Funding hope ahead for historic Laois fountain with no water
One of the most impressive of the five public water fountains in Abbeyleix is out of order, but money has been requested to get it up and flowing again.
Fianna Fáil Cllr John Joe Fennelly tabled a motion to the May meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District.
He is asking Laois County Council to apply for funding for the “essential works” through the county’s Heritage officer, Thomas Carolan.
The huge stone fountain is pride of place in the heritage town, in Market Square and has not functioned for some years.
“The main fountain hasn’t been working, it’s been leaking,” he said.
He was happy with the answer from the Heritage officer.
“The Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) is the appropriate grant scheme to provide funding towards conservation works for the water fountain at Market Square Abbeyleix.
“This scheme opens in September and the Heritage Officer will work with the community in Abbeyleix to make an application to this scheme when it opens,” the Laois Heritage office stated.
“I’m very happy. Please god we’ll be successful,” he said.
Like all the fountains in the Tidy Towns winning town, the market square monument was erected by the De Vesci family who built Abbeyleix House.