Rathdowney on the Erkina: Town Centre, Nature and Trails

Rathdowney lies on the River Erkina in the southwest of County Laois. The town combines a historic centre with opportunities to get active, including an 18-hole golf course, a running track that can be used year-round and, less than 5 km away, a circular trail through wet woodland. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Rathdowney, you can take these different aspects of the destination into account when planning your holiday.

Townscape and Architectural History

Around Market Square and along Main Street, the buildings are mainly two-storey and date from the 19th century. The area behind Main Street has also largely preserved the plot and building patterns of that century. The town centre can therefore be described not only through individual historic buildings: its surviving plot and building patterns are also part of its character. Those interested in local history can explore both the prominent streets and the areas behind Main Street.

One building with several important dates in its history is St Andrew's Church of Ireland church. It dates from 1818, was renovated in 1865 and extended in 1990. These three dates mark different stages in its history. St Andrew's graveyard contains 19th-century headstones. Most are upright; only a few are leaning or damaged. The graveyard can be accessed from the town centre through a gate, and paved paths lead from the gate around the church. The church and graveyard provide a distinct historic focus alongside the buildings around Market Square and on Main Street.

Woodland Trail and Activities

For an outing in nature, Coolacurragh Wood Nature Reserve is close to Rathdowney, less than 5 km away. A 1 km circular trail leads through wet woodland. Sturdy footwear is required. The stated trail length makes this a clearly defined option for planning your day; be sure to take the required footwear into account. The wet woodland trail offers a marked contrast to a visit to the town centre, where the architectural history and streetscapes take centre stage.

There are also several ways to get active within Rathdowney. Rathdowney Golf Club has an 18-hole course. There is also a running track beside St Fergal's Secondary School that can be used year-round. The golf course and running track offer different ways to incorporate activity into your stay; the running track is specifically available year-round. When choosing activities for your trip, you can decide whether to focus more on golf or running.

Getting There and Planning Your Trip

The regional roads R433 and R435 connect Rathdowney to the M8 Dublin–Cork and M7 Dublin–Limerick motorways. If travelling by train, Ballybrophy railway station is another useful landmark: it is 6 km from Rathdowney. Trains run from there to Dublin, Cork and Limerick every day. These road connections and the railway station provide practical reference points for planning your journey; the distance given is between Rathdowney and Ballybrophy.

More town pages: Portlaoise, Durrow, Stradbally, Killenard, Mountrath, Arles, Abbeyleix and Mountmellick.

For the broader travel overview: County Laois.