Welcome to Killenard
Killenard, Co. Laois
Situated in an elevated position overlooking the pastoral lands of County Laois, the village of Killenard is a special kind of place. You may recognise it as the home of the exclusive Heritage Golf and Spa Resort, which is located in the very heart of the village. However, it is also a vibrant and thriving community ready to welcome you and your family.
On Your Doorstep
Within 500m or about 5 minutes walk of Millers Hill development you’ll find…
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Primary SchoolScoil Naomh Eoin primary school is next to Millers Hill and can be accessed via a footpath directly from the development
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Community CentreA busy community centre with tennis, squash, dancing and after school activities
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Gala SupermarketYour local convenience store
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2 x ChurchesA Catholic Church and Church of Ireland are both present in Killenard
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Gym, Pool & Walking TrackThe Heritage leisure centre has gym and pool. Plus there’s a beautiful 5km walking track
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The Thatch PubYour local pub, also serving food and live music a few nights per week
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The Heritage Bars & RestaurantsThe Heritage features two lovely bars serving food and Blake’s restaurant
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Heritage Golf CourseEnjoy 18 holes on the Seve Ballesteros designed championship golf course
Killenard village has a strong community spirit, united around the staples of rural life – a national school, local sports clubs and churches (RC and C of I). What is slightly unusual about Killenard is that a luxurious hotel and golf resort, the 4-star Heritage, is literally at the centre of village life. Local members make the most of the Seve Ballesteros-designed 18-hole golf course and the resort’s facilities, including the gym, swimming pool, ESPA spa, bar and restaurants. Many locals also enjoy access to an excellent 5km walking track around the golf course.
Locally, the Thatch pub serves food seven nights a week with music on Fridays to Sundays. Or why not catch a bite to eat and cocktail at Seve’s Bar overlooking the Heritage Golf Course? Close by is the Killenard Community Centre with squash, tennis, dancing and after school activities.
A Little Further Down The Road...
A bit further down the road you’ll find a number of sporting clubs including O’Dempsey’s GAA, The Portarlington Rugby Club (4km), Arlington AFC, Portarlington GAA and the Portarlington Sports Complex and swimming pool.
Just a 10-minute cycle from Killenard on the way to Portarlington, you’ll find Solas, Ireland’s eco garden centre with a food court open every day from 8.30am to 5pm. Solas is also home to a farmers market every Saturday with a fabulous range from local farmers and producers.
Photo Credit Solas
Photo Credit The Heritage
Photo Credit The Heritage
Photo Credit Seve's Heritage
Photo Credit The Heritage
Getting Around
Just 10 minutes from the Portarlington Exit 14 on the M7, Killenard is conveniently located for travel to Dublin, Limerick and Cork by motorway. The M50 Red Cow Junction or Red Cow Luas Stop is just a 40-minute drive from the village, and Dublin city centre and airport are 55-minutes away. Just 4km from Millers Hill is one of Irish Rail’s major junctions; Portarlington Train Station offers routes to almost every corner of the country!
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M7 Interchange15 mins by car
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Redcow Luas Stop40 mins by car
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Dublin City Centre50 mins by car, traffic pending!
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Dublin Airport55 mins by car
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Lidl in Portarlington5 mins by car | 12 mins by bike
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Portarlington Train Station5 mins by car | 12 mins by bike
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Portlaoise Town Centre18 mins by car
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Kildare Shopping Village15 mins by car
Train Central
Portarlington train station is a major junction for Irish Rail. There are 20 trains a day to Heuston Station alone. It’s hard to find a more connected town by rail – with services to almost everywhere in the country! As well as the South Western Commuter these Intercity services pass through Portarlington station:
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Dublin - CorkIntercity
Dublin-Cork Main Line -
Dublin - GalwayIntercity
Dublin-Galway Line -
Dublin - MayoIntercity
Dublin-Westport/Ballina -
Dublin - LimerickIntercity
Dublin-Limerick Line
Portarlington
Portarlington is the nearby local town. The supermarkets are SuperValu, Aldi and Lidl, alongside the usual traditional high-street retailers, including butchers, chemists, convenience stores, hardware and specialist shops, and of course, pubs, restaurants, and takeaways. Essential services include a GP and dental clinics, Bank of Ireland, garage/mechanic and hairdressers. There are several primary schools and Coláiste Íosagáin, a mixed secondary school of around 1,000 pupils. Read our education posts for more information.
The French Connection – Portarlington has an interesting history. In the 1690s, fifteen or more Huguenot (French Protestant) families, who were driven from France as religious refugees, settled in Port Arlington, as it was then known. The French language was spoken right up until the 1820s. To celebrate the close relationship, Portarlington puts on the red, white and blue around Bastille Day (14th July) each year to ‘fete’ all things French. There’s even a snail-eating contest!
Things to Do
Around County Laois & Beyond
The former peat bog at Derryounce has been flooded since peat extraction was halted. Today, the area is a beautiful amenity for the people of the local areas. The inland beach created from the sand below the peat layer is especially popular in summer. Following one of the three way-marked walking trails is a wonderful way to experience peace, tranquillity, and nature’s restorative powers. Derryounce is just 10 minutes drive from Millers Hill.
A short drive away is the beautiful Emo Court and grounds, perfect for a good ramble through the formal lawns and around the lake. Keep an eye out for the native Irish red squirrels, residents of the estate, and rare birds, including buzzards and egrets. There is a lovely café in the stately home – CaToCa Fine Foods – and Emo Village Farmers Market takes place at the estate gates on Sundays.
The Slieve Bloom mountains are around an hour’s drive away and are rewarding in that aside from the great views they offer right across the Midlands towards the West, they provide a variety of terrains. With 16 looped walks to choose from, there is something for every age and level of fitness.
And finally we’ll leave you with perhaps one of the more epic things you can do in County Laois in late summer – Electric Picnic! Stradbally, home of Ireland’s biggest festival, is a mere 17 minute drive from Killenard.