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 Leix country house 1770–1780 National
Ballinakill Castle castle/fortified house 1670–1700 National
Ballyfin House country house 1820–1830 National
Ballyfin House conservatory 1845–1855 National
Castle Durrow country house 1710–1720 National
Church of the Ascension (Lea) church/chapel 1880–1885 National
Emo Court country house 1785–1795 National
Errill Cross cross 1620–1625 National
Fort of Maryborough fortification 1550–1580 National
Grennan House house 1620–1750 National
Heywood House building 1910–1915 National
Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise hospital/infirmary 1930–1940 National
Mount Saint Anne convent/nunnery 1810–1830 National
Ó Nuallain house 1600–1680 National
Oughaval Church (Stradbally) mausoleum 1720–1780 National
Portarlington Railway Station railway station 1845–1855 National
Portlaoise Courthouse court house 1790–1820 National
Presentation Convent convent/nunnery 1820–1840 National
Roundwood House country house 1730–1750 National
Saint Fintan's Hospital hospital/infirmary 1830–1840 National
Saint John's Church (Coolbanagher) church/chapel 1780–1790 National
Saint Mogue's Church (Timogue) church/chapel 1735–1740 National
Saint Patrick's Catholic Church church/chapel 1835–1845 National
Saint Peter's Church church/chapel 1800–1805 National
Stradbally Hall country house 1765–1775 National
Summergrove House house 1715–1765 National

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.