Heritage Publications

A range of publications on the built, natural and cultural heritage of County Laois are available. Click on any of the titles below to download as pdf. We are still working on uploading archive files and reports to this page – please bear with us! If there is a report you want that’s not listed here, please email the Heritage Office.

Books and Leaflets on Laois Heritage

This booklet by Juanita Browne with illustrations by Barry Reynolds aims to assist anyone who wants to help wildlife in their gardens, no matter how big or small. The booklet was produced by Laois County Council with the assistance of Local Authority Heritage Officers across Ireland, with support from the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Heritage Council. Taking a very practical approach, the book details projects to help wildlife of all kinds under a range of headings, with tasks suitable for everyone from the total beginner to the more ambitious DIY enthusiast. With clear instructions and step-by-step drawings by illustrator Barry Reynolds, the guide offers the gardener lots of options to help our biodiversity.

Hard copies of the booklet are also available on request – email the Heritage Office

The Gardening for biodiversity colouring book is the children’s companion to the Gardening for Biodiversity booklet, with more beautiful illustrations from Barry Reynolds.

Gardening for biodiversity Irish version/Garraíodóireacht ar son na Bithéagsúlachta

Tá an leabhar “Garraíodóireacht ar son na Bithéagsúlachta” foilsithe i nGaeilge anois, le tacaíocht ón bPlean Gníomhaíochta Náisiúnta Bithéagsúlachta. Is féidir an leabhar a íoslódáil saor in aisce anseo agus beidh cóipeanna crua ar fáil go luath.

Heritage Guide to the Heath , published by Wordwell Books as part of their “Heritage Guide” series, in association with Archaeology Ireland. Written by local Archaeologist Dr Eoin Sullivan, this guide describes the Bronze Age landscape of the Heath, featuring wonderful reconstructions of Ring Barrows by Dave Pollock. Supported by the Heritage Council and Laois County Council. Download for free, or hard copies are available to purchase from Wordwell Books, cost €5.

Arnold Horner’s masterwork “Mapping Laois” is available from bookshops and online from the publisher Wordwell Books.

The book was supported by Laois County Council and the Heritage Council.

Geology of Laois and Offaly, by John Feehan, Offaly County Council, 2013. This book was supported by Laois and Offaly County Council and the Heritage Council.

Available from local bookshops or from Offaly History.

Saving Swifts

A new booklet with hints and tips on how to make our towns and villages more suitable for swifts, produced by Laois Heritage Office and BirdWatch Ireland, in partnership with the Heritage Officer Network and the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

Available to download here or to order in hard copy from Laois Heritage Office.