As an Employer
If you're ambitious with plans to expand, you need the space to make it happen. From green field sites to architectural commercial premises, Laois has a supportive planning culture and pre-built modern facilities ready for you.
And perhaps most importantly, when you want to walk out of your office door and escape to beautiful countryside within minutes, when you want to be part of a real and friendly community, whether your idea of unwinding is teeing off on a championship golf course or exploring the stunning Slieve Blooms, when you want to live in a progressive, open and vibrant place that is rich in Celtic heritage yet buzzing with contemporary culture, Laois it the place for you.
Location
| Belfast: |
3hrs |
|
Dublin:
|
1hr |
|
Dublin Airport:
|
1.15hrs |
|
Rosslare:
|
2hrs |
|
Waterford:
|
1.5hrs |
| Cork: |
2.5hrs |
| Limerick: |
1.5hrs |
|
Shannon Airport:
|
2hrs |
|
Galway:
|
2hrs |
 As a business-person, you know the value of time. Drive out of your business premises in Laois and you could be on a motorway to Dublin or on a national road to anywhere in the country within minutes. Laois, in the heart of the Midlands, offers progressive infrastructure in a rural setting. Known as Ireland ’s Inland port, Laois is at the heart of the national roads and rail infrastructure, making it a natural centre for logistics, regional retail, conference facilities and indeed any business that requires rapid and convenient road and rail access.
People are the lifeblood of every business and Portlaoise has a population of approximately 100,000 people within a 30-mile radius. A full choice of third-level education is accessible from Laois delivering an educated workforce and excellent research facilities to your door.
Here in Laois we are keenly aware of the commercial benefits of our central location and are investing extensively in building an even better infrastructure of the future. Designated as Ireland’s only inland port in the National Spatial Strategy, Laois has a bright future in terms of further infrastructural development and population growth. Our aim is to make it easier for you to do business in Laois!
 Space to Grow
We have a wide availability of modern premises at competitive prices, a progressive local authority and proactive business supports. If you want space to grow, we want to meet you!
We've developed a wide range of modern business and commercial premises, many of which were recently built to a high design specification. These competitively priced units are designed with the needs of your expanding business in mind. With the rapid pace of development throughout the county, there are always premises to suit your needs and when approached, developers are flexible in terms of accommodating specific requirements.
Throughout the county, there are facilities to develop and grow your business with a good range of existing and developing parks and adequate zoned land for new commercial enterprises. These provide an ideal environment for small and start-up businesses to larger industry and manufacturing offering a range of business supports, ideal logistic location in welcoming community setting.
Laois is a thriving retail base and is increasingly drawing shoppers from surrounding counties. Towns such as Portlaoise, Portlarlington, Rathdowney and Mountmellick offer a relaxed, friendly and pleasant shopping environment with good infrastructure. In addition, the central location of Laois makes it particularly suitable for large retail operations who rely on excellent road access, spacious facilities and access to large customer base.
Networked for Success
Because of its strategic location, Laois is developing rapidly as a national conference centre. A well as offering convenient access, Laois has a variety of designated state-of-the-art conference facilities offering perfect space for small business meetings or large scale conferences and exhibitions. These venues are supported by a wide range of quality leisure activities offering championship golf, theatre, luxurious spa treatments, fine dining, and a lively nightlife allowing for extended stays and the perfect opportunity to network with business colleagues, entertain prospective clients or simply treat yourself.
It’s often said that business success is all about networking. From road access to broadband connectivity, from pro-business local communities to proactive business support structures, you’ll find all the networks you need to succeed in Laois.
Laois is Ireland’s only "Inland Port”, located at the intersection of Ireland’s major road/rail infrastructure. This gives businesses located here rapid access to anywhere in the country and overseas.
Start-of-the-art telecommunications (including group broadband schemes in rural areas) ensure that businesses in Laois benefit from advances in IT as they happen.
A dynamic network of support is also available to all businesses in Laois. A strong spirit of enterprise exists between the business community, the local authority, 3rd level institution and all development agencies in the area. This has been the catalyst for many infrastructural developments and innovative initiatives that have propelled Laois into a new era of commercial growth.
New Way of Living
 Open your mind, connect with nature, discover the past in the present, learn a different way of life, surprise yourself, come to Laois.
Quality of Live is paramount to us, here in County Laois. It offers so many possibilities for a new and different way of living.
From peaceful rural valleys to the bustling streets of Portlaosie, from the ancient Rock of Dunamaise to the modern Dunamaise Arts Centre, from the wild tranquillity of the Slieve Bloom Mountains to the elegant Italian Gardens of Ballinakill, Laois is a count of rich contrast, of mythical heritage and of spectacular beauty.
The coutryside is quiet and unspoilt, while busy market towns offer a relaxed shoppping experience with many friendly, family-run shops where personal service and an unusul mix of items makes shopping enjoyable and sociable. The Dunamaise Arts Centre brings a vibrant dimension to life in Laois offering a diverse arts programme. Festivals throughout the year, many of which have sprung from strong local traditions, add to this lively cultural scene. For those who love the outdoors, Laois is rich in activities including hill-walking, horse-riding, fishing , golfing and indeed anything that can be enjoyed in beautiful Irish countryside. From country living to urban communities, Laois offers a wide range of quality housing and extensive development in recent years ensures that housing options arealways available at competitive prices.
Perhaps the biggest benefit of all is the chance to live surrounded by a natural, unspoilt enviroment, with unlimited space for children to play and explore, in a friendly and welcoming community with a huge choice of activities for both fun and self-development. Family life can be wonderful here. A supportive educational environment means that extensive quality childcare, Primary and Secondary schools, and Third level facilities are available. Plenty of extracurricular activities exist for all ages and abilities including many sports and arts-related clubs throughtout hte country. If you're looking to find a new way of living and an ideal environment for business, Laois can make it happen.
As an Employee
Our Location, Your Opportunity
- Central location with easy access to most parts of the country.
- Full Decentralisation of Department of Agriculture.
- Good quality of life and an excellent place to bring up a family.
We have a diverse range of natural and built amenities such as; Slieve Blooms, State of the Art, Theatre & Arts Centre, Excellent Hotels and Conferencing Centre, Equestrian Centre, 9 Parkland Golf Courses, Rivers and Lakes and Strategic road and rail network and much more.
Heritage
 The Laois Heritage Office works to conserve and enhance the heritage of County Laois, through the collection of information, practical conservation projects, awareness-raising and education.
Central to the aim of the Heritage Office is the promotion of interest, knowledge and pride in the heritage of County Laois, and in so doing, increasing awareness, appreciation and enjoyment of the County's heritage for all. This is achieved through:
Heritage is defined in the 1995 Heritage Act as
Tourism
 Located in the heart of Ireland’s most beautiful landscapes, County Laois is easily accessible to most places in the country. A county of rich contrast, Laois is a place for people who want a different experience of Ireland.
Why not visit the Slieve Bloom Mountains – walking, horseback or by car? From the summit of Mount Arderin on a clear day, it is possible to see the highest points of all four of the ancient provinces. The magnificent mountain range, teeming with wildlife, offers an almost unlimited range of activities including walking, cycling, car-touring, heritage tours and equestrian trails.
Or try your hand at a range of activities from paintballing in the Stradbally Woods, western-style riding at Fossey Mountain, bowls at the only indoor bowls stadium in the Republic or tie a fly at the unique Irish Fly-fishing and Game shooting Museum.
Of course, Laois has a wide range of walking trails, seven superb golf courses including the Seve Ballesteros designed championship Heritage at Killenard course and excellent fishing and barge trips.
County Laois is steeped in heritage and folklore and a well-signposted Heritage Trail runs through the county. Visit the spectacular Emo Court and Gardens, just 4 miles from Portlaoise, Heywood Gardens or the Rock of Dunamaise. Or visit the heritage centres such as Abbeyleix Heritage House, Donaghmore Famine Museum or Mountmellick Museum to name a few.
Find out more information about tourism in Laois from the Laois Tourism website.
Sports & Leisure
 We play a major role in the provision and management of Sports Facilities in the County. The purpose of our Sports Section is to plan, promote and develop a sports programme for all people of county Laois. We accommodate many different tasks such as:
- Arranging summer activities programmes – Camp Co Co Easter and Summer Camps, Parks Tennis Programmes, Play Days in the Park for young children;
- Researching, designing and producing an annual booklet including all children’s summer activities in County Laois;
- Organising and delivering facility management workshops.
- Sports capital assistance to clubs / organisations;
- Holding club coaching programmes with Laois Sports Partnership.
- Developing a county play strategy in conjunction with Laois Sports Partnership and other partners, including the development and support of new clubs;
The tasks are endless when thinking sport in County Laois.
Arts & Entertainment
The purpose of Laois County Council's Arts Section is to plan a comprehensive arts programme for the people of County Laois.
Contact the Arts Office by email: artsoff@laoiscoco.ie or telephone 057 8674342/44.
We are happy to give advise on all matters relating to the arts and all areas of the Arts Programme including:
We give assistance in areas such as
Specialist projects are supported by the Laois County Council Arts Section. A recent example is the Laois Sculpture Symposium, which incorporates art into the visual impression of County Laois. |
