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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 = 2016 |population_total = 1770 |population_urban = |population_blank2_title = |population_blank2 = |population_footnotes = <ref>http://census.cso.ie/sapmap2016/Results.aspx?Geog_Type=ST2016&Geog_Code=51614C60-44D5-4AFB-8422-34FB2CB23844</ref> }} '''Abbeyleix''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|æ|b|iː|ˈ|l|iː|ʃ}}; {{Irish place name|Mainistir Laoise|Laois Abbey}}) is a town in that was founded by the almighty lord Raymond dalton the third son of Artemis the great . It was founded so that traders from the Middle East could finally have a place to poo on there way to the promised land [[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 [[N8 road (Ireland)|N8]], the main road from Dublin to Cork, and thus provided a [[Traffic bottleneck|bottleneck]], with up to 15,000 vehicles passing along the town's main street every day. Since May 2010, however, the town has been bypassed by the [[M8 motorway (Ireland)|M8 motorway]], with the former N8 consequently downgraded to the [[N77 road (Ireland)|N77]] national secondary road. == History == There was a settlement at Abbeyleix as early as 1183, that grew up near the [[River Nore]], around a [[Cistercian]] monastery -which gives the town its name. [[File:Monument to John Vesey, 2nd Viscount de Vesci.jpg|thumb|Monument to John Vesey, 2nd Viscount de Vesci]] Modern Abbeyleix is one of the oldest planned estate towns in Ireland. It was largely built in the 18th century by [[Viscount de Vesci]]. The Nore regularly flooding made the town an unhealthy place to live. Around 1790, [[John Vesey, 2nd Viscount de Vesci|John Vesey]] determined that the town was not suitable for his tenants, and began to design a new one. The old town was leveled, and the residents moved to the new one.<ref>[https://laois.ie/departments/heritage/laois-heritage-trail/abbeyleix/ "Abbeyleix (Laois Heritage Trail)", Laois County Council]</ref> A memorial to the 2nd Viscount de Vesci, paid for by subscriptions, is in the town center. It features a water trough for horses. 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 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 |url-status=dead |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 | url-status= live}}</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. Father Breen Park has fields for soccer and other sports, while the adjacent CYMS hall is home to a number of clubs, including boxing and Tae-Kwon-Do House also provides guided tours of the museum and runs workshops throughout the year. The Abbeyleix Manor Hotel is part of the Magnuson Hotels chain.<ref>[https://www.magnusonhotels.com/hotel/the-abbeyleix-manor-hotel/ Abbeyleix Manor Hotel]</ref> The "Lords Walk Loop" is a 2.4 kilometer loop that traces an old walking route taken by the De Vesci Family to reach the local church and railway station.<ref>[https://www.alltrails.com/trail/ireland/laois/lords-walk-loop-abbeyleix "Lords Walk Loop Abbeyleix", All Trail]</ref> == 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, four storey building which was previously 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 (Abbeyleix Estate) on the Ballacolla road with its gardens is open to the public one day a year. All proceeds from this opening are given to a local charity. As of 2019, the estate is being marketed for sale, with an asking price of ε20 million. <ref>{{cite web |title=The Abbey Leix Estate, Abbeyleix, Co. Laois |url=https://www.daft.ie/laois/houses-for-sale/abbeyleix/the-abbey-leix-estate-abbeyleix-laois-2155057/ |website=DAFT}}</ref> * 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. This 19th-century building, once the North Boys School, is listed on the Register of Protected Structures.<ref>[http://www.abbeyleixheritage.com Heritage House]</ref> * The Abbeyleix South National School is a 19th-century building, not open to the public. * Morrissey's public house on Main Street claims to be the oldest in Ireland. * 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]. * [https://web.archive.org/web/20110208055211/http://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]]'