Heritage · Co. Laois

Historic buildings and monuments in Co. Laois

County Laois has 2,216 recorded archaeological monuments in the national Sites and Monuments Record; the 26 buildings below are the county's entries in the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) rated International or National, out of 692 recorded post-1700 structures county-wide.

Monuments to visit

Please note that many of these monuments may be on private land and may not be publicly accessible. When setting out to visit monuments please ensure that you wear appropriate footwear and clothing. Access to monuments without Visitor Services may be across uneven ground which may not be suitable for everyone and, in particular, wheelchair users.

  • Castle - Anglo-Norman masonry castle
    The Rock of Dunamase is a spectacular natural feature visible in the landscape of Co. Laois. It takes its name from the Irish Dún Másc, meaning the ‘Fort of Masc’.
  • Round tower
    Timahoe Round Tower, a monastery was founded here by St Mochua mac Lónáin in the early 7 th century.

NIAH buildings rated International or National

National Inventory of Architectural Heritage entries for Co. Laois, curated to buildings rated International or National.

NameTypePeriodRating
Abbey Leixcountry house1770–1780National
Ballinakill Castlecastle/fortified house1670–1700National
Ballyfin Housecountry house1820–1830National
Ballyfin Houseconservatory1845–1855National
Castle Durrowcountry house1710–1720National
Church of the Ascension (Lea)church/chapel1880–1885National
Emo Courtcountry house1785–1795National
Errill Crosscross1620–1625National
Fort of Maryboroughfortification1550–1580National
Grennan Househouse1620–1750National
Heywood Housebuilding1910–1915National
Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoisehospital/infirmary1930–1940National
Mount Saint Anneconvent/nunnery1810–1830National
Ó Nuallainhouse1600–1680National
Oughaval Church (Stradbally)mausoleum1720–1780National
Portarlington Railway Stationrailway station1845–1855National
Portlaoise Courthousecourt house1790–1820National
Presentation Conventconvent/nunnery1820–1840National
Roundwood Housecountry house1730–1750National
Saint Fintan's Hospitalhospital/infirmary1830–1840National
Saint John's Church (Coolbanagher)church/chapel1780–1790National
Saint Mogue's Church (Timogue)church/chapel1735–1740National
Saint Patrick's Catholic Churchchurch/chapel1835–1845National
Saint Peter's Churchchurch/chapel1800–1805National
Stradbally Hallcountry house1765–1775National
Summergrove Househouse1715–1765National

Plan a visit around Co. Laois

NIAH Buildings Open Data, captured June 2026; NMS Monuments to Visit, captured June 2026. Both data.gov.ie, CC-BY 4.0 (Dept of Housing, Local Government and Heritage). See methodology for the curation rule.