Rathdowney lies on the River Erkina in the southwest of County Laois. Market Square and Main Street are characterised mainly by two-storey 19th-century buildings. The town also offers the history of St Andrew’s, an 18-hole golf course and walking options in the town and nearby. This makes it easy to plan a stay combining the townscape, golf and nature.
Townscape and history
The Church of Ireland church of St Andrew’s in Rathdowney dates from 1818, was renovated in 1865 and extended in 1990. Its graveyard contains 19th-century headstones; most are upright, with only a few leaning or damaged. A gate leads to the graveyard from the town centre, and paved paths run around the church. Check local opening arrangements before your visit.
The area behind Main Street has also largely retained its 19th-century plot and development patterns. The historic layout of the town can therefore be seen not only in individual buildings but also in the arrangement of its plots and buildings.
Golf, walking routes and transport
Rathdowney Golf Club has an 18-hole golf course. There are walking options with different features: an all-weather running track is located in Rathdowney beside St Fergal’s Secondary School. Less than 5 km from the town lies Coolacurragh Wood Nature Reserve, where a 1 km circular trail passes through wet woodland; sturdy footwear is required. The circuit focuses on the woodland path, while the route beside the school is described as an all-weather option.
The R433 and R435 regional roads connect Rathdowney to the M8 Dublin–Cork and M7 Dublin–Limerick motorways. Ballybrophy railway station is 6 km away; daily trains run from there to Dublin, Cork and Limerick. Check the current timetable when planning your journey.
More culture and landscape across County Laois
Visitors exploring County Laois as a wider destination will find cultural attractions from different periods. Timahoe Round Tower dates from the late 12th century, has an elaborately carved doorway and is part of the Ireland’s Ancient East visitor route. Timahoe Heritage Centre tells the story of the early Christian monastic settlement of Tigh Mochua and is housed in a preserved 19th-century church. Aghaboe Abbey marks the site where St. Canice founded an abbey in 576. Dunamase developed into one of Ireland’s most important Anglo-Norman fortifications.
County Laois also offers architecture and walking opportunities. Emo Court is a neoclassical mansion designed by James Gandon in 1790; visitors can walk by the lake and through woodland. Heywood Gardens near Ballinakill is an 18th-century landscaped estate with gardens, lakes and woodland. Sir Edwin Lutyens designed the formal gardens.
Mountmellick offers another cultural highlight: Mountmellick Work is a whitework embroidery technique developed by Johanna Carter in the early 19th century. The Mountmellick Embroidery and Heritage Museum offers guided tours about this embroidery and the town’s Quaker heritage. The Mountmellick Heritage Trail is 2.8 miles (4.5 kilometres) long.
Discover more destinations: Curragh, Mountrath, Rathsallagh, Killenard, Ballyhenry, Whitewell, Donaghmore, Emo.
For the wider travel overview: County Laois.
