Portarlington's Market House reclaims its place in the heart of town

Crowds pictured at the opening of Market House in Portarlington

placeholder image — Crowds pictured at the opening of Market House in Portarlington

Laois County Council CEO Micheal Rainey said the building had been a blight on the town just three or four years ago

Once ‘a blight on the town’, the Market House in the centre of Portarlington has been restored and can now reclaim its place as a civic hub in the heart of the town.

The building was bathed in sunshine as scores of people attended its official opening by Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary on Thursday, April 23.

Minister Calleary praised all those involved in the project as he officially opened the Heritage-led restored building which was funded under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF). The historic Market House will now operate as a Community and Tourist Information Hub.

“I am delighted to be here in Portarlington in County Laois to officially open this landmark project. Funding of nearly €1.4 million was provided under my Department’s Rural Regeneration and Development Fund.

“As one of the principal projects within the Portarlington Regeneration Strategy 2030, this will transform the centre of Portarlington and play a key role in the day-to-day life of this community. It will help increase footfall in the town and stimulate further investment in buildings and streetscapes across the town.”

Chief Executive of Laois County Council, Michael Rainey, said the building will regenerate the whole street. “What was here three, four years ago was a blight on the town and what we have here is a transformed building that will transform the streetscape of this town,” he said.

Mr Rainey told those gathered that the council had a year earlier set up a regeneration department under the leadership of Director of Service Angela McEvoy. He said this project was an example of how buildings could be reimagined and brought back to life. “We would like to see that reflected across all our towns and villages,” said Mr Rainey.

Mr Rainey assured Minister Calleary that if he kept delivering money the council would continue to spend it and he said their sights were on the old Savoy Cinema next door which has been acquired by the council. He praised the community buy-in on the project and the partnership which allowed it to happen.

Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council Cllr Barry Walsh, described it as a very special day for Portarlington. He noted the building had historically been a centre for justice and commerce and would now be put to community use again. He noted Portarlington has had rapid population growth and he said the project sends a “clear message that the town centre matters and is worth investing in”.

Chair of Portarlington Community Development Association(PCDA), who are now based in the Market House, Aidan Mullally, said the opening marked the beginning of the next phase of the regeneration strategy for the town centre.

Mr Mullally said the building was constructed around 1740 and once housed the courts. He said it had been at the centre of the town’s life through the 19th and 20th century and will continue that tradition now.

He recalled the building being a thriving business run by the Ryan family and being owned by former Offaly "footballing legend” Sean Ryan. He said most locals who enter the building would think of Sean Ryan and his family.

Mr Mullally thanked Laois County Council, local Cllr Aidan Mullins, who he said had supported the PCDA and worked to tackle dereliction in Portarlington, and the late Cllr Tom Mulhall who had campaigned for the Market House regeneration. He said the building would now be a central point for tourist information and local engagement and to become a central community activation space for use by local clubs and groups.

The official opening was attended by local Councillors and Laois's three TDs, Sean Fleming, Willie Aird and Brian Stanley.