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Castletown

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Castletown is a small
village in the southern half of County Laois near the town of
Mountrath. Castletown performs well each year in the Tidy Towns
competition, and was the 2000 gold medal winner in its category
This quaint Georgian village is built around a triangular fair
green. It has many sites of historical interest. A castle built here
in 1182 by Hugh de Lacy became the centre of an important Norman
Borough. The ruins of the medieval St. Coedus Church still stand in
the old cemetery at Churchtown.
Also of interest is Gash Gardens. Situated on the banks of the river
Nore, Gash gardens are the creation of long-time horticulturalists,
the Keenan family. This four acre garden provides a decorative home
for many interesting and unusual plants. It feature a large rock
garden with rare alpines, a heath garden, a river walk and many
specimen trees. The gardens have a number of interesting water
features, including the 'Moon House' where visitors can sit beneath
a waterfall.
Located in Knockanina between Castletown and Mountrath is the
Mountrath Golf Club. Designed by Peter McEvoy the course measures
5,732 metres off the white tees with a Par 71 and standard scratch
70. With River Nore flowing through the course and the Slieve Bloom
Mountains forming the backdrop, golfers will relish at the beauty of
the scenery available here. |