| Portlaoise Courthouse | |
|---|---|
 Portlaoise Courthouse | |
  Portlaoise Courthouse Location within Ireland | |
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical style |
| Address | Portlaoise, County Laois |
| Country | Ireland |
| Coordinates | 53°02′03″N7°17′59″W / 53.0342°N 7.2998°W Coordinates: 53°02′03″N7°17′59″W / 53.0342°N 7.2998°W |
| Completed | 1805 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Sir Richard Morrison |
Portlaoise Courthouse is a judicial facility in Portlaoise, County Laois, Ireland.
The courthouse, which was designed by Sir Richard Morrison in the neoclassical style and built in ashlar stone, was completed in 1805. [1] It was re-modelled to the designs of James Rawson Carroll in 1875. [1] The design involved a symmetrical main frontage of five bays facing Main Street with the end bays forming pavilions; the central section of three bays, which slightly projected forward, featured a doorway flanked by Doric order columns supporting an entablature and a panel; there were three sash windows on the first floor and a modillioned cornice at roof level. [1]
The building was primarily used as a facility for dispensing justice but, following the implementation of the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898, which established county councils in every county, the Grand Jury Room also became the meeting place for Laois County Council. [2] After the courthouse became inadequate, the county council moved to County Hall in May 1982. [3] [4] [5] In order to accommodate the large caseload of the court, which had become the second busiest in Ireland, [6] in May 2019, the county council announced plans to build a new courthouse outside the town. [7] A site for the new building was secured in November 2019. [8]
Portlaoise, officially Port Laoise, is the county town of County Laois, Ireland. It is located in the South Midlands in the province of Leinster. The 2016 census shows that the town's population increased by 9.5% to 22,050, which was well above the national average of 3.8%. It is the most populous and also the most densely populated town in the Midlands Region, which has a total population of 292,301 at the 2016 census. This also makes it the fastest growing of the top 20 largest towns and cities in Ireland.
County Laois is a county in Ireland. It is located in the south of the Midlands Region and in the province of Leinster. It was known as Queen's County from 1556 to 1922. The modern county takes its name from Loígis, a medieval kingdom. Historically, it has also been known as County Leix.
Portlaoise railway station is a station on the Dublin to Cork and also the Dublin to Limerick Intercity railway lines. It is also the terminus for the South Western Commuter also called the Portlaoise Commuter Line which forms part of the Dublin Suburban Rail network in the commuter belt for Dublin. It is the busiest county town railway station in the midlands region with up to 32 trains to Dublin and 30 trains from Dublin per day.
Laois County Council is the authority responsible for local government in County Laois, Ireland. As a county council, it is governed by the Local Government Act 2001. The council is responsible for housing and community, roads and transportation, urban planning and development, amenity and culture, and environment. The council has 19 elected members. Elections are held every five years and are by single transferable vote. The head of the council has the title of Cathaoirleach (Chairperson). The county administration is headed by a Chief Executive, John Mulholland. The county town is Portlaoise.
The Crumlin Road Courthouse is a former judicial facility on Crumlin Road in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is a Grade B+ listed building.
The Laois Senior Football Championship is an annual Gaelic Athletic Association competition organised by Laois GAA among the top Gaelic football clubs in County Laois. The winning club qualifies to represent the county in the Leinster Senior Club Football Championship, the winner of which progresses to the All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship.
The Leinster Express is a regional newspaper in Ireland that serves County Laois.
Armagh Courthouse is a judicial facility in Armagh, County Armagh, Northern Ireland. The courthouse, which accommodates hearings for the local magistrates' courts and county courts, is a Grade A listed building.
The Laois Ladies' Senior Football Club Championship has been running since 1976 - 45 finals. The competition has seen six clubs winning the title, with Portlaoise winning the latest in 2020, captained by Aisling Saunders. The final has been played in a number of grounds around the county, often in O'Moore Park. The cup is named after Lulu Carroll who was one of Laois' greatest ever ladies' footballers. The winners progress on into the provincial championship and Laois has a good record for a small county, having won the Leinster championship on 14 occasions. All-Ireland glory has proven more elusive, however, with The Heath securing Laois' only two titles, in 1985 & 1986.
The Leinster Ladies' senior football club championship has been running since 1978. The trophy is named after the man who presented it, Bill Daly, a Cavanman who lived in Dublin and was involved with Ballyboden St Endas. Foxrock–Cabinteely are the current holders having secured their fourth ever title in 2018 and represented Leinster in the All Ireland series.
St. Fintan's Hospital is a psychiatric hospital in Portlaoise, County Laois, Ireland.
Cavan Courthouse is a judicial and municipal facility in Farnham Street, Cavan, County Cavan, Ireland.
Naas Courthouse is a judicial facility in Main Street, Naas, County Kildare, Ireland.
County Hall is a municipal facility in Portlaoise, County Laois, Ireland.
Carrick-on-Shannon Courthouse is a former judicial facility and now an arts centre known as The Dock in Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim, Ireland.
Castlebar Courthouse is a judicial facility on The Mall in Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland.
Roscommon Courthouse is a judicial facility located on Abbey Street, Roscommon, County Roscommon, Ireland.
Downpatrick Courthouse is a judicial facility on English Street, Downpatrick, County Down, Northern Ireland. The courthouse, which served as the headquarters of Down County Council from 1878 to 1973, is a Grade B+ listed building.
Enniskillen Courthouse is a judicial facility in East Bridge Street, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It is a Grade B listed building.
Queen's County Council was created in 1899 under the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898 and the first local elections for the county council, and the councils of the five rural districts within Queen's County, were held on 6 April 1899, simultaneous with elections in the other administrative counties. The first Queen's County Council comprised 32 councillors serving a three-year term: