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23 Oct 2025
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23 Oct 2025
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Portlaoise convent housing. Photo: Leinster Express
A once derelict convent site in Laois turned into stunning apartments has now welcomed the first of its residents.
Ten apartments at the former Presentation Convent in Portlaoise are now home to Laois County Council tenants, on a site where the first Portlaoise parish church once stood.
Another 42 homes are due to be completed by Christmas this year at the site on Church Avenue, which faces Fitzmaurice Place garden in the town's historic Old Fort Quarter.
The update was given at a recent Laois County Council meeting.
Laois County Council CEO Michael Rainey spoke to the Leinster Express / Laois Live.
“I welcome the news that residents have received the keys to 10 brand-new apartments in Portlaoise. This is a strategic project in the heart of the town, which took a building of huge historical significance and has now created beautiful new homes for residents. It speaks to Laois County Council's focus on town regeneration across the county. I'd like to thank the Laois elected representatives and Sophia Housing for their support and dedication to making this project a reality. We look forward to the remaining apartments being occupied later this year," he said.
Almost €30 million is being spent renovating the convent and building new apartment blocks on the land surrounding it, funded by the Government.
The project is by the Sophia Housing Association and Co-operative Housing Ireland. It was first estimated to cost €10.06 million when launched back in 2018.
Minister for Housing Darragh O'Brien TD Turning the Sod at Sophia Development where it is building 52 Homes on lands previously owned by Presentation Sisters and the Parish of Portlaoise.
"We're 25 years trying to offer this site for social housing, and for all the obstacles and difficulties that we encountered we're only getting there now. But maybe it was never a better time," said Sister Frances Crowe in April, 2024.
She said that the "old Sisters" who taught at the site had "prayed for this to come to fruition, and today it is."
The charity works with people who have complex support needs and have experienced homelessness. Of the adults supported by Sophia in 2021, 28% had an addiction and 34% had a mental health support need. Even with those complex cases, they achieved a 99% housing stability.
See photos of the restored convent and new apartments under construction here.
The original convent has been carefully restored by Offaly based company Bretland, and will be used for public and community spaces as well as more apartments. The former Sacred Heart school next door is also to be converted into apartments and public spaces. Three blocks of apartments are being constructed.
The former 'ha-penny school' at the front of the convent is to become a Laois tourist office.
Read next: Laois man claims €1 million National Lottery jackpot
The Presentation nuns left the 19th century convent in 2000. Their first plan with Sophia Housing to convert it for social housing failed after local objections. It was damaged by fires in 2013 and 2015 and then boarded up.
The Sacred Heart NS was vacated in 2017 when it was amalgamated with other town schools to become part of the new Holy Family parish schools.
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