Historic Laois village that was deemed 'not a village' gets welcome signs

Aghaboe has a new look for 2024 thanks to new entrance signs to the historic community which was previously deemed not to be a village by Laois County Council.

The erection of the new signs just before Christmas was welcomed by the Aghaboe Abbey Preservation Committee and Cllr Conor Bergin, Fine Gael, who worked with them to have the signs installed by the local authority.

Cllr Bergin was taken aback early in 2023 when he was told by an engineer at a council meeting that welcome signs were generally reserved for villages and towns and Aghaboe was "not officially designated as a village". However, given the attraction of Aghaboe Abbey, the door was not shut on signs. Cllr Bergin was also told that consideration will be given to "appropriate signage".

These signs ultimately materialised before the year was out.

"After many months of raising this issue with the Council, I am delighted that the new signs have finally been installed and many thanks to Will Danagher and his crew in the Western Area and Tony Saunders from the Aghaboe Abbey Preservation Committee for all their work in getting this project over the line," said Cllr Bergin.

He outlined the significance of the community.

“Aghaboe Abbey was founded by St Canice in the 6th century and was major centre of learning, commerce and agriculture as well as being the primary Christian abbey in the diocese of Ossory. Among the monks from the abbey was St. Feargal, who was abbot before he left Ireland and built the cathedral at Salzburg in Austria in the 8th century. The local connection with Salzburg in Austria is still very much alive, thanks to the continued efforts of the local committee and visitors from Austria regularly visit the Abbey, along with many tourists every year. Today a Church of Ireland, which is also excellently maintained by the local community and which dates from the 1700s, stands where that priory once stood," he said.

He looked forward to a special New Year's Eve event. 

“The Aghaboe Abbey Preservation Committee is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and I want to commend them on all of their hard work and voluntary efforts in keeping this hugely important historical landmark in Laois preserved for many future generations to come. The committee is also going to be lighting up the Abbey in green for New Year’s Eve this year as part of the celebrations," he said. 

Cllr Bergin represents the Borris-in-Ossory Mountmellick Municipal District.