Laois County Council have announced they are to develop a tourism hub at the former Ha’Penny Babies School at Chapel Street in Portlaoise.
The location is approximately 400m to the north of lower Main Street, and the site measures approximately 0.005 hectares.
The proposed development will include the following:
1. Refurbishment works to the existing former Ha’Penny Babies School building, which is a Protected Structure, to provide a tourism hub (c 64sqm).
2. The forming a new shopfront opening facing chapel street (4m x 2.5m).
3. Installation of new solar panels on the southwest-facing roof face.
4. Light internal work on the toilet space.
5. Associated refurbishment works.
“County Laois has much to offer the tourism product and marketing of Ireland as a tourist destination in both the domestic and international market,” the Council said.
“Laois has a considerable variety of the built heritage that contributes to the identity and culture of the county itself and also to the wider region that are deemed worthy of protection.
“It includes the Rock of Dunamase the seat or fort of the ancient Irish kings of Laois, the historic towns of Abbeyleix and Durrow, great country houses, demesne landscapes and a significant industrial heritage of our boglands.”
The Council highlighted the Rock of Dunamase, the Round Tower Timahoe, Emo Court and Parklands, Aghaboe Abbey, Donaghmore Workhouse, the Slieve Bloom Mountains, and the Rivers Nore and Barrow.
The Department of Housing, Heritage and Local Government said they “welcome the reuse and adaptation of this former historic school building for community benefit.
“The Department welcomes and recognises the benefit that the tourism hub will bring to raising awareness of this area of regeneration.
“The Department are supportive of a high quality architectural design and conservation approach to the transformation of this historic building and setting.”
