Bus Hire in Portlaoise

Portlaoise is the county town of Laois and the main midlands town on the M7 motorway (Dublin to Limerick), positioned 80 kilometres south-west of Dublin. The town's central location on the main Dublin-Cork and Dublin-Limerick road corridors makes it a frequent stopping point for coach tours of the south and midlands. The Rock of Cashel (55 kilometres south-west via the N8, approximately 55 minutes) is the most visited heritage site accessible on a half-day from Portlaoise.

County Laois has a lower visitor profile than its neighbours but holds several distinctive heritage sites: the Timahoe Round Tower (16 kilometres east of Portlaoise via the R430, a 12th-century tower with a carved Romanesque doorway, one of the finest in Ireland) is a quiet, uncommercialised site; the Emo Court (16 kilometres north-east, a neoclassical country house by James Gandon, managed by the OPW) has exceptional formal gardens; and the Stradbally area (15 kilometres north, County Laois) is best known as the site of the Electric Picnic festival (held annually in late August/early September, one of Ireland's largest music and arts festivals).

Rock of Cashel Day Trip

The Rock of Cashel (55 kilometres south-west of Portlaoise via the N8, approximately 55 minutes) is Ireland's most impressive grouping of medieval ecclesiastical buildings on a dramatic limestone rock 90 metres above the Tipperary plain. The site encompasses Cormac's Chapel (a perfectly preserved Romanesque chapel of 1127-1134 with carved tympana), the Gothic cathedral (13th century), the round tower (28 metres), the Hall of Vicars Choral (15th century, now housing the original St Patrick's Cross), and the cemetery. The OPW runs guided tours. Coach parking is in the large car park at the base of the rock. Most groups combine the Rock of Cashel with Cahir Castle (30 kilometres south-east of the Rock, approximately 35 minutes) on the same day circuit.

Timahoe Round Tower and Laois Heritage

The Timahoe Round Tower (16 kilometres east of Portlaoise via the R430 through Timahoe village, approximately 20 minutes) is a 12th-century round tower (29 metres) with a highly elaborate Romanesque doorway -- one of the finest examples of Romanesque carving in Ireland. The tower is set in a field adjacent to the Church of Ireland church in Timahoe village; a small car park accommodates coaches. The site is freely accessible year-round. Emo Court (16 kilometres north-east via the N80, approximately 20 minutes) is a neoclassical country house designed by James Gandon in 1790 for the Earl of Portarlington, with a domed rotunda interior, formal yew tree walk, and lakeshore parkland, all managed by the OPW.

Electric Picnic and Stradbally

Stradbally Hall (15 kilometres north of Portlaoise via the N80, approximately 20 minutes) is the location of Electric Picnic, one of Ireland's largest music and arts festivals (capacity approximately 70,000, held annually in late August or early September). In the years since 2004 the festival has grown to become one of the most significant cultural events in Ireland, with a reputation for arts programming and theatrical staging alongside the main music acts. Coach hire from Dublin, Cork, Galway, and Limerick to Stradbally for Electric Picnic represents one of the largest single-event coach hire demands in Ireland each year. Book festival-period coaches at least 3 months in advance.

What Bus Hire Costs in Portlaoise

As a rough guide, a minibus (up to 19 seats) in Portlaoise runs around 240 to 455 EUR per day, a midi-coach (around 35 seats) around 400 to 780 EUR per day, and a full-size coach (49 to 55 seats) around 620 to 1,180 EUR per day. Portlaoise is a smaller market with moderate year-round demand from the Dublin-Cork corridor. Electric Picnic weekend (late August/early September) generates very high demand; book festival coaches months ahead. The final figure depends on your route, the date, and how long you need the vehicle and driver. We confirm a fixed price with no hidden charges, so send your details for a free quote.

Services Available in Portlaoise