Historic fort walls discovered intact in Portlaoise hotel
The first electronic survey of the 16th century garrison walls in Portlaoise has found it largely intact, with sections forming walls of many modern buildings and yards in the town centre.
Portlaoise the capital town of county Laois was founded as the first English garrison in Ireland.
The high stone walls built to protect soldiers sent to the Queens county “to put manners on the natives”, according to Laois Heritage Officer Catherine Casey.
Now laser imaging is being done to record every stone.
“It’s surprisingly intact. 75 percent of the walls are still there. They form the front of the vocational school, they run down the back of main street, as some back yard walls, and some are inside O’Loughlin’s Hotel,” said Ms Casey. Read more.