In the past two years, massive funding has been secured by Mountrath locals to fund enhancements to the town.

In 2024 alone, Mountrath secured over €315,000 dedicated to the regeneration of the town.

Laois County Council have said they are working with Mountrath's Town Team to create "greener, more sustainable and community-friendly environments in Mountrath."

What upgrades can we expect to see?

Laois locals flocked to Bloom HQ in Mountrath on Thursday to learn more about upcoming enhancements to the town.

Pictured: Public Information Evening in Mountrath

The Public Information Evening in Mountrath explained the proposed enhancement works to Quaker's Graveyard, Patrick Street and the River Walk in the town. 

With support from the €250,0000 fund received through the Town & Village Renewal Scheme, locals will see improvements to the Town Square, enhanced public lighting in the town centre, improved landscaping and signage along the River Walk and Patrick Street and enhancements to the Farmers Market. 

Landscape works along the River Walk include proposed picnic tables, a seating area on a solid plastic deck, a stone wall, a sun block bench, resting points with views under mature trees, the removal of non-native vegetation along the river, the planting of pollinator friendly plants, and an educational Trail and Tree Walk experience.

Pictured: Proposed plans for the enhancement of Mountrath

These improvements hope to create more accessible and sustainable areas within the town, with an emphasis on biodiversity.

Property owners in Mountrath's town centre are also invited to apply for grant funding to paint the outside of their premises under the Mountrath Streetscape Enhancement Scheme 2025. 

Grant funding is available at 75% of total painting costs, subject to a maximum of €1,000.00, with applications closing on Friday July 4 at 4pm.

Hosted by Laois County Council’s Regeneration Section in partnership with Mountrath Town Team, the evening was part of a broader effort funded under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme to create greener, more sustainable and community-friendly environments in Mountrath.

Attendees were encouraged to interrogate the plans, ask questions, and offer feedback.

Pictured above: Mountrath Cllr James Kelly, Pat McSpadden of Mountrath Tidy Towns & Mountrath Heritage Society, Paul Phelan of Mountrath Tidy Towns and CE Scheme.

As the regeneration process moves forward for Mountrath, input gathered at this meeting will help refine the plans, ensuring that the works are meaningful, inclusive, and locally grounded.

The next steps will be to put the works out to tender, the costing responses thereafter will determine what works are actioned next for Mountrath.

A Laois County Council spokesperson has said that the meeting saw a huge attendance.

"Yet another full house as Mountrath turns out for an engaging public information evening showcasing landscaping plans for the River Walk, Quaker's Graveyard and landscape enhancements to Patrick Street," the representative said.

"A big thank you to the community in Mountrath for the high turnout and response to the plans.

A special thank you to Mountrath Town Team for their investment and assistance in the project and to the Mountrath Tidy Towns and CE Scheme participants as well as our own Town Team lead for the group, Marge Moore, for all the advice on the maintenance requirements for the landscaping," they said.

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