Camping Sites in County Laois

Emo Court House

Emo Court House is surrounded by beautiful gardens and parklands and dates back to the late 18th century. The estate features over 35 hectares of naturalistic landscaped grounds, with formal areas, woodland walks, statues and a 20 acre lake.

The landscape contains formal lawns, a lake and woodland walks with beautiful trees and shrubs. The extensive grounds, decorated with Greek sculptures, contain over 1000 different trees, including huge sequoias, the world’s largest single tree species and shrubs from across the globe.  The Clucker contains rare specimen trees and glades of azaleas, rhododendrons and camellias, while The Grapery is an arboretum with a series of pathways, each opening to vistas of the Slieve Bloom Mountains and Emo Court House itself.

Donaghmore Famine Workhouse Museum

Donaghmore Famine Workhouse Museum is a unique place in County Laois which aims to tell the story of the families who lived and died within the famine workhouse walls before, during and after the Great Famine. As a result of the Great Famine era of 1845-1849 about 1,200 people, or 10% of the population of the area, was forced to seek refuge here.

The museum uses guided and self guided tours, combined with various exhibits, to explain the socioeconomic conditions which led to the establishment of this and other workhouses. On visiting Donaghmore you will see the authentically restored original dormitories, a kitchen and a waiting hall.

Heywood Gardens

Heywood Gardens were completed in 1912, and consist 50 acres of gardens, lakes, woodland and architectural features. The gardens have a spectacular setting on a hillside looking south-east over a sweep of undulating country which takes in seven counties. A walk lined with lime trees leads to a formal terrace overlooking the surrounding countryside.

The gardens are composed of four elements linked by a terrace that ran along the front of the house, which now no longer exists. In the sunken garden, circular terraces descend to an elongated pool, where small statues of turtles gaze inquisitively at the grand fountain. On the top level a loggia, roofed with red tiles, includes an inscription taken from the writings of Alexander Pope. Highlights include a rose called Natalie Naples and Johnston’s Blue geraniums, to name just a few.

The Rock of Dunamase

The Rock of Dunamase is an imposing and magnificent example of a Celtic fortification overlooking the valley of the O’Moores.  Spectacular views of the surrounding countryside make the towering Rock of Dunamase a place of strategic importance.

The site of an early Christian settlement pillaged by the Vikings in 842, Dunamase became one of the most important Anglo-Norman strongholds in Laois. It was part of the dowry of Aoife, the daughter of Diarmuid Mac Murrough, King of Leinster, when she was given in marriage to the Norman conqueror Strongbow in 1170. When Isabel, the daughter of Strongbow and Aoife, wed William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke, Dunamase was given as part of her marriage’s wedding gift. From 1325 until 1609, the castle belonged to the O’Moore family of Laois, before ownership passed to the Earl of Thomond. It was finally destroyed during the Cromwellian invasion in 1650. Despite the castle’s ruined state, visitors can get a sense of its former grandiosity and also have the opportunity to take in stunning views of the surrounding countryside.