Big Laois tourism plan revealed for historic Portlaoise school building

Laois could be getting its first ever purpose built tourism office, in the heart of the historic centre of Portlaoise.

The county currently has no tourist office for visitors, but that is planned to change, with the repurposing of a small 19th century school next to the town's 16th century military fort. 

Laois County Council has revealed a plan to reuse the old 'Ha'penny School' on Church Avenue, opening it up onto the street to create a tourism hub.

The school was built in the 1840s by the Presentation Sisters in front of their convent, to educate younger local girls. 

The proposed development will include refurbishment works to the existing former Ha’Penny School building  which is a Protected Structure, RPS number 900.

The building which is some 70sqm (753sqft) in size, would receive "light internal work" to add a new toilet, staffroom and rear lobby.

It would get a new modern glass shopfront opening facing the street.

The council plans new solar panels on the southwest facing roof.

"The Presentation Convent, the Ha’Penny Babies School and the Sacred Heart National School form part of an impressive complex of school and convent buildings in the centre of Portlaoise.

"This nineteenth-century school building contributes to the character, scale and definition of Church Avenue, and to the social history of Portlaoise," they say in their plans.

The big reveal of the plan comes a week after a €26 million conversion of the convent into 52 social apartments, houses and community spaces was approved by the Department of Housing, with a chosen contractor approved to start work.

That major renovation of the derelict convent and surrounding lands and former Sacred Heart school is expected to be completed in two years time, by the start of 2026.

Read more below.

Multi-million price soars to convert Laois convent into Portlaoise housing

The interior of the Ha'penny School. Images by Laois County Council.

Sophia Housing Body have agreed to Laois County Council making a Part VIII Application, which may fasttrack the project, if Laois county councillors approve the planning application.

The project is being built on lands and buildings formerly owned by the Presentation Sisters and the local Parish.

The plans are now on display, for the public to have their say, at the online consultation portal  https://consult.laois.ie from 5th December 2023 to 10th January 2024.