Landmark Laois housing project sees complete transformation of Portlaoise Convent

As the redevelopment of the historic Portlaoise Convent is now complete, the Leinster Express / Laois Live took a tour inside the iconic building to see how it has been brought back to life.

The Presentation Convent and surrounding lands, which included the former Ha’penny Babies School and Sacred Heart Primary School, was approaching dereliction for a number of years.

Sophia Housing in partnership with Laois County Council took on the project which saw upwards of €27 million of public funds invested in the redevelopment and conservation of the site to deliver 52 new social homes.

The project involved careful consideration on appropriate and compliant measures needed to allow historic buildings to be used for residential occupation.

The front facade of the old convent building on Church Avenue.

The site, located on Church Avenue in the Old Fort Quarter, includes several heritage buildings that had been left unused for over two decades.

The central convent building dates back to 1824 and forms part of a wider complex that included the old primary school and associated religious structures. 

Over time, these buildings fell into disuse following the departure of the Presentation Sisters and the amalgamation of local schools in 2017.

Major work has been done on the site to address its dereliction as well as the demand for housing in the town.

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The project aimed to transform the historic convent lands into a vibrant residential community whilst also preserving the architectural and cultural significance of the existing structures.

The old convent building and public gardens. 

The project has delivered 52 new social homes which include a combination of apartments and townhouses. As the project is now complete, it is ready for people to move in. Ten tenants have already moved in and have been living there since October.

The development is divided into six separate blocks, all painted in vibrant and different colours. The old convent, a protected building, now contains fabulous apartments. Many of these homes enjoy beautiful views of the public garden space, the River Triogue and more.

The old school buildings have been brought back to their original form and repurposed to deliver residential units along with a  proposed youth services delivery.

The gardens and park behind the convent building which will be open to the public.

Buildings on the site with a significant social history in Portlaoise, such as the Ha’penny Babies School, have been secured by the Local Authority and will be fully integrated into this new residential quarter.

Also invited along on the tour to see the transformation of the historic buildings were nuns from The Presentation Sisters Portlaoise. Among them, Sr. Barbara Raftery actually lived in the old convent building for over a decade.

During her time at the convent, between 12 or 13 nuns lived there. Sr. Barbara also taught in the Scoil Chríost Rí secondary school there.

Sr. Barbara Raftery looking on at the former convent building where she lived for over a decade.

Walking the grounds of the site, Sr. Barbara noticed that some paintings were preserved on walls behind the newly built homes which she and her former students painted together.

Getting a look at the former parlour inside the convent for the first time since it was redeveloped, Sr. Barbara said it has “completely and entirely changed” since her time there.

However, remnants of the old convent still remain which conserve the historical significance of the building. The high ceilings, ceiling coven, and high windows all act as a reminder of what came before.

The beautiful stained glass windows inside the old convent building.

The integrated tower in the convent, which is a National Monument, has also been brought back to life with spacious new apartments.

As well as 52 new homes, the project has delivered a new public park and public outreach and youth services locations all located on site which will ultimately create a space for the entire community along with its residents.

The project has also recognised and responded to the need to retain green spaces and shared amenities in the heart of the town.

The historic nuns garden, a walled orchard, has been fully retained in form with the inclusion of children’s play spaces and new permeable river crossings to the planned Blue Way.

The project has been a huge success and was even selected as a finalist for the Building Project of the Year at the recent Irish Building and Design Awards.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme