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'{{Infobox Place Ireland | name = Abbeyleix | gaeilge = Mainistir Laoise | crest image = | motto = | map image = Ireland map County Laois Magnified.png | pin coords = left: 53px; top: 69px | north coord = 52.8992 | west coord = 7.3575 | irish grid = S435850 | area km2 = | elevation m = 129 | province = [[Leinster]] | county = [[County Laois]] | town pop = 1568 | rural pop = 2679 | census yr = 2006 | web = }} '''Abbeyleix''' ({{Irish place name|Mainistir Laoise|Laois Abbey}}) is a town in [[County Laois]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]] about {{convert|14|km|0|abbr=on}} from [[Portlaoise]] and located on the [[N77 road (Ireland)|N77]] national secondary route. Formerly the [[N8 road (Ireland)|N8]] [[Roads in Ireland|National Primary Route]] ran through the centre of the town, making Abbeyleix an infamous bottleneck on the Dublin-Cork corridor with up to 15,000 vehicles passing through the main street everyday. However, the town was bypassed by the [[M8 motorway (Ireland)|M8 motorway]] on 28 May, 2010. ==History== Abbeyleix was founded in the 18th century as a town 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 village - ancient ring forts, burial grounds, early monastic buildings, [[Norman architecture|Norman]] and [[Middle Ages|mediaeval]] castles, churches and colonial estate houses. The town once had a carpet factory - notably producing some of the carpets used on the [[RMS Titanic|RMS ''Titanic'']]. [[File:IMG 1771w.JPG|thumb|left|320px|Abbeyleix, Main St]] There is a heritage house located in the old Patrician monastery schoolhouse which provides information on the towns history. Abbeyleix was made a Heritage town of Ireland several years ago. BIG COCKS LIKE JUNGLE JOE.. THE CAPRI GRILL AS THE BROTHEL! 2 GANGS: THE BALLADINE BANDITS & THE THORNBERRY TRAMPS. THE BALLADINE BANDITS A VICIOUS GROUP OF STREET THUGS, WHO WORSHIP 2PAC THE THORNBERRY TRAMPS A BUNCH OF STONERS DRUG FUELLED TRAMPS WHO WORSHIP PAMELA ANDERSON AND HER BIG KNOCKERS... ==Transport== Access to the [[M8 motorway (Ireland)|M8 motorway]] to [[Cork City|Cork]] is provided via the [[R433 road]], while the N77 links the town with the Dublin-Limerick [[M7 motorway (Ireland)|M7]] and to [[Kilkenny]]. [[Abbeyleix railway station]] opened on 1 March 1865, but finally 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}}</ref> [[Bus Eireann]] operates an expressway service between Dublin and Cork which calls at Abbeyleix, whilst [[Aircoach]] operate a similar service that also calls at Dublin Airport. ==Amenities== There is a district hospital in the town, and a number of shops and pubs, such as Morrissey's Pub, which claims to be the oldest in Ireland. The Father Breen Park forms the nexus for a great many activities, providing fields for soccer, football and other sports, while the adjacent CYMS hall is home to numerous clubs, such as boxing and Tae-Kwon-Do. The town boasts a newly built hotel - the Abbeyleix Manor Hotel. The hotel has recently extended to 46 bedrooms and includes a new state-of-the-art Conference Suite. <br style="clear:both;"> [[File:Abbeyleix Market House restoration.jpg|thumb|right|226px|Restoration of Market House (November 2007)]] [[File:Plaque on Market House Abbeyleix.jpg|thumb|right|226px|Plaque on Market House- '''Click to read''']] ==Politics== Abbeyleix is part of the Borris-In-Ossory Electoral Area for Laois County Council. The area is largely regarded as supportive of the [[Fine Gael]] party in both Local and [[Dáil Éireann]] elections.<ref>http://www.electionsireland.org/result.cfm?election=2009L&cons=302</ref> ==Buildings of note== * Abbeyleix Market House is a 5 bay, 2 story building which was until 2005 used as a Fire Station and Library. It has been renovated as a state of the art library/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. * Also of note are the Heritage Centre & the Sensory Gardens on [[Main Street]]. * The Abbeyleix South National School is a beautiful 19th century building. * 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 beautifully renovated 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. * Bramleys on Main Street is the location of the old carpet factory. It is now a department store and coffee shop. ==Notable residents== *[[Launt Thompson]], (1833–1894), born in Abbeyleix, was a noted [[sculpture|sculptor]].<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> ==Sport== *[[Abbeyleix GAA]] *The [[Abbeyleix Golf Course]] is an 18-hole course located near the town. * Abbeyleix Lawn Tennis Club. * 7 a side Astroturf Pitch. ==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== *[http://www.abbeyleix.ie/ Abbeyleix Town Website] *[http://www.abbeyfest.com/ Abbeyfest Abbeyleix Music and Arts Festival] *[http://www.heritagehousemuseum.com/ Abbeyleix Heritage House] *[http://www.abbeyleixbog.com/ Abbeyleix Bog] *[http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/ABBEYLEIX/315263826314 Abbeyleix Facebook] *[http://www.abbeyleixgolfclub.ie/ Abbeyleix Golf Club] *[http://www.abbeyleixmanorhotel.com/ Abbeyleix Manor Hotel] *[http://www.prestonhouse.ie/ Preston House Abbeyleix] *[http://www.facebook.com/#!/ABBEYLEIXGAA Abbeyleix GAA Facebook] *[http://www.abbeyleixfec.ie/ Abbeyleix Further Ed. Centre] {{County Laois}} [[Category:Towns and villages in County Laois]] [[Category:Townlands of County Laois]] [[cs:Abbeyleix]] [[es:Abbeyleix]] [[fr:Abbeyleix]] [[ga:Mainistir Laoise]] [[lt:Abileiksas]] [[nl:Abbeyleix]] [[pt:Abbeyleix]] [[ru:Аббилейкс]] [[sk:Abbeyleix]] [[fi:Abbeyleix]] [[sv:Abbeyleix]] [[zh:阿比莱克斯]]'