Portlaoise —County Laois

Portlaoise is a thriving urban centre that has undergone tremendous expansion in recent years. The prime central location and excellent road and rail network and bus service makes the county town easily accessible. Portlaoise is now situated approx less than 1 hour from Dublin suburbs. Tired of horrendous house prices and daily gridlock, many people are leaving the city behind for a better quality of life in Portlaoise.
The town has plenty to offer new residents and tourists. The state-of the-art Dunamaise Theatre and centre for the arts is the envy of many other counties. It features a purpose built theatre exhibition space and Internet café and has proved a huge success since it opened. The plush new five-screen Storm cinema is a major addition to the area's social life. The town has many sporting and recreational facilities. The new Town Park at Timahoe Road provides a scenic passive area for locals and visitors alike. It features a children's play area and a man-made lake set by the River Triogue and is a wildlife and nature reserve set against a rolling landscape by the Downs. Portlaoise boasts a wide variety of hotels, pubs, restaurants, cafes and shops as well as numerous sporting facilities, social clubs and voluntary organisations. The restaurant scene has improved greatly in Portlaoise with several new quality additions and there are award-winning outlets throughout the county and in surrounding areas. Whether it's a gourmet meal, an ethnic dining out experience or a tasty snack, there are plenty of options around Laois.
When it comes to nightclubs there is a lively scene locally and you can also go further afield to Kildare, Carlow, Kilkenny, Offaly and North Tipperary. The cobble locked one-way Main Street is enhanced with trees and shrubs. There is plenty of commercial activity along both sides of James Fintan Lawlor Avenue. Hinds Square is an attractive retail centre with stonework, paving and flower boxes adding to the ambience. Shoppers can also browse in a network of new commercial areas including Pepper Lane, Banks Place and Fitzmaurice Place. Other shopping developments are located at Mountrath Road and Mountmellick Road. All the leading outlets and brands can be found in Portlaoise and new ventures are opening all the time.