Work underway on €1 million plus refurbishment of Laois landmark building

Work has commenced on the landmark Market House in Portarlington which will not just see the building rescued and restored but also converted into a facility that will serve a range of purposes in the town.

The Portarlington Business Association Sustainability Group have welcomed the commencement of work on the project to be delivered by Laois County Council.

"It's great to see work on the Market House starting. Local contractor Terry Higgins awarded the contract. Looking forward to seeing a piece of history restored," they said.

The building was leased in 2020 by Laois County Council for 30 years. A stategy was also carried out to plant its overhaul as an overall regeneration of the town centre, especially the Square area.

A grant of €1,094,880 was subsequently awarded towards its restoration under the ‘Our Rural Future’ policy to revitalise rural Ireland. Laois County Council has confirmed that the value of the contract awarded is approximately €1.19 milion.

When completed the Market House will serve a range of public and community uses including community meeting space and an event and exhibition space.

It is hoped that the project will regenerate a key focal point within the town, acting as a launching point for further regeneration and redevelopment in the town centre.

The project will see the creation of meeting rooms, offices as well as an overhaul of the exterior space. 

The development of the Market House is one of the principle projects within the Portarlington Regeneration Strategy The Portarlington Regeneration Strategy is a heritage-led regeneration strategy.

The main objective of the project is “to create a more viable and visually attractive Town Centre in Portarlington for residents, visitors and workers through the appropriate rehabilitation of the Market House and other buildings and improvements to connectivity, public realm and amenities”.

This overall vision also includes increasing the attractiveness of the area to encourage investment.

Minister Heather Humphreys officially announced the commencement of the long-awaited refurbishment works for the historic Market House in Portarlington during a summer visit to Laois.

Mr Gerry Murphy, Deputy Chief Executive of Laois County Council, said at the visit that that is a project that will bring huge dividends to the town of Portarlington and the surrounding area.

He confirmed to the Leinster Express / Laois Live that work has commenced with the contract awarded to Braemer Construction Limited t/a Terry Higgins Builders, Patrick Street, Kilmalogue, Portarlington.

The house is believed to have been built around 1740-1750, to serve as a Market House and Town Hall. It was centre of the town’s life through the 19th and early 20th centuries.

The local courts were held there as well as being available as a hall. Regular markets were held in the open square and local courts were held upstairs. 

Its use diminished due to the consolidation of court sittings in bigger towns and the demise of markets. Around 1990, the structure was converted into a motor repair shop on the ground floor, with living accommodation above.

The Laois Offaly border town project was among 24 regeneration projects across the country to get a share of the €75million for regeneration in April 2021 under the €1 billion Rural Regeneration and Development Fund.