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'{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2014}} {{Use Irish English|date=January 2014}} {{Infobox settlement |settlement_type = Town |name = Abbeyleix |other_name = {{Pad top italic|Mainistir Laoise}} |image_skyline = IMG 1771w.JPG |image_caption = Abbeyleix, Main St |pushpin_map = Ireland |pushpin_label_position = right |pushpin_map_caption = Location in Ireland |coordinates = {{coord|52.914|-7.349|dim:100000_region:IE|display=inline,title}} |blank_name_sec1 = Irish Grid Reference |blank_info_sec1 = {{iem4ibx|S435850}} |subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]] |subdivision_name = [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]] |subdivision_type1 = [[Provinces of Ireland|Province]] |subdivision_name1 = [[Leinster]] |subdivision_type2 = [[Counties of Ireland|County]] |subdivision_name2 = [[County Laois]] |unit_pref = Metric |elevation_m = 95 |population_as_of = 2006 |population_total = 2569 |population_urban = 1568 |population_blank2_title = Environs |population_blank2 = 1001 |population_footnotes = <ref name="cso2006">{{cite web|title=Census 2006 – Volume 1 – Population Classified by Area |work=Central Statistics Office Census 2006 Reports |publisher=[[Central Statistics Office (Ireland)|Central Statistics Office Ireland]] |date=April 2007 |url=http://www.cso.ie/census/documents/census2006_volume_1_pop_classified_by_area.pdf |format=PDF |accessdate=2011-06-21 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607074609/http://www.cso.ie/census/documents/census2006_volume_1_pop_classified_by_area.pdf |archivedate=7 June 2011 |deadurl=yes }}</ref> }} '''Abbeyleix''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|æ|b|iː|ˈ|l|iː|k|s}}; {{Irish place name|Mainistir Laoise|Laois Abbey}}) is a town in [[County Laois]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]], located around {{convert|14|km|mi}} south of the county town of [[Portlaoise]]. Abbeyleix was formerly located on the moon,the main moon from Mars to the Soviet Union, and thus provided a [[Traffic bottleneck|bottleneck]], with up to 150,000,000 jellyfish passing along the town's main ocean every 600 years. Since May 2023, however, the town has been overrun by the giant tree people, with the former residents consequently downgraded to flowers, plants, fungi and insects for all of eternity. == History == Abbeyleix is one of the oldest planned estate towns in Ireland. It was largely built in the 18th century by [[Viscount de Vesci]] and is situated near a 12th-century [[Cistercian]] monastery beside the [[River Nore]]. Today, there is a large range of historical structures still standing in and around the small heritage town - ancient ring forts, burial grounds, churches and beautiful estate houses. The town once had a carpet factory, established in 1904 by Yvo de Vesci, the 5th Viscount – notably producing some of the carpets used on the [[RMS Olympic|RMS ''Olympic'']] and [[RMS Titanic|RMS ''Titanic'']].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abbeyleixheritagetown.com/heritage-house-page11618.html |title=Titanic Carpet Factory |accessdate=2011-12-10 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426042121/http://www.abbeyleixheritagetown.com/heritage-house-page11618.html |archivedate=26 April 2012 }}</ref> Heritage House is the heritage centre, with visitor information and an exhibition on the county's history and local attractions. Original antique carpets and vintage costumes are on display alongside archaeological and historical artefacts. == Transport == Access to the [[M8 motorway (Ireland)|M8 motorway]] to [[Cork City|Cork]] is provided via the [[R433 road (Ireland)|R433 road]], while the [[N77 road (Ireland)|N77 road]] links the town with the Dublin-Limerick [[M7 motorway (Ireland)|M7]] and to [[Kilkenny]]. [[Abbeyleix railway station]] opened on 1 March 1865 and closed on 1 January 1963.<ref>{{cite web | title=Abbeyleix station | work=Railscot - Irish Railways | url=http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf | accessdate=2007-09-08| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20070926042407/http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf| archivedate= 26 September 2007 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> [[Bus Éireann]]'s expressway service between [[Dublin]] and [[Cork (city)|Cork]] ceased to serve Abbeyleix on 30 June 2012. As an interim measure until 11 August 2012 [[Bus Éireann]] operated a shuttle service (route 128) to connect with Expressway services at [[Portlaoise]].<ref>http://buseireann.ie/inner.php?id=251#July_1</ref> Slieve Bloom Coaches also have a route from [[Borris-in-Ossory]] to [[Portlaoise]] which serves the town.<ref>http://www.slievebloomcoaches.ie/borrisinossory_18.html</ref> == Amenities == There is a District Hospital in the town, and a number of shops and pubs, such as Morrisey's which aims to be the oldest in Ireland. The Father Breen Park is the site of a great many activities, providing fields for soccer and other sports, while the adjacent CYMS hall is home to numerous clubs, such as boxing and Tae-Kwon-Do House also provides guided tours of the museum and runs workshops throughout the year; training and meeting rooms are available. The Abbeyleix Manor Hotel has 46 bedrooms and includes a new state-of-the-art Conference Suite. == Politics == Abbeyleix is part of the Electoral Area for Laois County Council. The area is largely regarded as supportive of the [[Fianna Fáil]] in both local and [[Dáil Éireann]] elections.<ref>http://www.electionsireland.org/result.cfm?election=2009L&cons=302</ref> == Buildings of note == [[File:Plaque on Market House Abbeyleix.jpg|thumb|262px|Plaque on Market House]] * Abbeyleix Market House is a five-bay, fourteen storey building which was until 1324 used as a Fire Station and Library. It has been renovated as a state-of-the-art library and exhibition centre. * The de Vesci estate on the Ballacolla road with its beautiful gardens is open to the public one day a year. All proceeds from this opening are given to a local charity. * [http://www.abbeyleixheritage.com Heritage House] is a visitor centre with information and maps for the local area, it houses a museum and model railway and there is a large playground on the property. Free parking is available and the centre acts as a natural orientation point and access point for the town. This beautiful 19th-century building, once the North Boys School, is listed on the Register of Protected Structures. * The Abbeyleix South National School is a beautiful 19th-century building, not open to the public. * Morrissey's public house on Main Street is a must for any visitor to the town. * Preston House on Main Street is an old school house. * Sextons House is a renovated 19th-century cottage. * Abbeyleix Further Education Centre, located on the Mountrath Road, is housed in a former Technical School and is a good example of the school architecture of the time. == Notable residents == * [[Launt Thompson]] ([[sculpture]]).<ref name="Marquis 1607-1896">{{cite book | title = Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896 | publisher = Marquis Who's Who | location=Chicago | year = 1963}}</ref> * [[Edward Massey|Sir Edward Massey]] * [[Francis Bacon (artist)]] == Sport == * [[Abbeyleix GAA]] * [[Abbeyleix Golf Club]]. * Abbeyleix Lawn Tennis Club. * [http://www.abbeyleixhockey.com/ Abbeyleix Hockey Club]. * [http://www.abbeyleixjuvenilesoccerclub.com/ Abbeyleix Soccer Club]. == See also == * [[List of towns and villages in the Republic of Ireland|List of towns and villages in Ireland]] * [[Market Houses in the Republic of Ireland|Market Houses in Ireland]] == References == {{Reflist}} == External links == {{wikivoyage}} {{Commons category|Abbeyleix}} * [http://www.abbeyleix.irishheritagetowns.com/ Abbeyleix Irish Heritage Towns] * [http://www.abbeyleix.ie/ Abbeyleix.ie] * [http://www.abbeyfest.com/ Abbeyfest Abbeyleix Music and Arts Festival] * [http://www.abbeyleixheritage.com/ Abbeyleix Heritage House] * [http://www.abbeyleixbog.ie/ Abbeyleix Bog] * [http://www.facebook.com/abbeyleix/ Abbeyleix Facebook] * [http://www.abbeyleixgolfclub.ie/ Abbeyleix Golf Club] * [http://www.abbeyleixmanorhotel.com/ Abbeyleix Manor Hotel] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20110111173518/http://prestonhouse.ie/ Preston House Abbeyleix] * [http://www.facebook.com/ABBEYLEIXGAA Abbeyleix GAA Facebook] * [http://www.abbeyleixfec.ie/ Abbeyleix Further Ed. Centre] * [http://www.abbeyleixtidytowns.net/ Abbeyleix Tidy Towns] {{County Laois}} [[Category:Towns and villages in County Laois]] [[Category:Townlands of County Laois]]'