Overview
Portarlington is a small County Laois market town of 9,300 people with a distinctive French Huguenot legacy. The River Barrow bisects the town, with most of it in Laois but a section spilling into County Offaly.
Architecture · Day Trips · Festivals · History
Before you go
Connectivity
4G with Eir, 5G with Three and Vodafone as of May 2021. WiFi available at cafes.
Culture
Portarlington's unique French Huguenot heritage dates to the late 17th century when French Protestant refugees settled here. French was used in church and school into the 1820s.
Money
Ireland uses the euro (EUR). ATMs available in town; most shops and restaurants accept card payments.
Transport
Portarlington sits on the Dublin-Galway rail corridor with hourly commuter trains (1 hour from Dublin) and 45-minute inter-city non-stop services. Dublin Coach 816 runs hourly from Kildare.
Weather
Typical Irish climate: mild, changeable weather year-round. Best visited spring through autumn for outdoor sightseeing.