- Ballyfin Demesne: A breathtaking five-star Regency mansion at the foot of the Slieve Bloom Mountains, widely acclaimed as one of Ireland’s finest country house hotels, with opulent interiors, 614 acres of parkland, a Michelin-key restaurant, spa, and exclusive activities like falconry.
- The Heritage: A luxurious five-star golf and spa resort in Killenard, set in picturesque countryside, renowned for its Seve Ballesteros-designed championship course, award-winning spa, fine dining, and nomination in the 2025 Gold Medal Awards.
- Castle Durrow: An elegant four-star pre-Palladian country house hotel in Durrow, part of Ireland’s Blue Book, offering charming period rooms, beautiful formal gardens, acclaimed dining, and a romantic historic atmosphere.
- Midlands Park Hotel: A vibrant four-star hotel in Portlaoise town centre (formerly Portlaoise Heritage Hotel), celebrated for its modern facilities, leisure club with pool, award-winning Kelly’s Steakhouse, and multiple 2025 Gold Medal Award shortlistings including for sustainability.
- The Killeshin Hotel: A welcoming four-star hotel in Portlaoise with a leisure club, spacious rooms, popular dining options, and strong guest reviews for comfort and service, making it a reliable choice for both leisure and business stays.
- Maldron Hotel Portlaoise: A contemporary four-star eco-certified hotel conveniently located near the motorway, featuring an indoor pool, gym, family-friendly amenities, and consistent high ratings for value and modern comfort.
- Abbeyleix Manor Hotel: A friendly three-star (with four-star amenities) hotel in historic Abbeyleix, known for its relaxing atmosphere, spacious grounds, on-site bar and restaurant, and easy access to local heritage sites.
- Roundwood House: A charming Georgian country house near Mountrath, offering an intimate boutique experience with period furnishings, beautiful grounds, and highly praised hospitality in a peaceful rural setting
Laois offers a blend of historic sites and natural landscapes, with the Rock of Dunamase providing panoramic views from its ancient castle ruins. Emo Court’s elegant Georgian mansion and gardens offer a peaceful retreat, while the Slieve Bloom Mountains provide hiking trails through rolling hills. The historic town of Portlaoise and its markets make Laois an inviting choice for heritage and outdoor pursuits. Laois is Ireland’s ninth smallest county by size (1,719 square km) and tenth smallest by population (91,877).
Laois:
Introduction – 1837 – Adventure – Anthem – Archaeology – Attractions – Awards – Birdwatching – Castles – Churches – Contact list – Cycling – Dining – Equestrian – Festivals – Fishing – Folklore – Golf – Graveyards – Happening – Haunted – Highest – Hiking – History – Holy Wells –Hotels – Hotels8 – Instagrammable – Itineraries – Largest town – Luxury – MICE – Movies – Musicians – Name – Novelists – Off the beaten track – Poets – Pubs – Quotes – Random Facts – Restaurant Awards – Saints – Spas – Sports – Sunsets – Sustainable – Things to do – Towns – Video – Villages – Walking – Wanderlist – Weddings – Wild swimming – Writers
Eight GREAT hotels
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
