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Portlaoise (from Irish), or Maryborough, is a town in County Laois, Republic of Ireland, located near the midlands of Ireland. It has a population of
22,100. It was first established by Queen Mary as Fort of Maryborough in 1556. There are still signs of the garrison all over the town. The old jail has been transformed into an arts centre.
Portlaoise is the county town of Laois, or Leix and is the seat of county government. The county is governed by a co-alition of the Fine Gael, Labour and Progressive Democrats parties. The town is a major centre of the arts, commerce and shopping in the Irish midlands.
Nearby is the Rock of Dunamase, an ancient Celtic fortification which was allegedly mapped by Ptolemy in the 8th century. Also nearby are Emo Court, a magnificent 18th century country house designed by James Gandon, Ballyfin House, now a private school and Mountmellick, home to a magnificent Georgian square.
Portlaoise is home to the maximum security Portlaoise Gaol, home to most of the Northern Irish terrorists, and to the Midlands Prison. Both are major employers in the town. Portlaoise is a confluence of the Irish roads network and was bypassed by a motorway in recent years.
Other spellings of the town include Portlaois, Portlaoighise and Maryborough
- See also: List of towns in the Republic of Ireland
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