Bus tours to popular Laois landmark need to be diverted

Laois County Council has been called to divert bus tours to the Rock of Dunamase

Published 20th Jun 2026, 18:55 BST The Rock of Dunamase. Laois County Council has been called to divert bus tours to the Rock of Dunamase A local councillor has called for all bus tours visiting a historic Laois landmark to be diverted.

Councillor Paschal McEvoy has requested Laois County Council to do something to divert all bus tours visiting the Rock of Dunamase away from the N80.

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The Stradbally councillor explained that the road is too narrow for buses to safely pass oncoming cars.

He said that buses travelling up the road from the N80 “completely lock up” the road when they meet cars coming down it.

“I know it’s a tourist attraction and buses have to get to the carpark. I know the other road is every bit as bad,” Cllr McEvoy said at the June meeting of the Graiguecullen/Portarlington MD.

He suggested that Laois County Council install laybys to allow more space for the buses to pass.

The visitor carpark and toilets are currently under construction at the Rock of Dunamase and are expected to be completed this summer.

The project will see the creation of 40 car parking spaces, one disabled space, and two bus parking bays near the Church of Ireland chapel on the site.

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Funding of €1,797,894 was approved under the EU Just Transition Fund for Laois County Council to complete the works.

With over 40,000 visitors to the site last year, Cllr McEvoy urged “something is going to have to be done.”

Senior Executive Engineer with Laois County Council, Tom Drennan, said that the Graiguecullen/Portarlington MD, in conjunction the Portlaoise MD Roads Office, will review and assess the geometric extents of the local approach roads from the N80 to The Rock of Dunamase carpark and if necessary determine what interventions are available with regards to improving safe access and egress along these routes.

Related topics: Rock of Dunamase Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District Cllr Paschal McEvoy Sign up to our Laois Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Laois Live within your account.