Should Laois be in Ireland's Ancient East, Councillor asks

A Laois Councillor commended agencies promoting tourism in Laois and asked about Laois’s designation in Ireland’s Ancient East. 

Independent Cllr James Kelly read Labour Cllr Marie Tuohy’s motion on the matter into the minutes at the July meeting of Laois County Council. 

Cllr Tuohy’s motion asked: “That this Council commend the ongoing effort of the Management Team and affiliated  bodies such as the Laois Chamber Alliance on the ongoing promotion of Laois as a tourist destination and request an update on the current Laois Tourism Strategy and status report on tourism related infrastructure projects such as the facilities at the Rock of  Dunamaise and Glenbarrow in the Slieve Blooms.” 

Cllr Kelly read comments from Cllr Tuohy with agreement from the council members as she wasn't present. In it she stated that it is appropriate that the council take stock of how things are going as it was the height of the tourist season. 

“Can we take stock of how we are promoting Laois and how we are doing compared to neighbouring counties,” she stated. 

She spoke of the Rock of Dunamaise, Emo Court and Laois’s major events and festivals such as the National Ploughing  Championships, the  Electric Picnic, Forest Fest and  Folly Fest as the Durrow Scarecrow Festival and the Festival of the Mountain in Rosenallis. 

“The council has made huge strides in their leadership in relation to arts, culture, heritage and tourism. Portlaoise is at the axis of the country and it makes it an ideal place for conferences.

The question is, are we promoting ourselves in a way to make the best of tourism numbers. How do we compare in visitor numbers compared to our neighbouring counties. I question our designation as being part of Ireland’s Ancient East or should we really be in Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands as we are after all a landlocked midlands county,” she said. 

Laois Council Head of Finance Gerry Murphy read a written response to the motion outlining the strategic plan for tourism in Laois. 

The objective of the plan is to develop a competitive tourism offering which is attractive to overseas and domestic visitors. It aimed to capitalise on areas of unique appeal in Ireland’s Ancient East and to promote Laois and its tourism offerings. 

“Laois Tourism has established a new brand for the county with a website and a suite of promotional material,” he said. 

Laois Chamber Alliance now works as an umbrella body for Laois Chamber and Laois Tourism to collaborate and share resources, said Mr Murphy. 

He then outlined advances at some of the popular tourist attractions in the county. 

He said a site has been purchased for parking facilities at the Rock of Dunamaise and a development of the facilities is a priority for the council.

Temporary traffic measures planned on a section of the N80 in Portlaoise

Elsewhere, an extended car park has been developed by the council in Glenbarrow, in the Slieve Bloom Mountains in recent weeks adding 66 car parking spaces to the 44 that were already there. 

Funding of €500,000 was secured for the Portlaoise Destination Town project and it was used for initiatives such as providing a suite of new way finding and interpretive signage and map boards giving the history of the town and surrounding areas.  

Mr Murphy said the Slieve Bloom Mountain Bike Trails are nearing completion. Emo House and Gardens has a new car park for visitors. The Barrow Blue Way is set to be completed later this year, he added.

He said Failte Ireland will launch its €68 million euro regenerative tourism project this month and a briefing was given by Brian O’Flynn, Failte Ireland’s Head of Ireland’s Ancient East,  to council members in May. He said the project would form part of the Laois strategy.