Introduction         

Welcome to the Portlaoise Green Guide. The aim of this guide is to make citizens of, and visitors to Portlaoise aware of local green businesses, environmental issues, natural amenities and eco-friendly community services. If you want to make a difference, this guide will show you how!

Portlaoise (as gaeilge Port Laoighise, meaning ‘Fort of Laois’) was first established by Queen Mary in 1556 as "the Fort of Maryborough" and was renamed in 1922 to "Portlaoise". It is a growing town with a vibrant town centre with much to offer its residents and visitors. Portlaoise has an increasing traffic and soon-to-be pollution problem. Yet there are many advantages to make the transition to sustainable living easier. Our town is compact and flat making it ideal for walking and cycling. Portlaoise has many shops offering eco-options, such as organic food, alternative medicine and bicycle shops! There are many recycling points in the town as well as Portlaoise Recycling Centre located at Kyletalesha Landfill Site, Portlaoise.

There are 22 Green Schools in Co. Laois. These schools have taken initiatives such as recycling or energy saving with An Taisces' Green Schools Project in association with Laois County Council. As we can see Portlaoise is a proactive town moving towards sustainable development.

Gluaiseacht has also made Green Guides for Limerick City, Drogheda, Ennis, Naas and Waterford City. You can find more guides at www.greenguide.ie, and a Dublin greenmap at www.sustainable.ie. International green guides can be found at at www.thegreenguide.org, or www.greenmap.org, or search the web.

Most of the books mentioned in each section can be ordered in your local bookshop, or on-line from www.walnutbooks.com or www.booksteps.ie

Click on the links to the left and right to begin browsing through the Portlaoise green guide online.

The viewpoints expressed in this guide are not necessarily held by Laois County Council or the businesses and organisations listed in the directory.