€11.5 million project to restore historic Laois site moves ahead

The Part VII planning proposal for the Fort Protector in Portlaoise has been approved

Published 30th Jun 2026, 17:55 BST The Old Granary building inside the Fort Protector Portlaoise. The Part VII planning proposal for the Fort Protector in Portlaoise has been approved 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.

The planned redevelopment of the historic Fort Protector site in Portlaoise will cost an estimated €11.5 million.

The landmark project has now advanced through the planning stages as local councillors passed Laois County Council’s Part VIII proposal for the redevelopment of the Fort Protector.

The Part VII provides the plans for the Fort Protector which is to be used as a flexi use arts, cultural and community space.

The proposed development is located in the Old Fort Quarter area of Portlaoise which has seen significant investment in recent years as part of the ongoing development of a cultural quarter in the town.

As part of the efforts to enhance the area, major works have been completed to revamp Portlaoise Library, the old convent site, Scoil Mhuire, St Peter's Graveyard, Fitzmaurice Place, as well as the development of the Fort Protector Outdoor Performance and Event Space.

The plans for the Fort Protector site include the refurbishment of the Granary. Laois County Council purchased the old barracks site in 2025 and this will also be redeveloped to support and underpin the general restoration of the Fort Protector.

According to the Director of Services with Laois County Council, Simon Walton, the Granary building will be retained and adapted to be used for amenity, cultural or commercial purposes.

The building will be refurbished for a museum, exhibition and indoor performance space. It will also provide a permanent home for the Portlaoise Plane.

The Part VIII proposal was presented to local councillors at the meeting of Laois County Council on Monday, June 29.

During that meeting, further details of the project were revealed including the new feature entrance to the Granary and Outdoor Performance and Event Space which will be accessed from Tower Hill.

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Toilet facilities are also proposed for the site, the lack of which Mr Walton said was currently a “drawback to the overall offering of the space.”

A new café will also be developed on the site as well as a new reception area.

The Director of Services noted that the project is estimated to cost €11.5 million and Laois County Council has submitted an application for funding from the Town and Cities Regeneration Investment Fund.

Earlier this year, the Town and Cities Regeneration Investment Fund was announced by the Government and two locations in Laois are eligible under that grant scheme. Portlaoise and Portarlington are eligible under the scheme which is based on population size.

The maximum grant available with this scheme is €7.5 million.

The Part VIII proposal was published in May and the general public were invited to make submissions up until mid June. Only three submissions were made, all of which were supportive of the project.

Laois Heritage Society were among the submissions, with Mr Walton saying they supported the plan Laois County Council were proposing and acknowledged that it was in keeping with principles of the conservation plan that was published in 2022 in preparation for the development.

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“As you all know, the fort dates back to 1547 and the establishment of the fort marks the foundation of the town of Portlaoise. In 2022 the council, in partnership with Laois Heritage Society, published a conservation plan for the Fort Protector and the purpose of that conservation plan was to promote the regeneration of the town centre and in doing so reinforcing the Fort Protector as a key heritage site,” Mr Walton said.

“This development provides what we believe is a significant opportunity for both daytime and nighttime economy activities in Portlaoise centre and follows on from other significant investments into the regeneration of the town centre including the redevelopment of Fitzmaurice Place, the old St Peter’s church, the new carpark at the train station, and the convent site redevelopment.”