroads in the [[Roads in Ireland|Irish roads]] network (major roads to [[Dublin]], [[Limerick]], [[Cork (city)|Cork]]) although construction in the 1990s of the [[M7 motorway (Ireland)|M7 motorway]], which bypasses the town, has reduced traffic congestion in the town centre.

[[Portlaoise railway station]] is one of the busiest railway stations outside of Dublin,{{citation needed|date=January 2020}} and is served by [[Inter-city rail|intercity]] trains between [[Dublin]] and [[Cork (city)|Cork]] and by [[Dublin]] [[commuter]] services. Maryborough railway station opened on 26 June 1847.<ref>{{cite web | title=Maryborough station | work=Railscot – Irish Railways | url=https://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf | access-date=3 November 2007 | archive-date=2 March 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110302022802/http://www.railbrit.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf | url-status=live }}</ref> It is the terminus of the Portlaoise Commuter Service, which stops at all stations to Heuston and runs hourly off peak and every 20/30 minutes during peak times. It is the busiest county town railway station in the [[Midland Region, Ireland|Midland Region]], with up to 32 trains to Dublin (10 non-stop) and 30 trains from Dublin (9 non-stop) per day.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.irishrail.ie/media/16_dublin-portlaoise_valind_from_20112016.pdf|title=Grand Canal Dock to Portlaoise|publisher=www.irishrail.ie|date=20 November 2016|access-date=28 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301182131/http://www.irishrail.ie/media/16_dublin-portlaoise_valind_from_20112016.pdf|archive-date=1 March 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Córas Iompair Éireann]] opened a rail depot south-west of Portlaoise town centre in March 2008, with a maintenance and servicing facility for the 183 new intercity railcars and some facilities for outer suburban railcars serving the Kildare route.

[[Bus Éireann]] previously operated an intercity service between Dublin and Cork/Limerick which called at Portlaoise, though this was suspended indefinitely in 2020. The number 8 (Cork) service terminated in 2012 and the number 12 terminated in 2021.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}} There is still one Bus Éireann service that stops in Portlaoise, route 73, which operates from Athlone to Waterford.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}} Limerick is served by JJ Kavanagh and Sons route 735,{{citation needed|date=August 2024}} with [[TFI Local Link]] route 834 serving Roscrea.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}} TFI local Link route 828 and 858, operated by JJ Kavanagh and Sons, serves Cashel and Thurles. Local Link also has a 823 service to from Portlaoise to Birr. Portlaoise also has a town link service operated by Slieve Bloom Coaches that serves Borris in Ossory, Errill, Kilkenny, Tullamore via Portarlington and Tullamore via Mountmellick.
 {{citation needed|date=August 2024}} The town is the terminus for Dublin-Portlaoise coach services operated by Dublin Coach.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}

Portlaoise also has a town bus service operated by City Direct that goes every half hour, consisting of two routes: the PL1 bus goes from Woodgrove to Colliers Lane, and the PL2 bus goes from Bellingham to Kilminchy.

The Stradbally Steam Museum in nearby [[Stradbally]] is dedicated to steam engines. It is home to a large collection of steam engines, including the [[Mann Steam Cart]] and [[John Fowler & Co.|Fowler]]. The museum shows the transport of the past in Portlaoise and Ireland. The [[Steam Preservation Society]] have a 1&nbsp;km train track on the grounds of [[Stradbally Hall]], which offers trips for train enthusiasts.

==Aviation History==
Portlaoise is the birthplace of aviation in Ireland. The first aeroplane made in Ireland was assembled in the town by Frank & Louis Aldritt, William Rogers & John Conroy, and made its first flight as reported in the King's County Chronicle on 4 November 1909.<ref name=FiI>{{cite web|url=https://flyinginireland.com/2019/03/the-portlaoise-plane/|title=The Portlaoise Plane|first=Mark|last=Dwyer|work=Flying in Ireland|date=27 March 2019|accessdate=22 May 2023}}{{unreliable source?|date=May 2023|reason=Blog site with no evidence of editorial oversight}}</ref> Put in storage during the [[World War I]], it remained in storage until it was discovered over 50 years later in an English museum by Joe Rogers, son of William Rogers, one of the original builders of the aircraft. It was eventually brought back to Portlaoise where it has been restored.<ref name=FiI/>

==Culture and community==
===Nightlife===
{{wikivoyage|Port Laoise}}
Portlaoise's central location within Ireland and its concentration of restaurants, pubs, bars and nightclubs around Market Square, Main Street and the Church Street area of the town centre and other nearby facilities such as paintball, golf, bowling and other amenities make it a popular destination for [[Bachelorette party|hen]] and [[Bachelor party|stag]] parties and other weekend breaks. [[Portlaoise railway station]] is the closest station to [[Stradbally Hall]] where the [[Electric Picnic]] Festival is held each year.

===Arts and festivals===
Every year, the town hosts the Old Fort Quarter Festival in June, the Halloween Howls Comedy Festival on the October bank holiday weekend and the Leaves Literary Festival in November.

The [[Dunamaise Arts Centre]], which comprises a cinema, performance space and exhibition space, is located in the building which formally housed the Maryborough Gaol. The opening of the Arts Centre in 1999 coincided with the revival of the Laois Drama Group.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/cultural-expansion-10-years-on-1.691924|title=Cultural expansion, 10 years on|last=Keating|first=Sara|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en|access-date=2020-01-24|archive-date=22 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422003622/http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/cultural-expansion-10-years-on-1.691924|url-status=live}}</ref>

The "Old Fort Festival", which was moved from 2019 into the grounds of the old Fort itself, is an annual event but was postponed in 2020 as a result of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. The 3 day heritage festival is based in and around the walls of the Old Fort Protector, the first of its kind built in Ireland between 1547 and 1548 during the tenure of Bellingham, Lord Justice of Ireland, in the reign of "the boy King" Edward VI. 
<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.leinsterexpress.ie/news/old-fort-festival/429008/old-fort-festival-new-venue-huge-success-and-brings-boost-to-portlaoise-economy-says-organiser.html|title=Old Fort Festival new venue 'huge success' and brings boost to Portlaoise economy says organiser|last=Hogan|first=Michelle|website=Leinster Express|language=en|access-date=2020-12-16|archive-date=4 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204114726/https://www.leinsterexpress.ie/news/old-fort-festival/429008/old-fort-festival-new-venue-huge-success-and-brings-boost-to-portlaoise-economy-says-organiser.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.laoistoday.ie/2019/05/08/the-revealed-old-fort-festival-will-not-take-place-on-main-street-this-year|title=REVEALED: Old Fort festival music stage will not take place on Main Street this year|last=Lennon|first=Siun|website=Laois Today|language=en|access-date=2020-12-16|archive-date=28 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628160343/https://www.laoistoday.ie/2019/05/08/the-revealed-old-fort-festival-will-not-take-place-on-main-street-this-year/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Stradbally Steam Rally]] is an annual event held on the August bank holiday weekend in [[Stradbally Hall]]. It attracts visitors from all over Ireland and is the highlight of the year for steam enthusiasts.

The All-Ireland Scarecrow Festival is held in [[Durrow, County Laois|Durrow]] at the end of July each year. It has featured large scarecrows including [[King Kong]], [[Pope Francis]], [[Noah's Ark]] and [[Electric Picnic]]. The town is dotted with scarecrows made by local groups, children, businesses and people from neighbouring counties.

===Charity===
Since 2008, Portlaoise has been the Irish base of [[Self Help Africa]], formerly Self Help Development International, a development agency engaged in implementing rural development programmes in [[Sub-Sahara]]. Established at the time of the [[1984–1985 famine in Ethiopia|Ethiopian Famine of 1984]], the organisation is the chosen charity of the [[Irish Farmers Association]].{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}
[[File:Church with steeple - geograph.org.uk - 730272.jpg|thumb|upright|Emo Church of Ireland church to the north east of Portlaoise]]

==Sport==
[[Portlaoise RFC]], a local rugby club, is based outside the town at Togher. [[Portlaoise GAA]] is the local [[Gaelic Athletic Association]] club and the most successful GAA club in Leinster.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}} Other local sports clubs include Portlaoise Association Football Club and Portlaoise Senior Basketball Club.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}

Sporting facilities in the area include Portlaoise Leisure Centre (which has a 25m pool, a gym, astro and soccer pitches, and a skate park) and Portlaoise Golf Club (which has an 18-hole course on the Abbeyleix Road).{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}

Portlaoise AFC is located on the Mountmellick Road in Rossleighan Park.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Clubforce |url=https://portlaoiseafc.clubforce.com/pages/about-us |access-date=2025-09-15 |website=portlaoiseafc.clubforce.com}}</ref>

==Education==
Portlaoise College<ref>{{cite web |title=Contact Portlaose College {{!}} Port Laoise College |url=http://www.portlaoisecollege.ie/ |website=www.portlaoisecollege.ie |access-date=27 February 2019 |archive-date=19 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119021237/http://www.portlaoisecollege.ie/ |url-status=live }}</ref> is situated just minutes from the heart of Portlaoise. Portlaoise College provides full-time education for over 300 students in Junior and Leaving Certificate Cycle and has the worst record in Laois of pupils going on to third level, with 46% of students continuing education after obtaining their leaving certificate.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hartnett |first=Alan |title=Mixed results for Laois schools in annual report |url=https://www.laoistoday.ie/2017/01/29/mixed-results-for-laois-schools-in-annual-report/ |work=[[Laois Today]] |access-date=28 January 2020 |archive-date=28 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128153638/https://www.laoistoday.ie/2017/01/29/mixed-results-for-laois-schools-in-annual-report/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Portlaoise Institute<ref>{{cite web |title=Welcome to Portlaoise Institute of Further Education |url=http://www.portlaoiseinstitute.ie/ |website=www.portlaoiseinstitute.ie |access-date=27 February 2019 |language=en |archive-date=11 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190311145523/http://www.portlaoiseinstitute.ie/ |url-status=live }}</ref> offers further education courses, including QQI Level 5 and 6 Courses. These include courses and professional certification in beauty therapy, hairdressing, healthcare, nursing, business studies, information technology, and sports and leisure management.<ref>{{Cite web |title=All Courses – Portlaoise Institute |url=https://www.portlaoiseinstitute.ie/?page_id=3639 |access-date=2025-09-15 |language=en-US}}</ref> 

==Notable people==
[[File:Robert_Sheehan_MingFilmFest_2011.jpg|thumb|upright|alt=Head and shoulders portrait of a man, actor Robert Sheehan|Actor Robert Sheehan, who is from Portlaoise]]
{{category see also|People from Portlaoise}}
* [[D-Side|Damien Bowe]] - singer and former member of Irish [[boyband]] [[D-Side]].
* [[Pat Boran]] – poet and radio presenter
* [[Pat Critchley]] – [[Gaelic Athletic Association|GAA]] [[dual player]] (Footballer & [[GAA GPA All Stars Awards|All Star]] winner at Hurling) 
* [[TJ Doheny]] - [[Professional boxing|Professional Boxer]], former [[International Boxing Federation|IBF]] World [[Super bantamweight|Super Bantamweight]] Title holder.
* [[James Fitzmaurice (pilot)|James Fitzmaurice]] – aviation pioneer
* [[Stephen Hunt (footballer born 1981)|Stephen Hunt]] – association football player, was born in Portlaoise in 1981
* [[Arthur Jacob]] – Professor of Anatomy (Ophthalmologist)
* [[Anne Keenan-Buckley]] (1962-) - middle-distance runner who was on the Irish [[1988 Summer Olympics]] team.
* [[Pádraig Mac Lógáin]] – the only two-time President of [[Sinn Féin]] owned a pub on Main Street
* [[Eoghan Masterson]] – professional rugby player for Connacht
* [[Alison Miller (rugby union)|Alison Miller]] – professional rugby player
* [[Bartholomew Mosse]] – founder of the [[Rotunda Hospital]], Dublin
* [[Sean O'Rourke]] – RTÉ journalist and broadcaster
* [[Colm Parkinson]] - retired Gaelic footballer and journalist
* [[Brian Rigney]] - (born 22 September 1963) is an Irish former rugby union player who won 8 caps for his country between 1991 and 1992.
* [[Robert Sheehan]] – actor (''[[Misfits (TV series)|Misfits]]'', ''[[Love/Hate (TV series)|Love/Hate]]'', ''[[The Umbrella Academy (TV series)|The Umbrella Academy]]'').
* [[Zach Tuohy]] – [[Australian Football League]] premiership player

==See also==
{{Portal|Ireland}}
* [[List of towns and villages in the Republic of Ireland|List of towns and villages in Ireland]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{wikivoyage|Port Laoise}}
{{Commons category|Portlaoise}}
* [http://www.portlaoisepictures.com Photographs of contemporary Portlaoise plus photos of, and documents relating to, old Portlaoise]

{{County Laois}}
{{Largest urban areas in the Republic of Ireland by population}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Portlaoise| ]]
[[Category:1557 establishments in Ireland]]
[[Category:County towns in the Republic of Ireland]]
[[Category:Dry ports]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1548]]
[[Category:Townlands of County Laois]]
[[Category:Towns and villages in County Laois]]
[[Category:Former boroughs in the Republic of Ireland]]