Cooltederry

More than 2,000 parcels touch this townland: too many to draw here.

• G5Open Space & Amenity (Mixed/general 'green'/recreation/conservation, other)
  LAOIS COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2021-2027, Laois The zoning objective in the plan
• R3Residential 2 - New Proposed Residential (Residential, mixed residential and other uses)
  LAOIS COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2021-2027, Laois The zoning objective in the plan
• R2Residential 1 - Existing Residential (Existing residential)
  LAOIS COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2021-2027, Laois The zoning objective in the plan
• M2Town Centre (Primary / Core Retail Area) (City/Town/village Centre, central area)
  LAOIS COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2021-2027, Laois The zoning objective in the plan
• S5Community, Educational & Institutional (Mixed/general community services/facilities uses)
  LAOIS COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2021-2027, Laois The zoning objective in the plan
• C1.1General Business (Commercial, retail)
  LAOIS COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2021-2027, Laois The zoning objective in the plan
• C6Industrial & Warehousing (Mixed/general commercial/industrial/enterprise uses)
  LAOIS COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2021-2027, Laois The zoning objective in the plan
• G4Open Space (Active open space)
  LAOIS COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2021-2027, Offaly The zoning objective in the plan
• C2.1Enterprise and Employment (Industrial, enterprise, employment)
  LAOIS COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2021-2027, Laois The zoning objective in the plan
• N6Transport & Utilities (Other networks and basic infrastructure/utilities uses)
  LAOIS COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2021-2027, Laois The zoning objective in the plan

Source: Tailte Éireann and the Department of Housing (MyPlan), national zoning, CC BY 4.0.

• 10 Sept 2026N/a

  CHANGE OF USE OF EXISTING RETAIL UNIT TO A “CARRY OUT” OFF-LICENCE FOR THE SALE OF BEER AND SPIRITS OFF THE PREMISES, WITH RETAIL ELEMENT AND ALL ASSOCIATED SITE WORKS

  Permission · Laois County Council, 2660633

• 28 Aug 2026N/a

  part Two Storey Business Enterprise Building consisting of a 2 storey office block (with potential subdivision into 4 separate units) and Five part 2 storey Light Industrial / business enterprise Units along with all Associated Site Works.

  Permission · Laois County Council, 2660586

• 25 Aug 2026N/a

  INSTALL A “CARRY OUT” OFF-LICENCE AREA FOR THE SALE OF BEER AND SPIRITS OFF THE PREMISES, INSTALLATION OF A PIZZA TAKEAWAY FACILITY WITHIN THE EXISTING SHOP AND ALL ASSOCIATED SITE WORKS.

  Permission · Laois County Council, 2660573

• 20 Aug 2026N/a

  relocate rear garden vehicular gateway on the curtilage of a Protected Structure RPS 134, NIAH No. 12900230 and all associated site works

  Permission · Laois County Council, 2660563

• 20 Aug 2026N/a

  instal a "Carry Out" Off-Licence area for the sale of beer and spirits off the premises, instal a pizza takeaway facility within the existing shop and all associated site works

  Permission · Laois County Council, 2660564

• 13 Aug 2026N/a

  construct domestic shed/garage and all associated site works.

  Permission, 1 home · Laois County Council, 2660547

• 13 Aug 2026N/a

  INSTALL AN OFF-LICENCE AREA FOR THE SALE OF BEER AND SPIRITS OFF THE PREMISES, INSTALLATION OF A PIZZA TAKEAWAY FACILITY WITHIN THE EXISTING SHOP AND ALL ASSOCIATED SITE WORKS.

  Permission · Laois County Council, 2660550

• 4 Aug 2026N/a

  change of use from office to dwelling house and all associated site works.

  Permission, 1 home · Laois County Council, 2660533

• 31 Jul 2026N/a

  INSTALL AN OFF-LICENCE AREA FOR THE SALE OF BEER AND SPIRITS OFF THE PREMISES, INSTALLATION OF A PIZZA TAKEAWAY FACILITY WITHIN THE EXISTING SHOP AND ALL ASSOCIATED SITE WORKS.

  Permission · Laois County Council, 2660531

• 28 Jul 2026N/a

  change use from office to dwelling house and all associated site works.

  Permission · Laois County Council, 2660521

• 22 Jul 2026N/a

  change of use from office to dwelling house and all associated site works.

  Permission · Laois County Council, 2660503

• 21 Jul 2026Conditional

  construct a car valet shelter and all associated site works

  Permission · Laois County Council, 2660497

• 16 Jul 2026N/a

  RELOCATE THE REAR GARDEN VEHICULAR AND ALL ASSOCIATED SITE WORKS

  Permission · Laois County Council, 2660486

• 7 Jul 2026N/a

  Retain Boundary Wall & Planning Permission for Bungalow Type Dwelling with access to the site from previously approved Planning Reg Ref 25/60446 and connection to foul sewer & all associated site works

  Permission, 1 home · Laois County Council, 2660446

• 7 Jul 2026Refused

  construct 1 no. 2 bed dormer/storey on the site of previously approved Planning Reg Ref 25/60406 with connection to foul sewer and all associated works

  Permission, 1 home · Laois County Council, 2660448

• 6 Jul 2026Conditional

  demolish the existing single storey detached building on the site and the kitchen extension on the original house, extend the original house with a two-storey extension and build a single-storey kitchen/living space with a single-storey link between the two, also externally insulate the existing house and upgrade to an A-rated house together with all associated works

  Permission, 1 home · Laois County Council, 2660440

• 3 Jul 2026Conditional

  retain extension to rear of dwelling construction of 2 attached independent living units in place of demolished attached sheds; concrete panel boundary wall; and all associated site works

  Retention · Laois County Council, 2660438

• 1 Jul 2026N/a

  demolish existing single storey detached building on the site and the kitchen extension on the original house. Permission to extend the original house with a two-storey extension and build a single-storey kitchen/living space with a single-storey link between the two, also externally insulate the existing house and upgrade to an A-rated house together with all associated works.

  Permission · Laois County Council, 2660425

• 29 Jun 2026N/a

  subdivide existing site to create 3 No. units, to provide change of use of existing garage to dwelling unit with side extension and to subdivide existing dwelling back to its original state as 2 No. dwellings with single storey rear extension & all associated site works and all associated site works.

  Permission, 3 homes · Laois County Council, 2660410

• 29 Jun 2026N/a

  construct 1 no. 2 bed dormer/storey on the site of previously approved Planning Reg Ref 25/60406 with connection to foul sewer and all associated works.

  Permission · Laois County Council, 2660413

• 29 Jun 2026N/a

  retain Boundary Wall & Planning Permission for Bungalow Type Dwelling with access to the site from previously approved Planning Reg Ref 25/60446 and connection to foul sewer & all associated site works.

  Permission · Laois County Council, 2660416

• 22 Jun 2026N/a

  retain extension to rear of dwelling construction of 2 attached independent living units in place of demolished attached sheds; concrete panel boundary wall; and all associated site works

  Retention · Laois County Council, 2660397

• 19 Jun 2026N/a

  construct a 74 unit Residential Development, consisting of 6 No. Type A/ A1 two storey semi-detached 4 bedroom houses, 6 No. Type B two storey semi-detached 4 bedroom houses, 12 No. Type C/ C1 two storey terraced 3 bedroom houses, 20 no. Type D/ D1 two storey terraced 3 bedroom houses, 2 No. Type E/ E1 two storey semi-detached 5 bedroom houses and 2 no. three storey Apartment blocks with 28 no. apartments in total, incorporating 1, 2 & 3 bedroom units. The proposed development will also include 2 new site entrances, one entrance onto Bracklone Street and one entrance onto Canal Road, an internal access road, footpaths, car and cycle parking, boundary treatments, public lighting, bin storage, public open space, private amenity space, foul and surface water drainage, water services, landscaping and all associated infrastructure works and services, on 2.33 Ha site

  Permission, 74 homes · Laois County Council, 2660387

• 17 Jun 2026N/a

  construct a 74 unit Residential Development, consisting of 6 No. Type A/ A1 two storey semi-detached 4 bedroom houses, 6 No. Type B two storey semi-detached 4 bedroom houses, 12 No. Type C/ C1 two storey terraced 3 bedroom houses, 20 no. Type D/ D1 two storey terraced 3 bedroom houses, 2 No. Type E/ E1 two storey semi-detached 5 bedroom houses and 2 no. three storey Apartment blocks with 28 no. apartments in total, incorporating 1, 2 & 3 bedroom units. The proposed development will also include 2 new site entrances, one entrance onto Bracklone Street and one entrance onto Canal Road, an internal access road, footpaths, car and cycle parking, boundary treatments, public lighting, bin storage, public open space, private amenity space, foul and surface water drainage, water services, landscaping and all associated infrastructure works and services, on 2.33 Ha site

  Permission · Laois County Council, 2660381

• 8 Jun 2026N/a

  subdivide existing site to create 3 No. units, to provide change of use of existing garage to dwelling unit with side extension and to subdivide existing dwelling back to its original state as 2 No. dwellings with single storey rear extension & all associated site works

  Permission · Laois County Council, 2660353

The 25 most recent of over 100 applications.

Source: National Planning Applications, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0. Applicants are not shown.

Designated sites

• Special Area of Conservation: River Barrow and River Nore SAC 002162

Recorded monuments

• LA005-004 Castle - motte and bailey
  Description

  Marked on the 1841 edition of the OS 6-inch map as a subcircular enclosure (diam. c. 40m NW-SE) enclosing two smaller enclosures at NW and SE; posibly a double motte and bailey. No surface remains. Area adjacent to motte was archaeologically tested bv Martin Byrne in 2003 under licence no. 03E1413 The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Laois' (Dublin Stationery Office, 1995) compiled by P. David Sweetman, Olive Alcock and Bernie Moran. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 17 December 2007

• LA005-005 Enclosure
  Description

  In a low-lying boggy area. Marked on the 1910 edition of the OS 6-inch map as a circular enclosure (max. diam. c. 20m). No visible surface remains. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Laois' (Dublin Stationery Office, 1995) compiled by P. David Sweetman, Olive Alcock and Bernie Moran. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 17 December 2007

• LA005-031 Historic town
  Description

  Town of Portarlington was previously known as the town of Cooletodderie as mentioned in 1571 Elizabethan land grant to Owen mac Hugh O'Dempsie and described as containing 80 acres, which lieth southwest from the River of the Barough, and abutteth upon the town and lands called Bracklone East' (O'Flanagan 1933, vol. 2, p. 51) The town is named after its founder Sir Henry Bennet, lord Arlington (Bradley et al. 1986, p. 42). In 1666 Charles II granted large tracts of O'Dempseys land which formed the manor of Portarlington and created the borough with a corporation, weekly market and two yearly fairs (Cal. State Papers, 1666-9, pp. 220-2). This new town may have been superimposed on an earlier settlement at Cooltedery mentioned in 1571. The town grew rapidly and formed its basic layout by 1678 when it is shown in a map now in the National Library of Ireland (Feehan 1983, p. 393). The town was laid out by George Rawdon and was fortified with a moat that enclosed the town and was surrounded on all sides by water. There is a market square in the centre of the town out of which the four main roads radiated out from the market square. Market House stood in the centre of the market square. The River Barrow enclosed three sides of the town from W through N to E and by a moat on the south side. The plan of the town shows triangular shaped bastions on the NE and NW angles of the town suggesting that the town was enclosed by a earthen fort with angle bastions similar to a star-shaped fort. The four streets radiating out from the market square were called King Street running westwards towards the bridge over the Barrow River, Bennet street ran North from the square, James Street ran out Eastwards and Queene Street that ran out southwards. Around 1696 two churches were established at Portarlington , St. Michael's and St. Paul's for the English and French settlers respectively and also two schools (Bradley et al. 1986, p. 42). According to the Calendar of State Papers Ireland 1666-69 'every house to be built within the fortification is to be built at least fifty feet in front, the walls to be made of good lime and stone or mortar and stone, rough cast, and every house to be one storey and a half high at least, and every storey to be nine foot deep from floor to floor, the houses to be roofed with shingles, tiles or slates, and to have dormant windows to the streets' (CSP, p. 259-61). Houses on the east side of the town leading from New Channel bridge to Katherines tower and on either side of the road leading from the great bridge to Charlestown. These houses were to be 'at least forty feet in front, the walls to be of stone and lime or mortar and stone, and to be ten feet high from the ground to the eves at least; and the house to have a good stone chimney (CSP 1666-9, pp. 259-61). The cruciform axis of the seventeenth century town still survives in Spa Street, Church Lane, French Church St. and the northern portion of Main St. The market place was a square at the intersection of these streets in which there was a centrally placed Market House. A printed memorandum of c. 1666 refers to the intention of building houses to the south of the town. This is probably to be identified with Foxcroft St. and the section of Main St. between its junction with Foxcroft St. and the line of the defences (Bradley et al. 1986, 43). Test excavation (Nat. Grid Ref. 25426 21265) was undertaken on the site of a proposed apartment block development at French Church Street, Portarlington, Co. Laois, on 21 March 2001 (Licence No. 99E0281 ext.). The development site is within the zone of archaeological potential in Portarlington as defined in the Urban Archaeology Survey of County Laois (OPW, 1986). It lies on the east bank of a bend in the River Barrow at the north-west end of the town. A 17th-century map of the town shows that the rampart defences traversed the proposed development site from south-west to north-east, and an angle bastion stood at the north-west end of the site. Four 20m-long trenches were excavated on the footprint of the proposed development. The stratigraphy was similar in each of the trenches. Modern topsoil overlay a mixed landfill layer, which varied in thickness from 0.05m at the south-east end of the site to 1.4m at the north-west end. This fill was brought onto the site about 30 years ago in order to raise the ground level, which falls quite sharply towards the river on the north-west side of the site. The landfill overlay the original topsoil, moderately compact dark reddish-brown silty sand. It had an average thickness of 0.15m and overlay a thin layer of mixed sand and gravel with inclusions of brick, mortar, shell and pottery. This gravel deposit post-dates the destruction of the town defences. It overlay a post-medieval layer, possibly levelled rampart material, consisting of mixed grey, light brown and red clayey sand containing gravel and small stones. There were occasional inclusions of bone, shell, brick and mortar, and finds included occasional post-medieval pottery sherds, glass fragments and clay pipe stem fragments. The post-medieval layer sealed and formed the fill of a 4-5m-wide flat-bottomed cut, which was discovered in Trenches 2, 3 and 4. It extends north-east/south-west across the site and runs parallel to the riverbank. This feature appears to be associated with the 17th-century town defences. The natural ground falls sharply towards the river beyond the north-west edge of this cut. The rampart probably stood on the higher ground immediately south-east of the cut, where a natural sand, gravel and stone deposit was encountered close to the existing site surface. The test excavation indicates that the site contains a post-medieval cut and deposit, probably associated with the 17th-century town defences. It is possible that the cut relates to the rampart construction phase and the deposit may represent levelled rampart material. It would appear that the town fortifications were levelled at a relatively early period, probably in the 18th century (Bennett 2003, 223). Pre-development testing of the site of a proposed two-storey dwelling and associated site works (Nat. Grid Ref. 25425 21264) was carried out on 17 August 2001 at Spa Street, Portarlington, Co. Laois, under licence number 01E0777. The site consisted of a garden with a small garage along its southern boundary. It was located along the east side of Spa Street in the north-eastern quadrant of the original town, along the line of the northern town defences. The River Barrow was a short distance to the north. Four trial-trenches were excavated. They were 9.2-20.5m long, 0.9-1.4m wide and 0.9-1.4m deep. The stratigraphy consisted of topsoil and gravel on the surface, below which was rubble fill, a mid-brown friable soil and natural sands and gravels. The rubble fill contained plastic and a range of other modern artefacts. The mid-brown friable soil contained red brick fragments. The rubble fill, visible in all trenches, represented backfilling of the site in the past. The mid-brown friable soil (found in three of the trenches) was probably the remains of the topsoil upon which the backfill was deposited. The sands and gravels located at the base of all trenches were a natural deposit, probably of riverine origin, considering the proximity of the river (Bennett 2003, 223). In 2002 pre-development testing on the east side of Spa Street was carried out by Billy Quinn. Three trenches were excavated and no features of archaeological significance were uncovered (Bennett 2004, 288). In 2002 monitoring of groundworks for the construction of a local authority housing development on Spa Street was carried out by Florence Hurley. No features of archaeological significance were uncovered (Bennett 2004, 288). Test excavation was carried out in French Church Street in 2003 by John Purcell under licence no. 03E0518. Archaeological testing on the Main St. was carried out by Ellen O'Carroll in 2004

• LA005-031001 Town defences
  Description

  Town of Portarlington was previously known as the town of Cooletodderie as mentioned in 1571 Elizabethan land grant to Owen mac Hugh O'Dempsie and described as containing 80 acres, which lieth southwest from the River of the Barough, and abutteth upon the town and lands called Bracklone East' (O'Flanagan 1933, vol. 2, p. 51) The town is named after its founder Sir Henry Bennet, lord Arlington (Bradley 1986, p. 42). In 1666 Charles II granted large tracts of O'Dempseys land which formed the manor of Portarlington and created the borough with a corporation, weekly market and two yearly fairs (Cal. State Papers, 1666-9, pp. 220-2). This new town may have been superimposed on an earlier settlement at Cooltedery mentioned in 1571. The town grew rapidly and formed its basic layout by 1678 when it is shown in a map now in the Nat. Library of Ireland (Feehan 1983, p. 393). The town was laid out by George Rawdon and was fortified with a moat that enclosed the town and was surrounded on all sides by water. The River Barrow enclosed three sides of the town from W through N to E and by a moat on the south side. The plan of the town shows triangular shaped bastions on the NE and NW angles of the town suggesting that the town was enclosed by a earthen fort with two angle bastions on North side only and enclosed by a water-filled moat fed from the River Barrow on S side and defended by River Barrow on E and W sides. The four streets radiating out from the market square were called King Street running westwards towards the bridge over the Barrow River, Bennet street ran North from the square, James Street ran out Eastwards and Queene Street that ran out southwards. One of these angle towers may have been known as 'Katherine's tower', one seventeenth century account from 1666 describes that houses shall be built 'without the fortification on the East side, which shall front towards the new channel, on either sides of the way leading from New Channel Bridge to Katherine's tower and on either side of the road leading from the great bridge to Charlestown' (Bradley 1986, p. 43). No surface remains of town defences survive. Test excavation (Nat. Grid Ref. 25426 21265) was undertaken on the site of a proposed apartment block development at French Church Street, Portarlington, Co. Laois, on 21 March 2001 (Licence No. 99E0281 ext.). The development site is within the zone of archaeological potential in Portarlington as defined in the Urban Archaeology Survey of County Laois (OPW, 1986). It lies on the east bank of a bend in the River Barrow at the north-west end of the town. A 17th-century map of the town shows that the rampart defences traversed the proposed development site from south-west to north-east, and an angle bastion stood at the north-west end of the site. Four 20m-long trenches were excavated on the footprint of the proposed development. The stratigraphy was similar in each of the trenches. Modern topsoil overlay a mixed landfill layer, which varied in thickness from 0.05m at the south-east end of the site to 1.4m at the north-west end. This fill was brought onto the site about 30 years ago in order to raise the ground level, which falls quite sharply towards the river on the north-west side of the site. The landfill overlay the original topsoil, moderately compact dark reddish-brown silty sand. It had an average thickness of 0.15m and overlay a thin layer of mixed sand and gravel with inclusions of brick, mortar, shell and pottery. This gravel deposit post-dates the destruction of the town defences. It overlay a post-medieval layer, possibly levelled rampart material, consisting of mixed grey, light brown and red clayey sand containing gravel and small stones. There were occasional inclusions of bone, shell, brick and mortar, and finds included occasional post-medieval pottery sherds, glass fragments and clay pipe stem fragments. The post-medieval layer sealed and formed the fill of a 4-5m-wide flat-bottomed cut, which was discovered in Trenches 2, 3 and 4. It extends north-east/south-west across the site and runs parallel to the riverbank. This feature appears to be associated with the 17th-century town defences. The natural ground falls sharply towards the river beyond the north-west edge of this cut. The rampart probably stood on the higher ground immediately south-east of the cut, where a natural sand, gravel and stone deposit was encountered close to the existing site surface. The test excavation indicates that the site contains a post-medieval cut and deposit, probably associated with the 17th-century town defences. It is possible that the cut relates to the rampart construction phase and the deposit may represent levelled rampart material. It would appear that the town fortifications were levelled at a relatively early period, probably in the 18th century (Bennett 2003, 223). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 17 December 2007

• LA005-031002 Bridge
  Description

  Seventeenth-century bridge at the western end of the town of Portarlington, crossing the River Barrow which formed the county boundary with Offaly.  The town of Portarlington was previously known as the town of Cooletodderie as mentioned in a 1571 Elizabethan land grant to Owen mac Hugh O'Dempsie and described as containing 80 acres, which lieth southwest from the River of the Barough [Barrow], and abutteth upon the town and lands called Bracklone East' (O'Flanagan 1933, vol. 2, 51). The town is named after its founder Sir Henry Bennet, lord Arlington (Bradley et. al. 1986, 42). In 1666 Charles II granted large tracts of O'Dempseys land which formed the manor of Portarlington and created the borough with a corporation, weekly market and two yearly fairs (Cal. State Papers, 1666-9, 220-2). This new town may have been superimposed on an earlier settlement at Cooltedery mentioned in 1571. The town grew rapidly and formed its basic layout by 1678 when it is shown in a map now in the Nat. Library of Ireland (Feehan 1983, 393). The town was laid out by George Rawdon and was fortified with a moat that enclosed the town and was surrounded on all sides by water. There is a market square in the centre of the town out of which the four main roads radiated out from the market square. Market House stood in the centre of the market square. The River Barrow enclosed three sides of the town from W through N to E and by a moat on the south side. To the W of the town King Street ran towards a bridge crossing the River Barrow that is depicted on the 1678 town plan. The four streets radiating out from the market square were called King Street running westwards towards the bridge over the Barrow River, Bennet street ran North from the square, James Street ran out Eastwards and Queene Street that ran out southwards. This seventeenth century bridge has been replaced by a later bridge of 18th century date.  A seventeenth century account from 1666 mentioned the 'great bridge' and described it as 'on either sides of the way leading from New Channel Bridge to Katherine's tower and on either side of the road leading from the great bridge to Charlestown' (Bradley et. al. 1986, 43). Remains of this bridge may still survive in the bed of the River Barrow underneath the present Barrow bridge. This was one of three bridges the other two being the New Channel Bridge and the Bridge over the River Barrow where the Spa Bridge is located today. Cross-reference with OF034-010----. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 17 December 2007

• LA005-031003 Market-house
  Description

  Town of Portarlington was previously known as the town of Cooletodderie as mentioned in 1571 Elizabethan land grant to Owen mac Hugh O'Dempsie and described as containing 80 acres, which lieth southwest from the River of the Barough, and abutteth upon the town and lands called Bracklone East' (O'Flanagan 1933, vol. 2, p. 51) The town is named after its founder Sir Henry Bennet, lord Arlington (Bradley 1986, p. 42). In 1666 Charles II granted large tracts of O'Dempseys land which formed the manor of Portarlington and created the borough with a corporation, weekly market and two yearly fairs (Cal. State Papers, 1666-9, pp. 220-2). This new town may have been superimposed on an earlier settlement at Cooltedery mentioned in 1571. The town grew rapidly and formed its basic layout by 1678 when it is shown in a map now in the Nat. Library of Ireland (Feehan 1983, p. 393). The town was laid out by George Rawdon and was fortified with a moat that enclosed the town and was surrounded on all sides by water. There is a market square in the centre of the town out of which the four main roads radiated out from the market square. Market House stood in the centre of the market square. The four streets radiating out from the market square were called King Street running westwards towards the bridge over the Barrow River, Bennet street ran North from the square, James Stree ran out Eastwards and Queene Street that ran out southwards. Market house of three bay, two storeys high built c. 1740 stands on site of earlier market house depicted on 1678 plan of Portarlington (NLI ms 21F55). NIAH Registration Number 12900209. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 17 December 2007

• LA005-031004 Church
  Description

  Town of Portarlington was previously known as the town of Cooletodderie as mentioned in 1571 Elizabethan land grant to Owen mac Hugh O'Dempsie and described as containing 80 acres, which lieth southwest from the River of the Barough, and abutteth upon the town and lands called Bracklone East' (O'Flanagan 1933, vol. 2, p. 51) The town is named after its founder Sir Henry Bennet, lord Arlington (Bradley 1986, p. 42). In 1666 Charles II granted large tracts of O'Dempseys land which formed the manor of Portarlington and created the borough with a corporation, weekly market and two yearly fairs (Cal. State Papers, 1666-9, pp. 220-2). This new town may have been superimposed on an earlier settlement at Cooltedery mentioned in 1571. The town grew rapidly and formed its basic layout by 1678 when it is shown in a map now in the Nat. Library of Ireland (Feehan 1983, p. 393). The town was laid out by George Rawdon and was fortified with a moat that enclosed the town and was surrounded on all sides by water. There is a market square in the centre of the town out of which the four main roads radiated out from the market square. Market House stood in the centre of the market square. The River Barrow enclosed three sides of the town from W through N to E and by a moat on the south side. The plan of the town shows triangular shaped bastions on the NE and NW angles of the town suggesting that the town was enclosed by a earthen fort with angle bastions similar to a star-shaped fort. The four streets radiating out from the market square were called King Street running westwards towards the bridge over the Barrow River, Bennet street ran North from the square, James Stree ran out Eastwards and Queene Street that ran out southwards. Around 1696 two churches were established at Portarlington , St. Michael's and St. Paul's for the English and French settlers respectively and also two schools (Bradley 1986, p. 42). The church of Ireland church known as St. Paul's church was built in 1857 on the site of the above mentioned St. Pauls church that was originally built for French settlers, earliest memorial in graveyard dates to 1737 (Bradley 1986, p. 45). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 17 December 2007

• LA005-031005 Graveyard
  Description

  Town of Portarlington was previously known as the town of Cooletodderie as mentioned in 1571 Elizabethan land grant to Owen mac Hugh O'Dempsie and described as containing 80 acres, which lieth southwest from the River of the Barough, and abutteth upon the town and lands called Bracklone East' (O'Flanagan 1933, vol. 2, p. 51) The town is named after its founder Sir Henry Bennet, lord Arlington (Bradley 1986, p. 42). In 1666 Charles II granted large tracts of O'Dempseys land which formed the manor of Portarlington and created the borough with a corporation, weekly market and two yearly fairs (Cal. State Papers, 1666-9, pp. 220-2). This new town may have been superimposed on an earlier settlement at Cooltedery mentioned in 1571. The town grew rapidly and formed its basic layout by 1678 when it is shown in a map now in the Nat. Library of Ireland (Feehan 1983, p. 393). The town was laid out by George Rawdon and was fortified with a moat that enclosed the town and was surrounded on all sides by water. There is a market square in the centre of the town out of which the four main roads radiated out from the market square. Market House stood in the centre of the market square. The River Barrow enclosed three sides of the town from W through N to E and by a moat on the south side. The plan of the town shows triangular shaped bastions on the NE and NW angles of the town suggesting that the town was enclosed by a earthen fort with angle bastions similar to a star-shaped fort. The four streets radiating out from the market square were called King Street running westwards towards the bridge over the Barrow River, Bennet street ran North from the square, James Street ran out Eastwards and Queene Street that ran out southwards. Around 1696 two churches were established at Portarlington , St. Michael's and St. Paul's for the English and French settlers respectively and also two schools (Bradley 1986, p. 42). The church of Ireland church known as St. Paul's church was built in 1857 on the site of the above mentioned St. Pauls church that was originally built for French settlers, earliest memorial in graveyard dates to 1737 (Bradley 1986, p. 45). 19th century church located in SW angle of Market Square in centre of Portarlington town with large narrow irregular shaped graveyard around the church. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 17 December 2007

• LA005-031006 Church
  Description

  Town of Portarlington was previously known as the town of Cooletodderie as mentioned in 1571 Elizabethan land grant to Owen mac Hugh O'Dempsie and described as containing 80 acres, which lieth southwest from the River of the Barough, and abutteth upon the town and lands called Bracklone East' (O'Flanagan 1933, vol. 2, p. 51) The town is named after its founder Sir Henry Bennet, lord Arlington (Bradley 1986, p. 42). In 1666 Charles II granted large tracts of O'Dempseys land which formed the manor of Portarlington and created the borough with a corporation, weekly market and two yearly fairs (Cal. State Papers, 1666-9, pp. 220-2). This new town may have been superimposed on an earlier settlement at Cooltedery mentioned in 1571. The town grew rapidly and formed its basic layout by 1678 when it is shown in a map now in the Nat. Library of Ireland (Feehan 1983, p. 393). The town was laid out by George Rawdon and was fortified with a moat that enclosed the town and was surrounded on all sides by water. There is a market square in the centre of the town out of which the four main roads radiated out from the market square. Market House stood in the centre of the market square. The River Barrow enclosed three sides of the town from W through N to E and by a moat on the south side. The plan of the town shows triangular shaped bastions on the NE and NW angles of the town suggesting that the town was enclosed by a earthen fort with angle bastions similar to a star-shaped fort. The four streets radiating out from the market square were called King Street running westwards towards the bridge over the Barrow River, Bennet street ran North from the square, James Stree ran out Eastwards and Queene Street that ran out southwards. Around 1696 two churches were established at Portarlington , St. Michael's and St. Paul's for the English and French settlers respectively and also two schools (Bradley 1986, p. 42). The English church or St. Michael's now acts as a badminton hall and is located on Church lane at the NE angle of the square. The present building was constructed in 1832 on the site of the earlier seventeenth century church built for English settlers (Bradley 1986, p. 42). There is no attached graveyard as the parishioners used the graveyard at the old church at Lea just outside the town. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 17 December 2007

• LA005-031009 Bridge
  Description

  Town of Portarlington was previously known as the town of Cooletodderie as mentioned in 1571 Elizabethan land grant to Owen mac Hugh O'Dempsie and described as containing 80 acres, which lieth southwest from the River of the Barough, and abutteth upon the town and lands called Bracklone East' (O'Flanagan 1933, vol. 2, 51) The town is named after its founder Sir Henry Bennet, lord Arlington (Bradley 1986, 42). In 1666 Charles II granted large tracts of O'Dempseys land which formed the manor of Portarlington and created the borough with a corporation, weekly market and two yearlt fairs (Cal. State Papers 1666-9, 220-2). This new town may have been superimposed on an earlier settlement at Cooltedery mentioned in 1571. The town grew rapidly and formed its basic layout by 1678 when it is shown in a map now in the Nat. Library of Ireland (Feehan 1983, 393). The town was laid out by George Rawdon and was fortified with a moat that enclosed the town and was surrounded on all sides by water. There is a market square in the centre of the town out of which the four main roads radiated out from the market square. Market House stood in the centre of the market square. The River Barrow enclosed three sides of the town from W through N to E and by a moat on the south side. To the W of the town King Street ran towards a bridge crossing the River Barrow that is depicted on the 1678 town plan. The four streets radiating out from the market square were called King Street running westwards towards the bridge over the Barrow River, Bennet street ran North from the square, James Street ran out Eastwards and Queene Street that ran out southwards. This seventeenth century bridge has been replaced by a later bridge of 18th century date. Seventeenth century account from 1666 mentions the 'great bridge' and describes it as ' on either sides of the way leading from New Channel Bridge to Katherine's tower and on either side of the road leading from the great bridge to Charlestown' (Bradley 1986, 43). The New Channel Bridge was located at the S end of Queene Street that radiates out S from Market Square. Possible remains of this bridge may still survive underneath main street running S from the Market square where it crosses the old moat known as the New Channel in the seventeenth century. This was one of three bridges, the other two being the Great Bridge located today where the Barrow Bridge is and the Spa Bridge that also crosses the River Barrow to the North of the town. Although only one bridge is depicted on the 1678 map there were probably others such as the new Channel bridge that were left off the manuscript map of the town. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 17 December 2007

• LA005-034 Ringfort - unclassified
  Description

  Cropmark of circular-shaped enclosure (approx. diam. 47m) with entrance gap at E visible on Google earth aerial imagery. See attached image taken from Google Earth aerial photographs taken 02/07/2018 Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by Jean-Charles Caillère Date of upload: 09 September 2019

• LA005-035 Excavation - miscellaneous
  Description

  Archaeological monitoring carried out for Rosecourt, Portarlington Water Rehabilitation Scheme, County Laois on behalf of Ward and Burke Construction Ltd., took place in January and February 2018 under licence no.18E0001. An early modern stone arch (L 1.60m) associated with a sewage pipe was uncovered on French Church Street and was preserved in situ. A fragment of the base of a bowl was found within rubble backfill at approximately 1.6m below the current road surface (ITM 653978 712620). The underside is stamped ‘Portarlington School’ and ‘Diligentia Vincit’ within a circular wreath. There can be no doubt that the bowl fragment is associated with the boarding school phase of Arlington House, dating to c. 1846-1912.  Compiled by: Margaret Keane Uploaded on: 29 March 2021

Architectural heritage

• Portarlington Railway Station, railway station, 1845–1855 · National interest
  Description

  Victorian railway station complex, built 1850, comprising two ranges of buildings with former restaurant to one building. Renovated, c. 1995. Designed by Sancton Wood.

• Portarlington Railway Station, foot bridge, 1840–1880 · Regional interest
  Description

  Cast-iron footbridge over railway line, c. 1850.

• Portarlington Railway Station, post box, 1880–1900 · Regional interest
  Description

  Freestanding cast-iron Victorian pillar letter box, c. 1890, with inscribed 'VR' monogram.

• Ballymorris House, house, 1838–1843 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached three-bay two-storey house, extant 1843, on a rectangular plan. ROOF: Hipped slate roof with terracotta ridge tiles, paired rendered central chimney stacks having stepped capping supporting yellow terracotta octagonal pots, and cast-iron rainwater goods on rendered eaves with cast-iron downpipes. WALLS: Roughcast walls on tooled limestone ashlar plinth with rendered flush strips to corners. OPENINGS: Segmental-headed central door opening with threshold, timber mullions supporting timber transom, and rendered flush surround framing timber panelled door having sidelights below fanlight. Diocletian Window (first floor) with cut-limestone sill, timber mullions and rendered surround framing one-over-one timber sash windows. Square-headed window openings in tripartite arrangement with cut-limestone sills, timber mullions, and concealed red brick block-and-start surrounds with timber lintels framing nine-over-six (ground floor) or six-over-six (first floor) timber sash windows having three-over-two (ground floor) or two-over-two (first floor) sidelights. INTERIOR: Interior including central hall retaining carved timber surrounds to door openings framing timber panelled doors, timber staircase, and carved timber surrounds to door openings to landing framing timber panelled doors. SITE: Set in landscaped grounds. NOTE: Built by Joseph Harte (d. 1843) and described (1851) as a 'mansion-house recently built [and] in perfect order' (Freeman's Journal 21st October 1851, 1). Purchased by Thomas Wright (1796-1881), County Engineer for Queen's County (The Dublin Evening Post 17th March 1853, 3), and subsequently occupied by Patrick Paul Wright (1871-1916), Assistant County Surveyor for Queen's County (NA 1901; NA 1911).

• Arlington House, house, 1690–1740 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached five-bay two-storey over basement Georgian house, c. 1730, with pedimented central breakfront. Now derelict.

• , 1780–1810 · Regional interest
  Description

  Terraced five-bay three-storey house, c. 1800, with integral carriageway. Extensively renovated, c. 1880, with timber pubfront inserted to ground floor. Now in commercial use.

• Saint Paul's Church (Lea), church/chapel, 1845–1855 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached Gothic Revival Church of Ireland church, built 1851, on a cruciform plan possibly incorporating fabric of earlier Huguenot church, c. 1696.

• Portarlington Parochial Hall, church/chapel, 1820–1835 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached late-Georgian style church, c. 1830. Deconsecrated, c. 1885. Spire removed, 1924. Now in use as community hall.

• House, 1750–1800 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached five-bay three-storey Georgian house, c. 1780, on a corner site. Renovated, c. 1900, with ground floor partly remodelled to accommodate commercial use.

• , 1820–1850 · Regional interest
  Description

  End-of-terrace four-bay three-storey house, c. 1830, originally with integral carriageway to ground floor. Renovated, c. 1980, with ground floor remodelled to accommodate commercial use.

• , 1820–1850 · Regional interest
  Description

  End-of-terrace six-bay three-storey house, c. 1830, possibly originally two separate three-bay houses. Renovated, c. 1980, with shopfronts inserted to ground floor.

• Portarlington Market House, market house, 1730–1750 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached three-bay two-storey mid-Georgian former market house, c. 1740. Renovated, c. 1990, to accommodate use as garage to ground floor having residential accommodation over.

• , 1750–1850 · Regional interest
  Description

  End-of-terrace seven-bay three-storey house, c. 1840, on a corner site with three-bay two-storey return to rear incorporating fabric of earlier building, c. 1770. Renovated, c. 1975, with ground floor remodelled to accommodate commercial use. Renovated, c. 1998.

• Portarlington Catholic Club, 1800–1830 · Regional interest
  Description

  Terraced five-bay two-storey over basement former house, c. 1820. Renovated, c. 1980, with façade remodelled. Now in use as hall.

• The Rectory, house, 1750–1800 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached five-bay two-storey over basement house, c. 1780. Renovated and extended, c. 1880, with projecting bay added to front, full-height return and projecting porch added to rear. Now in use as offices.

• Allied Irish Bank, bank/financial institution, 1920–1930 · Regional interest
  Description

  Three-bay single-storey banking hall, c. 1926.

• Melrose, 1750–1780 · Regional interest
  Description

  End-of-terrace four-bay two-storey Georgian house, c. 1770.

• Portarlington Garda Síochána Station, 1800–1840 · Regional interest
  Description

  Terraced five-bay three-storey late-Georgian house, c. 1830, with integral carriageway. Now in use as Garda station.

• , 1780–1810 · Regional interest
  Description

  Terraced five-bay three-storey Georgian building, c. 1800, with full-height returns to rear. Renovated, c. 1985, with ground floor converted to commercial use.

• School, 1835–1860 · Regional interest
  Description

  Terraced six-bay two-storey former school, c. 1840, with integral carriageway. Now in use as hall.

• Kenny House, 1800–1840 · Regional interest
  Description

  Terraced three-bay two-storey house, c. 1825. Façade re-rendered, c. 1930.

• , 1810–1830 · Regional interest
  Description

  Terraced two-bay three-storey late-Georgian house, c. 1815.

• , 1800–1840 · Regional interest
  Description

  Terraced five-bay three-storey late-Georgian house, c. 1820. Renovated, c. 1870, with façade enrichments added. Renovated, c. 1990, to accommodate commercial use.

• Foxcroft House, house, 1740–1800 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached five-bay three-storey house, c. 1750. Renovated and subdivided (into three separate houses). Individually extended. Group of detached outbuildings to site.

• The Deanery, house, 1800–1840 · Regional interest
  Description

  Terraced four-bay two-storey house, c. 1820, incorporating fabric of earlier three-storey single-pile house, c. 1710. Extended comprising two-storey range.

• Wilton House, house, 1700–1760 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached three-bay two-storey Georgian house, c. 1750, on an L-shaped plan with pedimented Gibbsian style doorcase.

• Bank of Ireland, house, 1800–1840 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached three-bay two-storey over basement Georgian former house, c. 1830. Renovated, c. 1890, with ground floor partly remodelled to accommodate use as bank.

• House, 1790–1830 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached five-bay three-storey over basement Georgian house, c. 1800, with stair return to rear.

• Portarlington Methodist Church, church/chapel, 1900–1905 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached Gothic Revival Methodist church, dated 1904, on a T-shaped plan with projecting porch.

• Saint Germain's, house, 1750–1790 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached six-bay three-storey mid-Georgian house, c. 1760. Extended, c. 1970, comprising single-storey end bays to sides and three-storey return to rear to accommodate use as hotel. Interior retains Rococo plasterwork to entrance hall.

• , 1800–1830 · Regional interest
  Description

  Semi-detached four-bay two-storey over basement house, c. 1820, with wing. Renovated, c. 1920, with ground floor remodelled. One of a pair.

• , 1800–1830 · Regional interest
  Description

  Semi-detached four-bay two-storey over basement house, c. 1820, with integral carriageway. One of a pair.

• The Elms, house, 1785–1790 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached three-bay two-storey over basement late-Georgian house, built 1789, with single-storey over basement lateral wings incorporating fabric of earlier building. Group of detached outbuildings to site.

• Laurel, 1800–1840 · Regional interest
  Description

  Terraced three-bay two-storey over basement house with dormer attic, c. 1820.

• Alder, 1860–1880 · Regional interest
  Description

  Terraced three-bay three-storey house, c. 1870, with integral carriageway. One of a pair.

• Ivy House, 1860–1880 · Regional interest
  Description

  Terraced two-bay three-storey house, c. 1870. One of a pair.

• , 1810–1850 · Regional interest
  Description

  End-of-terrace four-bay three-storey house, c. 1830.

• House, 1790–1830 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached three-bay three-storey over basement house, c. 1820, with stair return to rear. Now in part use as surgery.

• Rockwood House, 1790–1820 · Regional interest
  Description

  End-of-terrace five-bay three-storey Georgian house, c. 1800, with stair return and two-storey return to rear.

• , 1800–1840 · Regional interest
  Description

  End-of-terrace three-bay two-storey late-Georgian house, c. 1825. Renovated, c. 1990, with pair of shopfronts inserted to ground floor.

• Kilnacourt, house, 1780–1820 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached five-bay three-storey over basement Georgian house, c. 1790. Renovated, c. 1875, with granite projecting porch added. In part use as offices from 1997 - 1999. Now disused and partly derelict following series of small fires. Group of detached outbuildings to side. Renovated, c. 1980, to accommodate commercial use. Ornamental gardens to site. Removed, c. 2000. Freestanding medieval stone statue to site. Now removed and relocated. Gateway to site, dismantled c. 2000.

• Milestone/milepost, 1780–1830 · Regional interest
  Description

  Pair of freestanding carved limestone milestones, c. 1800, on triangular plans.

• House, 1700–1750 · Regional interest
  Description

  Semi-detached two-bay three-storey house, c. 1730, originally detached. Extended to rear comprising pair of two-storey returns. Now amalgamated with building to left. Group of detached outbuildings to rear.

• Stables, 1840–1900 · Regional interest
  Description

  Stable complex, c. 1870, comprising group of detached two-storey buildings with arcade, integral carriageways and bull's-eye window openings.

• Carmyl House, 1820–1850 · Regional interest
  Description

  Terraced five-bay two-storey house, c. 1840, with integral carriageway. Renovated, c. 1880, with façade enrichments added.

• , 1810–1830 · Regional interest
  Description

  Terraced three-bay two-storey late-Georgian house, c. 1815. Renovated, c. 1990, with render removed.

Designated sites: National Parks and Wildlife Service. Recorded monuments: Sites and Monuments Record, National Monuments Service. Buildings: National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0. Works at or in relation to a recorded monument need two months' written notice to the National Monuments Service (National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994, section 12).

Radon

About 1 in 10 homes in this area is likely to have high radon levels. Testing a home

Landslides

Susceptibility moderately low, low, low (inferred), on the 1:50,000 map; parts are made ground and water.

Terrain model

LiDAR of the Office of Public Works, flown in 2011, at 2 m: tile OPW_2204 (ZIP).

Flooding

The flood maps of the Office of Public Works: floodinfo.ie.

Radon Risk Map of Ireland, Environmental Protection Agency; Landslide Susceptibility Classification, Geological Survey Ireland; both CC BY 4.0. LiDAR: contains Irish Public Sector Data (Geological Survey Ireland & the Office of Public Works) licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.

No address of the register names Cooltederry with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Laois.

Name

Cooltederry · Cúil an tSúdaire

Area

3,084,222 m² (308.42 ha, 762.13 acres)

Civil parish

Lea, and its townlands

Barony

Portnahinch

Electoral division

Portarlington South, the unit of the census

Census 2022

Portarlington South electoral division: 7,859 people in 2,795 households; 65% of households own their home; 61% of homes were built since 2001; 7% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 0% were holiday homes.

Neighbouring townlands

Ballymorris, Bracklone, Droughill, Kilmalogue (Co. Offaly), Tinacrannagh (Co. Offaly), Tirhogar

Placenames

Cooltederry on logainm.ie, the Placenames Database of Ireland

Townlands, civil parishes, baronies and electoral divisions, National Statutory Boundaries, Tailte Éireann, CC BY 4.0. Census 2022, Small Area Population Statistics by electoral division, Central Statistics Office, CC BY 4.0. A townland is the smallest land division of Ireland, and the unit of a rural address; old registers such as the 1901 and 1911 censuses file it under its civil parish and barony.