Plan to open Laois tourism office on hold after money refused

Laois is welcoming more tourists and investing Just Transition grants into private tourist businesses, but it has no tourism office.

A plan to open one in Portlaoise has been stalled, Laois County Council has confirmed to the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

The county is attracting more and more tourists, thanks to recent promotion and investment into facilities in the Rock of Dunamase, the Slieve Bloom Mountains, Emo Court and other attractions.

However there is no on street office to give information. A Laois tourist office did operate in Lyster Square in the past, then briefly in the Dunamaise Theatre, run by Laois County Council.

Its new plan to install a stylish new office at the renovated Portlaoise convent housing project is on pause.

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

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, and solar panels to the rear roof.

Laois County Council had applied for the necessary money from the EU Just Transition Fund in 2024.

Director of Services Simon Walton gave an update.

"There was a proposal whereby Laois County Council sought EUJT Funding from Failte Ireland for the new car park at the Rock of Dunamase and the development of an associated Interpretative Centre/Tourist Office at the Convent Site (Hapenny School).

"The car park was allocated grant funding (€1.8m) but the Interpretative Centre was considered premature and was not grant aided," Mr Walton confirmed.

There are "no immediate plans" for the tourist office, while the new carpark and signage at the Rock of Dunamase are soon to be fully completed.

"As such, there are no immediate plans regarding the provision of the Interpretative Centre/Tourist Office, over and above what currently prevails.

"Detailed interpretation for the Rock will be provided ‘at the site’ as part of the car park development.

"In time, new options to develop the Interpretative Centre/Tourist Office will likely emerge," the council director said.

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Laois Tourism, funded through Laois County Council, keeps visitors updated online and on social media.

They can even now call into the council reception to meet Tourism Officer Elaine Moore and pick up leaflets.

Ms Moore told the Leinster Express that visitors are welcome to pop in to Laois County Council offices for information.

"We welcome tourists to the counter, I will come out and speak to them and we have tourist information on a stand in our reception area. We have social media pages and a website with up to date information," Ms Moore said.